Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes

Reviews For: Hexbeam: G3TXQ by MW0JZE

Category: Antennas: HF: Yagi, Quad, Rotary dipole, LPDA

eMail Subscription

Registered users are allowed to subscribe to specific review topics and receive eMail notifications when new reviews are posted.
Review Summary For : Hexbeam: G3TXQ by MW0JZE
Reviews: 94MSRP: £475.00 + Shipping
Description:
Description: A six band broadband Hexagonal Beam Antenna designed by Steve G3TXQ and manufactured in the UK by Anthony MW0JZE. Comparable performance to a full size two element yagi on bands 20M – 6M with no tuner needed! Antenna is made in a pre-assembled form meaning a quite assembly time with no tuning involved, just assemble and mount to your mast. Full spec can be found on Anthony’s web site wwwg3txq-hexbeam.com Price £475 GBP plus shipping
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.g3txq-hexbeam.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
25945
M0TTB Rating: 2015-12-01
Major improvement over original version Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Ant's original hexbeam had been in service here since 2011, producing over 300 dxcc entities for me in that time, in fact 275+ on each band from 20-10m.

Despite my mast falling over and other embarrassing mishaps that were nothing to do with the antenna, not to mention Ant always ready with a spare element or spreader section when needed, I decided to treat myself to a newer version.

The build quality has just got better and better, those fibreglass arms are now seriously strong! The new metal centre column, now with convenient SO-239 socket, and the blue anodized hub, are extremely impressive.

The wire element sections are now as heavy duty as any other part of Ant's hexbeam, the combination of rtty+qro+moisture are not to be feared these days! Having taken up rtty this year, I'm appreciating this aspect.

However, the best bargain of an MW0JZE hexbeam is Ant himself with the tireless back-up he delivers to his customers over the years.

----------------------
Earlier 5-star review posted by M0TTB on 2011-09-22

Very impressed!
Purchased to upgrade from a TGM MQ26-SR minibeam. The hexbeam antenna is the very largest that I can accommodate at this qth.

Reasons that I chose the MW0JZE manufactured, G3TXQ designed, broadband hex were that I generally know what other 'G' guys are using to break pile-ups, and many are using Ant's hex. These guys are consistently getting through to the dx, and putting out a strong signal. Most of these guys have come along the same route as myself, i.e. previously used TGM or MA5B minbeams.

I'm also hearing guys around the world using hexbeams (VK, KH6, KH2, ZS), and their signals are generally strong, not quite up to the big Optibeams and SteppIR's but certainly up there with the 3 and even 4 element trapped multibanders.

Another aspect that I liked was the honest approach from all those involved in the recent design of the broadband hex, notably G3TXQ himself, no outlandish claims and figures, just modest gain claims with NO MAGIC/MYSTERY that some spout with other designs.

The low swr across entire bands was also a factor in purchasing, I can be at the bottom of 20m and then the top in seconds, with no tuning. My Palstar ATU is now redundant and out of line. Heavy rain has little to no effect on this antenna.

The antenna itself is well packed, and easily assembled in less than an hour. Watching some of Ant's youtube hex construction videos on youtube was a good help, but certainly not compulsory. A couple of spanners is all you need, no cutting or soldering needed. I sprayed the spreaders arms in matt Olive, to blend into tall foliage.

I made sure everything was electrically ok at about 10ft off the ground...swr no worse than 2.2:1 anywhere. Once raised to 45ft to the base, swr was a non-issue and meeting advertised specs. Goodbye ATU.

Use on the bands is a dramatic improvement on what I have ever experienced before. The radiation pattern has taken a bit of getting used to after the almost dipole pattern of the TGM, which had a surprisingly well defined forward lobe, where-as the hex has a broader front lobe. Having said that, the f/b rejection is significant on the hex, and even the f/s rejection is good.

20/17/15m is where the hex wins by a large margin over the little TGM, there's significantly more radiating metal in the air for these bands with the hex.

Interestingly, as I type, Ant is part of the 4W6A dxped to East Timor, who are naturally using his hex ... my first qso with them was with Ant on 15m, and I have now worked them on 20, 17, 15 and 10m.
OZ9KL Rating: 2015-11-30
Super antenna Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Bought this Hexbeam in January 2015. Mounted on a 6 meter pole and total about 11 meter over earth.
QTH in a noisy town. Have very good results and have qso's 15000 km. away. Bought this with the extreme weather supports, and this saved me. Had a really bad snowstorm last weekeend, and the antenna survived. This weekend we have a windy storm with about 35 - 40 m/s, and the antenna is still standing. Easy to assemble, and low swr on all 6 band.
2E1AYS Rating: 2015-11-29
Awesome Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This antenna has got me in so much trouble with the XYL.
1, I never watch TV with her now.
2, She has to do the shopping on her own.
3, Always in the shack.
4, I spend more money.
5, She eats her meals on her own.
6, She say's i don't talk to her anymore.
7, I go to bed late and get up really early.

WHY
Because i bought a Hexbeam manufactured by Ant MW0JZE and now i can hear the DX it has brought my radio to life. I now spend more time on the radio listening and working the DX till late at night then up early to work the DX on a morning in fact all the time.All them weak stations i used to hear are now workable, stations that where S1 are now S3, its made a big big difference for me. My DXCC & IOTA scores have increased so has my QSL collection
so now less money for the XYL, as i use it for all the QSL cards i send for.
So now you can see why i get in trouble with the XYL.

