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With
the upcoming CQWW VHF QSO Party coming up this weekend (7/16/2011), and
the recent 6M band openings, I thought it might be a good time to upgrade
my 6M antenna. Currently I have been using the Icom 7000/AH-4 with about a
65’ longwire at 5’. While that setup produced results on 6M, I wanted to
get more antenna without going to a yagi/rotor.
Researching the WWW, I found PAR Electronics and their Omniangle series of
horizontal “loop” antennas. An email to the company got a quick and
courteous response from the owner Dale Parfitt W4OP. Dale’s company
manufactures a myriad of products right here in the USA, including the
Omniangles and a 6M Stressed Moxon.
I
ordered the OA-50 late in the day on 7/6/2011, had a tracking number the
next morning, with the antenna arriving on 7/13/2011. Dale had even
emailed to confirm that I got my tracking number as I was one of a bunch
of orders that wanted delivery before the CQWW event. Great customer
service!
Now
to the OA-50. The antenna is a triangular shape that is slightly more than
a ½ wavelength. PAR states that this design is as close to a perfect omni
as possible, and more so than other square or round “loop” type antennas.
Power handling rating is 160 watts. Weight is 1.5 pounds.
The
radiator is made of ¾” square aluminum tubing with a hole drilled in each
end to accept the 5/16” tubes. The holes are drilled with such tolerance
that the when the tubes are inserted and curved via the shrouded tip
assembly, the friction created allow no movement. The tubes are 5/16”
round aluminum tubing. The shrouded tip assembly consists of aluminum
inserts inside of a PVC type tube. The ends of this assembly slide into
the free ends of the 5/16” tubing.
The
manual states that the 5/16” tubes are inserted through the radiator 1”.
SWR adjustment is accomplished my manually slightly straightening the
tubes to relieve the friction and sliding them in or out to adjust SWR.
(Pretty slick).
For
base operation, a “nail” is provided with the antennaso that you can
“stake” the shrouded tip assembly to the tubes. For mobile/portable
operation, you may not want to do that in order to have quick disassembly.
Assembly is very easy and was done in about 10 minutes with minimal tools.
The
OA-50 as removed from the well packed shipping box. Square tubing sections
are pre-assembled. The small black box is a balun and is ready to attach
via the two screws that also attach the mounting brackets/insulator to the
radiator. (As the radiator is insulated from the support mast, a metal
mast can be used). |
