| WL7BDO |
Rating:      |
2005-04-22 | |
| Working well in my Car |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
Installed in my 5 year old car. Drilled a whole on the right back side of the car near the truck for the antenna mount ball type. This location helps as close to the truck(boot) mounted IC-706 rig. Small car (Toyota Echo) so used the fixed mast. Mounted a spring at base for flexability. It sure makes the antenna look cool whipping around as you drive.
Have 5 resonators for 80-40-20-15-10 meters. The 40M resonator is one I had from 25 years ago and still works great. While driving on a 300 mile trip the first weekend worked three European stations (20M). Able to check-in to local 80M & 40M nets.
Overall very happy with the system. I think the metal to metal grounding made for a very good system. Will paint the mast black as the white does not match my red car with black trim.
Did not want a motorized system as cold (-40) in the winter would likely not like it. Also cost and already had many parts from my last use of the antenna 20 years prior. Tried and true. Those new black sewer pipe motorized antennas look ugly.
Carl |
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| KQ6Q |
Rating:      |
2005-03-18 | |
| 8 bands on 2 masts |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| I've had standard Hustler resonators mag-mounted on my 24x56 mobile home's metal roof for several years now - 54" mast, triple magmounts - one with triple adapter, 80-40-30m resonators, and 20-17-15-12-10m on another mast,using two triple adapters, with an outer corner of each adapter on the mast, with a 20 meter resonator holding them on the mast, and the other resonators on the outer four corners. This does NOT go down the highway, it's on my metal roof, but it is standingup well to the heavy winds we have here in Souther California. I've added 2 quarter-wave counterpoises for each band - can't tell if it made a lot of difference, but I can always make contacts when the band is open. |
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| WA6CDE |
Rating:  |
2005-02-28 | |
| Disapointed in a good company gone south |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
Not that I am saying the electrical part is bad...
....the mechanical part kinda stinks and the product support... well ... let the buyer be ware... is what the supervisor at the company said its their new motto now I think... after he made insulting questionable intergetrity remarks on the phone.
What led me to this ....
I had a Hustler RM-75S suddenly depart the top of the antenna mast shaft leaving the attachment portion still threaded on the top of the mast and the resonator, coil and top whip rolling around in the traffic lane. This luckily happened while we were stopped along side the roadway and a gust of wind from a passing truck caused the resonator to “Just fall off” while we watched. We couldn’t believe it… and turned, smiled and started to laugh about what we had just seen happen. I went and picked up the top resonator as it was rolling out into on comming traffic...
But, then we started to think and discuss this on the way home... its no laughing matter… had the 75S resonator fallen off while we were going down the road … I am sure it could have been a different story as it is potentially heavy enough to cause considerable damage after falling off, hitting the ground and bouncing up into a on coming unsuspecting vehicle. This could result in a traffic accident which potentially would make the owning ham liable in the event that the other motorists taking evasive action, resulting in loss of control of their vehicle to avoid the fod of the resonator. All of which could result in a legal suit real quickly against the owning ham that lost it. Make sure that you do not get caught in the same situation where you might find yourself being sued due to a two bit resonators departure. Sobering but if the accident results in someone getting hurt or worse case; wrongful death... what was fun suddenly turned deadly.
To add to the problem is the companies lack of responsibility... or appearance of...
I talked to Hustler (Jo and her boss) about the fact that the fitting failed from what it appears to be a hydrogen embitterment problem with the material and the chrome plating process… of course it could be just a mechanical defect in assembly, as one can tell it did not just shear off. Never the less they claim it is not their problem and/or feel no reason to support the product after sales. He said that he knew of the problem and that they did a design change a year or two back on the newer resonators... all of which I am not sure the new ones are any better from what one reads today about them...
However, that doesn’t help the poor ham that already has one and has not been apprised that this can happen. Again... their attitude is...they sold it you bought it... the deal is done... and with no aftermarket support I find this to be unsatifactory.
