| W4ABF |
Rating:  |
2021-09-05 | |
| The Best for my QTH |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
Updated 090321. After 9 years this antenna performs as well as the day I installed it. I have made over 10K contacts with it - driving it with 5-1500W. If a storm were to take it out I'd just buy another one.
If you are looking for a directional antenna with nice gain and have limited space to work with, I recommend the Traffie HexBeam. I pushed mine up on a ROHN 9H50 telescoping mast. I used this post as it ships UPS (less expensive than freight on the other ROHN masts) and the sections are shorter (and IMO stronger as a result). It does require 5 sets of guy wires though. I used UV resistant polyester covered Kevlar line from www.radioworks.com. I installed it by myself but I recommend two if you have a helper available. And don’t pick a windy day as the mast is unsecured until fully extended (unless you have a person at each guy line). It’s harrowing enough on a calm day. I mounted a Yaesu 450 rotator (4’ above the ground) and Yaesu thrust bearing (near the top of the post) on a 4x4x12’ treated post sunk 3’ and cemented in the ground. The base of the beam is 38’ up putting the 20M elements at 40’ or so. From what I’ve read this seems to be about the optimal height. I had it at 12’, then 20’, then 28’ and it just got better at each new height. I haven’t heard my tuner (LDG 1000 Pro) working at all across the SSB and digital mode (PSK, etc.) frequencies at this height. I don’t work CW so I can’t comment on that except to say the Traffie tunes well across each band at 12’ as that is where I first tested it – from one end of the band to the other. It just got better farther from the ground. I am working the world with it now. The Hex is quiet with decent forward gain (at least 2 S units over similarly oriented wire at 50’ with the same station) and good FB rejection; so far it seems to be about 4S units on average but I’m still experimenting with it so don’t take that number to the bank. I sometimes hear things on it that my wire at 50' (ZSBKW version of G5RV) misses completely. In particular, I worked HI twice one day and I’ve never made contact with any station from there, nor could I copy them that day on my wire antenna (similarly oriented) as they were covered by the noise and 2-3 S units down. I recently helped a local ham push up one of the commercially available ‘improved broadband’ designed HexBeams and found it required 2 men to get it mounted to the mast. It’s heavier and larger – very unwieldy IMO. And we broke one of the spreaders with very little pressure applied. The Traffie beam I bought was used (10 years old) and looked like new. No cracks or splintering of the spreaders and the insulators and hardware looked brand new. These things are built to last. The new Traffie uses even higher quality spreaders than the one I have (thus the higher cost). Assembly (once you figure out what it is to resemble) is a snap, taking less than 2 hours. I think that if I had to assemble it again it would take about an hour. The ‘improved broadband’ design of the larger HexBeams are compared to the ‘classic’ HexBeam. The ‘classic’ HexBeam that is referenced seems to be a copy of the Traffie design, but is not the ‘original’ as designed and built by Mike Traffie so the comparison is not valid, IMO. I was sold on the quality, size (it only requires a 9.5’ turning radius), and weight (19 lbs.) of the antenna, and the reputation of Mike Traffie. He spent a lot of time on the phone with me – over 4 calls – and I still have not spent a dime with him. I would have ordered one of his but I found a used one for less than ½ the cost so took a chance and ordered it. I’ll never look back. Would I buy a new one for the current going price had I not found a used one? Without a doubt. With a 30 day money back guarantee and an endorsement by Lew McCoy, you can’t go wrong. Also, if you only need a mono band HexBeam – Mike offers those as well (at a much lower cost). |
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| N5KBY |
Rating: |
2016-11-22 | |
| What A Great Antenna |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
It has been a while! Everything Ham related has been in storage for the past 11 years after our move from St. George, UT.
Just got the antenna pad done, crank up tower hauled into place and found all the parts for the MA-5B (#083) hiding in the attic. Where were the radios? More digging...
We have a nice (downsized) home located in a small blind canyon in South Central CO. Would it work at this location?
In less than an hour the antenna was assembled, the Channel Master rotor unit installed, and coax connected...just had to give it a test!
Absolutely as good as ever on all five bands.
Sorry to learn Mike has closed shop. He and the family were most helpful.
My Dad passed away and I traded in my WB5UVP call for his N5KBY tag, but had to wait until now. Time keeps moving on, but some things like Ham Radio are enjoyable and keep us focused.
I hope to finish out my 'man cave' as time allows and take full advantage of my old friend purchased in 2001, hauled over to Queensland (VK4KKO) and moved successfully, twice.
Thanks, Mike!
