I have a Traffie Hexbeam (Traffie retired and the company is no longer in business) and it has been up for about 12 years. My last check of the elements, coaxial connection and so on showed no problems what-so-ever. Operating performance seems to be just as good today as when it first went up in 2005. Weather has been rain (mostly), sun with high temperatures reaching into the 90s usually in August (one recorded day at 103 though), and snow once or twice a year but the snow never lasts for more than a day or two at most on the antenna.
I am not sure about other vendor’s versions of the Hexbeam but mine has been a worthy contender in the battle with weather. By the way, the Hexbeam is visible from the Google satellite photos of my house. 73, phil, K7PEH > On May 20, 2017, at 8:32 AM, Terry Brown <n...@comcast.net> wrote: > > I really appreciate all the comments. I do have a follow up question: > > An aluminum beam can be left up for years. I was reading one review of a > particular hex beam and the poster said that after 4 years, the cords > holding the beam together had become brittle and started to fail from UV > exposure and the main support members had deteriorated for same reason. > > These beams are not cheap, I don't want to be taking the beam down and > replacing main structural components every 5 yrs. > > Can anyone with a hex beam comment on this? > > Thanks, Terry > >> On May 20, 2017, at 8:07 AM, Richard Fjeld <rpfj...@outlook.com> wrote: >> >> I had a TA33Jr back in the 70’s when the sun cycle was good. I had a >> Ten-Tec Argonaut QRP rig and worked a lot of DX with it BUT conditions were >> very good. Note is was only for three bands. >> >> I second what Vic is saying, though I am speaking about hex beams in >> general. Hex beams are a good solution at times. I have talked to many who >> were using them. Vic’s comment about ‘low profile’ can be important. I >> have heard people say their neighbors were not aware it was a ham radio >> antenna. I have also read they only need to be up about 20 feet high. They >> are said to be good in the wind. (Maybe all this has been mentioned) >> >> Rich, n0ce >> >> From: Victor Rosenthal 4X6GP >> Sent: Friday, May 19, 2017 10:49 PM >> To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net; Terry Brown >> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Beam antenna question >> >> I used the K4KIO hexbeam on Field Day -- it was very easy to assemble >> and the parts were high quality. It is also visually low-profile. I >> would recommend it. I don't have any experience with the TA33 Jr. but my >> guess is that there are a lot more things that can go wrong with all >> those traps. >> >> The hexbeam will have gain on WARC bands as well as 10-15-20. My >> experience is that with conditions as they are today, 17m is VERY >> important (so is 30, for that matter) for DXing. >> >> I have a rotatable dipole and yes, it definitely does help a lot to >> rotate it! But it isn't a beam. >> >> 73, >> Victor, 4X6GP >> Rehovot, Israel >> Formerly K2VCO >> http://www.qsl.net/k2vco/ >> >> > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Message delivered to phys...@mac.com ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
