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Reviews For: ZeroFive 30 Foot 10 to 80 Meter Flagpole Vertical

Category: Antennas: HF: Verticals; Wire; Loop

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Review Summary For : ZeroFive 30 Foot 10 to 80 Meter Flagpole Vertical
Reviews: 19MSRP: 619
Description:
FLAGPOLE 10 THROUGH 80 METER MULTIBAND COMMERCIAL DUTY VERTICAL ANTENNA 30 FEET TALL
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.zerofive-antennas.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
15195
N0WRK Rating: 2014-09-16
Good looking stealth antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I am also one of the many active Hams living in a neighborhood controlled by an HOA. I have tried a variety of stealth wire antennas on fences, attics, and rain gutters with mixed results. I have had an old battered standard flagpole up since 9/11. When it became time to upgrade that old flag pole I discovered the Zero-Five 30 foot vertical flagpole antenna on line.

I removed the "old" flagpole and put up the Zero-Five closer to my radio position to reduce cabling length. The area did not allow for uniform length of my radials but it did allow me to get many laid out and concealed although they varied in length.

While burying the radials I had the usual HOA inquiry about what I was doing. I replied I was just updating my flagpole and since it was a little higher I thought I needed lightening protection. I installed the antenna with a brick base covering the Unun and the night flag light. Neighbors now know it is an antenna but have no objections to it because it looks like a professional installed legal flagpole.

The antenna performs very well for me. My LDG AT-1000 Pro II tuner has no problem tuning all frequencies for SSB.

If I can hear the station I can usually work it (using an Amplifier) around the world. DX is no problem and I get good signal reports. The disadvantage is not being able to beam a direction. You do pick up more background chatter as a result but I have a variety of tuning abilities on my radio that helps to isolate that tough DX signal. Overall noise is not what I was expecting from a vertical of this size. Again radio filtering helps here.

This antenna works well for DX in my configuration. Contacting someone within several hundred miles of my QTH requires me to use one of my other wire stealth antennas. If you want to rag chew within that distance you won't like this antenna. But for reaching out to Europe, Asia, South America and most contesting it will do that.

Workmanship and materials are outstanding. It still shines like new after over 2+ years in the Colorado sun and winter weather. My fellow Ham club members still comment on how good it looks.

My only advice is you need to carefully plan your radials and don't scrimp there. It greatly helps. Call Tom if you have any questions about layout.

This antenna is a good investment for someone looking for a stealth antenna that enhances your property, it keeps the neighbors undisturbed, it gives you good performance and keeps the wife happy because it looks nice.
K8RBW Rating: 2014-08-09
Outstanding:Review Long Overdue Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have been a ham since 1959 and have gone through a multitude of antennas. In recent years, however, I have encountered the increasing dilemma of addressing the problem of HOA covenants. Accordingly, I asked the the HOA in various developments if they would approve the installation of a flagpole, not telling them that it would also function as antenna. Once approved in the area where I wanted to purchase a home, I ordered the 30 foot flagpole from Zero Five. It has proved to be an excellent decision.

Like many aging hams, I have encountered numerous physical liabilities with advancing years, most notably several knee replacements and a shoulder replacement. The project was clearly beyond my ability. Bill, AE4IQ, a dear friend, generously offered to help install it. It took several weekends to establish a the foundation and put up the antenna, also necessitating a number of phone calls to Tom at Zero Five to seek his advice. Tom was unsparing of his time whenever I called seeking his advice on proper grounding, the installation of radials, etc. I have a small backyard and he recommended that I install 34 twenty foot radials. I religiously followed his advice and the result has been outstanding. It is essentially resonant on 30 meters, ideal for me because I only work CW. It also loads very efficiently on all other bands from 10 through 80. Indeed, I routinely work Europe on 80 meters running 5 to 10 watts, a great joy. It withstands extreme winds. To enhance its stealth, I removed the Zero Five label from the unun and replaced it with one that reads "Lightning Protection Mitigation Module". I strongly recommend it to anyone facing similar HOA covenants.

