HYGAIN DX-88

[w9cau]

Hello my name is Terry England call w9cau
I just bought me a DX-88 vertical and was wondering if anyone else has used this antenna? Where i have moveed to i don't have much of a choice of antenna's to pick from. This antenna looked like it might fill the bill for my location. I have never been much on vertical antenna's always had quad's and wire and a yagi or two. But that is what you get when you move to a HOA condo. I still have to kind-of hide it with camo tape around it hopeing it will be ok. Any info will be appricated. Tnx Terry

 

[Ham4CW]

Hi Terry
I was just having a look at the manual (pdf version) to your antenna. Wow, what a piece of engineering!

Something I did notice was the need for a good earth mat/radials, or tuned counterpoises. Have you installed the antenna on the roof or balcony, and if so how did you get around the need for a good earth?

Many folks give up on verticals saying that they are poor performers, but 99 times out of 100 the lack of performance is due to the lack of a good ground system!

Having owned a CP-6 with its one page instruction sheet, it's nice to see an antenna such as yours being shipped with a thirty page manual!

Best 73, Mark.

 

[w9cau]

Thanks for the replay on the DX-88 antenna. I just got it up and going today. It works well so far as I can see. Worked Ivory Coast and Ireland for the first to contacts. Also several state side as well. I bought the radial kit for it from Hygain and installed it. I am satisfied with it so far but only been on air with it for a few hours. That is all about of an antenna i can put up here where i live in this condo and the home owner association will allow. I will be glad to answer any other questions you or anyone may have about the antenna. Tnx Terry England w9cau

 

[ad4os]

I have used this antenna on and off for about 17 years. For vertical it works very well. I worked over 100 countries on it with CW. I only used it for a short period mounted on a roof and while it worked OK it performs much betted mounted on the ground and the radials can be much shorter.