[HCARC] HexBeam Antenna

Mon Mar 2 04:21:02 EST 2015

Last week I posted a comment about a guy on Ebay that was building the cross 
attachment pieces for Yagi antennas for really inexpensive prices.  They 
were nicely drilled aluminum plates with inferior hardware (not stainless), 
but otherwise good quality.  He also sells the plates without the hardware 
CHEAP - under $10 bucks!!  I emailed him about making HexBeam Center Hubs 
and he has said he will be working out the proper dimensions and will have 
then for sale soonest.  The best price I have seen on Ebay for a center hub 
is $99.00.  I guess this guys hub without the hardware will be around $20.00 
and remember I have plenty of stainless hardware I got free from Gale Heise. 
Hopefully all of this might be ready before the April CLub meeting when John 
Weissinger gives his talk on HexBeams.   I can't wait.

I have been corresponding with another older Ham about Hexbeams.   His name 
is Frank K4RVN.  I originally contactedhim on how to use the HExBeam with a 
Hazer on a tower.  Turns out that it works just fine and that is a good 
thing as I would rather not climb towers if I can help it.   Frank has a 
HexBeam he has used for several years and these are his comments on their 
effectiveness:  A photo of Frank's HexBeam with Hazer is available on the 
K4KIO website.

"I replaced a 5 band 3 element Cubex quad at 50 ft with the 2 element hex 
beam. I have noticed very little difference in the two antennas but the quad 
was a tad better receiving being three elements. I do run about 900 to 1k 
watts on my hex,feed it with quality RG8X from the wireman and it is at 50 
ft. Since I built the 40 meter beam I spend most of my time on 40 now. 
Working DX on the hex is no challenge at all running the power I do. I like 
17 and 20 meters on the hex. 12 meters is next. Never get on 10 except in 
rare times when I get bored with the other bands. 15 meters works quite well 
on my hex also. I like to rag chew now better than DX unless the dx wants to 
have a conversation.

To summarize , I have owned 3 Yagis ,4 Quads, and none have given me the 
pleasure the little hex beam has. I have had mine over 3 years now. I would 
not give two cents for a trap yagi with just three bands. The one feedline 5 
bands no tuner or remote antenna switch has won me over to the hex beam. In 
all the years, I had never worked China with the Yagis or quads. I have done 
it twice with the hex beam. The specs don't look that great but we owners 
love them and think they perform better than the specs."

Gary J
N5BAA

-----Original Message----- 
From: John Canfield
Sent: Friday, February 27, 2015 10:36 AM
To: hcarc at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [HCARC] HexBeam Antenna

Very interested in a Hex-beam - been looking at K4KIO's version
(http://www.k4kio.com), he has solid 5.0 reviews which is amazing
considering that's 122 reviews!

Anxious to hear how yours works out Gary.  Can't make the club meeting -
I'll be in Houston.

John
wb5tht

On 2/25/2015 6:23 PM, Gary J - N5BAA wrote:
> There are a number of people in the club that either are or are 
> considering building HexBeam Antennas.  I just got in the last box of 
> HexBeam parts for my NA4RR HexBeam (6/10/12/15/17/20) antenna kit.  This 
> is the HexBeam that I have heard discussed most frequently recently (last 
> 6 months) on the radio and it is based on the G3TXO enhanced HexBeam 
> plans.  Anyway, I will be putting it together this next weekend after 
> having cleaned, primed and painted the spreader arms to ensure the South 
> Texas Sun’s strong UV rays do not damage the fiberglass arms any faster 
> than is necessary.  This is the most reasonably priced kit on the market 
> and has an innovative lay away program for those that need to spread the 
> cost out over as many months as they desire.
>
> For the people who have built, are building, or are considering 
> buying/building one of these antennas I will bring in the center hub 
> assembly and one of the arm assemblies for you to look at next weeks club 
> meeting.  I also have 4-5 copies of the assembly instructions for anyone 
> who wants one.  Let me know in advance if you would like a copy so I can 
> be sure to have sufficient copies.
>
> You can see the kits at hexagonalbeam.com.  The owner of the company is 
> Roger Rockwell who is an extremely helpful Ham Radio Operator.  Links to 
> Eham Review is:  http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/11234.  Email to Roger 
> is coastalsports at usa.net
>
> Gary J
> N5BAA
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