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Reviews For: Hustler 5BTV HF vertical

Category: Antennas: HF: Verticals; Wire; Loop

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Review Summary For : Hustler 5BTV HF vertical
Reviews: 146MSRP: 211.99
Description:
Hustler 5BTV HF vertical antenna for 10,15,20,40 and 80 meters.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.new-tronics.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
001464.6
W4KVW Rating: 2016-10-26
Not Impressed Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I had a Hustler 5BTV several years ago & found that it was very unstable on all of the bands & when the wind blew it would cause the SWR to jump up when it was blowing.Very noisy also compared to my G5RV antenna.The G5RV also had a better signal both on receive & transmit on all 5 bands when compared head to head.I did not have any ground radials but thought it would have performed much better than it did without them.
VK2PG Rating: 2016-01-17
nice verticle Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had this antenna for just over 12 months and all I can say is it works very well.
It is ground mounted with 80 radials each 33 feet long. It took two days to complete the radial system but was well worth the effort.
I run 400w to the 5btv and generally work 95 percent of the dx I hear.
If you buy this antenna I can not stress enough
how important it is properly install a good radial system.
If you would like to see my setup please check me out on QRZ - VK2PG.
73.
N3PM Rating: 2015-08-22
Works fine Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I moved my 5BTV recently from an elevated mount to a ground mount. 10,15 and 20 resonated lower than expected, regardless of the standard adjustments. 40 and 80 were tunable. I adjusted the trap covers to get them closer to what I wanted. Initially adjusted the trap covers with no radials, and had very little shift when 12 40 footers were laid.
The trap adjustments were presented by IW5EDI and a page on HamUniverse.
I also cammoed it with Krylon paints and oak leaf stencils. No retuning was required.
I did replace the hose clamps once.
My 5 watts and I are happy with this vertical.
K1SCE Rating: 2015-08-16
cannot get needed parts Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I would echo most of the reviews of the 5btv on this site. (Except for the reviews that claim the antenna does not need radials).
The 5btv seems to be a good comprise for people that have limited space or need a small antenna. Of course it doesn't work as well as a vertical dipole re: gap antennas.
The main problem is getting inexpensive parts. My 5btv needed trap sleeves (they filled with water, froze then split). Here is a quote from New-Tronics, "We do not sell just the sleeve it would have to be the complete 10 meter trap assembly for $40.00". A little expensive. I also needed two tubes for the spider assembly, the New-Tronics quote, "The 6 blade spider tubes are only sold in a package of (6) for $20.00". I purchased a three foot Alum tube from DX Engineering and replaced my broken tubes, cost $1.45.

DX-Engineering also will NOT supply just the trap sleeve.
Of course I was able to get the tubing for the spider assy from them.

The trap assemblies on these antennas are thin and can dent and freeze and split. Something to think about when purchasing this antenna.
thank for reading. 73
KD0USA Rating: 2015-04-18
works on 17 Time Owned: more than 12 months.
i have a ground mounted BTV5 no Mods at all it works on 17 meters flat SWR feed it with 130 feet of RG8X have a 8 ft ground rod Horizontal on the ground ( SOME SAY ) i am only TX from Coax , others say it is Not Possible to have flat SWR on 17 oh well i have it and it works ,,,,,
ALL my normal 5 bands are FLAT SWR and i do at times pump my Ameritron AL 811 into the antenna
K4FY Rating: 2015-02-23
Competent design and good value. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I purchased my Hustler 5BTV from DX engineering along with a tilt over base (a must). DXE provides a detailed installation manual that includes tuning the traps. The tilt over base makes this a relatively easy process.

The quality of Hustler and DXE materials are good to excellent. The tilt base is a massive hunk of stainless steel. I have owned a couple of verticals before this one (Moseley and Hy-Gain) and found the Hustler to be a little better quality. The design of trap verticals is similar.

