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.
___________________________________________________
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
-
I Hung Your 3-Band Dipole From A Lighthouse
Hi Richard, I just wanted to let you know that I gave your 40-30-20 Band-Hopper Dipole a real stress test today when four of us from our local club - The Hornsby and Districts Amateur Radio Club (HADARC) activated the Carpenteria Lightship at Datling Harbour in Sydney to promote the ham radio hobby to the public. I climbed to the top of the nearby 22-metre lighthouse and hung your little dipole as a sloper, clipped together for 40m, with the lower end lashed to a flagpole. I was a bit worried that the thin wire might not like the stress of the weight, and I was also running a TS-590S at the full 100W PEP for most of the time. Our signal got out gangbusters and we were heard up north in Queensland and down south in Victoria and even in Tasmania. Local noise was terrible from RFI pollution in the city, but that was out of my control. Your dipole handled the 100 watts with no problems, and some pretty heavy gusts of wind. You sure make some nice ham kit, Richard. Thank you from VK2-Land. PS: See https://www.facebook.com/groups/6123661701/10151758389061702/?notif_t=like
-
No Exageration..
Hi Richard, Great piece of kit for SOTA work, SWR was good right across the band and I have to say deployment of the antenna is so easy and band changing a doddle... it makes you wonder why you haven't had one of these long ago... Highly recommended.. Steve MW0BBU.
-
Band Hopper lll
Hi Richard, Used the link dipole on 20/40/60 yesterday on Birks Fell worked very well nice and easy to put up on the 7m pole up in 10mins, It is a lot lighter than my 5 bander and well made to, the croc clips are better to use as well better for cold hands if doing a winter activation and the bag came in handy to put all the other bits in like pegs ect
-
Enjoying /P
I now have 2 link dipoles supported from one pole and I can't believe how well they work running 100 watts from an IC-706MKIIG. They really have brought the fun back into /P as they are so quick and easy to erect and the lightweight construction stops them from putting strain on the pole even in stormy weather. Everything you need on 3 wire winders, put them in a SOTA bag and you have one neat and tidy antenna.
-
Band Hopper 3 QRV in 10MINS
Quick to erect in ten minutes with a SOTA 7M pole and be QRV. Easy to QSY to 30 when I found the contesters cutting up 40m. I worked a W3 on 30m with 5 watts of CW. Sloping site was giving me extra gain I'm sure. This antenna is load of fun for portable work.
-
BANDHOPPER III
Hi Richard Just to let you know that I tested the link dipole yesterday, centre height was 20 ft with legs inverted down to ground level. I must say that I was pleasantly surprised that the bandwidth was much greater than I expected with such thin wire and we put 100 watts through it without any problems. We used FT2000 with auto ATU. I will report further when I've run it /P
-
BANDHOPPER III
What a brilliant concept. ordered this aerial one day delivered the next day. brilliant communication and well packed. what a pleasure to deal with a brilliant company. the antenna works very well and unity SWR on the bands I love. It goes well with the SOTApole which I also purchased. thank you Richard.
-
Brilliant!
I purchased the 20/40/60 linked dipole and have used it on the three bands to great effect. In particular I liked the light weight and user friendly design. I used to carry a 65ft long wire, tuner and Un . Un. This set up weighs in at approx one third of the weight.
-
Fantastic well made antenna
This is a brilliant concept. Just add something to get the centre point high and everything you need to create a 1:1 matched antenna (without an ATU) on 3 bands with no bits to lose* is in the pack Combined with a SOTAPole I had this in the air and on the air in about 10 mins first time. Each band was spot on 1:1 VSWR and it weighs hardly anything. Its not stealthy with 2 yellow wires and neon green winders but it will mean I wont have to carry bits of high vis to tie around the pegs and wire. Everything feels solidly connected and it came well packed. Order to delivery was 2 days Very very impressed.