Again....A word to the wise… don’t get caught up in a hobby which a antenna part can fall off without notice, result in your losing your property and/or worse getting sued by another motorest for causing a accident on the roadway because of a poorly designed faulty resonator.
Checking with the highway safety officer you are responsible and/or liable for someone else getting hurt if the device came from/or off your vehicle on the roadway. Suddenly what was fun truns serious when you start to think about losing the house, car, retirement check even if you have insurance on the car. Again checking insurance... I found that some do not cover this.
I have always been a consumer of Hustlers products... but, this makes the third time their new designs have failed. They have refused to back their products and/or supplied after sales parts (5 btv base insulators cracked no parts are aviable only complete costly assemblies) I won't be waisting my time and buying any more junk....and now will become a customer of a different manufacture. This, after the customer service response I have gotten from them degrades their rating as far as I am conserned.
I suggest that you take a moment to think what we have found if you own one of their S type mobile resonators.
I am now looking at one of the screwdrivers from high serria...I don't think they have problems with the screwdriver antennas falling off. |
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| N5EAT |
Rating:      |
2004-11-10 | |
| The Best |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I used the Hustler system with their foldover mast on 3 different cars. Always used 3 stingers, the 10, the 20 , and the 40. Generally had all 3 tuned for the cw portion of the bands.
The system, once tuned, stays tuned and works. The only thing you need to watch is the multiple stinger adapter, about 3 bucks or so. Put 2 of them on the top of your mast because some of them bill break from metal fatigue. Never had 2 go, however.
For the money, the best mobile antenna I've ever used. Bandwidth is moderately narrow, indicating fairly high Q. On 40, you can get 7.010 thru 7.060 perhaps < 3 to 1. A really fine top loaded system. |
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| KI4CRA |
Rating:      |
2004-11-06 | |
| Great Mobile Verticle!! |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I purchased the Hustler MO-4 mast with the R-20S and the R-17, with the MBM mount. All I have to say is WAY TO GO HUSTLER! Finally a mobile verticle that I can use with my 706MKIIG in my Sport Trac.
I had previously mounted the above mentioned set on my rental Grand Prix until I got my sport Trac back from the garage. Thought I would play hell in retuning both resonators once I got my truck back. But such was not the case. On the rental I had about a 1:4 - 1:5-1 match for the 20s,and about a 1:3 - 1:4-1 match for the 17, across the band for both. Got my truck back Tues. 11/02/04, got everything set up, on the low end of 20 I have about a 1:6-1 match, the further up the band I go the lower the SWR. On 17,same story, only better, I wound up with a 1:2-1 SWR across the band. I must say in MHO that Hustler does have one of the better monoband verticles going. Yes I could go with an MO-1 or another taller mast, get the VP-1 to put 3 bands on the air, maybe down the road I will but for now this will do me fine.
I've had 5-9 reports from Mn, Va, Tx, etc. so this set up works for me. The only thing I found that I didn't like was that the stinger for the 17 meter resonator was too short,it comes with a 23" stinger, this is way too short for the band, wound up going to a 4' stinger and adjusting it accordinly. All in all I am very pleased with this antenna system.
I also have the Diamond HV-7A 4 band antenna on my truck that works well for 10m,6m, 2m, and 440mhz. Some day I may have to go with a screw driver type antenna but for now I'm not complaining. 73 all & Good DX!
Mark AI4HO |
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| K9FE |
Rating:      |
2004-07-26 | |
| The TImex of mobile antennas |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
In 1970 I bought my first Hustler with 15 20 and 40 coils. Finally got mobile in 1974 (I used the antenna out the window of my bedroom through high school with a Yaesu 101E). Always received decent reports. Sold them with the radio in 1980. Let my license lapse in 82, no time for the hobby or interest. In the mid 90's received a new license. Wanted to get mobile since our home is small in area and I spend a lot of time in the car. Picked up a box at our clubs hamfest with an MO-1, 15m, 20m, 40m coils. For $25 I figured I couldn't lose. Designed a mount to plug in the trailer receiver of my van. It is offset 30 inches to the left to clear the tailgate. Added a #12AWG ground wire to the frame from the mount.
