Band Hopper III - Three-band (20m, 30m, 40m) portable dipole antenna system

I just ordered the 3 band Hopper 20-30-40 linked dipole. I was nervous as the whole antenna weighs like 1 pound including coax! I am impressed with the quality and super quick service and very reasonable price. I bought this to use for National Parks on the Air event. Tonight i connected to my home station using a Spiderbeam 12 meter extension pole/mast at about 25 ft. The 20 meter band is almost out at this time but I worked 6D0F in Mexico first call ssb and then soon after Lu1ZI South Shetlands on second call. So far very pleased. I also plan to activate some SOTAs later this year.

Although new to ham radio I've had several years as a RN Radio Operator, I've never had much to do with aerials, so it was with some trepidation I strung the aerial from one corner of our house across the garden and fixed the other end to my workshop. Although it wasn't more than 16ft at one end and 12ft at the other and extremely close to building, Using my 5 watt YouKits HB1B, I've had no trouble getting plenty of CW QSOs across europe (22 countries so far) including Italian & Romanian QRP ops.

On 4th July 2015, got permission from the National trust, to put Brownsea on the air. The antenna worked flawlessly, in all 176 contacts were made, mostly on 40m, but a few on 80m and 20m. Running 10w from my Alinco DX70th, got me reports of 5/9 from almost all stations, the antenna really pulls in the signals as well, most stations were 5/9+20db some +30db ! A few ops said they were so impressed, they would be purchasing the same antenna !

Great design,easy to open out and repack. I had some fun setting it up on the 10 mtr Sotapole first time round due to limited space but learned from my mistakes. Haven't had a contact as yet. First attempt was in very poor band conditions,and I was qrp at the time,but that is no reflection on the antenna or it's fantastic construction. Having purchased several antennas and other items from Sotabeams in a short space of time I can say that I have been impressed with all the items I've bought. Great ideas,brilliant hardware,good service. I'll be purchasing again!

I field tested the sotabeams band hopper antenna it works brilliantly on all band's I made contacts in poor conditions it's lightweight and fit's in a rucksack no problem with my radio and battery I highly recommend this product

This is a great product, well-designed and well-made. I used it on my first SOTA activation on Mt Macedon in Victoria, Australia recently on 40m and look forward to trying it on other bands soon (I cut my finger on the squid pole, so I had to leave early!).

Having never operated portable before, or seen the product, it took a while for me and the XYL, to set it up, but now I know what to do, it should be quicker in future !! Excellent reports on 40m 59+ both ways, looking forward to more portable operating ! Well made piece of kit !

Build quality is great. Its an dipole so it works as an dipole. The standard setup for the antenna is inverted v configuration where the antenna also guys the mast. In the Norwegian mountains this often is difficult as the peaks are often very sharp, and the rocks are difficult to pound the stakes in, ;) In this situations I usually tie the mast to an pole/top mark/what ever is available and hang the antenna vertically (if I bring my 10m mast) or as an sloper (with my 6m mast). Still gives me contacts around Europe, and if the conditions are good, the world with my KX3.

Just tested the new three band clipper dipole with balun At RAF HENLOW SIGNALS MUSEUM call sign GB2SMH We operate there the first Sat each month,normaly h a HARI trap dipole at 40ft. The dipole went up on fishing pole at 7M over grass, We operated for 8hrs with 100 watts in terrible band conditions and 5 no contests running, so a very good day to test a new aerial, What surprised every one was though all the noise QRM and splatter We were contacting lot of QRP stations all day some with no signals but could get audio brilliant. that's the proof of a good aerial, any direction from Scotland/Wales/Irelandand over to France Holland/ We tried all three bands on the day SWR was below 1 on each band with 100 watts Try doing that with a G5RV and NO ATU All the smoke went to the contact station At the other end of the scale I have been portable running my FT817 and IC 703 at 5 watts and below and had the same results. Thank to Richard and the team going portable and SOTA is made so much more fun. With thanks, BOB M3DPQ.

VY SIMPLE TO ERECT (WATCHED RICHARDS U TUBE VIDEO) USED IT OVER NEWYEAR IN SCOTLAND ACTIVATING VARIOUS WAB SQUARES RUNNING 2.5W FROM MY FT-817 -- MOST CONTACTS 5-9 AND ME RECIEVING 5-5 TO 5-9 EXTREMELY LIGHT AND SMALL WUD RECOMMEND IT TO ANYONE FOR PORTABLE AND /A OPERATION WILL BE TAKING IT WITH ME LATER THIS YEAR ON A TWO DAY TRIP TO ST KILDA SO LISTEN OUT