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What Is The Best Base Antenna Under $135
- Thread starter DJboutit
- Start date
either one will do the job, so will an A 99 for around $50 or an Imax 2K around $130, basically hard to tell them apart on the receive side of the QSO but the $$ is big difference.
Or roll your own if you are into building antennas lots of info on the net for 5/8 wl and 1/4 wl vertical antennas, can build one for less than $20 and perform as good as the $130 ones
Or roll your own if you are into building antennas lots of info on the net for 5/8 wl and 1/4 wl vertical antennas, can build one for less than $20 and perform as good as the $130 ones
Might want to check out the sirio line of antennas too. The sirio 2016 is just a tad more than 135 with shipping, but is built well and tunes well. Set one up for a local and had very good results. The sirio tornado is about 106 shipped and isn't bad either, but is a lighter antenna and is more prone to damage from bad weather. I have a sirio tornado up at 18ft and it has worked well for me, but if I was looking for another the sirio 2016 would be one I would consider. The Maco 5/8 are decent antennas as well but have their weak points.
sirio m-400 and tornado fit the bill nicely . if ya can add a few more dollars the 827 has some great reviews
RatsoW8
Supporting Member, W9WDX ARC Member - WD8T
Or get the MFJ 10m moxon ($84.00) and lengthen the elements like CB Radio Magazine did to get it to work on 11m for his review. Then you get a 2 element yagi with little better gain than the A99 or Imax and a little more erp in the direction it's pointed. You also get some decent rejection off the back side to null out the big mouths who can wreck your contacts. Light weight and can easily turned with a cheap tv rotator.
That's what I'm putting up later in the summer for 10 meters..
That's what I'm putting up later in the summer for 10 meters..
The maco v58 is a good antenna. Get the v5000 f you run a decent amount of power. It has to be assembled and tuned correctly to work right...if you want to throw it up and talk an a99 or imax 2000 might be what you're looking for.
The 827 is built with thicker aluminum sections. Which one is better is a matter of what you want. The tornado is a great antenna, but is lightweight aluminum it's almost 1/3 the weight of the 827. The 827 uses thicker aluminum sections for sure. The 2016 is just about like the 827, the 2016 is about 1.5lbs less in weight. The 827 weighs over 13.22lbs so better have a good mast setup or tower for it if you plan on going up very high with it. As far as which is better, the 827 and tornado are both 5/8th wave antennas, the 827 most likely the better antenna due to the beefier aluminum, but both probably perform about the same at the same height. JMHO.
Check out DNJ Radio for the sirio line, or H&Y. Good luck. If I had the money and was planning on another 5/8th wave antenna, the American built shockwave antenna is a pretty nice one but has a steep price tag. It's an HD built antenna though. Again JMO.