SOTABeams Band Hopper III Linked Dipole Antenna Review

[@markesselman4472]

Thirty years from now my grandsons will be watching your sons videos. Thanks for the family time.

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

That is awesome!

[@cliffordpace616]

This stuff is sooo cool. I have no idea what HAM is about you are soo fun to listen to. For a person like me, it would be nice to see links. You are a great teacher!! Thank you.

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

Go to my channel. I have a bunch of playlists that cover a lot of these topics.

[@richardsaunders3082]

Great video ! Sometime when you have it assembled, and the active lines in place the way you want them, take two pieces of lightweight string/cord, tie a loop around mast/pole at ground level, and measure out to each stake. Cut to length. Now the next time, you have the exact distance to set the stakes. Push the pole up from between the two active stakes and use the stabilization line in hand as you cross over “top dead center”. This gives you two point control, leading to three point stability.

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

That’s a handy idea!

[@KY4BDP-TinyFangorn]

Love the Sotabeam Bandhopper 4! With the Yaesu 817/818 the BNC connector is made for this application. Great video as usual KY4BDP

[@eduardosturla]

Great to see Ben helping dad out!!!! He will be a great Ham one day. Ordered my SOTABEAMS couple of weeks ago. They are backordered until August. Can't wait to get out this COVID craziness and start activating summits. 73 De HI8ESF.

[@N4KGL]

The SOTABeams 40/30/ 20 Band Hopper has been my go-to antenna for most of my portable outings. It is both strong and lightweight.

[@vincenzoaiden5383]

I guess im randomly asking but does anyone know a way to get back into an instagram account? I was dumb lost the account password. I would love any tips you can offer me!

[@connorjameson3152]

@Vincenzo Aiden instablaster =)

[@submarineradioman5535]

Great review Josh. I have a 20/40, 10/15, AND a full length 80 all cut for the CW portions of each band. A Sotabeam 40/20 link dipole has been in my backyard here in Northeast PA since 2015 through 4 nasty winters. Experiment! Do a little math, wind a couple of coils and insert them in the legs of the dipole utilizing the link clips. This will lower the frequency of your dipole and provide more versatility.

[@driverfilmsshortwavechannel]

I have the band hopper II 20 and 40 meters, Ive not used it much this year but Ive worked into Europe from the UK with no problems. It does take a while ti get used to setting it up, but you can get it up quicker ever time!

[@Trancifiedx]

I recently explained a dipole to my 3 and 6 year old. It was fun. I then showed them the ATT wave generator video, and I could see it click in their heads.

[@CaroleMinxBlanton]

Great review, I like the design very much. I've heard it described, but to see it that makes it totally an ez pick for SOTA. And really like the over all design of everything, bag, pole and beam.. this will be a great addition for SOTA up in Oklahoma. Now, I'll need a qrp rig. thanks Josh for another great review. ✌🏼

[@barndweller4573]

I built one that covers 10,12,15,17,20,30, and 40 I did not know they were sold out there I just made on with light weight wire and use paracord. I used Anderson Power Connectors and just taped the wire to the paracord for strength so there is no strain to the wire at all. Works great!

[@bpeacehelotes]

Nice video, I use a rope of fixed length with a ribbon in the center to set my distance between the ends of the dipole.

[@chuck4050]

Nice review Josh, I made one of these a while back and with the KX2 prefer my doublet i had on the trip, But for operators that don't have a tuner this is Great. For Info DX Engineering sells the Sotabeam line so no need to ship from the UK. 73 Chuck

[@kd4kzz]

Was more expensive from dx engineering though. I ordered with their Black Friday sale.

[@chuck4050]

@@kd4kzz yea I saw that after I posted, but shipping from the UK can be expensive.

[@eifionthomas2128]

OK to ship the antenna from UK, but shipping the poles will be much more expensive.

[@Mottersmotters]

Great video and great field day stream last night. Sotabeams are from my home town👍🏻

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

That’s awesome!

[@imhidingintheshop8889]

awesome vid, this antenna would make a great build project! caught the notification at work and watched it during break and then the podcast right after, listen to my podcasts at 2x and at that speed your call sign is a little unnerving :-)

[@Blue-Collar-Radio]

Fantastic review Josh! 👍 That definitely seems like a great antenna. 73!