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| N1JAO |
Rating: |
2015-05-31 | |
| Priced himself out? |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
Great beam
Great performance
Great customer service
Lousy price- free market won out
Adios! |
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| N5WJ |
Rating: |
2014-10-12 | |
| Great Antenna |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
Did a review awhile back when I first bought this antenna.. Had it on a 2" pole up about 10' for about 2 months.. Just got it up on my tower today and wow it is a amazing.. Hearing so many dx stations with it up at about 50'... It worked great a even 10' but is more like amazing at 50'... It replaced my 3 Ele. SteppIr which was hit by lightning about 4 months ago.. and I think it is every bit as good as that antenna... The Traffie is a little more than the other Hex Beams but the materials used are first rate and the service from Mr. Mike Traffie is even better.. Can't go wrong with this antenna...
73's Frank.. N5WJ |
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| W7VI |
Rating: |
2014-08-12 | |
| Great Antenna, Great Company, and well Engineered |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I have own 3 Hex-Beams for the past10 years. My 1st was his HXL-6 ser no 06 my 2nd was the HX20 cut for CW and my 3rd was the HX5Bi. All are great antennas. I purchased all 3 when I lived in NV. Now I have moved to Eastern Washington and have all three up a running. These antennas have been through quit a lot as for as wx goes from rain, ice and snow plus winds up to 80 miles per hour and they stood the test of time. Mike is also great to work with and ready to help in any way.
These antennas are the best I have ever owned and with the purchase of these antennas I have not bought any antennas for 10 years. Except an OCF dipole for 30,40 and 80.
All Mikes antennas are still in spec. low SWR and great front to back and outstanding side rejection.
If you want an antenna that works and requires little or no maintenance buy a Traffie HEX-BEAM will not be sorry!! I just wish Mike would make a 30 40 Meter Hes Beam.
Tnx's Mike !!!
Steve/W7VI |
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| K6RIM |
Rating: |
2014-06-13 | |
| Happy Camper! |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
My experience with this purchase was superb from the beginning: order placement, Mike's willingness to answer questions, excellent written instructions for assembly of the hexbeam and superior product quality.
At my old QTH, I had enough room for a large log periodic. Not so at the new QTH. I wanted a beam that had good gain and F/B, but that would fit on a small lot without towering over the house in a way that attracted negative attention from neighbors. While no beam is invisible, the Traffie hexbeam has the smallest footprint and the least visual impact of anything of which I'm aware. Yet it is a serious directional antenna with decent gain and F/B.
As others have noted, SWR is low across all five bands, completely eliminating any need for an antenna tuner.
I went to some length to reduce the visibility of the antenna system: As delivered, the spreaders of the Traffie hexbeam are white. I painted them dark gray. And I chose a (dark gray) Force 12 low profile tower.
Immediate neighbors, of course, noticed the antenna system, but - so far - no complaints or daggers. Just a bit of conjecture, accompanied by laughter, as to whether I was trying to communicate with aliens.
Sure, there are beams that outperform a hex - but they require more real estate, service and they involve far greater expense.
For my station on a small lot, The Traffie hexbeam is a perfect solution and I am a happy camper.
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| W9TVX |
Rating: |
2014-02-27 | |
| Extremely Well Engineered |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I have had the Traffie Hex-beam up for a couple of weeks, and I can't overstate how delighted I am with this antenna. I had considered a broadband hex-beam ala a K4KIO; however, I simply didn't have enough room for the additional wingspan of the antenna.
The Traffie antenna is by no means cheap; however, it is exceedingly well engineered and a joy to assemble. All the parts are very high quality, and the design is well thought out and is quality through and through. If you want a top notch antenna, then this is the one, and in my humble opinion it is worth the asking price
Assembly took about 3 hours. It does require a set of helping hands mostly to help attach the elements to the spreaders. The instructions are very precise and easy to follow and everything just fits together. The end result is a very balanced and, dare I say, visually pleasing antenna.
Prior to the hex beam, I was using a Steppir BigIR vertical antenna. To be fair, due to lot limitations, the antenna is not mounted in the ideal location, and the ground radials (42 of them) had to be routed in creative ways around the property. Having said that, I have had some great success with this antenna (and I will continue to use it as a backup, as well as on 40 & 6 meters).
