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

£69.95
(Inc. Tax)
£58.29
(Ex. Tax)

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PDAS-300
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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): 
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59 Reviews Hide Reviews Show Reviews

  • 5
    Plugged in and on the air

    Posted by Fred Leoni on 17th Feb 2016

    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.

  • 5
    Brilliant

    Posted by David Perry on 10th Feb 2016

    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.

  • 5
    Brownsea island activation

    Posted by David G0FVH on 14th Jul 2015

    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 !

  • 5
    Brilliant,lightweight antenna

    Posted by Andy Barbour - M1HZZ on 12th Jul 2015

    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!

  • 5
    sotabeams band hopper antenna

    Posted by mike on 28th Jun 2015

    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

  • 5
    Good alternative to making your own

    Posted by Paul VK3DBP on 2nd Jun 2015

    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!).

  • 4
    Excellent product

    Posted by DAVID G0FVH on 27th May 2015

    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 !

  • 5
    Great quality

    Posted by LA4TTA Erlend on 25th May 2015

    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.

  • 5
    Portable with the New 3 Band clipper with Balun

    Posted by BoB PALMER M3DPQ on 31st Mar 2015

    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.

  • 5
    WAB PORTABLE

    Posted by JOHN ALLAN on 16th Jan 2015

    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