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| Reviews Summary for DX Engineering HEXX Antennas and Components |
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Reviews: 2
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Average rating: 4.5/5
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MSRP: $599.95
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Description: At the center of the new HEXX antenna is the exclusive DX Engineering patent pending rugged cast aluminum HEXX Hub and stainless steel V-saddle clamps. This unique design may be used in the construction of either the classic or G3TXQ broadband hex beam antennas.
For the rest of the antenna frame, high quality stainless steel element clamps rigidly hold the telescoping fiberglass sections at the correct lengths without drilling holes. Exclusive DX Engineering stainless steel element clamps with studs provide secure attachment points for the driven element feed points without drilling, which would weaken the fiberglass.
The unique Floating Element Wire Guides allow independent movement of the radiating wire elements and flexible fiberglass spreaders in the wind without creating breaking stresses. ...many other unique, high quality features.
Available in several forms - from a complete 5-band kit at $599.95 to individual component packages.
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More info: http://www.dxengineering.com/Products.asp?ID=305&SecID=154&DeptID=49
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write your own review of the DX Engineering HEXX Antennas and Components.
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KC9JCH
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 18, 2009 18:55
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Hears very well
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I read the prior review... Did he even build one? I am happy to be the first to review this fine antenna. I bought a kit of components from DXE and built a 5 bander. I have it at 50 feet, and it performs very well. That will be a relative term for many of you but let me say this is my first directional antenna, I had previously had only wire antennas and kept my "good doublet" up for a comparison. The hex beam is 2 to 3 s units higher from Europe than my best wire on 20m and 17m. It does seem to hear very well.
Construction is straightforward. The components are first class. All the hardware is stainless steel, the spreaders are substantial. The cast aluminum center hub is a work of art. If anyone is considering homebrewing this antenna, the hub is spectacular. It tunes where it is designed to. I didn't find slotting the fiberglass tubes to be a heinous task, I used a reinforced cutoff wheel on a dremel tool and it worked FB. The measurements of where the wire guides went on the spreaders was off a bit, but moving them up or down the spreaders to achieve appropriate wire tension was easy enough. My mast (a crankup AB-577 military surplus) is just adjacent to my garage roof, so I carried the completed antenna up a ladder to place it on top of the mast before cranking it up, it only weighs about 25 pounds all told.
Having never had a beam before, I wasn't sure what to expect. It is quieter than any of my wires on receive, appears to have several s units of rejection off the sides, but the performance of the broad band hex is well documented elsewhere, including a recent QST article that prompted me to build it. If you are reading this, you probably already know what the claims of performance are. I can't find any fault with the DXE components whatsoever and would certainly buy from them again and at $599, it is a fraction of the cost of some of the other hex beams out there.
Short take... Great product
Looking forward to some sunspots!
KC9JCH
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WA6RZR
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Rating: 4/5
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Jul 13, 2009 20:37
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Give Me a Break!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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This is probably a great antenna from an excellent company, but to require the purchaser
to slot the fiberglass tubes with a saber saw
or whatever, is a no no.
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