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Reviews For: SOTAbeams Band Hopper II (20m,40m)

Category: Antennas: HF Portable (not mobile)

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Review Summary For : SOTAbeams Band Hopper II (20m,40m)
Reviews: 3MSRP: $90 in USA
Description:
Band Hopper II, two-band portable dipole antenna system. For 20 m, 40 m, full size dipole. Power rating 125 Watts, all modes. Balun included. About 28 metres long end to end (20-40 version), this includes the lightweight line to pull out to end supports. Has 10m long high quality RG174 coax terminated in BNC plug. Comes with 3 Wire Winders to ensure tangle-free setup and storage, 3 lightweight aluminum alloy pegs, and a nylon carry bag with peg pocket.
Product is in production
More Info: https://www.sotabeams.co.uk/two-band-portable-dipole-antenna-system-band-hopper-ii/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0034.3
VK6BLU Rating: 2024-05-04
Good but very vulnerable built Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I bought a Bandhopper 2 kit as it was so highly praised and was not disaapointed when it came. The pouch contains the dipole and all the other material, and I used it as an inverted Vee, being impressed with how organised the kitewinders make the antenna, and so easy to deploy next time without tangled wires.
There is however also a significant weak point. If you like POTA and want to use the antenna over a branch, this is not your product. The bandhopper is really made for a central mast and two side mast, or inverted Vee.
This because the all-important centrepiece, connection of the wires to both arms, and the \feedline are just stuck to a little pice of plastic. Worse: tha balun dangles on this piece of plastic. I bet the first time you throw this over a tree branch, and try to retrieve it when all, the whole middle piece comes apart and your sotabeams is useless. It is beyond me, why, for this price (the antenna is not cheap and import costs are high) they could not make a small protectice case around the centrepiece that would make it possible to use this antenna as we usually use over: over a tree branch. Although I got good signals on 20 and 40 meters, this made me regret that I bought it, as can only do POTA with a huge telescopic pole.
K7ER Rating: 2020-10-02
Works Great easy setup Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I set this up on a 21' Sotabeam pole worked great for POTA. Lightweight packable great quality. I also bought the kit and made a 4 bander 10,15,20 & 40. I ordered it direct took a week fast shipping and great customer service. Top notch company.
AE0Q Rating: 2020-05-13
Works well, light weight! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I've been using this antenna for WWFF and POTA parks activations. With the center on top of a 32 ft fiberglass mast it doesn't cause the mast to bend over. Comes with a 3rd line fastened to center so you could guy it 3 ways using the antenna for 2 of them, but haven't needed to use it that way. It is in inverted-V configuration on the tall mast and works well, lots of contacts on CW and SSB running 100w, with good signal reports.