Parelectronics End-Fedz 1/2 wave dipoles

[N3ATS]

I am new at this, only being licensed since May. I don't have a 10-80 type antenna up yet, or really any HF antenna for that matter. I wanted something to get my feet wet and to take with me on trips to the cabin in the mountains.

I wanted a wire antenna that would be easily deployed and allow me to install without feedline hanging halfway out my back yard. I didn't want to spend a fortune on some poorly constructed piece of crap. Sure I make my own antennas, I have a homebrew dipole for 17 meters, but I wanted to try something different.

I did a lot of looking for an end-fed antenna, but on advice of other hams decided to not go that route. I was told I would need an elaborate ground system, radials, or a huge counterpoise. So I decided to go with a different design.

So one day when looking for wire antenna reviews on eHam, http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/3632 I stumbled across the reviews for the Parelectronics End-Fedz. 43 PERFECT reviews? This caught my attention. So I looked further and read each one. I Googled for more info, and everywhere I looked this antenna was being praised. No radials, no counterpoise, no voodoo, just hang, tune, talk. Is it too good to be true?

So after a month or so I decided on the 20 meter version. I figured if I am going to have one antenna for vacations, 20 meters is where I want to be.

I E-Mailed Dale (the Parelectronics owner) and asked for prices. This was followed up with a phone call to ask a few questions. Not only did he answer every one of my E-Mails, but he took the time to answer ALL of my questions. Mr. Parfitt is a perfect example of what customer service should be.

So I ordered an EF-20. It arrived a few days later very well packaged with complete instructions, and a VSWR plot as well.

My first impression was, wow! This is a quality made antenna. ALL stainless steel construction. ALL soldered connections, and the machining on the plastic parts is exemplory. No rough edges, no oblong holes, no burrs, etc. Everything was assembled and sealed very well. I come from the commercial radio world, and I know what quality looks like.

I especially like the end insulator. My first impression was "what the heck kind of insulator is this"?. "A solid plastic rod with hole for the end rope, and a three holes to attach the end of the wire? This isn't the way it's done"! Then I put it in the air to tune it. What a breeze his insulator makes tuning! No untying or untwisting wire, just shove a foot or so through two of the holes and cut, cut, cut, until you are tuned. Then slide the coax through the third hole and it's ready to fly. No soldering needed. This insulator design holds tight. You CANNOT pull the wire out!

Tuning was a breeze with my MFJ Antenna Analyzer. The fed end was 2 feet off the ground, and the other end was suspended at about 7'. Out of the box the antenna was resonant somewhere around 13.800 MHz. But after a few minutes I had this antenna tuned right where I wanted it.

I never tuned antenna to the accuracy that I have tuned this one. At 14.288 (center of the General phone band), I achieved a perfect 50 ohm match and an SWR of 1.0:1 according to my MFJ Analyzer!!! Bandwidth under 1.5:1 SWR is about 150 KHz in each direction just as stated in the specifications. Excellent bandwidth!

Excellent customer service from Mr. Parfitt.
Excellent E-Mail and phone support.
Excellent product quality.
The specifications are true to their word. No sugar coating here. They are what they say they are.

I say this is Part #1, because Part #2 will be a full review of the antenna's performance. I will include VSWR plots, pictures, and a log of who I worked with it.

If this thing works half as good as it looks and tunes up, I will be a customer for life!

Stay tuned!

[WA2ZDY]

It's a half wave radiator with the needed matching network at the feedpoint. #Nothing magic about that. #And true, a half wave monopole needs no ground plane. #That's why they use them on fiberglass automobiles and on top of sailboat masts without ground planes.

I find myself concerned about this antenna only in that the manufacturer calls it a dipole. #It's not a dipole. #It's a monopole. #Such a misrepresentation - for who knows what reason - makes no sense.

I'm glad your antenna works well for you. #Good luck.

[N3ATS]

Sure it's a monopole and not a dipole (one radiating element, not two). Yes, it's a half-wave piece of wire with an LC network at the fed end. I am not sure why Dale calls it a dipole.

I think it's great for field day, camping, hiking, whatever. Easy to set up and use, which is why I bought it. Just toss the end over a tree, pull it up, and attach your feedline. Much easier than a dipole to deploy because you only need one support!

It's made well. Very well.

It also works very nicely. The folks I've worked in FL, MO, and AL in the last few hours think so too! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif I've had 5/9 reports and some 20 over S-9 reports.

It works great, it's easy to erect, and it looks nice. I am sold.

[w0tdh]

W4OP - Dale lives two miles down the road from me.

Its nice having a double E that close http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif)

He works very long hours and tries very hard to please his customers.

He has many antenna products, but I guess the End Fedz is the most popular.

I have one that I keep a CW sched with four times a week.

Once you have it installed then you can prune or add a pig tail. Distance from the ground makes a big difference.
Mine is about a foot off ground.

No rocket science needed to tune this antenna.

I did have the MFJ 259b also.

Once tuned, the WX does not play as much havoc with the SWR, as it does with my wire dipoles. But they are fed with Ladder Line instead of coax.

Tom - KØPJG

[N6DRA]

I bought one of Dale's 20M end fed antennas for a one direction clear space away from a tower. It works as advertized and didn't require any tuning at 35' height. It works very well indeed, and is sometimes quieter than my miniquad at 50' on another tower and helps to make the contact.

'73

Tim