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You can
write your own review of the Hustler 5BTV HF vertical.
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W6JMF
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Rating: 4/5
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Dec 28, 2009 11:50
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Good for small lots
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Radials, radials, radials. Having said that, if you use radials, the factory trap positions will be way off. According to dxengineering (grt service), the factory tune is for ground rod only. I had to collapse all the tubes, shuffle the 10 meter trap down nearly an inch, and the other traps at least a half inch. Be sure to get the Penetrox for where the tubes meet, and prep the area inside and out with some 220 or finer sandpaper. You will have this antenna up and down A LOT while you tune it, and a tilt base should not be considered an accessory. The little add on that DXengineering sells that brings out the pig tail to a supported so-259 is also a good idea. You might also want a spare hose clamp handy in case you over-torque one. Be careful handling the trap sections. Resonates reasonably well on 10/15/20/40. 80 is dicey. It's basically the Hustler mobile coil/whip at the top. It seems well made, but you need to have reasonable expectations. Given current conditions, from Northern California, I getting up and down the USA West coast and maybe 500-800 miles inland on 100 watts ssb.
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W2ALQ
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 13, 2009 16:33
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Very Cost Effective
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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Everyone has pretty much said all the things about this antenna. Few negative points. I give it a "5" because; for the cost, it is strong and for the price it is hard to beat.
Must Do's:
- You MUST MUST MUST take your time and tune the antenna AS PER THE INSTRUCTIONS and DO NOT depend upon your AT antenna tuner it will fool you. (I can't recommend highly enough an antenna analyzer).
- It REQUIRES (just as any effective antenna) that you install a good RF ground system NOT just a DC ground (there is a difference).
- This is no beam or 1/2 wave antenna and will not perform like one.
- You need a good CURRENT, 1:1 balun (RF choke) within 8 "feed line" feet of the antenna base feed point!
- If it says mount it 4 inches above the ground that means 4 inches NOT 4 feet.
- In my opinion you can never have too many radials.
Once you do these things, you will have a SOLID performer.
Great antenna at a fair price!
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WD0FIA
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 20, 2009 23:37
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Great for limited space!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Let me start by saying that my 5BTV is not the best antenna to use, if you have space available for something bigger. It worked great for me when I had a house and couldn't accomodate 40m or 80m dipoles. When I moved to my new house, I brought it with me, I have it ground mounted with two tuned radials on each band. It does not compare favorably to a simple dipole, but it does work! I would rather run one and be on the air, than be without it.
The antenna is quite durable. I think I bought it in 1988. I don't think any antenna that has worked for 21 years can be considered "bad".
SWR under 2 on all but 80m without a tuner across the entire bands. Entire 80m band will tune with a tuner.
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W8NET
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 5, 2009 16:07
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Great bang for the buck
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Everything has pretty much been said about this antenna. VERY few negative point. I give it a "5" because, for the price, it is tough to beat.
A couple reminders:
- It is not a beam at 120ft, and will not perform like one.
- It REQUIRES (just as any vertical) that you install agood ground system.
- You MUST - I repeat - MUST take the time to tune the antenna PER THE INSTRUCTIONS (I highly recommend an antenna analyzer).
- You need a good current balun (choke) near the feedpoint.
Once you do these few things, you will have a SOLID performer. Mine has netted me more than 6000 contacts in 16 months. Not bad.
The only real drawback for me is the 1100W power limit, though I rarely run above 600-800W anyway.
Womderful antenna at a fantastic price!
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NC6P
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Rating: 4/5
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Aug 27, 2009 16:20
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change the hardware to stainless steel
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have had this antenna up on a roof in San Francisco for over five years. Used some radials in a zig-zag pattern. So, here is what I can report: a couple of the spider tubes blew off and I had to replace them. I have had a kind of metallic squeaking sound. Decided to take her down due to the squeaking sound and that I am going to relocate the antenna to another location. SUPRISE, we have salt air from the ocean here. All of the steel hardware is rusted/busted on attempt to remove it and do some maintenance. Do yourself a favor and replace all of the steel hardware with stainless steel hardware before you put the antenna up. Other than that, you can't do wrong for the price. Best regards, Dave
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KA1TZY
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Rating: 4/5
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Jul 13, 2009 13:05
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Great Antenna.
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Had My up for a year now. On a hill side, wide open to the storms. went thru the December 2008 ice storm here in central Ma. Antenna is sitting at 860 feet above sea level, Ground mounted on a 4 foot Gal metal pipe. Pipe is up 18 inches from ground. I have eight radials at sixty feet each in a heading of the eight points of the compass. My coax run is well over 100 feet to the 5BTV. I run bare foot at 100 watts or less. If you are a ham with a small area this is a antenna for you. I would rank this antenna with My old R-5 that was on a 40 tower at the last QTH. This is a great antenna. Check it out.
