Best portable Ham Radio antenna

June 2, 2021
The bands coverage will be

Click on Pictures for Details! Other Models listed in navigation links above.

N2PKN Rating: 5/5

What a great product, easy up and down and so small and yes it WORKS !!! Grab a couple and you will be well pleased


WA6L Rating: 5/5

The Yo-Yo Deluxe is a dipole, and electrically it will work no better or worse than any other dipole. But what makes this antenna special is the ease with which you can deploy it.

I use the Yo-Yo along with a collapsible fiberglass mast and have been able to quickly and easily set up a field-expedient antenna that works extremely well. Most recently, I used it on Field Day for a QRP battery-operated station and had excellent results.

I generally set it up as an inverted-V. That can be a little difficult since the eyelets on the spools are tiny, and you can't connect anything thicker than a piece of string when you go to tie down the ends. A quick work-around for that problem is to add one of those little spiral key-ring holders to each eyelet, and you can now connect thicker wire or even rope. That would be a nice feature to have out of the box.

If you are looking for a well-made and easy antenna for field use, you aren't going to beat this one. And the price is more than reasonable.

73,

John, WA6L

WB5CON Rating: 5/5

I have had the YoYo Deluxe 2 reel dipole for about 3 years. It is the best antenna I have found for portable operation. It takes up very little room when stowed but is easy to set up. Being a full size dipole, it is efficient compared to mobile or portable antennas that are short whips.

I have used it in the city park for Field Day, camping, on a condo balcony on the Gulf Coast, on my sailboat hoisted up the mast on one end and tied to the stern rail on the bottom end for a center fed sloper. I have also taken it to a ham club meeting and used it on 20 meters to demonstrate a live PSK31 station.

I marked the wires for each band so it is very easy to roll out the right length of wire for each band. However, fully extended, it is longer than a 40 meter dipole and works well on 80 through 6 meters with my Z-11 tuner. I have checked in to our 75 meter state net with the YoYo running 5 watts (about 250 mile path).

I have not left it up for any length of time. It is usually up no more than 2 or 3 days each time I use it. I have run a maximum of 100 watts with the antenna but usually run 5 watts.

It is ideal for my portable needs.


KA8CMH Rating: 5/5

Some things not covered so far.

In the previous reviews, it's nice to know the portability factor, the ability to change bands quickly and adjust the antenna length quickly.

But what hasn't been talked about is the permanent installation of the antenna. My system is for 75/80 meters only. But, I have two lengths marked for operation. I have one marking for the lower portion (80 meters) so I can work CW. And then another marking for 75 meter phone. So I can switch to either portion of the band in a matter of just a couple of minutes, with a fantastic SWR.

I have it mounted in a semi-inverted vee configuration, not too high above ground as not to interfere with the tri-bander. So far, the reports have been better than I ever expected. All of my reports have been S-9 or above, whether ground wave or skip. (And mostly S-9 plus!) Truly amazed at the unique construction of this antenna, and how I don't have to fool around with a in-line tuner just so I can go from the CW portion to the phone portion on 75/80 meters.

Well worth the price. They have several models to choose from. Great, friendly service. Go for it! You can't lose!

73 & 88 from Patty Smith
KA8CMH


K8IMR Rating: 5/5

Unique, fun & plenty of FD qso's

Used this for Field Day. The length chart they included was a great help. Tweeked the length for max power of 100 watts on each band, no problem. (We had a Yaesu FT-840 with no SWR meter.) But the biggest asset of all was it fit in my lunch box, with plenty of room left for my lunch. I didn't have to drag out a canvas bag with a bunch of poles, pipes and tripods you had to put together. It was ready to go as is. NO ASSEMBLY REQUIRED. A new way to carry around the tried & true dipole antenna. My hats off to the mfg.


W9OAG Rating: 5/5

WOW!

I know it's just a dipole. But seeing that this thing was insulated and we didn't have much time for set-up, we just tossed it up on the roof. We were amazed with the results! Take it camping or use it at home. Reminds me of the Hy-Gain windup antennas of the '50's. What ever happened to those things? Good luck, DWM. Hope you sell a million. Darn well worth every penny.

Good luck, 73,
Jim.


Source: www.hamradiofun.com
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