RAISING THE FLAG - SIGMA HF-X80

I’ve said it before - we are not allowed to erect any antennas at our Holiday Park, but you can erect a flag pole 😳🤷‍♂️, so originally I put up a 10M vertical, but wasn’t very happy with it, so I bought a Sigma HF-X80 and fitted it with a neat little Union Jack to keep the Park officials happy 😂.

When neighbours haven’t got their bloody LED lights and cheap phone chargers plugged in, the noise floor is pretty good and the Sigma performs quite well. I installed the antenna quite low down to the ground (I had no choice), securing it to a heavy wooden post which forms part of the caravan’s decking. It’s surprisingly secure.

According to the manufacturer, there’s no need for radials but I thought I’d discreetly attach one anyway (the thin yellow wire in the close-up image). I didn’t take any before/after measurements so I’ve no idea if it’s helped.

Taking readings from my Antenna Analyser, I got the following results…

BAND    SWR / OHMS

• 160M - 4.4 / 90
• 80M - 3.5 / 157
• 40M - 1.99 / 34
• 30M - 1.09 / 45
• 20M - 1.04 / 52
• 17M - 1.76 / 62
• 15M - 3.1 / 24
• 12M - 4.1 / 13
• 10M - 4.5 / 11

Quite linear results there, with very acceptable figures in the middle and the rest being easily tunable by my little ATU. The Sigma only cost £90 and has provided me with a great solution to the antenna ban. No, it’s not perfect, but it’s certainly better than nothing and despite its compromised positioning, it’s doing quite well. It also copes with the very heavy winds that we get here (even with the extra loading of that flag).

 

I should point out that I bought this because my friend G0UXF has one and he has had amazing results with it - although his has a fabulous grounding thanks to it being attached to a huge steel fence.

Just connected my trusty 4W (tr)uSDX and got through to the first six operators I called ❤️

SIGMA HF-X80 : Recommended!

73, Tom, M7MCQ.