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M6FBS
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 21, 2009 15:13
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Absolutely amazing!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Let me start by saying that my 5btv is not new - far from it. It had belonged to an elderly ham who moved house and couldn't accomodate it. He had carefully marked it up for me as he took it to pieces so setting it up was a breeze. I just tightened all the clips on his marks and it tuned perfectly on all bands! I have it ground mounted with two tuned radials on each band plus the rest of the 100 metre roll of wire I used, cut to various lengths and sunk into the garden.
What a revelation! I thought my Carolina Windom was decent on all but 80m but that was before I met the Hustler. Suddenly I can work stations on the Hustler that I can't even hear on the Windom!
Pros: A great night-time dx antenna.
SWRs on all but 80m without a tuner across the whole band. (80m tune to your favourite part of the band and use a tuner for the rest).
For a vertical 80m is good even in the daytime.
Cons: Haven't found any yet! (except the toil of putting in the radials!)
Reports during terribly low propogation period (running just 10w from the South Coast of England):
80m: Edinburgh 59 Belfast 58
40m: Rome 59 Madiera 58
20m: Moscow 59, Detroit 57, Puerto Rico 57
10m: Venice 59
Absolutely Amazing!
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KD4SZJ
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Rating: 5/5
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May 22, 2009 13:31
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AJ4IB
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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The Hustler 5 BTV is the best Vertical I've worked with so far. Thought about the Gap Titan for a long time, but opted for the 5BTV as My buddy, Danny KD4GNM, had a 4btv and it worked like gangbusters!! I wanted 75/80 so I got the 5BTV. This antenna offered me a whole 2 S unit increase in recieve to start off with and outdid my Buxcomm Windom hands down!(But I still love my Windom!!). This antenna was definitely a Hoss Cat to set up and tune-- But I have found unless you use some brand of analyzer, you are in for a BUNCH of running back and forth.I Would definitely say DO NOT attempt to tune without an analyzer!!! YOU will have to tune those traps too-- so get ready for that. My antenna did not have enough length to tune properly without tuning the traps.It's no big deal as you can find out for yourself. Just be sure to reseal thoroughly with silicon sealer.DO NOT cut on this antenna PERIOD.It can be tuned without it. Ground radials are a definite Must also.I now have 21 of varying lengths in place now, and plan to add 9 more as any miore than 30 show little return on effort put out.My radials are buried thanks to a $4.95 Walmart flat bladed shovel and a little time expended. My antenna is just about flat all over the bands and 75/80 works well too. Just tune for the segment of the band that you use mainly and you can use an antenna tuner for the rest. All the other bands don't need a tuner. I bought mine from DX Engineering and bought the choke to go with it. The choke is a Must too.All work hand in hand. Use a good solid center low loss double shielded coax and this rounds out the formula. Danny has added 12 and 17 meters to his, and mine is waiting on me to do the same. That will be done with the addition of the 9 other radials this summer.
Tha was the best $150 I ever spent in my ham radio career-- haven't regretted it 5 seconds.5 outta 5 is not Good enough to rate this antenna.
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W2KG
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 10, 2009 12:54
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Effective Antenna
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Between '77 and '82 I had a 5BTV mounted on the peak of my roof with two radials on each band. Running 100W I worked mixed DXCC and WAS. Admittedly, the bands were pretty decent in those days, but, in my opinion, the 5BTV did a fine job for me. I replaced it with a Mosley TA-32 yagi to get some directionality (if that's a real word?). Given the right location and radials, I don't think you'll go wrong with a 5BTV. Just remember it ain't a log periodic.
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M6SIX
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 10, 2009 09:24
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Proud owner
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I have one of these antennas, ground mounted, and with ALL instructions followed to a 'T'. I even fitted the two Chokes that are recommended! One just after the feedline (about three feet) into the antenna and one just about five feet away from the rig, both chokes are of a 6 inch diameter, and each with ten windings. Now I tried the antenna before fitting these chokes and I was very impressed with the results BUT, after fitting the chokes ... Wow!! what a difference, very very low noise, and a reduction in SWR, albeit a small difference in the SWR.
OK, I have now located a full set of 'cut to length' counterpoises, and after reading all the previous comments on this great site, I expect there to be an even better result from this easy to fit antenna.
At the moment I can concur with all other donators to this forum, in that "what you hear you can reply to" .
When I have fitted the counterpoise' I shall come back with the results, improvements (if possible) are hoped for!
Just as an addendum, I have tried many other types and makes of antenna and none compare to this beauty.
Best regards.
Brian.
ps. I am at sea level with the water-table just a couple of feet below the ground.
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