How does it look? Fine business! The best recommendation comes from the vice president of our HOA. He stopped me once when I was backing out of my driveway and said he wanted to discuss my flagpole. I figured the jig was up. Much to my surprise. however, he said the HOA had been discussing it and unanimously decided I had the best looking flag pole in that portion of the city. He wanted to know where I had purchased it so he could also install one. I mumbled something about having to leave town and that I would get back to him. I called Tom and we had a big laugh. He said he might be able to make something for him, but he was concerned that he would figure out it came from an antenna company. I have been told that others have developed an interest in it as well, something that makes me a bit uneasy.

A couple of recommendations to improve the antenna:
1) The flag shredded in strong winds after about three months. Spend about $25 and get one that is highly durable.
2) The rope also shredded because it was rubbing against one of the bolts during high winds. Spend about $70 and buy yourself some good yachting rope.

Vy 73 to all.
de Dick, K8RBW
WA4TE Rating: 2013-01-02
Outstanding Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I initially was sorry I had only ordered a 24' flagpole antenna as I wanted 80 meter capability, needing a 30 footer. I was ready to try selling the 24' one and buy a new 30' one.

So, I called Tom at Zero Five and explained my problem. He immediately solved it much to my amazement. He suggested him making a new 6' extension that would exactly match the top of my existing antenna. I was worried this would have lacking capability because of the adaption. Tom said not to worry - it would be just as good.

The best part was the price, just a little over $100 with shipping. It arrived about a week later. It fit like a glove. And, it operates on everything from 6 to 80 meters.

Two days after erecting the flagpole commercial antenna, I got a letter from our HO Association because I had not obtained their permission. I responded with my letter quoting the "American Flag Law" George Bush signed into law about ten years ago. (Makes it unlawful for homeowners associations to keep me from flying the American flag). They immediately backed off.

I then had my electrician install a LED floodlight that automatically comes on at night. Then, I can legally proudly fly my American Flag day and night without taking it down.

After all, it is a flag pole; not an antenna, isn't it?

Who, but Zero-Five would have solved my stupidity problem without making me buy a whole new 30 footer?

And, it works perfectly with no exceptions. I would, nor could, not ask for anything better.

Tom. WA4TE. Amateur Extra
K5DBM Rating: 2013-01-02
Top Notch Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Here is my take on the ZeroFive 30' Flagpole Antenna after 1 year + of ownership and use:
Top Notch materials
Top Notch workmanship
Top Notch Customer Service from Tom
As a flagpole - looks great and works perfectly. As an antenna - best looking antenna you will ever see when she's flying Old Glory!
If I can hear them, they can hear me and 90% of the time with just radio drive. No problems tuning with and external tuner. Living in the Deep South, the antenna gets put to the test and when it's all over, she's straight as an arrow again. Not a single problem during the first year + of use.
If you're in a neighborhood with restrictions - this is the answer.
WA8DBW Rating: 2012-07-01
Outstanding Antenna! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
We sold the house and better than an acre of land for years ago. We moved into a condo and the HOA prohibits towers and outside antennas. Gone was the 90 foot free-standing tower, full size 160 meter antenna, tri-bander, Titan Gap vertical, etc.

I erected full size dipoles in the attic for 10 to 40 meters and an 85 foot long shortened dipole for 75. While they all worked great for transmit the noise on receive was horrendous on 75 and bad on 40. This was due to power line noise being picked up. Ohio and Federal Law permits one to fly the United States Flag from a free standing pole.

Long story short – I contacted Tom at Zero 5 and purchased the 30 foot Flag Pole and it came complete with US Flag, Balun, and all stainless hardware. Our nieces husband does concrete work so we had him dig the hole we placed a 4 foot form tube in with rebar and he filled it with concrete with the threaded rod that came with the flag pole. I placed the base on the four threaded rods while the concrete cured. He also poured a stamped concrete patio at the same time.

The flag pole is next to the patio and I placed radials before the patio was poured and I then placed additional radials in the yard. Since the condo association has a yard service for mowing and aerating of the yard, I buried the radials in the grass at a depth of 3 to 4 inches. I used my chainsaw with an old blade to dig the slits for each radial. I used number 14 insulated stranded wire connected to a ring of number 2 solid copper wire around the base of the flag pole.

