Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes

Reviews For: Hustler 6BTV Vertical

Category: Antennas: HF: Verticals; Wire; Loop

eMail Subscription

Registered users are allowed to subscribe to specific review topics and receive eMail notifications when new reviews are posted.
Review Summary For : Hustler 6BTV Vertical
Reviews: 160MSRP: 189.99
Description:
6btv
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.new-tronics.com/main/html/base_hf_6_band.html
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
33.71604.6
KN1R Rating: 2008-09-19
great vertical Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
When I first put this up I used their SO239 option and put in 60 ground radials. Decided to try and use it while waiting for an antenna analyzer. Made several state side contacts with good signal reports at 100 watts. Did notice difficult with my auto tuner on the high side of 20 meters.

Decided to get their current balun. It wasn't until I tested with the analyzer that I realized how good my ground radials where working.

I've now got it tuned on all bands with an average SWR of 1.5. Too my surprise it also tuned that well on 6 meters.

KC2FTN Rating: 2008-07-16
Not Too Shabby ! Time Owned: N.A.
I have mine ground-mounted and guyed without any radials at all. I did buy the optional 17-meter kit, and this antenna plays quite well on 10,15,17,& 20 meters without a tuner and my Ameritron AL-80B amp. For 40 meters, due to higher SWR, I have to use the radio's ATU and no amplifier. Since I currently don't have any radials, it doesn't like 80-meters at all. Truth be told, if I were to get out there and put a few radials down, it'll probably do quite well on 40 and 80. All in all this is a very good antenna, and I would buy one again.
VA3CGT Rating: 2008-05-22
WOW, It work's. No tuner. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
After 25+ years of wanting to get on HF I finally got an antenna, 6BTV, and made one contact.

Instructions were straight forward and I assembled the 6btv in less then half hour. I ground mounted it with two radials so far and the SWR on most bands to be within acceptable limits however I need to fine tune it. 10 meters is flat and very broad banded. On 40 meters the resonant freq is around 7.100.

I have a Yaesu FT-897D and use it as a antenna analyzer when tuning the 6BTV. Though risky it works. Set it to your HF band of choice, set mode to FM and transmit, then adjust the VFO, while transmitting, and watch the SWR drop or rise. This will give you a good indication where your resonant frequency is and thus your able to adjust the 6btv accordingly. The FT-897 has a power fold back circiut if SWR is to high.

So far I'm impressed with this antenna even though I've had it for only a day. Best of all no tuner is required.
K4DSP Rating: 2008-05-02
Lives up to its claims Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I already have a dipole for 80/40m and a yagi for 20-10m. But I wanted a single antenna with a single feedline that would give reasonable performance on 80-10m for a rig I keep in my workshop. The 6BTV looked like it would be a good choice - it's relatively inexpensive and has a good reputation. So I ordered one from DXEngineering and it arrived a couple of days ago.

I mounted the antenna on the ground in the woods just at the edge of my yard. As of this writing I only have 16 radials of varying lengths under the antenna. I have read about people installing this antenna with no radials, but I don't recommend that. .

The antenna went together easily and there were no missing parts. Tuning took about an hour using an SWR analyzer. If you don't have an antenna analyzer you should borrow one from somebody - it makes tuning the antenna a lot easier. No running back and forth between the antenna and the shack.

Resonance (and a decent VSWR) was achieved on all bands that the antenna is designed for. So far I am quite pleased with the antenna. I've worked DX on 40 and 30m. Band coverage is about what you would expect for a trapped vertical. 80m bandwidth is quite narrow (maybe 50 or 60 kHz between 2:1 points) and the antenna is less efficient on 80m than on the other bands.

It does what I bought it for.
N3MMH Rating: 2008-04-15
Nothing bad to say! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Just put this antenna up a few days ago. Right out of the box, it was nicely tuned and ready to go. The only measuring/tuning required was for 80m. But it was a breeze with an analyzer. All bands have less than a 1:5VSWR so as of now, I do not plan to put in any counterpoises...yet.
It is ground mounted on a metal 4ft military tent support with the feed point at 12inches above the gound.
So far so good, no complaints, no problems.

Cheers, 73, and good DX!
Todd - N3MMH
NS5M Rating: 2008-03-15
Better than I expected ... Time Owned: more than 12 months.
... and I expected a lot! Ground-mounted over 40 random length buried radials, fed with 100W, 99.99999% pure CW (2 SSB QSOs), matched with LDG AT200Pro.

The antenna/tuner combination works exceedingly well on the designed 6 bands. True, the 80m bandwidth is kinda skinny, but I've still managed to work a little DX there.

What has really impressed me is the ability to work two 12m QSO's with this antenna through the AT200Pro. On 12m CW, the LDG's bar scheme indicates around 60W out instead of the usual 100 of the other bands. I've been too lazy to try the antenna analyzer on it (maybe I don't wanna know?) but am quite sure there are a few medium-well worms between shack and antenna.

Overall, I think it presents outstanding value received for dollars invested if you put a reasonable number of radials under it and pay attention to tuning. Oh - did I say radials? Absolutely necessary for decent performance regardless of any advertising claims.

The two 12m QSO's? Ducie (VP6DX) and Clipperton (TX5C). Those guys had great ears, but there hadda be something for them to hear.

73,
Jim N5VT



KM0U Rating: 2008-03-14
Great Antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This antenna works very well. I have mine roof mounted with 16 radials. Instructions are good, went together easily, and works great. There is an easy addition to add 17M - it's at /www.hamuniverse.com/ for those who are interested. Comparatively, this antenna is a bargain - great bang for the $$$.
I wish those who give it (or any product for that matter) a 0 would tell us why rather than to just say "it sucks" and leave it at that without an explanation.
KP2BH Rating: 2008-03-14
great Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Igot this antenna send hand.clean it and install it.i only have 8 radials 2@62 ft,2@20 ft and 2@10 ft.the results are excelent. i been working EU on 75 meters all the time with very good reports.i just run 100 watts (no amp on my station). i will recomend this one anytime.
kp2bh jimmy
K3ICH Rating: 2008-03-14
Works great and easy to install Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Over the years I have installed , or helped to install, probably six or seven 4BTV, 5BTV etc. antennas for myself or friends and we've never been disappointed. They stay up, work well for their size and are easy to tune, usually not requiring much at all if the directions are followed for a particular installation. These have ranged from no radials to lots of radials with predictable results. They are well built and perform as expected. They are the perfect solution if trees/towers are not available and you need a simple multi-band antenna that won't break the bank. This is not a "magic" antenna that claims to violate the laws of physics, but does what it is advertised to do.
N3DG3 Rating: 2008-03-13
Durable Perfomer Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had several 5BTVs & 4BTVs over the decades and have gotten very good results, even with a less than optimal counterpoise radial system. In termms of construction, I have found the material in these antennas to be superior to anythig else comparable from HyGain to Butternut, even down-the-shore where Nor'easters, hurricanes, gale winds and salt are predominate. The 4BTV survives, while the Butternut bends, fatigues and needs to be guyed to make it. While the Butternut HF5V worked better on 80 meters, it was a hassle tuning it and with thinner, poorer gauge tubing, I lacked confidence in its survivability. The 4BTV often generated European pileups for me operating it with 100 watts on 40 CW with 4 radials up 20 feet roof-top back in the 1980s, and the material is superior in quality and durability.