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Reviews For: Ventenna HFp portable vertical antenna

Category: Antennas: HF Portable (not mobile)

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Review Summary For : Ventenna HFp portable vertical antenna
Reviews: 38MSRP: 249.
Description:
This is a highly portable ground-mounted vertical antenna which can handle up to 200 Watts. It consists of six different 18" sections that you screw together to match the band you are on. The basic kit covers 40M through 6M. An option takes it to 60, 75, and 80M. All stores in a heavy-duty nylon bag 19" by 3" by 1". Only weighs 2.5 pounds
Product is not in production
More Info: http://www.ventenna.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
24.5384.9
WB0OEW Rating: 2024-08-31
simple and works Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I used this antenna for many years on a small suburban lot. It was easy to deploy, required just a little cleaning of the brass connections once a year, was not obtrusive and worked well (for its size of course). I just realized it is no longer available so mainly just wanted to say Thank You to John and wish him well in retirement.
KQ4O Rating: 2024-08-31
Amazing Portable Antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I was lucky enough to purchase one of these antennas just before the maker retired. I live in a townhouse with no area to set it up, so I use it on occasion with 100 watts SSB from an Alinco DX-70 in a friend's yard when I get a chance for POTA hunting. Obviously band conditions change and there have been days of poor propagation but I don't remember ever not making a contact with a POTA activation that I could hear in Florida. As long as I keep calling.eventually I get through, from California to Italy and the Netherlands, this antenna has gotten the job done. I picked up all of the accessories except the dipole option, still kicking myself for not getting that. If you do POTA or SOTA activations, or need a portable antenna because you can't operate from your home like me, and one of these comes up for sale, don't hesitate to purchase it. You may never get another chance at one.
M0AZE Rating: 2020-04-22
6 years of ownership Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This is an updated review to the one I made 6 years ago.

I've had one difficulty with this product over the years, a squirt of WD40 soon fixed.

Some advice before your season starts:

Unpack and test the combinations you use and verify the results with an analyser.
Don't use force when screwing the elements together.
A little squirt of WD40 on the brass interconnects and or scotch abrasive pads work wonders.

I now tend to pack an analyser for field/hill top working but don't for backpacking. I also have and use 2 PAR End Fed antennas but the deployment and results of these have been mixed. Nothing wrong with the actual antennas themselves - difficult to set-up when there are no trees around or portable mast available. I will be adding a mag loop soon as I feel the flexibility of having both systems, Ventenna and P-Loop, will give me more flexibility and extend my portable operating season by a considerable amount.

The Ventenna is a complete portable antenna system it should be more popular.

All the different parts can be a little fiddly to deploy - practice at home first and become proficient at putting it together prior to the field.

I support what another reviewer recommends, place your brass interconnects into a small plastic box and don't empty the contents of the bag straight onto the ground. Be great if someone out there could put a video on YouTube.

The acid test is: Would I buy it again? - I'm glad I did.

73 M0AZE Mike



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Earlier 5-star review posted by M0AZE on 2010-04-24

I spent more time searching for the ideal portable antenna than I did for the rig, which is the FT 817. Ventenna were most helpful and the price was very reasonable when comparing with the other mainstream portable antenna's.

I have no comparison with those just my delight with this product. It's compact, light and really works. Bomb proof build quality and yes it comes with radials! The assembly time is relatively short and it has all the parts for safe assembly (nothing else required - no poles and no stand).

It performs fantastic. Does exactly what it says. It is a real backpack type antenna, with the FT-817 and spare battery you can be working HF in minutes from your favourite hill top location.

Well done Ventenna for a well made practical, portable antenna.
K8DSS Rating: 2019-12-24
Another vote for the Ventenna HFp Portable Vertical Time Owned: more than 12 months.
The review by WJ7S today reminded me that I needed to cast my "Great" vote for this antenna. My HFp is about 5 years old and I have used it in many portable situations, always with good results. John's unique design makes for an efficient and easy to set up field antenna. Most of my operations with the HFp were using 5 - 15 watts from a KX3 or KX2.