The hex-beam, has taken things to another level. To be fair, it is mounted in a much more ideal location than the BigIR (I have mine mounted up at 35ft on a 4.5ft Glen Martin roof mounted tower. It is being rotated by a Yaesu G450A rotator.) Despite this fact, there is no doubt that having a beam antenna makes all the difference in the world. I am able to both hear and communicate with stations that I have not been able to hear in the past. Whereas I would have to work much harder to get through a pileup or "reel in" a station, things are just so much easier with the hex-beam. I have switched back and forth between the Steppir and the Traffie and difference is jaw dropping.
In summary, this is an amazingly well built antenna that provides a directional antenna in an exceedingly small footprint.
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| AI4JU |
Rating: |
2014-01-08 | |
| Working the world without a megastation |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I have had my Traffie Hex 5 Hex-Beam approximately 13 years. When I first acquired it during the last sun cycle, I had it on a tripod on the roof at 35 feet. And I was working the world on all bands from 20 to 10 meters! But, when the bottom fell out of HF on the new cycle, I found that I could only work a maximum of 6500 miles. I decided to dismount the antenna from the tripod on the roof. I installed the antenna on top of my 40 ft tower. The base of the antenna is 55 ft above ground and 65 feet above tidal salt water and is approximately 40 ft away from the salt water. After installing the antenna on my tower, I was not only able to work the world in so called "poor conditions", my antenna was performing on par with the "mega stations" monobanders running 1500 watts. In fact, I was beating them on the long path to Europe and Africa from Florida on 20 meters and 17 meters running about 500 watts.
When comparing Mike Traffie's Hex Beam to local "broad bander hex beam" stations, I have often been able to work long distance which they could not. I believe that this is due to the lower take off angle. Additionally, the footprint of the Traffie Hex 5 is so much smaller than its competitors. I am not aware of any other commercial Hex Beam that I could have installed on my property without encroaching on my neighbors'. The quality is superb; I have not experienced any deterioration from the hostile salt water conditions. My Hex Beam survived 120 mph hurricane winds during Hurricane Charlie with NO DAMAGE.... I wish I could have said the same for the rest of my property.
I consider this Traffie Hex 5 antenna the best of all of the hex beams that I have seen. The price reflects the superior quality of the materials, but it is worth it as the antenna will last for your lifetime. I rate this 5+ out of 5.
To see how to install this hexbeam on a tower with a hazer so that it can be rapidly brought down to ground level as well as other photos of the Traffie Hex 5, visit my webpage (ai4ju) on qrz.com.
Hope that you have as much fun as I do with the Traffie Hex 5 Hex-Beam. |
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| NA6D |
Rating: |
2013-10-11 | |
| All I can say is, it works! |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
Spent a lot of time researching different small beams for my backyard, a lot of trees there, etc, and did not want to create trepidation and angst in the neighbors minds by putting up a big tower and beam with a large boom. After some time, I decided to purchase the Traffie 5 band antenna. More expensive than the others, but wanted to be done with the situation. I called Mike Traffie, who is a really nice gentleman and ordered #686. When it arrived, I had a friend help me put it together. Only took a couple of hours. Put it up to 30 ft. with a Yaesu 450 rotor. We trued it up to north, then turned it towards Asia.
Checked the SWR, and was acceptable, but higher than I wanted, about 1:4 to one one the extreme lower portion of the CW bands, but no big deal.
As soon as I listened on 12M, in the span of 30 minutes, I worked Hong Kong, Phillipines, Taiwan, Korea and several others and got through on the first call! I thought I was dreaming! Using 100W, I was able to work these stations that I could barely hear on my all band doublet at 50 ft.
These are my first impressions, since I have had the antenna for less than two weeks. What really stands out for me is the hex beam is very, very quiet, much more so than the doublet. I am going to put it through it's paces, and will report subsequently on my experiences with this antenna.
In summation, this antenna rivals a big tower at 60 ft. and a big 3 element beam I had years ago at another QTH. With the antenna, rotor, feed line, mast, I have less than 2K invested in what appears to be the most pleasant surprise I have experienced in over 50 years as a ham. Mr. Traffie, you "done good!" |
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| N5FW |
Rating: |
2013-05-24 | |
| Great antenna! |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
| I did not want to write a review before using the beam for some time, but performance is incredible(with a height of only 22ft because of HOA restrictions). Mike is a great guy to work with, I talked with him several times before ordering. No problems putting together by myself either. I was able to work Clipperton on all 5 bands through the pileups--not too bad. I have worked 121 countries since install, with only very casual operating. If I could get the antenna higher it would be much better. As far as broadbanded the Traffie beam is flat across SSB portion of all but 17 with about 1.4 to 1 there. Are there better beams, sure, but not for my QTH and restrictions. |
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