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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
141464.6
KN0JI Rating: 2014-09-09
Wow...impressive for a vertical Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Summary:

After installing the Hustler 5-BTV and accompanying radials, I am thoroughly impressed by its performance. Although transmit on 80 meters didn't work as well as I had hoped, 80 meter reception was terrific, and I got my first 80 meter QSL contact with this antenna.

Details:

I attached a six-foot 1-5/16" chain-link fence post as a mast to one leg of my dead swamp cooler, which is firmly mounted on my rooftop. I then attached the carefuly assembled 5-BTV to this mast, so that the bottom of the antenna was 26 feet above ground level. I made a "feedpoint" out of an SO-239 bulkhead connector soldered to two short pieces of stranded 14 AWG THHN attached to eyelets, and attached the bulkhead to a 2" Schedule 40 PVC cap and 2" Schedule 40 slip sleeve for weather protection. I then painstakingly followed the advice of Steve Katz (http://www.eham.net/articles/20850) and made radials (two each for 10, 15, 40, and 80 meters, and four for 20 meters) according to my own calculations (as opposed to that of the mfr), out of stranded 14 AWG THHN and ceramic insulators. I then (wired and) glued my feedpoint to the bottom of the antenna, then connected my feedline of 75' RG-8X with dual PL-259 connectors.

Results:

Wow. Gone where no ham (in my house) has gone before. Many report ten-over-nine on 40 meters from a thousand miles away. (One QSO was over 3000 miles, between my house and Laie, Hawaii, reporting ten-over-nine.) I thought that kind of performance was only possible with beams. Thanks to Steve, et al, it's all in the radials.
KJ4GZI Rating: 2014-06-15
Great Antenna Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I have had my 5BTV up for six months and it has worked as advertised. I have it installed in my back yard where I have a chain link fence around the yard and a large Oak Tree not far from the antenna. While not the optimum setup it has work well for me with 30 15 foot radials installed. I work mostly digital modes on 40 and 20 with a little Phone on 80 meters.
WB0OKA Rating: 2014-05-15
Lot of Antenna for the Buck! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Since I have limited space and budget to work with, I chose the Hustler 5BTV. The choice was obvious. I had just enough room within the confines of a closed in courtyard (15 foot brick walls surround it on all sides) at the college where I teach.

The cost was well within my budget. It is made with quality materials and takes relatively little time to construct. It held up well these last few months against the strong turbulent winds, ice, and snows that made its way into the courtyard. It is ground mounted on a fence post with no radials, and in spite of the low radiation signal pattern trying to jump the walls, I worked numerous US and DX contacts with it using just 100 watts.

The ONLY minor complaints I have are the narrow bandwidth and performance on 80 meters. Unless you buy an extra whip for 80 meters so you can operate either the upper or lower part of the band and willing to take it down each time you want to make the switch, you only have one choice of a "window" of bandwidth on 80 m to choose from. On that same band, it just does not receive or radiate all that well for me, but that is no surprise whatsoever given my portable location. Incidentally, the SWR on all other bands is more than acceptable.

And, here's a plug for DX Engineering. Delivery was fast, their optional accessories quite useful, and additional construction directions very informative.

Would I buy one again and would I recommend it to others? Dang right!
KC9KMZ Rating: 2013-12-06
Poor quality materials Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
In less then one years time the threaded area where the hot wire from the coax is inserted rusted. Resulting in an antenna that did not work.
WU9F Rating: 2013-07-05
Amazing results Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I obtained my 5BTV used in a trade. I installed it on a metal post 61/2' in the ground. I do NOT have any ground radials on my antenna. I have been amazed at how well it works. It tuned easily with a low swr on all bands. I have received great reports of strong signals all over the world. I only run 100 watts but cut through many pileups with those using mega watts. I would not hesitate buying another.
W9RDB Rating: 2013-04-23
great performance Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I got this antenna in March and assembled it with only 5 radials layed out on the snow. I worked several DX stations. I now have 50 radials, and I couldn't be happier with the results. The antenna is rs resonant on all bands and a tuner is not needed. I have a FT-950, and with my 5btv I have worked around the world. Even worked Australia from Madison WI. on 100 watts. Takes a little work to install, but worth it. Great for the price.
K6EGE Rating: 2013-04-20
6BTV HF Vertical Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I've had this antenna about a year now and couldn't be happier with it.This is my first experience with a vertical,yes its a bit nosier on receive ,but not that much.If this antenna is installed in accordance with DX Eng.instruction its gonna be a sure winner.Radials are the key to its success when ground mounting it.The more radials the better.I'm a CW op and have it set for the lower part of the band however the swr is acceptable in the phone part.Don't expect to much from 80 meters the band width is very narrow.To make quick work on setting this up I would highly recommend a analyzer.This antenna is hard to beat when it comes to price verses performance.
K8JHD Rating: 2012-09-17
Very good for Dx ! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I use the 6btv with the following Dxengineering parts, 17meter kit, radials plate, tilt base.. I buried 60 twenty five foot radials... Love it
AF2DX Rating: 2012-08-22
Another SUPER VERTICAL Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I'm antenna restricted and I use the 4BTV along the creek.
I never use radials because I have excellent soil conductivity.
I spent a full day tuning it and have just about zero SWR on all 4 bands.
I just wish I can get a higher spot to mount it.
It is a bit rough to use portable but I break it down into two sections and just leave it in the station wagon.
I have worked into Netherlands,and as far as Germany with 4 watts showing on the HB1A rig with AA batteries.
I'm in the lowest spot and still received a 559 report.
A bit of a pain for portable work but if I am going to stay out most of the day then i'll use it.
I paid $90.00 shipped and that vertical really does a super job.
BOB
AF2Q
KM0U Rating: 2012-07-20
Great Bang for the Buck Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought 5-BTV second hand a few years back from a local ham who used the antenna at his cabin. The 75/80 meter trap wasn't working so I installed the antenna as a 4-BTV and was very pleased with the antenna's functionality - worked great. This year I bought a 75m mobile resonator from a local ham store (Radio City), tuned the whip for 80m, I also added two quarter wave wires for 12 and 17 so I now have a "7-BTV". See Ham Universe for the BTV mods for adding 12 and 17, it's cheap, easy, and best of all works great.
In conclusion, with a modest radial field of 28 25 foot radials, a simple modification to add two frequencies, I have a 7-bander that works. It is great as a primary or back-up antenna. A great value used or new.