| W4JKL |
Rating:  |
2003-11-10 | |
| A fine utility antenna |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I've owned this antenna since the '70s. I bought it as a 4BTV, upgraded to a 5BTV a few years later, then upgraded last year to a 6BTV. When I first got the antenna, I used the quarter wavelength radials suggested in the user manual and was disappointed. When I moved, I mounted the antenna on the chimney with the quarter wavelength radials. Better, but still a disappointment. Next time I moved, I consulted the ARRL Antenna Book and found the table showing number of radials vs length vs (essentially) dB below a dipole. What a revelation! Ground mounted, with 32, 0.1 wavelength radials (at 80m) the antenna performs per the book, about 2 to 3 dB below the dipole (half an S unit). So, if you put one of these up, stretch out as many radials as you can. I used #14 insulated house wire from Home Depot (cheap). Just lay them out on the ground and use coathanger wire to pin them down. The grass will cover them in about a year. Put six or seven ferrite beads at the antenna and at the rig and enjoy. Fiddle the section lengths roughly for the resonant frequencies you typically use and then use a tuner to move around. I've just put Dave's, WX7G, top hat on it and I'm enjoying 160 meters with it. With a VP-1 adapter I plan to have an 8BTV. (You do know the RM-60 will work on top of it, don't you?)
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| NU5O |
Rating: |
2003-11-09 | |
| Excellent above ground! |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I was recently given the 6BTV vertical by a friend to use in Papua New Guinea. Here is what I like about Hustler: The bottom mast was too long to go in my big suitcase (everything else fit fine); I called Hustler, they returned my call and in 3 days I had a sleeve pipe so I could cut the bottom pipe in two pieces and get it in my suitcase. They were very helpful with recommendations as well.
This is what I like about the antenna:
In Lae, I mounted the antenna about 15 feet above the ground at the edge of our roof. Our roof is an iron roof that consists of 3 disconnected 60 ft by 40 ft pieces of roofing iron. Per Hustler's instructions, I did not ground the antenna to the roof but mounted its base straight into a 4 x 4 at the edge of the roof. Results were dismal. I would switch from my loop antenna to the vertical and signals would disappear. I checked it with my MFJ antenna analyzer and the SWR was great on every band.
After a few QSO's with some VK's I decided to bond the ground side of the antenna to the roofing iron. The results were stunning! I could hear signals down below at the radio jump out of the speaker. As I tied each of the other two pieces of roofing iron to the first, the signals increased even more.
Now here is the rub: When I did this, the resonant point of the antenna dropped way down on every band. On 20 it was 13.5 mhz, on 40 6.4 Mhz-you get the idea. I then shortened everything possible on the antenna without cutting the pipe. This brought it to resonance on 20-80 meters and in the CW portion of 15 meters. 10 meters was out the door.
I also installed a Radioworks line isolator at the feedpoint and the noise dropped about 1 S unit and I had no problems with RF feedback.
Results: over 45 countries on 75/80 meters. Far better than the Carolina Windom it replaced. On 40 meters I worked many stations state side on SSB and noted that my 40 meter loop was better into California and the midwest but I heard stations about 1 S unit better on the east coast with the vertical. There were times on all bands that the loop was better but the vertical was only about 1-2 S units down.
I did use an antenna tuner with the antenna just to be on the safe side but it was a minimal match on every band except 10 meters.
Hustler advised me that if you ground the antenna to the roof it would act more like a dipole. That may be true, but if so, its the best dipole I have ever used.
When I return, I plan to shorten the 10 meter section to bring the SWR in line on that band as well.
The antenna is solid. I did guy it as suggested and it survived several severe thunderstorms with 40-50 mph winds.
With Hustler's great attitude towards service and a well built product, I would buy one without hesitation.
73 de Andy Masters P29AM |
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| KB9IV |
Rating: |
2003-10-19 | |
| OK........But |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I've errected the 6BTV at ground height and here are my observations.
The measurements supplied in the real world are way off. 10 Fine 15 Way Low 20 Way High (out of Band) 30 Fine 40 Fine, 80 Fine.
I cannot get 15 & 20 to mid-band no matter what. Remember I'm doing it alone and its difficult to put up back and down holding the botttom of the tube. I had to make the 80M whip 5"'s shorter than the table called for...what gives??
My biggest complaint is the solder lug connector on the bottom to feed it........come on Hustler this is 2003 NOT 1933. Where is the jack??? Exposes everything to moisture unless you add RTV and worse yet there is no strain relief on these vulnerable joints.
