New MACO BA1 Balcony Antenna

[Slowmover]

Reviews are to the good side.

 

[ShadowDelaware]

I could have posted this in CB antennas or the Ham section so instead I posted this here. Maco has come out with a new antenna its called the BA1 or Balcony Antenna. The BA1 is a portable style antenna that is made for those who cant have a permanent antenna installation done. This antenna was built with these renters that cant have these permanent affixed antennas in mind.

I seen this and just HAD to get one for myself to play with The antenna showed up via UPS yesterday. I was bored so I imediately dove into opening the box. It was a great surprise to open the box and not see 20 different parts and 6 bags of hardware!! There were 2 small bags one with hardware and the other with the 6 U-bolts and ofcourse there was the totally simplified assembly instructions with parts check list.

I got right to work laying out thhe 4 pieces of aluminum tubing 3 elements and 1 boom or mounting tube, 1 aluminum predrilled square stock plate and the pre assembled Gamma kit. I open the harware/parts bags and off to work I went. It didnt take long and was actually kind of interesting and cool to assemble.

I took my time because there was no rush and as I said not many parts to have to sort through so it was almost as if you knew or could easily figure out which hardware was married to what part. I assembled it and then went to the tuning of the Gamma match which was an absolute breeze to do. The antenna is a 10 - 11 meter antenna and there is 2 sets of adjustments 1 for 10 meters and one for 11 meters. I chose the 11 meter adjustments or setup because I knew there were local 11 meter SSB users that were always monitoring.

The antenna comes with Hardware to mount to a wrought iron railing balcony or to a wood railing balcony. Now heres the awsome thing about this particular antenna YOU CAN RUN IT VERTICAL OR HORIZONTAL!! This is done with a simple adjustment and can be done in just a few short minutes!! It involves loosening 4 nuts on 2 U-Bolts rotating the antenna and re-tightening thats it!! For my tuning and assembly I used a setup we use for our beams when assembling them its a simple platform or round base plate with a mast pipe welded to it with extensions we can add to get the antennas up higher as we construct or build them. What I did was assemble my BA1 Balcony antenna in the horizontal position so there wasnt a great need for height on my antenna at this point.

It only took a few minutes to tune or adjust the Gamma Match which I was by myself or alone so it took a few extra minutes. I took and plugged the antenna into my Yaesu 857D when tuning it so when I was done I began flipping through the band listening to a surprisingly ggreat recieve. I was surprised because this antenna is just a few feet off the ground maybe 4 foot or so. I keyed up on 11 meters and found a local that heard me he said he had an S8 signal on me and he lives about 1/2 hour from me so being that I was horizonal and he was vertical that was surprising let alone the fact was as I said I was only 4 foot off the ground!!

I spun through 10 and 11 meters checking the SWR and they were super!! I didnt even need the tuner. Im going to get this up higher on one of my towers and cant wait to see how it does on horizontal and Vertical aswell. I had talked a little skip with it 4 feet off the ground I hit 2 stations in California and 2 other places so I know this antenna is gonna be a fun thing to test and play with. I got the idea for trying one because Im out of town a few times a year and usually take a G5RV along and that works great on 75 20 and 40 meters but as far as 10 - 11 meters its ok I guess so I wanted something easy to pack up and take along and to be able to run vertical or horizontal with a 2 minute adjustment I can honestly say IVE FOUND IT IVE FOUND WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR!!

What I did was took red electrical tape and wrapped or marked each element at its assembly spot so I can take it apart and pack it for travel or transport and its basically just an easy re-assemble since everything is marked I cant say enough good things about this simplified antenna I am impressed with it and would recommend this to anyone who cant have that affixed permanent antenna installation or anyone just looking for a backup or spare to have around and those who want a good working portable. Yes I could you my Antrons or Imax 2000 but those dont offer the simple and quick Vertical Horizontal option.

Take a look at them they are fair priced built well and easy to assemble and install its pretty much a rotating dipole but boy does it work well. I will post as I do a few more tests as I complete them as I mentioned I just assembled it and havent got it higher up in the air yet.

http://www.macoantennas.net/NewProducts.html

Please explain the difference between vertical mounting and horizontal mounting. I just ordered this antenna and am gathering info.

 

[AudioShockwav]

Please explain the difference between vertical mounting and horizontal mounting. I just ordered this antenna and am gathering info.

I am afraid that Tony will not see this, he has not been here since 2017.
Simply put horizontal mounting is like this picture from the assembly manual.

Horizontal to the horizon.
And vertical mounting is vertical to the horizon.
Horizontal is directional and vertical is omnidirectional.

73
Jeff

 

[Crawdad]

A $30 Balcony Antenna. It was $30 bucks only after adding the enclosure and a toroid for a 1:1 RF choke. Worked Europe and more plus local on 11m.



7 3

 

[ShadowDelaware]

I am afraid that Tony will not see this, he has not been here since 2017.
Simply put horizontal mounting is like this picture from the assembly manual.
View attachment 71489

Horizontal to the horizon.
And vertical mounting is vertical to the horizon.
Horizontal is directional and vertical is omnidirectional.

73
Jeff

Thank you 73