Excellent all around HF performer

For HF portability and flexibility while out in the bush and playing this antenna creates allot of flexibility all in one antenna. I’ve used several G5RV’s over the years, many EDZ-Extended Double Zepps and Carolina Windom designs.

This antenna has some very interesting performance characteristic that has been used over the years on VHF/UHF as a J-pole antenna that we have never even given the design any consideration for HF until now with this design from Alpha Antenna.

During the ARRL DX CW Contest this weekend we decided it would be an excellent event to really put this antenna through some interesting RECIEVE conditions during the pileups. Being a DX Contest, we would be hearing stations from all over the world and they would be sending us their POWER levels during the contest so we would have some idea as to what the signal was like and basic power levels the DX stations were using. During the contest, is was simply amazing to hear so many stations from EUROPE running 5W and 10W QRP during the contest and on 15m which was the money band conditions were simply amazing, more over the Alpha 6-160M HF J-Pole antenna was amazing at receiving those lower power stations. Although the antenna has power limitation simply due to the balun design, the manufacture has commented that they have made head way toward a much higher 2 kW balun for uses with this antenna in the future. During my Receive comparisons I was using an existing Alpha DX antenna which is simply a multi-dipole for 80 thru 10 meters. Through the comparison I would switch between the two antennas for receive during the contest to see some of the signal results. Much to my surprise the antenna GAIN on 10-20 meters was just simply amazing in comparison. During the contest 15 meters was the money band during the entire weekend, and on 15 meters this antenna reception was simply fantastic in comparison to the dipole. During the reception test the S-Meter’s improvements were easily recognized as well as a significant improvement in the S/N ratio.

During the contest we used the antenna for reception on 40 and 80 meters in comparison again to the Alpha DX dipole antenna. The reception was equal to the receive capabilities of the Alpha DX Dipole, but remember this antenna is much easier to install. Another interesting factor was just how quiet the Alpha 6-160 HF J-pole was in comparison.

For Camping / Portable / Field Day / Exercises / Special Events this antenna would be the number 1 choice simply due to is great flexibility and simplicity in design and great performance in such a small compact package.

Excellent Job Alpha-Antenna, looking forward to more great product in the future.

73 Rob
K0RU, Vice President
Kansas City DX Club

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