New Hustler 5-BTV about to go up

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - New Hustler 5-BTV about to go up

Posted: 3/1/2014 8:06:10 AM EDT

Last night I picked up a used Hustler. I got it put together this morning and about ready to go up. I need to take my dipole down before I throw this one up, so I will probably wait for dusk (have to be sneaky)

It will be on a tripod and I will first try it without any radials. When it warms up I will try and get some down.

Here it is being guarded by my coax eating dog.

So far I am pretty excited by it. This is my first experience with traps so we will see how it goes.

Posted: 3/1/2014 8:08:02 AM EDT

[#1]

Looks good! That one is on my short list!

Posted: 3/1/2014 8:08:34 AM EDT

[#2]

COOL!

ETA: Did you ever make that mod to the patch panel for easier access to the back?

Posted: 3/1/2014 8:18:10 AM EDT

[#3]

Interested in how it performs for you. I may put up a vertical or a hexbeam this spring, still undecided.

If I go with a hexbeam for the high bands, I'll just use dipoles for low bands.

HS

Posted: 3/1/2014 9:21:41 AM EDT

[#4]

FOLLOW THE TUNING INSTRUCTIONS EXACTLY.....if not you will be pulling your hair out.

Your results will be very crappy without any counterpoise radials.

Those radials are the other half of the antenna and its very important to have some down.

At the very least cut three 16 foot radials and lay them on the ground. That way at least 20m might work.

Posted: 3/1/2014 9:31:31 AM EDT

[#5]

I've been running these for years ...4btv then 6btv

Google the 17m mod...you basically add a full lenght 1/4wave vert element
Parallel with pvc stand-offs

They work A LOT better with a shitload of radials
I buried 4 per band a few inches under the soil

Start by dipping your 10m SWR, then 15m and on up the antenna

It takes time to do it right....the reward is resonance on the bands

An SWR analyzer is handy

Installed properly, the work VERY WELL

Don't half-ass it and expect to run it with a tuner

...installed correctly...you wont need a tuner

Posted: 3/1/2014 9:52:16 AM EDT

[#6]

So I just tossed it together and through it in the air real fast to put the analyzer on it. >31 SWR over everything

I have the PDF pulled up here and plan on going through it a few times. I busted a clamp so I need to get a new one and I am going to polish up the joints with some scotch bright.

Posted: 3/1/2014 10:08:05 AM EDT

[#7]

LOL.....the other half of the antenna is still missing.

Good luck.

Posted: 3/1/2014 12:30:12 PM EDT

[#8]

I have a 5 BTV up and running with 30 15' radials and my antenna has a SWR of 1.1-1.5:1 on all the bands. It needs radials to work, longer is better but many short one will work.

Posted: 3/2/2014 5:46:05 AM EDT

[#9]

Been using one for several years, does good DX work. You will however miss your Dipole if you like to do any local work,<150miles. I use both.

Posted: 3/2/2014 7:01:58 AM EDT

[#10]

I have one of those

Why take down the dipole?

Here is mine. Installed it in the best place I could. Not much room for the radials but it seems to work. I have 64 radials down in there.

Posted: 3/2/2014 7:22:11 AM EDT

[#11]

The reason I plan on taking it down is because it is a gray area in my lease. I still have it up. We are looking at bad weather again so I put the hustler up until it clears up again.

I have a very limited yard so I have to get creative.

Posted: 3/2/2014 4:08:16 PM EDT

[#12]

Have you thought about disguising it? Flagpole Hustler
I have a 5BTV at the BOL. Unfortunately the 80m resonator is bad and I need to rewind it. It works just fine 40-10 though.

I have a large coax choke at the feedpoint and 16 30ft or longer radials (want MOAR!). Pic only shows 6 or 8 radials, but it's an old pic. See how shiny the copper is?

Posted: 3/2/2014 5:10:11 PM EDT

[#13]

Quote History

Quoted:
So I just tossed it together and through it in the air real fast to put the analyzer on it. >31 SWR over everything

I have the PDF pulled up here and plan on going through it a few times. I busted a clamp so I need to get a new one and I am going to polish up the joints with some scotch bright.

View Quote

Perfect!