[@tom_olofsson]

Your son seems to enjoy the ham life.

[@ke6mt]

Yeah, it's a great dipole! I own the two-band version of it. Was my first HF antenna once I got my own HF rig. I just recently replaced one of the links, however - the alligator clip had come right off from use and being exposed to the elements (including some coastal/salty air use). Overall though, this thing is quite durable. 73, Rex KE6MT

[@frankgraziano2121]

Try replacing the alligator clips with anderson powerpoles!

[@ke6mt]

Frank Graziano I actually ended up doing the gold-plated mini banana connectors. Works great!

[@martinblain6200]

I viewed this a couple of years after Josh made the Video and USA purchasers can obtain the SOTA BEAMS Products from DX Engineering in the USA. Hope that this helps and yes it is a great product. Martin.

[@Aussat]

Great video Josh, i have been running the four band version for sometime now and can't fault it they are a great antenna.

[@ocavant]

Your son “what’s a dipole?” and “ Transylvania” while you are transmitting. Lol so cute.

[@MrC-Hacking]

He actually said Pennsylvania

[@bentleys5059]

Another fine video. FYI DX Engineering is a distributor for Sotabeams products in the US. Great customer service too.

[@bruceweight7319]

I may have missed something but a close up video of sticking the mast through the center piece of the contraption I conjured up in my mind would have been like a thousand words. However I enjoyed the video and will give it a thumbs up.

[@timg5tm941]

Great video and nice review. 73

[@JimVanderveen]

Thanks for this useful review! One correction though: it’s 18 *ounces* (US), about 500 grams.

[@rickgermain7802]

Clear that he's never purchased any drugs... ;-)

[@johnalberts-overdijk6666]

great revieuw

[@conchd]

Your son added a lot of humor to this video.

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

Thanks!

[@NICKGAR7]

Good Macclesfield design !!

[@CampervanCookout]

Great review thanks

[@ke6mt]

What's that little table you were using in the vid?

[@seanlehmann4235]

Definitely get the “tracked” option for shipping when ordering from SOTA Beams UK. It costs a few $ more but it’s definitely worth it. USPS lost my first package from SOTA Beams when I ordered without tracking. It was finally delivered, after being declared lost, about 5 weeks after ordering. My next order was done with tracking and it arrived without problem in about 6 days.

[@rescurat]

Do you have a link to that camp table?

[@NU6W]

This video is great! Which mast are you using here?

[@janvelter3253]

Nice video Josh. Question to ya'll ? Does anybody tried this on 80m ? Is the pole capable of keeping it up ?

[@hamradiofun5527]

Yes it's been done with great results

[@robertmoss440]

I'd like to have seen some SWR measurements from your setup, W7WOW

[@TheHamNinja]

Great video as usual. Love the little portable table that you had there. What was that? N1CLC

[@johng7rwf419]

A good review, thank you..

[@mabo4848]

tnx

[@jerryk7er686]

DX Engineering has them in stock. I have the two band works great... 73 K7ER

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

I’m unsure which is the better way to go. I might be cheaper ordering direct.

[@richardiancarpenter534]

DX Engineer charges $101.99 for the Band Hopper III, which qualified it for free shipping. I’m in NJ, so it would take 3-4 days to get it. From SOTAbeams in the UK, it would cost $76.80 plus $12.52 shipping & handling (least expensive option) for a total of $89.32. Mail time is 7 - 8 days, depending upon Royal Mail and US Post Office.

[@seanlehmann4235]

I have ordered direct twice and it’s the way to go IMHO.

It depends on which SOTAbeams items you order. If you order a heavier item like the poles, the total cost is usually a wash: higher price at DX Engineering but you get the free shipping if you bring your order up to $100. Light items like the Band Hopper will be a bit cheaper to order direct but you wait longer to get it.

[@fatbikejamie]

I felt bad for you in your puffy coat and buff... it must have been all the way down into the 70's or something. :) Here I am waiting for spring to come and the snow to melt so I can play with some QRP antenna ideas. lol 73 vy2js

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

It was in the 50s in the morning. But I get your point 🤣

[@johnpeterson7264]

Hi. Great Video as always. The linked dipole looks like a great idea and very carefully constructed... but it looks like it might be a bit fragile ? I understand they are trying to keep the weight down for SOTA. Do you think it will hold up ?

