An evening spent with the new SlideWinder DX coil antenna | amateur radio

Recorded 29th October 2020
I was very pleased to be contacted by David and Rob of M1ECC antennas and asked if I would do a test of the new SlideWinder DX antenna they have just released. I was not paid for this, not even a bag of haribos in the shipping box but I have my own supply, so I will happily review the product voluntarily and impartially.
This test is not scientific nor any robust comparison to other coils but rather my opinions after using the various coils from the same portable location in similar conditions.
My thoughts are, I hope to keep the coil, the design and build quality seem very good, the adjustment (tuning) ring was easy to adjust in adverse conditions, making it easy to tune it. The resonance is wider than the other coils, meaning I could have a low SWR from the data area of the 20m band up to the voice area without having to re tune.
I'm looking forward to trying out the coil further, as with the Wolf River Coil which was recently donated to the channel, maybe I could make a dipole out of the two?
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I'm a licensed amateur radio operator from the United Kingdom. My KZbin channel features videos focusing on operating portable radio from various locations plus how to videos, tutorials, insights and conversations in the hobby.

[@Tantalicdavid]

Many thanks Carl on a good honest review

[@mikeh9446]

Nice coil, :-)Would be interesting for a dual band collar system... tune two bands and use one disconnect and change over in a jif could be like SB1000 WRC setup, ease of use.

[@Tantalicdavid]

@@mikeh9446 It's so easy to tune it doesn't require it.

[@mikeh9446]

Got one cheers be nice comparison very little details on the site for information, slight negative, what they recommend for radials, just not that informative like competitors WRC to mention one, fully documented with excellent videos, just will go with my use of the mini and sb100 102 and mfj -1979 (which is resonant alone for 20m by itself)

[@mikeh9446]

@@Tantalicdavid thanks that is great another antenna in my collection look forward to using it. cheers

[@Pedro8k]

One of the best manual mobile and portable HF coils and antenna so easy to use

[@wayneskiba1237]

Carl, a great video, I really enjoyed how you compare different manufacturers of portable/mobile antennas. The fact that you show them in use really helps in choosing the right antenna for your particular situation, and use. Thanks again Carl, and have a a very Merry Christmas.

[@M0SZT]

Have a merry Christmas!

[@Ray_M0MXN]

Thanks for the review Carl 👍👍

[@markg6jvy135]

Nice review Carl and liking the new branding 👍👏👏

[@ianxfs]

Thanks Carl. I noticed those the other day. Lots of different colours too 🌈 👀

[@mikes6844]

Really useful vid Carl, great that you are supporting U.K. based products. More and more hams are recognising that taking their radios out and about and be great fun. Good to have access to affordable well made products. We need more U.K. based firms making their presence known. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@andrewhill4226]

Ordered my Slide winder coil today ! Looking forward to trying out at the weekend. Thanks for the review, will see if it works for what I want to use it for ? 73's Andy M6APJ.

[@m0bob]

I ordered one this evening. My Christmas present!

[@richardtwyning]

Nice one Carl. Hoping to get the IC-705 next year so looking into all antenna possibilities. I've looked at the MFJ-1979. Will definitely check out the slidewinder 👍🏻 73s M7GTX

[@Tommyr]

I have the wolf river coil also (recently bought) and I too find the collar hard to move up and down. I bet there is a way to make it easier, I'll have to google a bit to see. Bending that inside metal piece under the collar a little probably has to be done. Good video Carl! Also Carl for carrying the coil system you can get a Tripod carry case for pretty cheap on Amazon. That's what I'm going to do.

[@CaptainK007]

An excellent inclement coilistious lurk.

[@mikeh9446]

Carl to eliminate the stiffness of the mini WRC coil, remove screw from collar and detach wire, slide collar off and adjust the spring, push back with screwdriver to release that tension, had a similar problem on both mini and SB1000 to make it easier for sliding the top collar up and down without so much effort , great video, always watch your content keep the videos coming :-)

[@M0SZT]

Thanks, I'll definitely be doing that!

[@hfvhf987]

My dad used to make these coils out of nylon, he used to turn them on a lathe, they were super strong and reliable, better than anything you can buy today.

[@M0SZT]

Sounds like the one in the video

[@hfvhf987]

@@M0SZT na, you'd need to see it to believe it, you can't buy things like that.

[@M0SZT]

@@hfvhf987 it’ll be interesting to see pictures of it and performance measurements, there must be some if it was that good 👍

[@hfvhf987]

@@M0SZT they're long gone mate, this was back in the 80' and 90's and unfortunately he gave up radio and got rid of everything when he moved long ago. He was an engineer by profession so everything he made back then was way over engineered lol

[@AndyWragg]

You get all the nice toys Carl. Not the best weather for using a coil, their achilles heel is the wet. We (M0ONI - Gary and I ) tried to use the Super Antenna coil for WFD 2019, but it was unusable due to it shorting in the rain. I also reached out to WRC (and just happened to add I was POTA admin - they didn't bite LOL) but the cost of importation wasn't viable, at least not for me. The WRC does appear to be very "clunky". Might have to take a look at the M1ECC but to be fair I'm quite happy using the DXC Expedition set up for now. Take care buddy. 73 G1AW

[@ve3pcp]

Carl, you would find if you add a short mast, around 22" or do, between the coil and feedpoint, the overall efficiency improves. Base loading is the least efficient way to load an antenna. It will tune differently if course but should still be able to do so. If you want a manufactured short mast, Hustler makes one for their mobile antenna system that has the correct thread top and bottom and it 22" long.

[@M0SZT]

Very interesting! Many thanks

[@1fanger888]

Cool, thanks

[@andyM7XTT]

Good video mate .just think one day it might not rain for you 🤣🤣

[@markb7734]

Thanks Carl. Interesting content. Cheers. M0MVK mark

[@donizzo8884]

Nice review Thank you W1FYG

[@19levante82]

I am surprised that you had limited bandwidth with the WRC, as I have one and it is pretty flat across the whole of 20m 73 G0DGF

[@martinsalt1839]

Just seen this video Carl, very nicely done thanks. I bought a WRC Silver Bullet Mini coil about 2 years ago (imported it into the UK). Is it worth me buying the Slidewinder, or will the performance be very similar ? I don't have any issues with moving the collar on the WRC. Thanks. Martin M0UMS

[@M0SZT]

You can't have too many coils :-) I use two of them like a dipole, lots of experimenting.

[@NICKGAR7]

I wonder what the inductance range is for all three coils? Be neat to know so as to determine whether any could be used as a base load coil with (say) a 10-15m piece of wire on 80m. Thanks for the video Carl!

[@Tantalicdavid]

The Slidewinder would tune 80m with ease on that length of wire, It nearly tunes 80m to a VSWR of 2:1, Using the MFJ1979 Telescopic whip antenna.

[@NICKGAR7]

@@Tantalicdavid thanks for the information.

[@mi0lpo]

If you get a fishing pole tube cut down to size and add a strap if there isnt one already be good to carry the kit .................i use pole fishing holdalls to store antenna elements ect ..................congrats again on the exam pass

[@davidlucas6837]

Hi Carl, great video, just wondered how the Slidewinder compares with the Super antenna system? G8XDD

[@M0SZT]

It’s difficult to compare, the super antenna comes as a portable kit complete with kit bag and has more parts. On a good day they both perform well

[@davidlucas6837]

@@M0SZT Ok Carl, many thanks

[@600raficrow]

to carry the antenna why not get hold of an ex army mortar tube they are about 2 or 3 ft long and have a screw cap ...very useful and possibly add a shouldr strap