SIGMA EUROCOM SE-HF-X80

As above anybody use or used one.
Looking for a hf multi band not to tall as funny folk close by well not so funny you get it don't you.
Very limited on space.
Any other recommendations welcome.
Thanks in advance.

Hi Alan,

Welcome to the wonderful world of Radio Amateur antennas!

You have all the right words too - HF - Multi-band - Limited space.....the bane of many an Amateur.

The antenna you mentioned has some mixed reviews, (don't they always). My main concern for yourself was the use of jubilee clip aluminium sections and water ingress, but you could seal/tape them. The other was 20 foot of thin walled aluminium tubing rattling in your Holyhead winds! 

I know, not much help am I?

With the three 'right' words every antenna become a compromise antenna, it's just a case of plumping for the compromise that fits your needs well enough. For myself it was a fan dipole array strung up in the attic and although it'll never be the best, it's high up and gives me access from 80m to 10m quite happily. 

I've said before, 'any antenna is the best antenna'. Any antenna will always have more performance and gain than none


Isn't there a fibreglass version of the antenna you mention? It'll probably be better for water ingress and wind strength.

Otherwise there's a plethora of antenna erections in the Amateur Radio world, reviews, construction details, etc.


Me personally, I'd crack out the tape measure, wire cutters, a reel of cable and then learn to make ununs and baluns.
Nothing better than working the world on a homebrew antenna!


Hope you get there Alan. When you do..... you'll be thinking about the next antenna

All the best,
Victor

Years ago i had some big aluminium aerials up on a 12ft pole on the chimney.
I used to put bamboo cane in them and where i lived at the time was very open as well lost many ground plain bits lol but never the aerial.
More homework needed me thinks.
Thanks for the reply Victor.

alan

I have the Sigma HF 360 which is the fibreglass version, it is currently ground mounted on a 2mtr pole into an umbrella stand with a couple of cement blocks for stability. it has withstood all the recent storms with no detrimental effects considering the fact that we are quite elevated where I live.

Swadeyboy wrote:

alan

I have the Sigma HF 360 which is the fibreglass version, it is currently ground mounted on a 2mtr pole into an umbrella stand with a couple of cement blocks for stability. it has withstood all the recent storms with no detrimental effects considering the fact that we are quite elevated where I live.

How does it work ?.
Do you have a built-in ATU ?.
Does it tune on all bands and work ok on all modes (read something about them not being used on am/fm.
Thanks for your reply.

Alan,

It tunes with the internal tuner of my FT450 on all bands except 11mtrs (this needs an external ATU). I have a LDJ Z100plus which works nicely. 

I added the HF360 plus kit which is a bracket and 2 HF mobile antenna with stainless steel whips. these can be individually adjusted to get the SWR on 40 and 80 to 1:1, it also seems to reduce background noise on these bands.

It definitely can be used on FM I have transmitted at up to 90watts.

Bit of advice use good Coax, best you can afford, i only have a short run (20mtrs) went from RG8 mini to Ultraflex 7, night and day.

I have heard good things about the Comet CHA 250BXII antenna.

Hope this helps

Went for the HF360 in the end and it's arriving today (won't go up tooooo windy).
Got rg213 to go with it so i just hope the wind drops soon.
Also got a 2m/70cm to go up with the same rg213 coax on a 10ft pole mounted around 10ft up the gable end (as far as she will let me go up a ladder plus there is a 7ft wall to stand on by it)

Where you mounting the Sigma?

Are you using the plus kit?

Where you mounting the Sigma?

Are you using the plus kit?

It will be going on a 16ft pole in place of the Gainmaster.
Might get the plus kit not sure on that do you think i need it ?.

Got 80mtrs 1:1 with plus kit, no ATU required, 40mtrs was a lot quieter intermsnof background noise

It's just this minute turned up.
A bit windy and cold with it today so might just open the box to check it's ok.
Notice you use the ft450d i have just sold mine and got the ft991a.
The ft450d did tune my gainmaster on a lot of bands (didn't use them) whereas the ft991a won't entertain tuning many bands at all ??????????? did i do the right thing getting it will just see what it tunes this aerial like when i get it up.
Is it worth it for the plus pack ???.

I added the plus kit which meant I could get the swr 1:1 on 40 and 80 without a tuner. I actually use the LDJ Z100 plus tuner for everything else including 11 mtrs.

80 and 40 a lot less background noise with plus kit fitted.

Stay safe up on that roof fella.

I have not worked out how to attach photo to these post on the forum as yet.

Well it's up at last totally knackered now lol but some know why.
Just the rg213 to feed into the shack now but i am not going to struggle with 45meters of it now as i only need around 8 or 9 and don't want to waste any and a struggle it would be at the moment as it has more strength than me just now lol.
Will report back tomorrow.

As the actress said to the bishop, "Glad you got it up"

Got all the coax cables sorted out today.
Working well on 20m 5/9 into Germany and 5/8 to Malaga so so far happy with it.
Could also hear the USA but didn't try as it was in and out all the time.

Nice one. Glad your pleased. I am also with my one. Just a couple of queries.
Where is yours mounted, is it elevated.
Also did you go with aluminium or fibre glass version?

Went with the HF 360 which is the fibreglass version.
The base is about 14/15ft from the ground.
Pole not earthed but radio is to a 4ft rod about 3ft + in the ground just enough sticking out to get the clamp on.
8m of rg213 connecting it up.

Alan

How you getting on with the Sigma HF360 antenna?

To be honest i haven't used it much but it does work quite well.
I have an end fed long wire a 9.1 unun with just 10 meters of wire on it and that works fantastic after re-winding the unun that is as it didn't seem to work before.
Friday just gone i made contact with North and South America on the 20m band on it.
Going to put a 20 meter wire on it and see if it is any better on 40 and 80.
The HF-360 works but more noise comes in with it and i will use it sometime.

I have heard of people improving the HF 360 by rewiring the Unun. I.am not brave enough.

I wouldn't think it would be difficult if you can see how it comes off i didn't study mine when putting it up.
As to the unun there are loads of diagrams on the net.
The 9.1 i have was branded Moonraker but the winding only used 2 wires so i cut it all off and remade it with 3 as in many diagrams i looked at and the difference is like night and day now.
There is one on the bay but it is the 9.1 but looks exactly like i did mine.(they do a 4.1 as well)..
  https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ham-Radio-Special-Offer-Compact-Sota-unun-9-1-300-watts-type-61-core-Longwire/133603613829?hash=item1f1b655c85:g:bmEAAOSwpqJfzgBP

Forgot to say you can find diagrams using coloured or numbered wire so you can see where they go.

Thanks Alan

I will have a look on the net.

How's things with your Sigma 360.