Butternut HF9V Users

[KB7QND]

Has anyone used the CPK counterpoise kit for the Butternut HF9V?  I used to have a Cushcraft R7 that had a counterpoise that worked just great, but everyone seems to be using ground radials with the Butternut.  I'm looking at the CPK kit for space considerations, but the $200 price tag is hefty.  What's been everyone's experience with SWR on the bands using the CPK kit?

73s
Paul

[AD6KA]

Hi Paul:

I have NOT used the HF9V counterpoise kit, but I have
spoken to 2-3 ops who said it works VERY poorly.
And that price? For some 1/2" aluminum tubing and
some wire to make a "spiderweb". Highway robbery.
But so is their "stub tuned radial kit" for $150! Sheesh!

That HF9V is just flat out designed from the get go
to be used with radials, elevated or ground.

IMHO, the "counterpoise" kit is a Butternut marketing
ploy to help sales compete with antennas that DO work
use a counterpoise because they don't want to put
down (or UP as the case may be) a proper wire radial system.

I saw it time and time again when I worked ham sales.
I recommended the HF6V or HF6V and most of the time
the reply was "Nahhhh, I don't want to bother with radials"

They end up gravitating towards antennas such as the
Hustler 5BTV or 6BTV, which are DESIGNED with the
counterpoise in mind and have the matching unit at the base.
These are very good value antennas and lots of ops like
them a lot.

I have NOTHING against Butternut. I have been using
a roof mounted, elevated radial HF6V for 27 years now
and just love it.  If it came down tomorrow I would
think hard about a SteppIR vertical, but I would want to play
with one first.

I hope you find something that works well
for you at your QTH.
73, Ken  AD6KA
  

[K5LXP]

For $200 you're getting a bag of wire.  If you feel compelled to try the antenna with a CPK kit, just duplicate it with your own wire.  Then when you're done messing around, lay down an appropriate radial field and enjoy what a good vertical installation has to offer.


Mark K5LXP
Albuquerque, NM

[AD6KA]

For $200 you're getting a bag of wire.

Actually the CPK is a $200 box of aluminum tubing,
a bit of wire, and a 75 ohm coax feedline.
"Four 5-1/2 ft rigid counterpoise tubes form a square measuring 8 ft 3 in on a side."
http://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-004303

The STR-II is a $160 box of wire.
http://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-004038

You're absolutely correct in both being ridiculously
overpriced and something you can cheaply and easily
make yourself, especially a wire radial field.
Elevated or ground mounted.

Do they really SELL many of these overpriced kits?

[AA4PB]

Don't you know that perceived antenna performance is directly related to the price you paid for it? 

[AD6KA]

Don't you know that perceived antenna performance is directly related to the price you paid for it?  

Um, I suspected as much but hadn't confirmed
it in published antenna literature!