What 5/8 wave base antenna?

[BlueSolo]

Old Guy in East Texas..been out of Radio for 30 plus years..looking for a Base Antenna..(the brands that I remember are long gone) ..have been reading up on 5/8 wave antennas..but..the workman/Jetstream/maco/hi-gain 5/8s all look the same..plus or minus $20. Theirs a company called Sirio that makes coil 5/8s..IE..sirio 827/2008/2012..but I know nothing about them! All the antennas are about $150..give or take..my question is..are any of these worth a flip..or..do I need to toss in another $100 and look into something in the 10-12 meter range?? I do not mind spending the money for something better that is going to last! Thank You.

[jessejamesdallas]

Check out the Mr.Coily Excalibur .64 ground plane...I have one, and although they "look-like" most of the other 5/8 ground planes, the Coily is built like a tank...cost a little more but they come pre-tuned by Dan, all you have to do is assemble the tubing to marks he put's on each one, and you should be done...mine tuned 1.1 just going by the marks he had on each radial...didn't have to do any more fine tuning...

[battyice]

If you want a simple fiberglass antenna, check out an Imax 2000. Pretuned for 11 meters, but a lot of guys use them on 10 and 12 meters also. If you want an aluminum antenna, Maco 5/8 or Hy-Gain Super Penetrator are the ones I would look at.

[MDYoungblood]

You won't find a 5/8 wave antenna that will cover both 10 and 12m bands without a antenna tuner even though some claim they will, 10m is shorter than 11m but close enough to be used but 12m is considerably longer. The Maco or generic brands are okay 5/8 wave antennas, Sirio has a model called the Tornado 27 which is a decent 5/8 wave at an excellent price ( check DNJ) or my pick is the HyGain SPT 500, if you are looking for an antenna built like a tank than I'd go with the "Mr Coily" as mentioned.

3's

Greg

[KP68]

Check out the Mr.Coily Excalibur .64 ground plane...I have one, and although they "look-like" most of the other 5/8 ground planes, the Coily is built like a tank...cost a little more but they come pre-tuned by Dan, all you have to do is assemble the tubing to marks he put's on each one, and you should be done...mine tuned 1.1 just going by the marks he had on each radial...didn't have to do any more fine tuning...

I second that word for word. The antenna will handle some power too. I'll just say I've taken it to its limit with the 7/16 DIN connector a few times and it is as advertised.

[BlueSolo]

I just wanted to Thank Everyone of their input on the 5/8 wave antennas. The MrCoily antenna really does seem like the best one out there today..but..it is out of my price range!(with shipping,..its $500 to my door)and being on Social Security does not leave me that much room for that price of a antenna! I'll do a little more checking..and probably go with MDYoungblood said on the Sirio Tornado 27 or the Hygain SPT-500. Either of those are less the $200 to my door! Thanks again to everyone! Respects.

[Pizzaman247]

My Sirio 5/8 only cost around $90 shipped to the house - It's only rated for 350 watts constant with a peak of around 500/750 - But ,It works much better than the antron 99 with radial kit I had before

[BlueSolo]

Thanks for the info Pizzaman247! I do not think much of fiberglass base antennas. It has to be Aluminum!

[zamboni]

maco 5/8 works great for me way better then my imax 2000 (no ears) aluminum all the way....just my 2 cents

[BlueSolo]

yes sir mr.Zamboni...that Maco 5/8 does wotk well~!

[zamboni]

*5/8 wave
*5 DB gain
*24 length
*Aircraft aluminum construction
*25 to 32MHz tunable
*SWR matching ring above the 4 (8ft) ground radials
*1500W power handling
*2 U bolts & clamps included for mounting to mast (mast not included)
*SO239 coax connector on bottom
*1.5:1 max SWR
*Oversize S&H
*Shipping cost may be amended
*International shipping not available
Maco 5/8

Our Price: $109.95
GI JOES ELECTRONICS

[BlueSolo]

Good Price in that Maco 5/8 at GI JOES ELECTRONICS! Thanks Mr.Zamboni

[De_Wildfire]

I use my Imax 2000 with a tuner. Talked all over the world when the skip is in since 2006. Two contacts with Japan on 10M. It works great with a tuner down to 15M. Without any radials within the last two months, I worked Hawaii, Brazil, Columbia, Argentina, Mexico, Central America, Europe, South Africa during the contest on 15M. Imax 2000 is sitting on a 13 foot pole and the top half sticking out of a tree. It's painted green. When the skip is in on 11M, I hook up my President Washington running 12 watts and talking to Florida, Georgia, Tn, Al, Mi, Oh, In, and Nova Scotia. Can't go wrong with the Imax 2000. Built to last by experience. Soon the antenna going to outlive the Coax. lol

[Rabbit Ears]

MDY,

I bought a hy-gain SPT-500! Thanks for your input MDY!! Really cool!

[MDYoungblood]

MDY,

I bought a hy-gain SPT-500! Thanks for your input MDY!! Really cool!

I think the HyGain is the best "less expensive" omni antenna on the market but there are a bunch more. Most aluminum antennas are marketed for ham (amateur) radio, but doing a little math, they can be adjusted for 11m (CB band). You will have to do some math with the HyGain.
Another less looked at is the Mosley "Devant Special" and the "Dispatcher" custom frequency (he takes the guess work out of it for you). Maco is a good choice, now made by Charles Electronics who also makes the "Gizmotchy" brand antenna.

3's

Greg

[Rabbit Ears]

Thanks buddy! Just wanted to let you know that I'm getting rid of my Sirio Tornado antenna... had constant troubles with it.