The reports I get are outstanding using an IC706 MkII-G at 100 watts. Changed the 40m to a 40s, not built as well as the originals (cheap cast white metal instead of brass, and had to chase the threads to clear them) but better band width. The 40s coils is about 2 feet above the roof of the van and maybe 10 inches behind the body. 2:1 SWR bandwidth from 7.150 to 7.300. To get that I added three split ferrite clamp-ons with 2 turns of RG-58A teflon coax. One at the radio, one at mid-point, and the third 1 foot from the antenna. Nightly reports from IL to OH on 40 are always S-9+. On 20 S-9 to +20 in the states most times with S-8 to JA land in the mornings. Most receiving stations ask twice when I give the K9FE/mobile call.
The original Hustler stuff was circa 1969, this last batch (except the 40s) had the receipt dated 1959! I liked the 1969 equipment, but the 1959 seems better built (the brass coil threads are awesome) A little anti-seize on the threads seemed to help from seizing since I run one coil at a time. (I hinge down the MO-1 and the coils is at eye level for quick changing) Put a 4 inch spring on top of the mast before the coil, rigid mount, but guy it with a piece of 1/2 inch PVC from the mast to the luggage rack for support.
I like the Hustlers for price and they seem to hold up very well over the years. When tuned properly running single band they work great. Maybe someday I'll try a screw-driver but for now I am very happy with the way the old Hustler works. |
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| W7DKZ |
Rating:    |
2004-07-10 | |
| New mobile coil stinks |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
Old ones with plated brass are great, still going after 20 - 30 years, agree with all the good comments, but only for the old stuff.
However, the new mobile stuff is maybe not so good. I just bought a RM-40S to get a bigger coil (hoping for more efficiency) and disappointed to find the threads both made out of pot metal and of poor cut. After many minutes trying to get the threads lined up and unable to attach the thing, I gave up and went back to the old RM-40. Oh well, get what you pay for...sometimes. Will probably go towards a Bugcatcher for 40 and avoid any "new" Hustler mobile stuff. Too bad.
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| G3OZN |
Rating:      |
2004-06-01 | |
| A real performer /M or /P |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
Been using the same Hustler whips for over 40 years and they are still going well.
Better than anything else available in "G" land.
Sturdy and electrically great!
73s G3OZN
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| K6IOU |
Rating:      |
2003-10-02 | |
| Great Product! |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I now have used their 'Super' resonators on 75, 40, 20, 15, and 10, as well as their 'regular' on 17 meters.
I can't fault the product in any way. Solid contacts, solid signal reports using an Icom 706MKIIg @ 100 watts on all the above frequencies.
The resonators appear well made. I discovered, however, that if you use a 'spring mount' it is necessary to tether the mast. At first, using the 40 meter resonator, I took a test drive . . . looked in the rear view mirror . . . and the antenna was swinging from vertical to horizontal [almost striking the road], as well as nearly horizontal left and right. While the use of a tether might have been obvious to others . . . this was my first mobile antenna.
Now if I can just get rid of the alternator noise . . . .
DON K6IOU |
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| K7FD |
Rating:      |
2003-06-08 | |
| Solid Performer |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
K7FD/N7SG are running the Hustler coil for 75m, 400w version, mounted on a Comet 'rear van door' multi-swivel mount. With the Hustler's 54" MO-3 base, the coil sits high like it should for maximum RF out. Matching to 1.0:1 is accomplished using a Hamstick Inducti-Match coil tapped to ground. As others have pointed out, a solid ground to the chassis is imperative; I run a ground wire directly from the antenna mount to the chassis, bypassing any floating van door connections...
The Hustler sits about 6 foot off the ground at the base and easily clears the roof of the Class B RV it sits on; at nearly 14' tall, this set up is used only while 'mobile at rest' and not while in motion, perfect for camping and portable operating.
My xyl and I consistently get solid reports while operating our IC706MKIIG with this antenna setup...
73 John K7FD
88 Annette N7SG
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