The antenna works very well and I use a Nye Viking tuner in the shack. I can get a flat SWR on all the bands through 80 meters. I can even tune the flag pole on 160 but can only get a SWR of 1.5 to 1 at the high end of the band and it goes to just over 2 to 1 as I approach the low end of the band. Still quite good for only 30 feet high and 28 radials from 12 feet to 40 feet.

I have planned for the last three years to install more and longer radials but have yet to do so. I feed the antenna with about 150 feet of LMR 400. The shack is at the front of the condo and the flag pole is at the rear next to the patio.

If you are in a restricted location or just lacking the room to put up full size antennas, it would behoove you to look at Tom’s Zero 5 flag pole antenna.

73 Rich WA8DBW
W9FDA Rating: 2011-12-09
Far exceeded expectations Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I installed the antenna recently. Installation was of medium difficulty, I'd say. We had no problems. Tom of Zerofive was always available via email for help. The first day on the air, I had only one 30ft radial on the antenna and made numerous contacts all over the US and into VK land on 40. I currently have only 10 30ft radials and work into Europe regularly on 40 getting 5-9 reports. I use an FT847, Ameritron AL572 amp, at 800 watts and a ATR30 antenna tuner. Antenna tunes to a flat SWR on all bands 3.5-29.600 mhz. I have been very happy with the quality and performance of the antenna so far.
KI8M Rating: 2010-09-07
Great Stealth Antenna Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I purchased this antenna from Tom several months ago but only now (for too many reasons to list!) have completed the installation. Zero Five did an excellent job in getting the order filled and shipped quickly. All parts were carefully wrapped protecting the product from shipping damage. Although no written instructions comes with this product, Tom does a great job in explaining over the phone or through the internet questions that were particular to my installation. Because my back yard has ground like cement, I ran only about 30 foot of coax to a SG-230 tuner then to an Arrays Solution ATD-1 (to ground the antenna when not in use)then to the Flagpole. I have 46 radials that range from 35 feet down to about 10 (most of them are between 25 and 35)and a 8 foot ground rod by the base of the antenna and one more just before the coax comes into the house (both are bonded together with a transi trap on the coax by the house). I just got the antenna up this past weekend and have really enjoyed working contacts both state side and DX.

In summary, I'm keeping the neighbors happy in my HOA sub and I'm back on the air. So far, I've found if I can hear them, I can work them. It's a good, strong product. I'd buy from Tom again.

Gary - WA8FEA

W4THA Rating: 2010-07-29
Great Antenna and Flagpole Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I have a 58 acre farm and lots of room for any antenna you can imagine. I love to fly the flag so thought why not go for a flagpole vertical in addition to other antennas. After searching reviews and looking at photos of the antenna I decided to buy one. I couldn't be happier. The quality and workmanship of the materials is first rate. Support from Tom is extraordinary.

The antenna not only gets out well but it defies conventional wisdom by being much more quiet than my dipoles and G5RV. The signal to noise ratio of this antenna is an order of magnitude better. Not sure why that is, perhaps it's the supplied balun and/or maybe the excellent physical characteristics.

Using 36 20' radials at this time and coupled to my Flex-5000A with built-in auto tuner it easily loads and gets out well on 80-10.

We leave old glory up 24x7 and I have spotlights that light the pole and antenna - it looks fantastic. The only modification I made was to replace the supplied 3x5 flag with a 4x6 flag. I realize that will impact the wind loading specs but a pole of this length just needs that bigger flag. If the wind is forecast above 70 mph I'll just lower the flag.
WT9W Rating: 2010-07-13
Great Solution when living in a CC&R restricted community Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Delivery was prompt. Materials used are excellent. Although no instructions were included, Tom at ZeroFive provided prompt answers to all of my questions via phone and email. When I unpacked the flagpole I discovered the hardware was missing. Tom shipped it to me overnight. I installed the flagpole with a ground radial system consisting of 40 - 12 foot radials using #14 stranded wire. I feed the flagpole from my Kenwood TS-2000 through an MFJ-986 tuner. I've had the flagpole on the air for just over a week and from my PA location I have worked stateside as well as some reasonable DX including Cuba, Canada, Northern Ireland and New Zealand. This vertical is a keeper.