Band Hopper III Multiband Portable HF Dipole Antenna System
***IMPORTANT NOTE: if you are using a Band Hopper with our 10m Compact Travel Mast, attach the antenna with a cable tie to the top of section 11 (counted from the bottom). This is about 6 metres (20ft) up and is the perfect height for the antenna centre. Any higher and the antenna may not work properly and your Compact Travel Mast could be damaged.***
"The perfect match for your LNR MTR Mountain Topper"
At a glance
Bands: 20m, 30m, 40m - the most popular portable bands! (covers 15 m using 40 m settings and ATU)
Weight: less than 500 g = 18 ounces (antenna+feeder+guying system+winders+pegs+bag)
Balun: Yes - current balun
Power: 125 Watts
ATU needed? No. Connects direct to your radio - pretuned.
SSB, CW, data? Yes. Fine for all modes
Length: About 28 metres end to end.
Mast A lightweight telescopic pole (6 - 8 metres pole length recommended for Band Hopper III).
What do you get?
Band Hoppers are a complete system including:
- A resonant multi-band dipole antenna with Perspex link hardware
- A 10m feeder - high quality RG174 terminated in a BNC plug
- A high performance current balun
- A guying system for a lightweight telescopic pole (6 - 8 metres length recommended)
- Three Wire Winders to ensure tangle-free operating
- Three lightweight aluminium alloy pegs
- A nylon carry bag with peg pocket
Download Instructions
How to erect your BandHopper video
Band Hoppers work out of the packet - no messing, just fun!
Not sure which Band Hopper to choose? Click here for some ideas.
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The secret of most successful HF portable operators is not hard to find: it's an efficient antenna! No wonder that the linked dipole is the most popular portable HF antenna type used in Europe. The Band Hopper III is designed for the lightweight portable specialist; it also makes a great holiday antenna to have in your suitcase! Not sure what a linked dipole is? Click here.
The Band Hopper III covers three HF bands with a high efficiency full-size halfwave dipole on each band. It's not a compromise loaded antenna. It's also designed to allow you to get the feedpoint high - that's important for good performance. Band selection is by easy-to-use jumpers; quick to change!
Using the Band Hopper III could not be easier. The custom designed centrepiece fits on an tapered pole (such as our famous SOTA pole). It slides down to the optimum height (usually the junction between the top and second sections of the mast). If you don't have a tapering mast dont worry, the centrepiece has slots for cable ties too so you can attach it to most anything. Don't like masts? The centrepiece has an attachment point for a throwing line to use in the forest.
Unrolling the dipole elements is a breeze using the Wirewinders supplied. When you unroll the elements you will notice that the Wirewinders are attached to 4m (13ft) nylon braided extension cords. This not only means that you cannot lose them but also that in rocky areas you can guy your pole by putting the Wirewinder in a crack in the rocks or just by putting it under a rock. The Wirewinders also make great snow anchors too so guying your pole in the snow has never been easier! We also provide pegging loops for use with our high-quality pegs. See our Wirewinder video for more information about using the wirewinders
The feeder is a 10m (33ft) length of RG174 preterminated in a BNC plug. This is wound on a third Wirewinder. Also on the third Winder is a 10m (33ft) back guy for your mast. No need for any additional guys and the two dipole elements plus the back guy are all you need for a stable and robust system. The back guy is attached to the Wirewinder to give you the flexible guying options above.
This is super-light too! The whole package consisting of the antenna, the Wirewinders, the feeder and the back guy weighs in at 390g (20m/30/40m version); that's just 14oz! Just add a mast or use a nearby tree and you're good to go!
No need to adjust the Band Hopper III, it is supplied pre-tuned. We do the tricky stuff leaving you to have the fun. This is a fully assembled product that works out of the packet.
Each Band Hopper is supplied with a stylish antenna bag and three pegs.
Balun
All Band Hopper antennas are supplied with a balun. This is a high performance ferrite-core balun; not just a few turns of co-axial cable! It's a real plus for using your antenna on;
- datamodes; or for
- power levels of 100 Watts (especially on SSB).
The Band Hopper III is a truly amazing package for a bargain price.
Also available from our international agent(s): 
Videos Hide Videos Show Videos
59 Reviews Hide Reviews Show Reviews
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Great
Easy to erect and it works very well.
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3-band dipole
It's simple, light weight and it works. Just as advertised.
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Sota Beam 3 band portable dipole.
Set up in my garden with 7M Sotapole working well with contacts over 1000miles on 20M. I have been testing it in the wind bit by bit. and has operated no problems with gusts ove 30mph. Great antenna if you wanrt a quick start.
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3 band potrable dipole antenna 20-40-60m
Bought this along with a 7m Sotabeams pole and a speech processor for my FT817. The antenna is well made, light,easy to put up and take down after a few practice runs and tuning is spot on across all three bands. Today I did my first ever SOTA activation from Kisdon Hill G\NP-026 in Yorkshire. I had 3 contacts from Germany and 1 from Holland, all with excellent signal reports and also good audio mentioned. I also had a reply from an American callsign but the propogation faded before we could exchange details properly. The antenna and pole stayed steady and upright in a fairly strong wind so I'm also happy with that. Still, 4 good reports from Europe and reaching the States with 5 watts from a hill in Yorkshire leaves me very impressed with the set up from Sotabeams. I heartily recommend this antenna, pole and speech processor. Robert MM0RTT
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My "go to" antenna
I purchased this along with the telescoping mast. The first time I put it up I was absolutely stunned at what I could hear on my FT-817ND. I sat in the yard for hours just listening. Later I hooked up my SDRPlay and watched the waterfall and was delighted to see the bands lit up. FINALLY, I have a great antenna! It's so well thought out, too. I did bend a peg but the ground here in Michigan is still semi-frozen.
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3 band portable dipole 40-30-20m
Working as expected, many DX contacts from Reunion Island as FR/F4HPX in June 2018 - but 20-17-15m would be more useful here.
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Band Hopper for 20-30-40m
Exceeded all expectations! I used a similar item at a Special Event Station recently loaned by Mike M0LOB and it really worked a treat. I decided to treat myself to one purely on the basis of my experiences at the SES - it was easy to deploy, setup and take down! We made numerous contacts around the world using it - so I know they work! If I have one slight grumble its for the cost I would like a printed copy of the instructions rather than having to hunt them down on the internet - which sometimes isn't that practical esp when you're sat on the middle of Dartmoor like I was ........
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Everything It Claims to Be! Does What It is Supposed to Do!
At a time when many products fail to deliver on what they promise or live up to their claims, the BH III antenna exceeded my expectations in all categories. It is cleverly and elegantly designed. It is well built. And most importantly it is highly effective as a resonant 20/30/40m antenna. Add in its portability and ease of setup and tear down and you have a real winner. You can tell than this product was designed and built by Hams for Hams. Well done SOTAbeams!
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Great Antenna!
If your looking for a simple to use and setup multi band dipole, then look no further! Resonance is spot on as advertised. I use a battery operated Yaesu FT 857D for portable work without a tuner, no VSWR on all bands.
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Great 3 band antenna
This is a lightweight 3 band (40, 30 & 20) antenna capable of handling up to 125 watts. Perfect for my FT857. I use it as an inverted V configuration at 20ft and it works great. 73 de Geoff vk3sq
