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Reviews For: SOTABEAMS Band Hopper 4 portable dipole antenna system

Category: Antennas: HF Portable (not mobile)

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Review Summary For : SOTABEAMS Band Hopper 4 portable dipole antenna system
Reviews: 2MSRP: 86.39
Description:
The Band Hopper 4 is a four-band portable dipole antenna system. The antenna
is made resonant on one band at a time using plated clips to adjust the length.
Due to the design, changing bands is quick and easy.
Product is in production
More Info: http://https://www.sotabeams.co.uk/four-band-portable-dipole-antenna-system-for-20-30-40-80m/?revpage=3#reviews
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0025
AB4PP Rating: 2018-08-20
Very Good QRP Antenna Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I bought this for use with Field Day in mind. I have used it for both Field Day and for SOTA operations. It is very easy to deploy and stands up to the winds. It shows a very good SWR for the bands. I have checked it with my Rig Expert and found it right on the bands and ready to use. It is simple to use if you follow the set up instructions and goes right in place.
K7TAA Rating: 2017-12-25
Excellent lightweight antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
SOTABEAMS Band Hopper 4
Four band portable dipole antenna
80, 40, 30, 20 meters

https://www.sotabeams.co.uk/four-band-portable-dipole-antenna-system-for-20-30-40-80m/?revpage=3#reviews

Review by:
K7TAA
Charles Preston
December 25, 2017

I have set up and used this antenna numerous times in the past 2 years, primarily on 75 meters for NVIS, but also on 40 and 20. It is very small and lightweight when packed (21 oz), and although the wire looks fragile, it has held up well in field use. The antenna is well designed and constructed.

This is one of the quickest of wire antennas to deploy, whether you have some trees around or not, if you use the lightweight mast mentioned below. It is complete and ready for use, with wire winders, stakes, bag, balun, cord, and coaxial feed line.

SOTABEAMS sells a Travel Mast that telescopes down to about 27 inches, and extends to over 20 feet. The fiberglass mast is high quality, and the sections fit well enough that I often don’t tape the joints. With a light load, like the lightweight center of the Band Hopper 4, the mast will stay extended for hours. When I do tape the joints, I use 3M No Residue duct tape, which is easy to apply and remove without mess.

The combination of Band Hopper 4 and Travel Mast allows you to put the center of the dipole up 20 feet with the ends about 3 feet off the ground, and the whole antenna can be set up in 10-15 minutes without the need for a center mast tripod. A 16’ center height is also fine for NVIS. The two antenna legs and 1 extra cord act as mast guys. No trees or other supports needed.

The antenna has a length setting for both 75 meters and 80 meters, to avoid the 5:1 VSWR mismatch at the other end of the band typical for dipoles. Efficiency is good, and I have checked into SSB nets quite a number of times with a KX3 and 10 Watts on 75 meters and 40 meters. Band Hopper 4 efficiency is about 10 times higher (on 40 meters) than a portable 4’ diameter loop, so if there is room for this antenna in a portable location, it will work much better for transmitting while using 5-10 Watts power output.