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

I wouldn’t leave this up for prolonged periods. But I don’t think it’s less resilient than any speaker wire dipole.

[@johnpeterson7264]

Ham Radio Crash Course Thanks

[@bigmontyjones8769]

Hey Josh, great video. What was the pole you are using in this video?

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

A cheap eBay 7m fiberglass fishing pole.

[@BlairMaynard]

Would it be possible to add a fourth "inactive" extra-long guy line to oppose the existing inactive guy line and when you want to change bands, just unstake the extra long guy wire, extend it (lowering the whole thing, and then stake it when you can reach the alligator clamps to change the band? This might also make it easier to keep it vertical on a slope.

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

Maybe. That might work.

[@gblan]

Got to Home Depot and buy a 3 foot long 3/4" wooden dowel. Sharpen one end of it. Bang it into the ground and slide the mast over it. No more mast falling over. Dowels are light and cheap.

[@georgebecht6357]

18 grams? Does that include the mast? Does the mast fit into the bag with the tent steaks?

[@bigmontyjones8769]

Hey Josh, what pole are you using in this Video? Thanks

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

Just a cheap 7m telescopic fishing rod off eBay.

[@black75powder]

What mast using with that?

[@qaiwani]

Will it work for 2m and 70cm? If not, what would you suggest? Thanks for the great video.

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

No, this is for 20-30-40 meters ham radio. Check out a roll-up j-pole for vhf/uhf.

[@1337flite]

Ham-sylvania!!!

[@DonDegidio]

Hi Josh, Nicely done review. 73 WB3BJU

[@pd3828]

DX Engineering has Sotabeams in stock.

[@mrwiik644]

How would it be if you combined this with f.eks a LDG Z 817 automatic tuner ?

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

No tuner needed here. Resonant antennas are good to go.

[@mrwiik644]

@@HamRadioCrashCourse its Said in the video 😀 but would there be some benefits of doing so, f.eks could you run other bands than the once the antenna is resonant for? I am on the 3 lesson of ham radio course here in 🇳🇴, so I don't know everything about the "trade" yet.

[@steveinkentucky]

I run a cord to the top of a pole and just lower the antenna. Adjust it and pull it back up.

[@willian.direction6740]

Thanks Josh I am a fan and multi summit user of the SOTABeams link dipole nice review. vk5cz ..

[@ronblack2404]

What mast will you be using , suggestions? Thank you

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

I use a 7 meter telescoping fishing rod.

[@raykiii]

Hi Josh, What is the difference between a Linked Dipole and a Trap Dipole? Thank you in advance. 73 KE0OAP

[@lachumbley]

"what's a dipole?" The kid says! 😂

[@kn6dxv36]

Instead of mailing it back, try maybe buying it from where he bought it over there and have it sent to his address. I guessing it would much cheaper for the both of you. That way your not paying import tax. Just an idea.

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

That is what I mentioned in the video 👍

[@PhilipHousel]

18 ounces... 500 grams... nice review.

[@marcinmichigan2772]

@1:40 18 grams............ um ounces I think is more accurate.

[@leeharrell67]

6:20 What's a dipole? LOL

[@JesterHellsingborg]

The kid...Just LuV him....:-)

[@justinphillips2975]

I just can't understand why some pieces of plastic, guy cord, and wire need to cost nearly $100.

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

All the pieces together, plus the work to build it. Bam, $100.

[@justinphillips2975]

@@HamRadioCrashCourse the first couple to work out design, but after that.. what, $10 worth of material, maybe $15 with the bag? Am I missing something? Is each wire hand trimmed and tested?

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

Yes. The antenna is built and tested. The balun is hand made from the looks of it.

[@theoldhobbit3640]

I love Richards products and the quality is stunning. Each is trimmed, tuned and tested before despatch including the hand wound 1 to 1. I understand that shipping and the product may seem somewhat expensive, but if you want quality then you pay for it, if not then it would be cheaper to make your own.

[@jacobKC3MRA]

Were the Germans coming?

[@kerwincarreon7621]

Send it to me pls...hahaaah

[@nazairetetreault2664]

Trash the alligator clips and get some knife connectors