The Ultimate Contest Tribander: fourteen elements delivering superior performance on 20, 15 and 10 meters!
Click here to download a PDF of the XR6 product review from the March 2015 QST
Justin G0KSC had the XR3-NV under development for several years prior to its commercial debut in April 2015. The goal was to deliver a Yagi that would offer best-in-class performance on the highly competitive 20, 15 and 10 meter ‘contest bands’ and Justin’s design, refined over endless prototypes designed using the best software tools available, delivered big-time! The ‘NV’ in the name is a tip-of-the-hat to Kurt, K7NV, ace contester / installer / engineer who encouraged and inspired the development of this antenna.
The XR3-NV has fourteen elements spread across three bands: three elements on 20, five on 15 and six on 10. In essence, three high-performance monoband Yagis with a common feedline. Consistent, stable performance across all three bands makes for all-weather performance (VSWR doesn’t go crazy during precipitation like some other brands) and enhanced performance on all three bands when stacked. There are extensive azimuth plots here (see gallery to the left) showing consistent azimuth pattern across the entire 20 and 15 meter bands and 700 kHz of 10 meters. The VSWR is also consistent across all three bands (see plots).
Like all G0KSC designs, there are no performance-robbing matching devices or traps and the highest quality materials are used throughout from aerospace grade aluminum to genuine Stauff insulators to stainless steel hardware. Like all Force 12 antennas, XR3-NV uses our famous riveted construction with ultra-rugged element brackets factory installed on the boom before shipping.
Stacking Yagis is a great way to cover the wide range of DX takeoff angles and a stack of XR3-NVs really shines when stacked. Note the outstanding elevation coverage on all three bands when a pair of XR3-NVs are stacked at 70 and 90 feet and fed in phase (see plots here). Also, note how the F/B holds up when XR3-NVs are stacked, many competing tribanders lose big chunks of F/B when stacked but not “the NV”! Covering the important DX takeoff angles is the key to high QSO rates and big scores.
Designed with tower side or ring rotator mounting in mind with 43.75 inches of open space near the center of boom with weight balancing options for mast or rotating tower mounting to minimize rotator stress.
Remote Ham Radio recently installed a XR5-T (smaller than the XR3-NV, but still illustrative of the excellent quality and performance across the XR Series product line) to cover 17 and 12 meters from their W2/Monticello site (XR5-T also covers 20, 15 and 10 meters, of course!). Check out the video they uploaded to YouTube:
Click here to download an XR Series brochure PDF
The HD boom-to-mast bracket supplied with the XR3-NV comes standard at 2″ OD, other mast diameters on request.
This is the standard duty version of the XR3-NV (and note that our ‘standard duty’ compares to some other brands ‘heavy duty’), HD and XHD versions are available – contact us for more info.
This is a great antenna to use with the 4O3A Signature Triplexer System enabling simultaneous, full legal limit operation on 20, 15 and 10 meters. Info here.
Please note that baluns are sold separately on all XR Series antennas. We stock a variety of baluns so you can select the model that’s right for you. Info here.
We normally ship HF antennas to customers in the Continental US via UPS Ground. Please contact us for alternative domestic shipping options and also for a quote on shipping to locations outside the Lower 48.
| 20m gain, free space | 7.76 dBi @ 14.200 MHz |
| 15m gain, free space | 8.15 dBi @ 21.200 MHz |
| 10m gain, free space | 9.69 dBi @ 28.300 MHz |
| 20m gain, 70 feet above average level ground | 13.12 dBi @ 14.175 MHz |
| 15m gain, 70 feet above average level ground | 13.68 dBi @ 21.225 MHz |
| 10m gain, 70 feet above average level ground | 15.32 dBi @ 28.100 MHz |
| 20m gain, 2 Yagi stack 70 & 90 feet above average level ground | 14.94 dBi @ 14.175 MHz |
| 15m gain, 2 Yagi stack 70 & 90 feet above average level ground | 15.57 dBi @ 21.225 MHz |
| 10m gain, 2 Yagi stack 70 & 90 feet above average level ground | 17.40 dBi @ 28.100 MHz |
| 20m 3 dB azimuth beamwidth | 66.6 degrees |
| 15m 3 dB azimuth beamwidth | 60.6 degrees |
| 10m 3 dB azimuth beamwidth | 58.8 degrees |
| 20m 3 dB elevation beamwidth, 2 Yagi stack @ 70 and 90 feet | 6.7 to 21.1 degrees |
| 15m 3 dB elevation beamwidth, 2 Yagi stack @ 70 and 90 feet | 4.6 to 14.1 degrees |
| 10m 3 dB elevation beamwidth, 2 Yagi stack @ 70 and 90 feet | 3.5 to 10.6 degrees |
| 20m free space F/B | 19.27 dB @ 14.200 MHz |
| 15m free space F/B | 16.83 dB @ 21.200 MHz |
| 10m free space F/B | 30.39 dB @ 28.300 MHz |
| 20m VSWR bandwidth | < 1.3:1 whole band |
| 15m VSWR bandwidth | < 1.5:1 whole band |
| 10m VSWR bandwidth | < 1.5:1 700 kHz |
Performance data generated by G0KSC using EZNEC Pro/4 and confirmed in field testing @ W0LFA, April 2015.
Mechanical
- Boom: 6063-T832 seamless drawn aluminum tubing
- Elements: 6063-T832 seamless drawn aluminum tubing
Brackets: 5052-H32 aluminum plate, waterjet cut - Insulators: Stauff polypropylene
- Hardware: aluminum rivets, stainless steel bolts, stainless steel and/or galvanized U-bolts
- Boom support: single overhead guy
- Net weight: 91 lbs approx.
- Effective area: 12.6 ft^2
- Wind survival, elements: 112 mph
- Wind survival, boom: 138 mph
- Boom length: 23.3 ft
- Turning radius: 27.5 ft
- Rotating Torque: TBD in-lbs
Mechanical data calculated by Yagi Stress Professional v2.54 under TIA-222-C - Contact Force 12 for more detailed mechanical data if needed
- We do custom work – if you need a super heavy duty or other custom version of this or any model, get in touch!
Price 2999,99 USD
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