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| Reviews Summary for Ventenna HFp portable vertical antenna |
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Reviews: 16
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Average rating: 5.0/5
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MSRP: $193.45
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Description: This is a portable vertical antenna intended for use with the new small, portable HF radios. It consists of 6 18" sections that you screw together to match the frequency you are on. All stores in a heavy-duty nylon bag. Only weighs 2 pounds.
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More info: http://www.ventenna.com
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K6TTD
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 27, 2008 12:05
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Addendum to my earlier report ...
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Time owned: months
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Still haven't had the time to get my permanent antenna installed, and my HFp "dipole" is partly to blame. Just added a couple more unexpected Dx contacts to the log with the "L" setup. Along with several new Hawaii contacts, I've added Guam, the US Virgin Islands, Cuba and Belize. All barefoot, without a single decent sunspot to work with! So, who says verticals - in this case shortened verticals don't work?? Im going to have to take the HFp down to force myself to get the new antenna up on the tower!!
Thanks guys for a great product.
73
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N8NOE
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Rating: 5/5
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May 26, 2008 11:33
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Exceptional!..
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I ordered the Antenna and I think Spoke to John, on Tuesday.
I was told it would go out and I should have it on Friday, And I did!..
Today is Memorial Day, and I got some time after the WPX-CW contest
to set up and try the New Antenna. First let me say, Very nice Package with Everything needed!..
After Speaking with John, Only thing I needed was a run of Coax. But Setup was pretty painless and straight forward.
I'd first set the Antenna on 40 Meter to see what was going on, and nothing really special, so I decided to setup for 20 Meter.
Again, per the Instructions this was a simple to-do. I checked SWR on the IC-703 (Non-Plus) and it wasn't great but Acceptable.
I did use the internal tuner, and everyone was just fine. Made a SSB Contact from here in Michigan (About 40 miles N.W. of Detroit)
to a Portable Station in South Carolina! He was mobile on Island, and there was the start of a pile-up. I sent my Call with /QRP,
He picked me up and gave me a 57 from his mobile. COULD NOT BE MORE ELATED!.. The Antenna is a breeze to Setup, Tune,
Take-down, and just a little screamer. Now, once I made the QSO I came in the Shack and was listening in on the rest of the Calls.
He made more than one reference to my signal being QRP in Michigan..
Just a GREAT antenna, and good looking craftsmanship also. Well presented, easy to carry.. Worth the Money and effort.
If YOUR looking for a Good Antenna for QRP up to 200W (Per Web Information http://www.ventenna.com/HFp-V-Specs.html ), this is it! You'll not be disappointed.. Can't say enough about this one, FINALY something lives up to the Expected results form the Manufacturer!.. KUDOS Guys!
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KD7MTI
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 28, 2008 13:28
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Easy to use; good results
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I've had this antenna for at least 4 years. It works great. My QTH now is Jerusalem, Israel and have worked contacts all over Europe and parts of South America.
I use the antenna on 20 and 40M. When I tune it (either with my z-ll pro or my mfj941E) the same tuner setting work throughout the 20M and 40M bands -- for example, I tune the antenna up on 20M, then later reassemble the antenna for 40M and discover that I don't need to change my tuner settings (the z-ll is automatic, but the relays fire to retune and it doesn't happen).
I highly recommend it.
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KG6IYX
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 25, 2007 19:20
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Amazing!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I purchased the HFp Vertical based on a few comments I heard about it. I have already been using a screw driver antenna with fair results.
When I opened the box, I was impressed by this antenna for several reasons.
Construction:
It has heat shrink wrapped fiberglass rods, with markings for configuration.
It includes 4 pre marked ground radials on small reels making for an easy set up.
The optional clamp is well constructed and uses detents to lock the antenna angle, thus excessive forces is not required to hold a position.
What comes with it:
Everything you need to assemble the antenna minus the coax.
Has a nice carry case included with a Velcro closure to keep all the parts in the bag.
If you ever intend to clamp this antenna anywhere, I recommend the optional clamp.
Setup:
Very fast and easy to configure.
The ground radials can be configured for a low SWR. But if you mount it on a fence, or near a structure, it takes a lot of experimentation to reduce the SWR to an acceptable level.
Note: I have not needed to use a counterpoise with this antenna as yet. The screwdriver I have been using needs the counterpoise regardless of location.
