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write your own review of the HUSTLER 4BTV.
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W3END
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 19, 2011 10:48
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Does the job for me
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I waited to do my review until I got a chance to tune the antenna. I have the antenna ground mounted with 35 radials which are arranged in a not so perfect arrangement but nonetheless they are down. My yard is on the small side so I arranged them in the best layout as I could. I have the tilt over plate and radial plate, both recommended in my opinion. I've worked a lot of DX and stateside with this so it does do a respectable job. For a lower priced vertical this does exactly what you would expect but you'll most likely have to lay down some radials (the more the better) and tune the traps to get a good or better swr. I finally tuned the traps today and it made a big difference. So if you are looking for a low cost vertical the Hustler should fit your needs. I also will put in a plug for DX Engineering which is where I bought mine, they provide excellent customer service and tech support if you need it. One more note, I did purchase and install the 75/80 meter resonator for mine which works fine.
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KB2HSH
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 2, 2011 17:54
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Affordable Performance
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I became the owner of my 1972-ish Hustler 4BTV when I bought it used from a local ham. After some considerable work to bring it back to new condition, it was ready to install in its current location. After minor tuning according to DX Engineering instructions, including adding 2 radials per band, I found the worst SWR is on 20 meters at 2.0:1. On 40 and 10 meters, I have a near 1:1 match. Since installation, I have gone from 8 to 16 radials. The performance has improved considerably.
During the 2011 CQ WW RTTY, I had the chance to REALLY push this antenna with a whopping 5 watts. The DX was almost easy to work. (Sure, the hard work was done on the other end, but it still made me heard).
Installation and tuning is a breeze. The performance, even with low power, makes this antenna a keeper.
As a side note of interest, in its current configuration, I am even getting a low SWR and decent performance on 6 meters...a hidden bonus!
Worth the money (even though I paid $35 used!)
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K6NM
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 14, 2011 15:13
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Great - even without radials!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I've had my 4BTV for almost 20 years, and added the 30m mod about 5 years ago. It's been at 4 QTH's, two of those installations *without any radials* at all (ground mounted). And it got out great, with decent SWR (1.3- 1.4 at resonance). No more than 2.1:1 at any band edge; not bad for no radials!
Now, I have the old veteran ground-mounted with just 4 radials tuned for 40 m. All band edges at SWR 1.5 or better, and dips of 1.05 to 1.2. I just worked into Europe today (F's and G's) from New Mexico with 300 W SSB on one call.
I've even disguised it as a flagpole, inside 2" PVC tubing. The PVC dropped the resonant frequencies on each band (down 150 kHz on 40m), but after re-tuning, it worked as good as ever! And it made a sharp looking flagpole as well.
I'm just saying that my experiences over the last 20 years are *fact*, not uninformed opinion. As you read comments on this antenna, you'll have to sift out the facts from the hot air. Hey, it's the internet!
Tuning is easy, if you can follow the manual instructions exactly. Start with 10m and work your way up the antenna. An SWR meter is all you'll need unless you're adding a band expansion kit - then you *might* need an antenna analyzer. I feed mine with RG-213X, and use 5 turns of it as a coax balun at the antenna base.
It took me about 40 minutes to assemble and tune my BTV at my new QTH. It's mounted on a 1-1/4" steel pipe driven in about 3 feet. No tilt-over - the ant only weighs 15 pounds and is easy to remove and replace on the base for tuning, as long as there's less than 5 mph of wind.
Speaking of wind, my tough 4BTV survived 60 mph tornadic winds in Atlanta without guys or damage. I just added poly/dacron guy cords at my new QTH because we get Spring winds here that commonly gust to 70 mph.
This baby won't let you down! + 5 out of 5 +
K6NM
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KY6R
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 11, 2011 21:25
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Surprising
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I'm surprised at how well this antenna performs. I use it on my second station - which is a TS-590s, and compare this with my K3 running with lowband half squares and a high band home made 3 element yagi.
I have it mounted on the roof - with 2 elevated radials per band sloping down at 45 degrees, and also a home made 1:1 current choke.
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AE5J
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 29, 2011 09:41
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2nd Review of a Great Antenna
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I last reviewed the 4-BTV in 2007 so I thought I would update since I brought the antenna down for R&R. I last had it up as a vertical dipole. It performed very well atop a mast for 4 years.
