BD7IBI Telescoping antenna 20-6M - AliExpress Antenna Review $21!!! - Reduce Erection Sagging Now!

[@HOAHamRadio]

Thanks Dude. Nice objective information so hams can make an informed decision.

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

Thanks. Will be interesting to get a few more brands and test more in the future... Also in the cold

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

Check out the HOA Ham's comparison to the chameleon kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zn67k5t3eNyAhsk

[@JReed305]

I have been reading the thread on QRZ about these. Nice to see you do a video on it. I may get a couple just as some thing to mess around with.

[@JReed305]

Wanted to provide an update to you. I got a pair of these whips and used a MFJ Hamstick Dipole center to put them together. Stuck it on top of 2 10 foot sections of chain link top rail for a cheap 20 foot mast and tuned it for 10m. This has been such a fun antenna. I have it generally facing VK/ZL land and have been making a bunch of contacts into Australia and New Zealand with it on 10m SSB and FT8, still need get the length set for the other bands but it has been fun on 10. Glad you made this video it was the push to get me to hit the buy button. P.S. I found them on Aliexpress for $16 after some searching around.

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

Glad to hear how well it's working!

[@ARM_THEAS]

i bought an antena for 0.36 coins

[@davebittner822]

I would love to know more about the clever use of the pulley - do any of your other videos describe those components? (I did a quick search and didn't see anything.) Thanks!

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

Hello! Thanks for asking. I had thought I had made a video about the pully system but I must not have (I don't see it either) Basically, I made all these toppers for masts that take a 3/8" bolt. For example - www.thingiverse.com/thing:6059481 . With that, I went to home depot and I got some pullies in the laundry department (clothesline pulleys) www.lowes.com/pd/Blue-Hawk-1-1-2in-Clothesline-Pulley/1000896784?store=&cm_mmc=shp-_-c-_-prd-_-hdw-_-ggl-_-PMAX_HDW_000_Priority_Item-_-1000896784-_-online-_-0-_-0&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA4fi7BhC5ARIsAEV1YiYFFykWLbwmyYKP349fjvPoFWn10XV15b0OfLB_rEpeTLoPsekaTKgaAn7aEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds. Sorry for the long link: I attach the pully to the topper and then I could use the pully to hoist up antennas, flags, or whatever I need to on the top of my mast. I am uncertain when I will be able to make a video on it (I don't like the cold weather), but I could answer more questions, if you have them. Hopefully this gives a bit more insight! 73!

[@McPilot_W3DDS]

Great video It's pronounced "AL-ee" express as in Ali Baba...

[@aldewitt9]

This is quite helpful. Great job.

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

Thank you

[@muskrat1949]

I live in a 4th floor condo with a 22 ft balcony. Which antenna setup would you recommend for a beginner (just got my license- VA2KDJ)? The trees in front are too far to connect a wire to. thanks

[@Swede_4_DJT]

Greetings from Sweden! You, Sir, just got yourself a new subscriber and a like 🎉 Where did you get your mast? It looks so easy to use!

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

Hello, I had the masts manufactured (They were sold under Gigadude), a few years ago. I made the top piece for the mast as well. I belive WIMO in the EU now sells The GigaDude, under their own name. www.wimo.com/en/telescopic-rigid-portable-masts?queryID=653ce246929ac5a7a60dcfb51949cc89&objectID=30978&indexName=wimo_live_wimo_b2c_eu_en_products#?817=13311 The one difference is mine was 25 feet (7.62m), and they offer 6, 10, or 16m masts. Good luck and thanks!

[@dpinkerton7441]

Entertaining as always, just thinking that strapping a 3 ft fiberglass rod across the center would have fixed the weakest link and if the dipole was mounted vertical it would have even fixed the erection sagging Vk2DKP

[@dgpace]

I have the MFJ and the Chameleon versions of the 17' collapsable antenna. I agree with you that a dipole or a vertical made from either of them works great on 20m-2m just tuning by changing the lengths. Better than wire since the diameter/skin effect is much larger than a 20g wire. SWR is flat across the 20m band. I find that the Chameleon is much thicker than the MFJ, does not sag as much in a dipole configuration and I would trust it to hold up better. Like you I have topped over the dipole antenna mast and the MFJ has tip bent but the Chameleon did not (I was able to bend it back more or less). I would guess the end segment is twice as large on the Chameleon as the MFJ. In a vertical configuration I doubt it would matter much and you could guy it with a piece of tubing, some cable ties for tension and string which is what I have done. The ones I have were the same price but 3 times the price ($50ish on sale) of the Ali-express antenna you were using. Best part is that it is worth the fun and perfoms for me better better than a EFHW on 20.