I didn't choose wisely on the antenna. Perhaps in the Spring I'll get something built properly.
73,
Bill KB9IV |
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| KA4LPH |
Rating: |
2003-03-25 | |
| Great Little Antenna |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
A friend of mine in Colorado purchased a 6BTV and commented on how he was impressed with it, so I bought one too.
I live in the high desert and the soil is VERY dry. I own an open lot in the back of my house and the 6BTV is placed right in the middle of the lot. I have 32 thirty foot radials on the ground. The wire is black 14 gauge, insulated wire. I capped off the ends with twist wire connectors as to isolate the ends from the ground (for neatness rather than RF properties). I also used ring terminals and a longer bolt for the radials. I also used three ropes with three wooden stakes for guying (painted the wooden stakes for protection).
At first I could not get the antenna to tune per the specifications; however, I did notice that I had the radials slightly above ground (maybe 5 inches or so). I attributed this inability to tune the antenna to this elevation. I lowered the radials to where they met the ground right after leaving the base of the antenna and fanned out evenly, making consistent contact with the ground -- that was the trick, as I tuned the antenna exactly as the specifications indicated. I did not bury the radials but left them on the surface of the ground and they work just fine. You do not need to use tuned radials unless you are doing an elevated mount. The ground detunes them anyway.
40 is determined to stay at 1:5.1 no matter what I do to the antenna. 80 is narrow, and I mean NARROW. I have to use a tuner to move around on that band and on 40 meters. I cut about 7 inches off the tip rod and that worked fine to tune 80, but man if you breath off the resonate frequency, the SWRs move up and up rapidly. 40 moves a little slower. 30 is 1:1.1 across the band! 15 is perfect. 10 meters is prefect too.
Gary at Newtronics is awesome. He is friendly and is readily available. He helped me with 30 meters and it tunes to 1:1.1 now.
All in all, with all my rambling -- a fine antenna for those who have room for radials and have the patience to take it down and put it up a few times to tune it. I used a ladder until I couldn't reach the areas I needed to tune and then I took it down.
Take care and thanks again Gary at Newtronics! |
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| N6VUJ |
Rating: |
2003-01-21 | |
| Excellent Antenna |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
The Hustler 6BTV vertical is a great antenna I've had mine up for about 10 months and it works like a charm.
I put it up with sixteen 25' ground radial slightly buried under it.
You will find as you add radials the bandwidth will narrow but your ERP will increase.
I did have to adjust the traps to get it to resonate, but with some patience it comes right in.
This is without a doubt the best HF vertical I've ever owned! |
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| KK6JX |
Rating: |
2003-01-13 | |
| Good ant, works great |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| I had no problems installing the ant as per the instructions. It works well, esp for dx. It is narrow on 80 but that was expected. For a shack with limited space it fits the bill. I ground mounted it with no radials (rental house). I have also had 0 problems with rfi after putting the 6" 10 turn coils in as per the instructions, I was previously having rfi in the TV when using a inverted Vee. 73 |
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| K1GUY |
Rating: |
2002-12-24 | |
| Well Made Performer |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I just had to respond after reading the recent post by W7IS. I have had the hustler for under a month. It arrived very well packaged and all parts plus extra nuts and washers were included.
I had some tech questions because of my unusual location for the antenna (at the edge of a cliff)
The response by Gary at hustler was quick, informative and helpfull. Installation was straightforward and simple. I left the antenna initially without radials, the grownd was very wet and it performed well on a 4ft steel tube. A couple of weeks later the snow came and with it, the performance was better than the published reports...must have been a perfact ground plane. As it melted, so did my SWR...still under 2 for all bands except 75/80.. So I hooked up my Vectronics antenna tuner, and SWRs were easily made flat....then I installed radials per the instructions from Hustler...with number 10 wire.
The end result was what I had hoped for...A great performer, and at my QTH equal to the Windom 80 I had up prior to a storm taking it down. All things considered (cant put up a tower) I prefer using the Hustler even though it breaks some of my rules of avoiding traps. The antenna is well made and I dont foresee any problems. Expect excellent performance on 10 thru 40 meter, with a bit down on 80.... I just broke through a pile up on a DX station on 40 tonite but couldn't get through another on 80. If you have a difficult QTH for a vertical antenna, use radials is my suggestion...great improvement with radials...elevate the radials if you can which I am in the process of doing....and yes, an antenna tuner will improve the performance of this vertical. I am a very satisfied customer and would likely buy another hustler vertical. |
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| M3CMA |
Rating: |
2002-12-20 | |
| What a first class antenna |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I should like to start this review by thanking those people who kindly responded to my e-mails asking for not only pre-purchase assistance but also those who confirmed various technical points afterwards.