Recently I took it down and refurbished it and made some mods. I went back to a ground mount with radials but I added 30m, 17m, and 12m operation. 17 and 12 couldn't be easier as there are several good internet articles. Some PVC, wire ties, a hose clamp and wire is all that is necessary. 30m operation came with the add-on kit which adds a trap above the existing 20m trap and replacing the tubing above that. I now have a 7 band vertical that works extremely well.
Tuning this antenna can be a problem. Get a MFJ 259 and look at the trap adjustment procedure which can be found on the DX Engineering site. That will cure any tuning problems you may encounter.
All in all, the 4-BTV is an incredible bargain that equals, and in some cases, betters the performance of most modern designs that cost several times more. It also forms the base for inexpensive high performance mods that greatly increase its effectiveness. For the price, whats not to like?
73
Pete
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KJ4SSX
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 5, 2011 11:34
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A super antenna.
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I have only had my vertical for about 3 months now. In that time I have had lots of complements on the performance of my 4BTV vertical. My typical SWR is 1:1.2. My highest is 1:1:4. I recently installed the 80M resonator. Although it doesn't give me the whole band what I get works well.
Mine is ground mounted on a 1 inch EMT conduit 4 foot in the ground. I have two #14 AWG radials per band. It was a little difficult to setup, but with the help of a couple of local Elmers, we adjusted the traps using an antenna analyzer and it performs well. The instructions for this were included with the antenna. I have talked all around the country, Canada, Europe, Russia and the Caribbean.
One fellow told me, he was going to recommend it to his son who is a new Ham. I just love simplicity and this antenna is it!
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K1WJ
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Rating: 4/5
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Mar 13, 2011 07:54
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Good
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Have had a 4BTV in MI up for 4+ years now added 12m & 17m mod myself - 1/4w wires attached to cap hat mod....easy. Messsed up 10m swr - no biggie this antenna not too great for 10M anyway.
Antenna to me works best on 40m & 17M & 20m.
Have 30 ground radials various lengths. For mutli band capability not too bad - easy to install.Did add DX eng. mod for direct coax connection at base of antenna.
One thing of note is - on 20m I have a ham stick dipole from MFJ at 25ft high - will generally ouperform the 4BTV by about 2-s inits on XMIT & RCV.
Since I just moved to AZ from MI the hamstick dipole will be the way to go for single band performance. Take care K1WJ Dave
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WB0KZB
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 26, 2010 13:00
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Tried and true.
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have been using a x-BTV since my Novice days in 1972. If you are willing to put in 16 to 32 radials (4 to 8 per band) you will have a great antenna. No radials, no performance. It also helps to put in a coax balun too. (http://www.hamuniverse.com/balun.html)
My system has 32 tuned radials and the adapters for 80, 17 and 12 meters (from DX Engineering) It has survived wind storms, ice storms, and heavy wet snow.
For full disclosure: Verticals are a little nosier than other antennas, just the nature of the beast.
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W7KNA
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 8, 2010 16:38
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Good dollar value and when tuned works well.
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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My old 4BTV had been lying in my aluminum scrap pile for many years in the weather and I decided to refurbish it. Gathering all of the parts, I blue printed the various parts including the traps and lubricated the slip fit areas on the tubing with moly disulphide. I mounted the antenna on a five foot pipe and with only 180 degrees of radials and two per band fired it up. the 10 meter trap was off one "tweak" and after adjusting it the antenna does a fine job. 73 w7kna
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KK9H
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 8, 2010 12:32
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Works very well
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I bought a 4-BTV to use as a portable antenna for Field Day and when on summer vacation. It was first used at my radio club's Field Day. We had it set up ground mounted in an open field with 40 radials (25 ft. each) attached to a radial plate. Using an MFJ 259B, tuning all four bands took only 15 minutes. Each section had to be adjusted as short as it would go and resonance was in the lowest portion of each band just as a previous reviewer had noted. We did not touch any of the traps, but since it was going to be used for CW, it was fine as is. We compared it to various single band dipoles that were up about 40 feet and didn't notice all that much difference, quite frankly. The 4-BTV performed beautifully, we experienced several pileups on us and during FD, what more could you ask? It can be broken down to four fairly convenient sections for transport and storage. Next it was taken up to the north woods on summer vacation. I just set it up exactly as it was used for FD and had many fun QSO's, both DX and domestic. 10M even opened a few times and I had good signal reports. I would recommend the 4-BTV to anyone looking for a 4-band antenna that is willing to put it over a good radial system.
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