Sirio 827 One Year Review and Overview - CB Base Antenna

Someone asked to see my base antenna setup. I thought I've give a bit of an overview to show how it's set up and how it works for me. If you're new to setting up a base station at your house, I will say that you at least need to get an Antron 99 or larger antenna if you are wanting to talk coast to coast regularly.

I had a 102" stainless steel whip with an SWR of 1.1 for over a year and only talked to one person, locally. So do yourself a favor and get a dedicated base antenna. It doesn't need to be very high off of the ground to get you out there.

I chose the Sirio 827 based on what I thought would be the best performance for the cost. It's not as durable as a Colossal 5K antenna, but it's less than half the price. It's nicer than the cheaper Sirio and Maco offerings from what I can tell. Mine has withstood 80mph winds and nothing has come loose in the past year. I used blue Loctite on every threaded connection and have had great luck so far. I'm sending 500W into it with only RG8X (cheap, small, Chinese coax.)

I made this video to demonstrate the sort of performance I get out of the antenna in the middle of the day when skip is rolling. This is pretty typical behavior that I have recorded.

[ericdee]

Sirio makes an excellent product in my opinion, nothing is half assed. You have the right formula, for DX work you want a low takeoff angle, its just the opposite if your working local stations.
Thanks for sharing your radio gear with us.😏👍

[itgoose]

This was awesome to see your DX. I have never had success with CB Base station!

[MrKmd]

Thanks for sharing. I just put up an 827 and so far so good. I prefer aluminum antennas, and this one offers good performance for a reasonable price. I used waterproof elec. tape and taped over the sections that connect together. I also purchased the nylon ring for the ground plane.

[mwilliams]

I gave up freebanding in 2002, glad to see it's still going strong, low angle is great for DX, I made 2. Coaxial cable antennas and co-fazed them at 25 feet, one vertical, one horizontal, talked all over the country and the world, 73s. 2AK2410 Mike

[CarlPortass]

I've tried the 2016 sireo and in a matter of months it's bending. So I've ordered a 827 wished I had firstly as I had one years ago and it was awesome. So can't wait to get it and put it up 🇬🇧

[kkristopher]

I use the same antenna with the radial ring. Nothing but praise for that antenna. Still straight, no missing radials, and great performer. Next better thing is a beam. I wouldn't mind trying out the Colossal 5k.

[davidvogler]

Great video! Very interested in getting the Sirio 827!

[markr]

I have this antenna. Great for skip. Mounted on top of a 32’ mast. A lot better than my old A99.

[johnnyphillips]

Nice setup i have a penatrator 5/8 wave old school ive had to move it bc of the static low swrs is what one of the things i like about it I'll be putting it up soon my boomer is down right now but it be on the air soon thanks for sharing hillbilly in the bam waving 👋

[charlieodonnell]

Thank you for getting back to me I've just bought one literally today do I'm waiting for it to arrive in the next week or so I'll see if I can get it to about 40feet may be and it's possible to have a dx chat some time 👍

[StevieB-jjfz]

Awesome video and antenna man. I definitely need to get me a base antenna set up. Sirio does make excellent antennas. I need to be over 10 feet. My house is surrounded by some fat trees. Thanks again for the video.

[jonthebru]

Good review, I'll be using the Serio 827 for 10 meters. Nice closeup shots of the radial hub.

[furion..]

Hey 421, I'm going to try a new antenna out tomorrow or the next day whenever I get it done, it's kind of a home brew design like having a big stick on top of an antron 99 with a two element horizontal beam all driven off of one piece of coax, and if everything works together impedance wise it should make for a healthy DX and local antenna. Listen for the "Beetle Mender Eleventeen" on L36 - L40+ and I hope we have conditions!
73!

[furion..]

well I had a whole bunch of omni verticals, the two Sirio antennas I've had were the Gain Master and New Vector 4K, and I've had an i-10k, a Shockwave, Zer0-5 Colossal, helped a friend retune and install his Mr coily, along with all of the other fun little antennas like Astroplane, Starduster, A99, Imax2K, also had a GPE27 by Sirio, Avanti Sigma-II ⅝, Taylor GLR-4 "Grandslammer", Hy-Gain CLR-2 & Penetrator, Hustler JamRam, Super Maxim, Mighty Magnum III - plus various home-brew oddities 😆 and the one thing they all share in common is

there's metal in all of them. 😜

[peternewman]

I’ve got a Sirio Gainmaster and they are fantastic here in Australia, i also have the 827 but its still in the USA.

[furion..]

The Sirio 827 (or whatever they call the new version which I believe already comes with the plastic anti-resonance ring) - is probably the best bang for the buck - it's a good performer,
(actually Very good)
well made, not cheap but not stupid expensive, and is overall just a good solid design.

[skiball]

Please explain the #421 What does it stand for? Where do operators get these numbers and are they necessary. When I was into CB radio in the 1970’s and 80’s we used handles. Mine was Oddball… Taken from the movie Kelly’s Heroes…

[mossfamily]

Just now seeing your video. I’m just getting into cbs. I’m also in central iowa . Out in the middle of nowhere. Rural Dallas county. Looking to reach out as far as possible. lol

[zrcl]

I have the same .... But I have qrm / qrn from outside sources around my house and the antenna picks it up .... My normal static noise is between s2-s3 but sometimes noise goes between s5-s7 .

[AndrewSparkfish]

Awesome video thanks. Am wondering how it would cope in strong winds. Do you get much wind in your area ?