Reviews

The Skypper 3 Element Wire-Yagi made by 1-SD-019 Alex

Some of you may heard already from this really interesting product, produced by 1SD019 Alex. I got mine wellpacked from Alex (fast delivery only 4 days from Italy to Austria) a few weeks ago, and after many on-air-tests i am writing now this review to tell you about my experiences i made with it.

these are all parts you need to assemble the skypper

First of all, this antenna is very easy and fast to assemble. I got the fixed version (there is also a portable Version available). The difference between the fixed and portable version is the holder of the 4 telescopic fibre glass rods. It took me only 17 minutes to assemble this antenna with Alex manual. You only need one tool, this is the screwdriver for the element holder to the boom, thats all. Simply stick the wire-holders on the rods....

this is one wire-holder in “T-shape”. It has 4 holders in total

Now it´s almost done, you only need to mount the dipole “Driver” and then you are almost ready to go on-air! If you are fast, this assembling can be done in less than 15 minutes.

this is the almost ready assembled skypper just the antenna cable is missing...

Because of its size and weight, you just need a small mast, which is a big advantage. I did mount mine to a 5m aluminium mast (its the minimum height). Any cheap TV rotator will turn this beam antenna in any direction you like. There is no need for a big rotator. As i have still no rotator here, i am turning mine by hand. And you may also see on the pictures that my location isnt the best, between two houses, forrest behind me...There are far better locations almost ANYWHERE.

After mounting it to the 5m mast i checked immediatley the SWR with my Diamond Multimeter. I was a bit surprised, as the needle even did not a little movement, and by checking the PEP output, i saw that full 100W went out from the radio.

First impressions on air: only 5 minutes after switching on my radio hooked up to the new antenna, i could work 329SO102 via backscatter condx, it was the first time for me to speak with 329 div. from this location. I couldnt make any QSO with my old 1 El Loop into this division in 2 years of time. I did also hear many stations, the band became “alive” with this antenna. Also heard 3LD101 and 44DT131 that day with good signals. Also 175IR/0 and 168/1AT070 the next days. I could make also some beautiful QSO´s the next following days, with e.g. 44SD001, 44CL308 and 44DT108, 187LR001, 44SD109, also lots of african Operators heard, like 39C/0 with wonderful (real) 5/9+, 173 div. and many more 44 div. stations. 2 days ago i could even listen 11 div. from my location which was highly impossible with the 1 El. Loop before. I did a comparison between my Imax2000, Bamby11 and the skypper-antenna. To be honest, the skypper did beat them all by a minimum of 1,5 - 3s-points!! There were some stations like 3LD101 that i couldnt even hear with the Imax2000 or the Bamby11. The skypper is also very directive and has an excellent front/back ratio. I didnt recognize any significant difference in performance between my 2 El. Quad and the 3 El. Wire-Beam, Skypper. Both deliver very good results in DX, with the pluses of the Skypper, of lower weight, easier/faster to assemble, cheaper to buy. My conclusion is: if you are a “real big gun”=this could be your beam antenna to go portable/holidays/Dxpeditions etc..If you are a “medium gun” (up to 3 El. Yagi or 2 El. Quad) = this antenna could be an interesting alternative for you. And of course all other operators that are using just a vertical = this is YOUR turn to upgrade your station and get a good directional antenna...