Just a note:
When you put this antenna up, it just looks right. It does not look like someone put it together from parts and scraps.
Operation:
The location I first tested this antenna is a worst case scenario. I mounted this antenna on a 6 foot cyclone fence located near 3 industrial air conditioning heat exchangers (<10 feet), about 9 to 12 feet from a large metal building. Needless to say, the ground radials when set to the marked lengths for an elevated antenna did not null the SWR. Being lazy, I just hit tune on my ICOM 706MKIIG using a LDG tuner. In seconds, it reduced the SWR on twenty meters to 1.2!
Being a PSK31 enthusiast, I put out a CQ call from Fresno California and was answered first try from Seattle Washington using 50 watts. My next QSO’s left me stunned. Hawaii, Vancouver BC, Santiago Chile, and the most amazing contact with Kiev Ukraine using 80 watts! The reports ranged from 579 to 449. But fully readable and considering the location and adverse location conditions… way above the line!
Make no mistake this is a portable vertical. But the performance, quality of construction, and the easy of setup make it worth the cost. I would also highly recommend the HFp for stealth antenna setups. I am rating this antenna on the high side due to its performance in a horrible location.
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W9ASH
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 7, 2007 11:17
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Top Choice for Backpacking and Summits
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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The Ventenna HFp is a very underappreciated choice for backpacking use. The basic design is self supporting (spread the "X" base, put a few rocks on the base, or guy it) which gives it an advantage over the MP-1 or BuddiStick which require something to attatch to. This is also the tallest of the 3 on the low bands where that is a real efficiency plus. It is super simple to tune (as is the MP-1). And, if you know which bands you plan to use, you don't need to pack the whole kit, saving weight. All three antennas mentioned have their place for different types of portable use, but I expect this will become my "Summit" antenna-of-choice because on mountaintops there isn't always something to clamp an antenna to.
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KE7MCL
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 29, 2007 09:31
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Excellent
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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This antenna is a real CW magnet. I am in Iraq and my rig is always buzzing with CW no matter what time of day. Before the HFp I was using a long wire with ok results. With HFp signals are booming and am able to finally hear all the multitudes of weak signals that I could not hear prior.
I have it set up in the full 40 meter configuration and it literally took me minutes to get up and running. Simple with excellent instructions. Plus super customer support from John.
John thanks for a great antenna design.
73
George
KE7MCL
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KR4EY
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 28, 2006 17:03
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Excellent Performance
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I just received the HFp in time for the CQWW CW Contest. This antenna performed excellent on all bands 40-10 Meters. I worked into Europe and South America on 40 meters. EU, South America and Japan on 20 meters. EU and South America on 15 meters. And South America on 10 meters. With just casual contesting last weekend I worked 45 countries with my Kenwood TS-850S (100 watts) and the HFp antenna. After moving into a Condo a few months ago, I am glad to find great performing antenna that is easy to put up and take down.
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N9OHW
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 28, 2006 10:57
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One of the best portable HF antennas out there
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have had the HFp for about 2 years and consider it one of the best portable HF antennas out there. I have and use just about every commercial portable HF antenna out there - MP-1, MiracleWhip, ATX Walkabout, MFJ magnetic loop, random wire and the Elecraft T1 tuner, and the Ventenna HFp.
The HFp is very well-built and includes very detailed documentation on tuning and operation. By following the application notes, I could get to a "no-bars" SWR reading on the FT-817 in just a couple minutes.
The kit includes 6 elements with differing loading that screw together to form a 1/4-wave vertical on all bands from 40M to 10M. This is topped with a small whip that is used for fine-tuning. There is also an upgrade for 80M and 6M, though I have not tried these. It comes with a custom stand.
The kit also includes well thought-out touches like a custom wrench for loosening the screws that hold the elements together, materials for some non-conductive guy ropes for windy settings, and three tunable counterpoises with markings for ground-mounted or elevated mountings. There is a small card with all the tuning details (number and orientation of elements, whip length, counterpoise lengths) that is laminated.
This year I used the HFp and the FT-817 on the CQWW CW contest while out of town after Thanksgiving. At the bottom of the sunpot cycle and running only 5W, I was still able to work 35 stations and 14 countries in just a few hours of casual operating. Contacts were made on 40M, 20M, and 15M. The operating location was near Chicago, and the highlights include Prague, Czech Repubic; Madeira Island off the coast of Africa; and the Galapagos Islands. Pretty incredible considering I fit the whole station including the antenna in one pouch of a carry-on bag.
