It was in February 2021 I met a radio amateur, who said that he had a complete FB 53 in pieces on his  flat roof. Completely with all ironware, control equipment and documentation. For a reasonable price I could get it. My hart mist a few beats and after coming to myself again, I said to him, when I could pick up the antenna. I did not realized what I was doing, but this chance was once in a lifetime.

The antenna is huge, even when you put it in the air at the proper height , it is still HUGE.  It is a 5 elements 20/15/10 meter antenna with a boom of about 7 meter + and elements of about the same. It covers practically half your house, and is so dominant in the area you live, that you have to think twice, before you install it in a residential area.

So, I don't do that. It will probably end up in trouble in  the neighborhood, and even my marriage,.....but such a beauty on my QTH, with all the QRM  and noise coming in a residential area, is a waste, It needs a radio-clean environment.

Here some details:

Fritzel FB-53 HF Beam
Bands: 10-15-20Mtr
Elements: 5
Longest element: 7.89Mtr
Boom length: 7.50Mtr
Weight: 28.0Kg

Still fore sale in several shops, although not in stock. In the Netherlands it is over 1100,= euro's !

But mine was bought 31 years ago (1990), served in the air for a year or two and ended up on a flat roof, terrible end for this magnificent antenna. See a picture of this antenna in real service, look here.

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