GRA-7350T CB HF 3.5MHz 7-30MHz/50MHz Multi Configuration Coil Antenna with Telescopic Laser Engraved Markings and Anodized Color Treatment

As an amateur radio enthusiast who's had more antennas than hot meals, I recently had the pleasure of trying out a vertical, multiband dipole antenna that has, quite literally, elevated my radio adventures to new heights. Covering the 80 meter down to the 10 meter band, and not forgetting the 6 meter band (because who would want to forget about the "magic band"?), this antenna is a true Swiss Army knife in the world of amateur radio.First off, let's talk about the design. The antenna is a masterpiece of engineering, consisting of three main elements: a telescopic section that reaches for the stars (or at least tries to), a coiled section that cleverly sneaks the 80 meter band into the mix, and a lower section with an impedance adjusting feature that's as finely marked as the lines on my forehead. And yes, those markings are laser-etched, ensuring you won't need a magnifying glass or a guessing game to make adjustments.Now, for the pièce de résistance - the antenna's portability. It breaks down into three short sections, making it easier to transport than your favorite camping chair. Whether you're heading out for a POTA (Parks on the Air) activation, a SOTA (Summits on the Air) expedition, or just setting up in your backyard to escape household chores, this antenna is your ticket to a hassle-free setup. It's so light and compact, you might forget you're carrying it – until you start making contacts across the globe, that is.But how does it perform, you ask? Let's just say it's like having your cake and eating it too, except in this case, the cake is a clear, strong signal and you're eating up the airwaves. From the lush valleys of the 80 meter band to the lofty peaks of the 10 and 6 meter bands, this antenna ensures your signal is heard far and wide, turning your amateur radio dreams into reality.In conclusion, if you're looking for an antenna that combines versatility, portability, and top-notch performance, then look no further. Whether you're a seasoned ham venturing into the great outdoors or just someone looking to dip their toes into the amateur radio waters from the comfort of their own backyard, this multiband dipole antenna is your go-to companion. As long as you do your part in properly tuning the length to the portion of the band you will operate in, it's solid! Don't forget to add ground radials. I made some that seems to work well (5 wires of 20 meters length DX-50 soldered to a spring clamp and spread out around the antenna which was mounted to a ground spike.)So prep your radials, pack up your gear, set up your new antenna, and get ready to make some waves. Just don't forget to come back down to Earth every once in a while!

Being an urban ham, most of my HF activity is at local parks, and I've been looking for a good unobtrusive antenna less I attract passersby weirder than myself. Big wire antennas are no-go. Been using Hamsticks, but looking for something more packable and frequency-agile. I'd considered the WRC or DIYing something like the original PAC-12 when I came across this. Seems the same principle as the WRC (or any other base-loaded adjustable antenna) but really clever packaging, and much more rugged for throwing in an already crowded pack.First impression out of the bag: solidly built, LIGHT, packs down to around 12", *terrible* instructions, but if you know how a short vertical works it's not hard to figure out.I've already made a tripod mount for my Hamsticks, so as soon as I got this I packed it up with my FT100D and headed out to my favorite operating location. Setup was fast—I used 4 16' radials and had an ATU on hand, which turned out to be unnecessary. Volume up all the way, adjust slider for max noise volume, key up on AM briefly to check SWR. I found the coil settings were a bit lower than stated in the guide for general/phone. Obviously if you have a VNA all the better but I have enough in my bag already.Started spinning the dial. A few minutes in, Chile calling CQ on 20m—I answered and hadn't even bumped my power up past 20W yet, got a 57 report back. Obviously he was doing the heavy lifting, but a dummy load this is not. After sundown, dropped down to 40m and chased a few late-shift activators down the coast, and picked up a regional net here in the NW. Haven't tried it on 80 and I don't have a lot of hopes, but it's an option. I'd be curious swapping a 17' whip for that.This thing works. It's a little pricier than the WRC TIA Mini and doesn't come with a nice little tripod, but I don't worry about this thing melting under QRO or getting smashed up in my bag. My signal reports on SSB are about the same as on my Hamsticks on the higher bands, but the portability is far worth it.I'll have to try to experiment more with this at QRP levels. I'll be headed down to the SW later this year and hope to do some quick activations at parks where wire antennas will be a hassle.To the seller/distributor, I appreciate the option for a mini-tripod, but I would love to see a more affordable ground spike.

So I have the tripod and antenna paired together and use an X6100 radio for touchups on my first deployment of this system. I carried my analyzer with me but I can attest the anodized markings are consistent once you find the resonant spots. Even with the compromised set up between buildings and using no radials, I got decent signal reports for qrp using 5-10 watts. What you should notice though is that I got out anywhere with the antenna and a qrp radio...i have not tried a rag chew on 80m but the antenna could handle that according to my rig expert pro. I bought this over their November sale so I saved like 10 bucks, but I'd buy this at full price too after my testing. The antenna fully deployed with a 5-10 mph wind did not move on the gabil tripod's shortest setting so I assume it would be even more stable with the legs fully deployed. This requires some sort of analyzer or swr reading device to tune the antenna. Hope these practical observations help.

Perfect for POTA activations. Easy to tune. Handles up to 50 watts CW with no problem.