Where the HFp really shines in comparison to other portable antennas is on 40M and 30M. On these bands the antenna is physically much longer than others like the MP-1 and is more efficient. I had no trouble working all over the Western Hemisphere on 40M at 5W with this antenna.
I bought the antenna at HRO and one of the elements was defective. John WB4YJT fielded some questions from me over email and on the phone - over Thanksgiving - and helped me troubleshoot. In the end, he sent out a new element free of charge, and that fixed everything. Very professional customer service.
Pros:
Well-built, well-documented
Tunes close to 1:1 in a short time
Works well on the lower bands
Comes with tunable counterpoises with markings
Cons:
Takes longer to change bands than MP-1
Hard to set it up for 40M indoors because it is too high for most ceilings
Overall, I think the HFp is among the best portable HF antennas on the market. It makes a good tradeoff in terms of portability, ease-of-use, and performance. It has a very polished appearance and it is clear that the designers put a lot of thought into how it would be used.
N9OHW/6
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W6SJ
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 4, 2006 13:30
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When it's all you can take.
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I like the Ventenna but I have only used it so far from The Bahamas and Hawaii during DX-Venture type vacation operations.
It worked well from The Bahamas but we were only 100 miles east of Miami, no big deal. I took it to KH6 while on vacation and only made about 50 contacts with it. Of course the closest hams are 2,500 miles away but I did QSO with US East Coast stations and, incredibly, a 4S7.
If you're headed a long way away, there are better choices, but for a simple weekend away or camping, it is an ideal choice. It would be easier than draping antennas between trees.
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K7TP
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 8, 2005 08:15
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Perfect Traveling Antenna
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I own nearly all the popular portable antennas it seems: Buddipole, W6MMA, end fed half waves, magnetic loops. They all have their place and I use them all.
The antenna that seems to be overlooked, and shouldn't be by any serious portable operator, is the HFp from Ventenna. Here is an antenna that is smaller and lighter than most and indeed will pack into a briefcase. It offers multiband capability, simple tuning, and adaptability to either vertical or dipole configuration (the dipole is an option).
Setup is easy and you will not need to borrow an analyzer, although an analyzer such as the MFJ is a nice tool to have anyway. You screw the elements together in a specific pattern for a given band, then you run out the marked radials to a specific and marked length, and you are on the air. There is a backpack adapter that can be placed in a pack or secured to a frame. You may use a simple photographic table clamp for picnic table or balcony operation. You can hang the dipole from its center insulator with the built-in eyebolt or use a painter's pole for elevation - the thread on the insulator needs no adapter for a painter's pole. In using this on a frame I immediately notice that the mass of the antenna is far less and it makes for an easier carry. I have not yet succeeded in breaking the antenna on a treelimb.
The antenna is constructed of several fiberglass rods with a spiral wire wrap and a heatshrink covering. There are different types of elements defined by the loading coils contained therein. The position of the elements and their loading coils determines the resonant frequency of the antenna. An adjustable tiplet is used for fine tuning. A tuning chart is provided. The elements themselved are of a narrow diameter (but strong) and colored black so there is a high stealth factor.
The antenna did very well in an HFPack shootout. I won't go into the specifics; you can look them up.
The antenna comes with a wealth of technical information and very useful application notes. You can even make the antenna into an end fed half wave if you desire. The basic coverage is 40 - 10 meters. Using the new "zero stripe" elements you can achieve six meters.
Overall I give the antenna a 4.8. Since EHAM doesn't provide for less than whole numbers, I'll round up to 5. No antenna is perfect. There are only a few things that I didn't like: 1) the base mount is "fiddly" as the Brits would say. I constructed a new base mount which I prefer since it is simpler and just as effective. Ventenna is considering my design for future antennas. 2) I got an earlier model and the interconecting element on one section was not lined up squarely. This was quickly replaced.
A final word about customer service - great. John and Mark are always available and will ship out
replacement parts without question. John is a knowledgeable and experienced engineer whose advice is always right on. I view both Buddipole and Ventenna as superior companies having the kind of customer service that all manufacturers should strive for.
73 Grover
K7TP
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