The Hexbeam was so easy to build up took about 1hr .There was a instruction sheet and also some Youtube videos to watch
It came with all the spreaders marker up, all the wires where in separate bags labelled for each band.
The build quality is fantastic very solid all parts are well made. SWR was flat across all bands.

I exchanged emails with Ant over a few weeks asking various questions about the antenna, he answered more a less straight away. Great coms.

The only regret i have is not buying it sooner as i have missed loads of good DX. but the best £500 i have spent on radio equipment.

You can have the best radio in the world but if your antenna is poor you wont hear the DX, if you have a Hexbeam you have the best of everything.

Ant thanks for the great service and super antenna. Sorry the wife doesn't agree as she was happy when i had the MA5B as i spent more time with her then.

2M0ONW Rating: 2015-09-07
2m0onw Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Hi im a proud owner of the 6 band hexbeam this is my first review and my second hexbeam frm anthony mw0jze.this antenna changed my world for ham radio i have worked all around the world frm digi modes to ssb with this antenna, it also out performed my 3 element mosley at the height of 40ft but also works great at 20ft.
I have used many antennas in the past but i always come bk to the hexbeam as you know you have 6 bands to play with.
If you are thinking of purchasing a hexbeam anthony is the man to deal with he is very honest and down to earth bloke.
So what you waiting for go buy yourself a hexbeam you wont be disappointed i wasent
Cheers kev 2m0onw:)
EA5IDQ Rating: 2015-08-11
The Best Quality-Price Relationship Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I am owner for 1 year and I had not problems to work all I listen.

Antenna is very strong and it has not proble with strong winds. I live very close to the beach, in front of Mediterranean Sea and I never has a problem.

But the best is Price & Quality. Which antenna offers you 2 elements with no traps from 6 till 20 meters? . . .

Service is Fantastic... If you need something, they answer you as soon as possible.

I am really happy with this antennaand I am thinking to buy one for my Dxpeditions.

73 de Jose EA5IDQ
www.dxpedition.eu
EA4SE Rating: 2015-05-24
PERFECTA Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Increible prestaciones , yo antes he trabajado con logoperidica de 8 elem y esta antena no tiene nada que envidiarla , me a sorprendido el poco ruido que recoje es muy silenciosa y con unas prestaciones en el dx escepcionales , sinceramente en relación calidad precio no se puede pedir mas , el montaje es sencillo no tiennes que ajustar nada.Yo le monte su balun original y los refuerzos centrales , creo que despues de años y varias antenas , es la antena masa completa y con el rendimiendo mkas optimo en todas las bandas que tube.
M0OXO Rating: 2015-05-21
Very impressive Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
This new antenna replaced my original 6 Band Hexbeam as it now offers wider spaced elements (increased vertical spacing between the wire elements eliminating any chances of inter band interaction) and also a folded dipole for 40m with a separate feed-line allowing it cover 7 Bands (6, 10, 12, 15, 17, 20 & 40M).

I erected the antenna a few weeks ago but this was the first real 'CQ' tests on SSB. The results on the first session were extremely good. I had an hour on 20m SSB and the first reply was KN4YZ/AM. Lynn was at 38,000 ft in a Boeing 767 flying over California. Further calls from W0, W4, W5, W6, KH6, ZL2BAQ, VK2, VK3, PY8, AL7 and across to RA. The final contact was Din YB8RW/p on IOTA OC-273 (20 CW). All in all very happy indeed and a good hours work.

The next day I had a longer, 3 hour session and fired up on 15m SSB with a view to working JA. I logged 114 JA stations with plenty of other DX from the Far East, several in the Pacific and also FW5JJ. At this stage I have not had chance to try the 40M element on TX too much, just a few NA and Caribbean stations so far. However, if the TX is as good as it looks on RX then 40m will do me just fine.

I am extremely happy with the antenna from both the performance to the build quality. This truly is a great antenna and a happy alternative to the previous 2 element SteppIR which the original version replaced.

If you are interested in any of the Hexbeam Antennas by Ant MW0JZE (including the new Ultra-Lightweight (6Kg) D-Hexpedition Antenna) then take a look at the website on this link http://www.g3txq-hexbeam.com/ I would certainly recommend any of his products.
M0VMX Rating: 2015-04-09
Brilliant Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I have had my Hexbeam from MW0JZE for 8 months now and its brilliant, its very well made and constructed with the best components. I have it installed on a 12 meter Tennamast and I am working the world with 50 watts thank you for such
a compact well made HF beam.
GM0FGI Rating: 2015-02-04
Excellent Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
For many years used home constructed VK2ABQ wire beam but got fed up of remaking each spring after winter storms. After research decided to purchase MW0JZE's Hexbeam just over a year ago.
Very easy to construct lightweight yet strong. First year's impression was that performance was marginally better on 20m and 15m than VK2ABQ but got an additional 3 bands and much better performance on 10m. Has withstood weather conditions at my seaside location until January this year when winds recorded at 6ft were up to 50km/hr, so would have been much higher at hexbeam height, caused 10, 15 and 20m elements to flap in the wind. Closer inspection showed that the elements had not fractured but that the nuts holding the elements on to the centre post had come off. Ant provided me with spare nuts and serrated washers to reduce vibrations. The elements have now been re-attached and we are back in action.


VK6WB Rating: 2014-12-24
QUAAAALITY ... Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bough this antenna about 14 mount ago, but have not install till 24/12/2014, as I have HEX Beam made by K4KIO still on the mast. I take K4KIO down
and make some comparison ..and what a lots of deferent in quality material, its miles apart. and
Vswr on this MW0JZE lots better then K4KIO.
Thanks To Antony such high quality product and perform really well. I will buy another one for spare.