Hex Beam Aluminum Hub by DXE
The new antenna for 2010 at this QTH will be the popular G3TXQ Broadbeam Hex Beam. What follows is a look at the DX Engineering Hex Hub.
(more…)
Hexagonal (Hex) Beam Battle
It seems the hexagonal beam has come of age as multiple manufacturers square off in an attempt to claim market share of the growing market for this style of antenna.
Ever since the 2009 QST article many folks, myself included, became aware of the simple elegance of the Hexagonal Beam (also known as Hexbeam generally and Hex-Beam® by Traffie Technology).
(more…)
DXE knows how to package their products
This is a bit silly of a post for an amateur radio web site.
However, I just had to toot the horn of one company who has consistently provided great service. That company is DX Engineering.
(more…)
Old DX Engineering Radial Plates won’t fit 2 inch OD pipe
About two years ago I received a DX Engineering Radial Plate for Christmas. Nice gift for a ham eh?
It has been serving as the focus of twenty-eight 33′ radials and a 16.6′ vertical antenna for over a year with great results. A QSO, a 20 meter phone QSO, with a station in Australia was the highlight. Okay he had a stack of four 20 meter beams phased and pointing straight at me, but it still makes me like my dirt based 20 meter vertical.
(more…)
BigIR vs. 43 Foot Vertical Antenna EZNEC Shootout
Considering a vertical? Among all the dipoles, beams and other types of antennas, the lowly vertical has regained some popularity thanks, in part, to the BigIR SteppIR and, more recently, the 43 foot vertical offered by DX Engineering and Zero Five antennas.
(more…)
43 Foot Vertical and Coax Switches
Furthering the discussion of the 43 foot vertical antenna I wanted to report a concern I have with this antenna and the use of any relay based coax switch.
If you install a 43 foot vertical in your back yard, route the coax through a switch and handle the tuning inside your ham shack, you need to ensure you do not exceed the voltage or current limits of the relays in the switch.
(more…)
DX Engineering 8 Port RF Coax Switch Review
Last March while preparing multiple backyard antennas for the Virginia QSO Party, I needed a way to use just one coax out to the back yard. A coax switch was in order. Cash is always limited and I was seriously thinking about the Ameritron products… especially the four port model that does not need a separate control cable. However, I read some reviews suggesting the Ameritron RCS-4 works fine, but has leakage to the un-selected ports albeit small. I continued to search for switch and remembered DX Engineering has some models to consider. I have purchased other DX Engineering products and find them excellent.
(more…)