My installation is a few inches above the ground. The antenna is grounded through an 8 foot copper ground rod with AWG 8 wire in Florida soil. 25, 24 foot radials are connected to the ground rod and buried in a fan configuration. SWR on all bands is satisfactory and tunes easily with my FT-990 and FTdx1200. 80 meters is, of course, quite narrow (plus/minus 50 KHz) but adequate for my needs.

Putting 800 watts into the antenna causes no strain. Verticals are adept at working DX due to their low angle radiation pattern. I’ve never had any antenna other than a trap vertical and OCFD at 40 feet. My DX confirmed total is 270.

Trap verticals can be installed a number of ways. Ground mounted with a good radial system (more the better) or elevated as a ground plane. A roof mounted vertical with two radials per band cut to half wave is a very effective performer.

I would pick the Hustler over the others as a good value for a competent antenna. DX Engineering is a top notch outfit.
KC0CID Rating: 2014-12-23
Great Antenna Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
This is the second 5BTV I have owned and to date I have had no problems with either one of the Hustler 5BTV's. Great antenna for limited space. Easy assembly and can be used with or without radials. I would highly recommend this antenna to anyone and I would not hesitate to buy another myself if needed
KE7MU Rating: 2014-09-10
Great Product Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I have had no problems with this antenna. It is constructed much better than my old Butternut. I was in fact impressed with how well it was constructed, especially after reading some of the reviews on Eham.

I followed the assembly directions and added some radials. I have not had to adjust it at all or use my antenna tuner. All bands less than 1.5:1 which surprised me, as I am using it 2 feet off the ground and use 2 ham sticks per band for radials.

It doesn't perform better than my 80M full wave loop, but then it has no gain, but I knew that prior to the purchase.

For a vertical it works fine, sometimes as well as my inverted Vee at 30 feet.
KT8R Rating: 2014-09-10
No problems Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Reading some of the negative reviews here, I must comment on one thing; how are you tightening the clamps and how are you mounting, with or without radials? I have mine ground mounted, no radials, added the two home brew wires for 12 & 17 and have never had a problem with this antenna. I routinely work DX with 50 watts or less. Might I suggest that if you have problems, read the manual, read the instructions and most of all, don't ad lib to what is in the manual. Over tightening will strip a clamp, so why not just snug it as per the manual?
I have had two 5 Btv's and both were excellent, but remember, follow measuring instructions and use a good quality coax. Good Luck and 73!

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Earlier 5-star review posted by WD8DK on 2008-07-16

Ok, after having this beast for 2 months and adding two wires for 17 and 12, this antenna is still the best I have owned as far as verticles are. I can work what I hear and I hear plenty.
Adding the two WARC band wires, I had to adjust the trap housings to compensate for the added bands. This antenna is ground mounted and WITHOUT radials. I am sure adding radials would improve the antenna, but why mess with something that is satisfactory to me.
For info, this is fed with 75' of RG8X and has a current balun made from the same length of coax.


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Earlier 5-star review posted by WD8DK on 2008-05-30

Bought my second 5BTV and am pleased with it.

I purchased the DX Engineering SO 239 for it.

As before, this is ground mounted, no radials and I can work what I hear with 50 watts.
As far as tuning for a perfect match, I just set the antenna to out of the box ground mounting specs. It was close enough that the rig tuner did the rest.
W2UIS Rating: 2014-09-10
Good Antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've tried many antennas for hf only to return to this one. Mine is ground mounted without radials using a heavy patio umbrella stand. I do use a LDG YT-100 tuner and the Yaesu 857D. Contacts of 5000 miles is not uncommon.

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Earlier 5-star review posted by W2UIS on 2006-01-14

I agree. This is an excellent antenna for any size property. Mine is connected to an auto tuner and I work all five bands, however a tuner is really needed if you want to operate all of 75/80 meters. If you hang out on one frequency like alot of hams do on that band then the tuner is not needed just follow the instuctions for the frequency range you desire.

Like most antennas this one is most fun to build and install in very bad weather. When finished there is satisfaction in a job well done with an antenna that will give you years of service. Buy a second one and put away if ever you need to replace the first one..