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Reviews For: ULTIMAX 100 End Fed HF Antenna

Category: Antennas: HF: Verticals; Wire; Loop

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Review Summary For : ULTIMAX 100 End Fed HF Antenna
Reviews: 78MSRP: 85.00
Description:
SPECS:
Configuration - End Fed
Power - 1500 Watts PEP rating
Length - 24 feet
Weight - 3.5 pounds
Polarization – Vertical, Horizontal, Sloped
Connector – SO-239-50 ohm
SWR < 2.5:1 – (3:1 tuner required all radio tuners work)
Bands – from 3.0 MHz to 54 MHz (80 to 6 meters)
Radials - none required
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.ultimax-antennas.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
35784.5
WB4EJZ Rating: 2014-08-01
Super Antenna! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I ordered the Ultimax 100 from Albert and received it in just 4 days. I unpacked it late one evening, connected it and was promptly getting 10db over S9 into the western US and like reports from Europe. This skyhook breathed new life into my radio. And get this...the antenna was temporarily configured 3 feet off the ground, supported by branches of my backyard maple tree.
My rig's internal tuner readily tunes 40 through 10m. The 80m band, as Albert agreed, would benefit from another 20 or as much as 40 ft of wire added. I'd heartily recommend this antenna to anyone!
W5AAF Rating: 2014-06-06
W5AAF Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
This antenna is outstanding. Tried the 24 foot one and it didn't get out that well. Called Albert up and he suggested changing to # 14 strained wire at 68 feet long. This length of wire gets me out on all bands 80 to 10 meters
with excellent results. I run it bare foot except on 80 meters. As your aware 80 meters during the summer months has a high noise level until around October. I Put on a 300 watt amp and life is good on 80 meters.
VE6AGE Rating: 2014-05-08
Amazing Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I just installed my Ultimax100 and wow... I can't believe my ears. Super amazing end fed HF antenna. I have to say thank you Albert. You are a superb fine gentleman. I highly recommend the Ultimax100 to anyone wanting an easy to install antenna. The workmanship is just superb. Nicely done and I'm sure it will last for a long long time. Again, thanks Albert. I'm having lots of fun on HF.
AD4BF Rating: 2014-04-25
Needs tweaking Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I've been using this antenna in a sloped configuration for 6 months. Over that time I experimented with direct grounding, counterpoise, etc.

I use a RigExpert AA-54. After many different configurations, I have discovered that three non resonant radials and a 53' longwire seem to do the trick. The AA-54 shows an average SWR of 1.6 - 2.0 without a tuner across 10 to 80 meters in the band segments normally associated with CW/digital. Tuning in the phone segment on 10m is a different issue as I have never been able to tune under 1.75:1 there.

The biggest issue I have is the tendency of the core to saturate during longer operating sessions.

A friend is running his end fed with a Balun Designs 5KW 9:1 (Model # 9135) using the same configuration, wire gauge, counterpoise, etc I use. There is no comparison. The Balun Designs 9:1 absolutely blows away the Ultimax matching unit. Lower SWR across the bands, no saturation, and the core stays stable. I have ordered a 9135 but will keep the Ultimax unit as a back up.

The Ultimax is a good antenna for what it is. Comparing it to the Balun Designs unit is like comparing a BMW to a Ford. For those of us with restricted real estate, my advice would be to get your hands on a Balun Designs 9:1. It is significantly more expensive but it just plain WORKS. Keep your Ultimax for your back up, bug out bag, Field Day, etc
KC7PPF Rating: 2014-01-29
Great DX antenna Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I got this antenna because of a limited space. We bought a motor home and with the aid if a Jackite telescoping pole,on the back, I now have my station working in our motor home. My first contact was two contacts in Finland. I have made contacts in Spain, England and most stateside locales. I check in daily on the net in Hawaii. And Alaska is no problem. I use a FT-857D at 100 wts. This is a great antenna and I can not sing higher praises for Albert, the designer and builder, the customer service is A++. I gave it a 5 because I couldn't give a higher rating.... it deserves a 10.
KA3YAN Rating: 2013-04-08
Great for 100w confined space! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had the ULTIMAX 100 now for about a year. This was my first commercially purchased HF antenna. I initially used it as an apartment antenna for MARS and Ham HF and it worked great. It handles 100 watts without any issues at all. I did work with the manufacturer (Albert, N3YV) to come up with a more ideal solution concerning radiator length. For me, running the radiator as an inverted V over a tree branch, the suggested 49ft length worked perfectly. Albert suggested that 66ft is the maximum length, but I had mixed results with that length.

I would've given the antenna a rating of 5 except that at transmitting power above 100 watts, the matching network easily becomes saturated and fails to perform. At 500 watts PEP, the network collapses within 15 seconds of beginning my SSB transmission giving me an indefinite SWR until I unkey for a second or two.

I did add a lug to the matching unit to add a couple of ground radials. While that didn't help the saturation problem, it does seem to improve my signal strength a bit. I am running two elevated radials along a wooden fence. I'm actually using the two unused radiators (24ft original and 66ft that I made and decided not to use).

If you are dealing with extremely confined space and only plan on transmitting 100 watts or less, I would highly recommend this antenna.
KC2CEP Rating: 2013-03-30
Great End Fed Antenna Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Bought a Ultimax 100 End fed and put it up as a sloper at about 30 feet from my tower to a tree. Well, it exceeded my expectations and performs great. No problem making contacts with this wire end fed and works almost as good as my vertical. Great addition to my antenna farm. It tunes from 10 to 40 no problem. Hey, its not a beam but if you have space limitations, its a great choice.
Joey N2CEP
K8LEN Rating: 2013-03-18
Good antenna for the buck Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have owned my antenna for 2 years now.
It works great for me, the end is up 25 feet and the wire is set up as a sloper..bands worked 10-40 and no problems at all.I think it is to short for 80 because of the length so did not try on that band.
NO DX but not after it. I work from California to the East Coast and North to South with no problems. Good buy for the money.
By the way I run 50 watts ssb or cw.
N7DMA Rating: 2013-03-10
Great Antenna! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I live in a small, one bedroom second floor condo, with (illegal!) access to the attic space. My previous HF antenna was a ladder-line fed doublet, 12 feet per leg. I had poor results on any band lower than 20 meters, but OK performance above. No external antennas allowed here. I'm on the board of directors for my HOA, and I can honestly say that there is no compromise on the CCR's as far as this situation is concerned.

I decided to give the Ultimax 100 antenna a try, and I'm not dissappointed. It's allowed me to get back on 40 meters, a band that I've really missed!

Hey, it ain't a beam, or a full sized dipole, but it does work rather well! At least it's allowed me to get back on 40 CW, and it works well from there on up. No comments on 80 mtrs, as I think it's too short to be effective on that band, but it does hear rather well down there! I'll have to give it a try this winter.

It's the best I can do, in my situation. Bash it if you want, but for me, it works well.

And, no, I'm not in any position to move into the country, where I can put up anything I like. For this city dweller, it works FB. Great SWL antenna, too!

Thanks Albert for a great, ruggedly built product. I expect it to outlive me, and the next owner of this place (when they take me out feet first!) will probably be wondering what it was for!

A great product!
73,

Karl
N7DMA
Tucson, AZ
KD4HGR Rating: 2013-03-09
Works Great Time Owned: more than 12 months.
OK I have had this for some time now and this is my second review on this antenna.
First let me say STOP trying to compare this to a full size dipole and calling it crap..For HOA and condo dwellers like me this antenna works. Now its not going to out preform a beam or full size vertical or dipole so dont even try to compare to one..If you have limited space or antenna restrictions like me then this antenna will get you on the air!