Thanks, John!
WJ7S Rating: 2019-12-24
A Fantastic Portable Antenna Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I recently attended a presentation on the Ventenna HFp portable antenna given by John Kernkamp, WB4YJT, and I decided I wanted to try one. I am very happy that I did! This is an well-engineered antenna system that suits my portable operating needs perfectly. Think of this antenna system as an erector set that launches RF. If you follow the recipe for setup, you will have a resonant antenna that works on any band you select from 80m-6m. This is an ingenious design and it works surprisingly well considering its size and weight--making it a perfect complement to my portable go kit (KX2/KX3). I have experimented with and/or owned every portable antenna known to man and find the HFp to be far superior to more expensive portable systems requiring endless fiddling with coil adjustments to get on the air. One piece of advice: practice setting up this system before you go into the field and you will be able to have a resonant antenna on the air for your chosen band within minutes. It doesn't hurt to have an antenna tuner with you, but I have found the recommended setup instructions to be spot on every band from 80m (with the optional 80m/60m add-in coil) to 6m. The whole package weighs about two pounds and comes in a nice 20 inch travel bag that fits easily in my small radio backpack go kit. I have traveled extensively with the HFp and have taken the system through TSA airport security without any questions many times. If you are looking for a portable antenna system that is rugged, light and effective, look no further than the Ventenna HFp. One added bonus: John Kernkamp stands behind the product and is a great source of antenna technical knowledge.
VK7JB Rating: 2018-02-25
Unique antenna with surprising performance Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've enjoyed experimenting with portable antennas for many years. I've had 2 HFp antennas - one I sold to fund other projects, but it was quickly replaced when I realised what I'd given up. The HFp is a robust implementation, is light weight and packs down into a bag only 20 inches (50cm) long. Its performance is surprising for such a short vertical with only 4 radials lying on the ground. Recently, just for fun, I used simultaneous WSPR transmissions at 200mW to compare the HFp with my 80m horizontal loop antenna up at 40 feet on 20m. For stations over 2000km distance, the median SNR difference was 8dB in favour of the loop. That's only 1.5 S points. The furthest station was a G4 at 17400km via LP, but I've become used to working long path EU dx with this antenna, even QRP. I'm planning more wspr comparisons on other bands. Once you've had some practice, the setup, take-down and band changing are quick and hassle free and this is a great antenna for operating in those places where there are no trees to support wires, such as the alpine summits of Tasmania. And I'm planning to play with the HFp near salt water soon and imagine it will fire particularly well there. John's customer service is speedy, friendly and efficient. Shipping costs to VK were very reasonable. I'm not letting this antenna go - it has found a special place in my portable antenna wardrobe. Fun in a small package.
NA3CT Rating: 2018-02-20
Very Impressed! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I've had this antenna for 3 months. Very impressive and surprising performance.

In this time, I've worked 92 countries and consistently get excellent signal reports. I have been most surprised at how well I have done in pileups. There are some that are just too, too much for me, but there have been several times when I've busted through with absolutely no problem.

And the customer service is excellent. Soon after receiving the antenna, one of the elements went bad. John had a new element in the mail the next day and in the meantime gave me a quick fix to tide me over until the new one arrived.

Couldn't ask for more from a portable antenna.
AF4HL Rating: 2017-08-11
Surprisingly good! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I a little research before I purchased a portable antenna and I'm glad I did.

The best feature of the HFp is in setting it up. No adjustable loading coils or counterpoise tweaking - all I have to do is add the sections as indicated for a particular band, layout the radials with the lengths set the wire marks indicated, adjust the whip, and I'm on the air in 15 minutes.

For a portable antenna, I'm getting surprising reports. My first DX contact was an EW7 on 40 meters and my sig was 549 - not earth shattering but pretty good for an 8' stick surrounded by trees in my back yard.

The antenna is extremely well made, the instructions are clear and concise, and it easily fits into my backpack.

I'm hoping to someday do a SOTA activation, and this will certainly be the antenna that I use.
K4BAD Rating: 2017-04-04
Superb Performer Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Please note that I paid full retail price for this antenna and I'm not associated with Ventenna in any way. Extremely easy to assemble( just follow the simple instructions regarding chose of antenna elements and length of radials vs.chosen band).
I used this antenna on 20 meters and 15 meters during 2 recent DX contests...worked quite a few European stations on 20 and Australia on 15.I was running 100 watts to my ICOM-7000.
The small unobtrusive antenna size makes this a good choice for HOA situations
Bottom line... very surprised at effectiveness of this antenna.Also,there's a very good YouTube video showing this antenna in action.

Thanks for reading....73 K4BAD Harry
KG6LI Rating: 2016-04-02
Great Little Antenna Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Wanted a simple antenna I could take camping and out into the field. The HFp works great with the FT-817 at QRP power levels. Have made contacts on 10-40 meters with reports that are close to my wire antennas.

Has been a real performer...