My first impression having had the antenna delivered on a Saturday morning was how well boxed the 'kit' was. This turned out to be It was an ease to put together, the instructions were clear and included appropriate diagrams.
I have my antenna ground mounted, fixed to a 4 foot pole hammered into the ground, alongside which I have put a 6 foot earth rod with an appropriate strap between the two poles. The antenna itself was put together following the instructions with the appropriate distances left between pole sections etc.
Connected it to my radio and swr was well within 1.2 - 1.8 on all bands. I was very pleased indeed not to have to make any changes at this stage.
Performance, well as a M3 I am limited to 10W so have not been able to put the antenna through its paces as such. I am now able to receive on all bands a far cleaner, louder signal than on my long wire.
Great product for my limited space, I even have the ability to take it down after use so as not to cause a visual impression to neighbours etc. |
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| N8XE |
Rating: |
2002-11-11 | |
| Awesome with radials |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I had a bad experience with the GAP Eagle (which I think is partially operator error on my part) so I though having a vertical was out. However, I read the vertical article by Steve Katz, WB2WIK, on eham.net and decided to try again. This time, I wanted to do it right!
Reading the article, it stated that verticals (1/4W) need a good ground plane to work right. Now if you are blessed to live by the sea, you have as close to perfect as you could get! However, I live in central ohio which has fair to good ground. I decided on the Hustler because of price (this is an experiment here, don't want to put too much into this). Picked it up at the radio store and went to work.
First, I cut the radials. I cut 68 20' radials using solid #14 wire. That took a little while. I assembled the antenna which is pretty simple. Tubes and traps is pretty much it! On to installing it!!
I put 31 of 68 radials down (because it was getting dark) and hooked up the antenna. Ran the coax to the RCS4 switch so that I can do A/B comparisons with my DXLB+ Inverted V Dipole up at 35'.
First, I checked SWR. 80 Meters is off the chart. Don't know what the deal is with that. I am sure that it is probably my error or a bad trap. 30 is about 2:1 across the entire band. 20 starts out at 1.5:1 at the lower part of the band, 1:1 at 14.200, and then goes to 1.2:1 at the upper band edge. 15 and 10 are about the same with 1.2:1 at the edges.
Now came the A/B test. 9L1AB was active on 40, so I tuned to his signal to see a difference. On the dipole, he was unreadable in the noise. On the vertical, he was about S3-5. He QSX'd before I decided to work him. On various other DX stations, I was getting the same type of difference. On 20, a DX station (don't remember the call) was readable, but not moving the S meter at all on the dipole. On the vertical, he was a solid S5.
Stateside, the vertical and the dipole were about the same.
In conclusion, I am totally amazed at the performance of this antenna. It is a little noisier, but this is to be expected with a vertical (omnidirectional). I got this antenna to be a go-to, second radio antenna. But it appears that it is the best performing antenna so far. The beam goes up in a couple of weeks. It will be interesting to hear the difference between the beam and the vertical. |
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| N2DUB |
Rating: |
2002-10-10 | |
| Good value |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| I am pleased with this antenna overall. I chimney mounted mine using four angle iron and two threaded rods to attach as a chimney support, and then u-bolted the mast to the angle iron. The antenna base fits perfectly on a 1-1/4" outer diameter pipe, and must be insulated from a metal mast. I found the best way to accomplish this was to use 1" galvanized pipe inside 1-1/4" PVC. This gave it strength, but allowed me to slide the assembly up and down the PVC without worrying about keeping an insulator in place. I installed with 2 radials for each band as per the instructions and the antenna was resonant or close to it in 5 out of 6 bands right away. The only band that wasn't good was ten meters. After adjusting as far as I could without improvement, I added four more radials for ten meters and like magic the antenna was resonant on ten meters as well. Antenna performance is good. I worked a ZL on twenty meters at two in the morning, so I took that as a good sign. I've used it mostly on CW and digital, and reports have been good. Keep in mind, this is no three element tri-bander and is no competition for a rotatable beam, but is great value for the price and ease of installation and low maintenance. For under $200, this antenna is well worth it, and a much better value than the comparable Cushcraft product which is more than twice the money. This antenna is also a good choice for portable operations, like Field Day. |
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