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

Great input. I need to check out the chameleon. I definitely want to keep up with dipole solutions for drive up POTAS if possible. Maybe I can compare the two soon

[@osculant]

My review, after using them for a few dozen activations and many miles flown around the country (including being the only whip I used in Hawaii): Absolutely worth the price. I will be getting more. I have found that even the best whip (Chameleon) is susceptible to breakage (snapped the ball off the tip in a fall). I have also lost a CHA-17 in airline luggage (my crappy luggages fault). This performs as well as any 17’ whip. It’s incredibly compact when collapsed, which is a huge plus for me. It’s actually a little long on 20 so I don’t need to extend every segment, meaning you can get even more in the air when using a WRC. I use adapters from McMaster Carr and they work perfectly. My complaint is that on one of the whips I got, the top segment came out. The good news is, it still nests in the segment below, so I just have to pull them out at the same time. Since it’s long, I don’t need that segment necessarily. They definitely get banged up a little easier, they’re a little lighter weight metal than the chameleon. This summarizes it pretty well, I have these whips, use them all the time for POTA, and yet, I still bought a Chameleon 17’ to replace the one I lost because while not as good of a value, it’s still the sturdiest. Overall, worth the price. 73 K9MKE

[@osculant]

Also worth noting I have used these in the rain and they will rust internally. So far has only shown up as a rusty streak when extending the whip.

[@osculant]

(Oh yea also great to hear VE5XU always great to hear from Clarence)

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

Thanks for your observations. It is good to hear about the rust too. Have a great day

[@ryankc9oza118]

May have to get me one. I have the mfj version and it failed alot quicker than hoped. And wad basically told to kick sand basically

[@MikeN2MAK]

Great video and review. I got the WRC 213" whip at Hamvention and love using it for POTA, on the tripod or a mag mount. 73, N2MAK

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

Unfortunately it doesn't look like they're currently taking web orders. However, fortunately for me, they sometimes show up to the Belvedere hamfest which is this weekend

[@mattghoward]

i have 2 of the chameleon whips - as part of the delta loop kit and also some Ali ones - agree totally - the Ali ones are OK for vertical but I have broken 2 in horizontal - the base broke - the Chameleon is definitely thicker (heavier) and flexes less in horizontal mode. Horses for courses and size of wallet.

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

Thank you for your input! I'm glad to hear the same observations. I may grab a set of chameleons

[@jtandchelvlogs3709]

Did you get a chance to try these in a vertical configuration to reduce sag? Also I would be curious to see how it would perform.

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

I used these on 20m as a vertical with radials.. worked great! I'll see what I can do for a video.

[@Inkling777]

You can combine two 3/8x20 trucker mirror mounts from Workman and others to create a horizontal dipole mount. Get the ones with pipe channels on both parts and bolt the parts with the antenna mount together. The result can mount vertically on your pole. You can also mount a third trucker's mount to two bolts of the horizontal pair and have a horizontal plus vertical combination. -Mike, WA4MP

[@8TangoCharlie]

Thank you! That is good information! I can use that! 73 es DX, Tom 👍

[@joewharton-vy7oq]

hey fellow twig experimenter, good tip, upvc 20mm waste pipe is a perfect fit over the thickest part. i use it for a transit protection sleeve, then 1.5 over the top then slid down to the base then a another separate bit about an inch, with very light cord to create a guy support, i also trus my dipole using the same method

[@joewharton-vy7oq]

PS they sell pre tuned 7mhz coils go add to the base, whip at max height total 1:1

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

Great tips! I may have to use both of these in an upcoming video. Thanks!

[@DonzLockz]

I don't like buying twice so I'd save up and cry once. Lol. 201 stainless is food grade, quite strong but can easily rust. However, that one seems to simply be too thin and cheap like most Chinesium products. Ok for emergency but won't last in the long run. Cheers for sharing, good to know what is out there and how it performs. 🍻👍🤓

[@jamess1787]

Is that M10 the same as coax F connector? Same stinger size too? Or is the whole telescoping antenna just the antenna?

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

The m10 is not like a type of coax connector, pm10 is a solid male piece which is ultimately all part of the antenna. I believe that answers your question, but I may have misunderstood

[@Davidjb37721]

Thanks for your time

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

Thank you

[@mm3nrx]

The title sounds like on of those dodgy emails I get from African doctors...reduce erection sagging... :D

[@TheCrunchbird]

Great video. These antennas were not designed to used as verticals, not dipoles. The Chinese antenna would almost certainly not broken if you had used it as a vertical, N2SN.

[@TheCrunchbird]

Correction: These antennas were designed to used as verticals, not dipoles, N2SN.

[@chunkylover54]

THANKS DUDE

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

You're welcome, Hope it helped.

[@samuelodiel]

I have the same from MFJ and from Bud dipole!

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

Mfj and bud dont use 3/8 24?

[@mikesmithg0rfd356]

thank you

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

Thanks for watching. Hope it was helpful

[@donalfinn4205]

Jesus! You could have put all of this into two minutes.

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

Glad you took the time to read the description which states you could fast forward to the end in order to get to the conclusion. Yes my attentiveness was not as good as some videos, but I'm a human, making videos and having a good time.

[@Paul_VK3HN]

Social Distortion LOL!!

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

I enjoy it for sure, do you know of them? Cheers!

[@Paul_VK3HN]

I saw them in Melbourne last summer, they eere great. ​@@HAMRADIODUDE

[@alanwheelock1460]

all hams love cheap stuff

[@jamess1787]

🐖

[@abbaatv6212]

So never buy a cheap Chinese brand electric vehicle named BYD , for sure you'll regret it .

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

Is that an antenna brand or something else?