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The CAROLINA WINDOM does it again. The CAROLINA WINDOM/2 was used on the receiving end to dig this record breaking 221 microwatt (.000221 watts) signal out of the 40 meter QRN and QRM. Here are the highlights of the World Record breaking achievement. Paul's QTH is in the North Carolina Woods, 16 miles south of Raleigh. His rig was an Oak Hills Research "Classic" running 221 micowatts to a 3-element, 40 meter wire beam, approximately 60 feet high. Fran was using a Ten-Tec Argonaut-II (model 535) and a CAROLINA WINDOM/2 up |
about 30 feet. Contact was established using microwatt
power as these operators avoided the conventional practice to making
contact QRO, and then reducing power until the signal is lost. They did
it the hard way!
Rich Arland, K7YHA, was also listening for Paul's 221 micowatt signal. Rich is an avid QRP operator, columnist and writer. Rich adds this interesting note, "A comparison between signal reports received at Fran's QTH with my S-meter readings definitely points to the outstanding performance of the CAROLINA WINDOM/2 versus a standard 40 meter dipole." |
| Here is what the magazine product reviewers have to say about the CAROLINA WINDOM. WorldRadio Product Review "...Parts quality is very high. Jim manufactures his own baluns and line isolators at his plant. ....This antenna is an outstanding example of engineering and research put into practice. .........Received signal strength on the (CAROLINA) Windom was one to two S-Units higher than on the G5RV (the reference antenna, made by another manufacturer). Over the next several days, all bands were tried with similar results. In most instances, the CAROLINA WINDOM seemed to yield better receive signal levels and more reliable communications out past 400 miles than my G5RV (the test rig was an Argonaut 509 operating at 2 watts output). I attribute this to the vertical and horizontal radiation patterns produced by the antenna system. Going on the assumption that a 1-2 S-Unit increase in receive signal level should yield a similar increase in transmitted signal, I feel that the CAROLINA WINDOM is a superior antenna to my G5RV dipole." These are excerpts from a product review by Rich Arland, K7YHA. It appeared in the July 1988 issue of WorldRadio. | In his September, 1991 review of the CAROLINA BEAM, Bill Clarke compares the CAROLINA BEAM with a CAROLINA 160 and 80 and 40 meter dipoles. He starts off his article with "It's easy to set up, and it works great!" Here are a few excerpts from his article. " ..... The Carolina Beam is about as simple to install as any antenna I have seen to date. ........ My time was 20 minutes from 'out of the package' to 'on the air.' ..... My first observation was that the CAROLINA BEAM hears as well as it talks. When a received signal was better on the CAROLINA BEAM, the outgoing signal was better than that from the dipole or the (CAROLINA WINDOM 160 ). 80 meters: As good in all cases, and about 10 dB better than the (CAROLINA WINDOM 160) for local work. 40 meters: Same as the dipole and same as the (CW160). 30 meters: Same as the CW160 90% of my contacts. Remainder slightly better. 20 meters: 50:50, with no clear winner. This is probably due to the distinct pattern differences between the (CW160) and the CAROLINA BEAM. Having both to select from made a real difference in making DX contacts. 17 meters: In all cases, the CAROLINA BEAM outperformed the (CW160) by 5 dB or better ..... 15 meters: As with 20 meters, this band was quite variable. 12 meters: A distinct low-angle worker. The CAROLINA BEAM always outperformed the (CW160) by at least 5 dB. 10 meters: Same as 12 meters." In this test the CW160 (which is 250 feet long) was supported 48 feet in the air. The CAROLINA BEAM is 100' long and was supported at 40 feet. The fact that the CAROLINA BEAM was as good or better than the much larger CW160 is extraordinary. And, the CAROLINA WINDOM 160 is well known for its exceptional performance on all bands. |
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Since the CAROLINA WINDOM first entered the market place nearly 10 years ago, there have been 6 product reviews of various models of the CAROLINA WINDOM. I will reprint product reviews excerpts and letters from CAROLINA WINDOM users in future catalogs. If you would like to do a little bragging in print, just drop me a letter. You don't have to set records, just let us know what you think of our antenna products Can the Carolina WINDOM be the best performing, simple, easy to put up, wire antenna? I think so, and so do some of these CAROLINA WINDOM users who wrote to us.When band conditions are poor, and 40 and 80 meters are the only bands open at night, it's easy to have a competitive signal on the air. Practically everyone is using a simple dipole. In comparison, a high performance antenna like the CAROLINA WINDOM stands out like a shinning beacon. But the bands will be getting better over the next couple of years and you will have to compte with stations using beams. I have pulled some letters out of the file that came in during the last sunspot high when conditions were good and competition for DX was at its greatest. Even under the competitive conditions, the CAROLINA WINDOM is an even bigger winner. Good quality, good performance to date (KB2EVV) Excellent results (K4CRV) During first week of operation I worked the following on 75/80 meters using only 300 watts PEP, with the antenna at 30 feet: HP1, Y22, HR1, F6, A92, YU, ON, EI, YT, G, PA, DJ, CM, KP, VP, SP, IK. (K5SFM) I would and do recommend the CAROLINA WINDOM to everyone I've talked to on the bands....The 2 Hams that helped (put it up) will also buy-they are impressed. (KA4SSH) ..Works very well...good buy for the money (J.Stacey) On 75 meters it works great, as I had expected it to work. My surprise came on 20 meters. ...I worked numerous DX stations and most were surprised at the signal with only 100 watts. I am very pleased with the antenna -Thanks. (WA6HXE) Thanks again, Jim, for a well made product that performs better than your claims. (N1EJF) It's not often that you can buy a product and get what you pay for, however, in the case of the "CAROLINA WINDOM" you can and then some. ...the results were unbelievable, there was at least 10 dB difference between the V, dipole and the (CAROLINA) WINDOM. I had people drive 200 + miles just to see if I did indeed have up 3 antennas, I even put the Windom up where the dipole was and vis-versa with the same results...I saw people standing in line to buy them at the Charlotte Hamfest. (N4RQZ) On your recommendation, I bought a CAROLINA WIDOM antenna. I got it mounted two days ago, and decided to write you today, offering my endorsement of this great antenna. ...Everyone has given me great signal reports.... (N4TTF) In my opinion, dollar for dollar, in over 20 years of both military and amateur experience, this is the best simple wire antenna. Wide band coverage, low SWR, low QRM, omnidirectional and low cost; as the saying goes "Who could ask for anything more." (KD4RFW) Writing about the CAROLINA WINDOM/2, "My wife and I believe it is the best wire antenna we have ever used...... (Bill Welsh, W6DDB. CQ columnist) "I just worked BY4RB in Peeking, China. The story is interesting. I worked him using my new (rig) and triband beam on 15 CW. My RST was 569. My friend Jerry, N4JF, was visiting. We switched ops so he could work BY4RB. I switched to the CAROLINA WINDOM/2. Jerry worked BY4RB on the first call! RST 559! What an antenna. This thing is unreal! (Dave Ingram, K4TJW, columnist and writer of several Ham Radio publications) Quality and performance are impressive. I replaced a G5RV with the CAROLINA WINDOM in the identical location. .... My initial findings are that the CAROLINA WINDOM is at least 1 S-unit better than the G5RV. (Geno McGahey, AL7GQ) |
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 To Antenna Specifications |
What people are saying, part 2. |