Also I didn't know you had a dag, you could have brought him over

Posted: 3/2/2014 5:26:31 PM EDT

[#14]

DX ENGINEERING has a really good manual for putting these up.

http://static.dxengineering.com/global/images/instructions/dxe-btv-inst-ins-rev0h.pdf

Posted: 3/16/2014 11:20:41 AM EDT

[#15]

How's it working?

Posted: 3/16/2014 11:27:44 AM EDT

[#16]

Quote History

Quoted:
DX ENGINEERING has a really good manual for putting these up.

http://static.dxengineering.com/global/images/instructions/dxe-btv-inst-ins-rev0h.pdf

View Quote

THIS^^^^^^^^^^ is a great resource for setting up your Hustler.

Posted: 3/16/2014 11:51:52 AM EDT

[#17]

Do the radials need to be insulated?

I have the steels poles up for my new back porch with 250 sqft of sheet metal about to go on top. It will all be grounded.

Posted: 3/16/2014 12:06:20 PM EDT

[#18]

Quote History

Quoted:
Do the radials need to be insulated?

I have the steels poles up for my new back porch with 250 sqft of sheet metal about to go on top. It will all be grounded.

View Quote

Nope.

Posted: 3/16/2014 12:07:49 PM EDT

[#19]

Wow, a hustler 5btv is cheaper than most other commercial wire antennas. They all have glowing reviews too. Interesting... I just don't know where I'd put one.

I feel you on the "have to put it up at night" I do the same thing around here, not because the HOA prohibits it, but for fear that they'd write new regulations and pass them to prohibit the antennas I do have.

Posted: 3/16/2014 12:24:01 PM EDT

[#20]

Quote History

Quoted:
Wow, a hustler 5btv is cheaper than most other commercial wire antennas. They all have glowing reviews too. ....

View Quote

They work really well

unlike dipoles, they are omnidirectional, I've found them to work better than the G5RV / ZS6BKW dipoles for DX

the downside it they are very narrow banded on 80m, but you can buy extra whips for the top.
Have one for 3.525, another for 3.800 or what evey you trim/adjust to .

...and they require ground radials to work well.

You can paint them cammo, or flat black, or make them into a flag pole for HOA's

Posted: 3/16/2014 1:40:19 PM EDT

[#21]

I have this thing called a dipole that runs circles around those.

Posted: 3/16/2014 1:55:31 PM EDT

[#22]

Quote History

Quoted:
I have this thing called a dipole that runs circles around those.

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I have a couple too, but I don't have a vertical dipole, nor do I have the trees/towers to put one up, so I'm willing to compromise.

Posted: 3/16/2014 3:27:35 PM EDT

[#23]

Quote History

Quoted:
I have this thing called a dipole that runs circles around those.

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What a helpful post.

I have a thing called a beverage that runs circles around your dipole, see how this works?

Posted: 3/16/2014 5:42:02 PM EDT

[#24]

I will raise your beverage antenna for 160m to this.......

Posted: 3/16/2014 6:01:33 PM EDT

[#25]

Quote History

Quoted:
I have this thing called a dipole that runs circles around those.

View Quote

Your horizontal dipole has nulls, the vertical is omnidirectional

It receives equally in all compass directions

Posted: 3/16/2014 6:23:33 PM EDT

[#26]

Quote History

Quoted:

Your horizontal dipole has nulls, the vertical is omnidirectional

It receives equally in all compass directions

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
I have this thing called a dipole that runs circles around those.

Your horizontal dipole has nulls, the vertical is omnidirectional

It receives equally in all compass directions

Don't confuse the unwashed with the facts.

Posted: 3/16/2014 6:33:04 PM EDT

[#27]

Quote History

Quoted:
http://www.radioarcala.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/160M_ylahaalta_compressed.jpg

I will raise your beverage antenna for 160m to this.......

View Quote

Yo dawg, I heard you like towers...

Posted: 3/16/2014 7:12:48 PM EDT

[#28]

Quote History

Quoted:
http://www.radioarcala.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/160M_ylahaalta_compressed.jpg

I will raise your beverage antenna for 160m to this.......

View Quote

That thing corkscrewed into the ground 4 or 5 months ago in a wind storm. Bummer. There is a video on youtube of guys BASE jumping off it.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - New Hustler 5-BTV about to go up

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