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AMATEUR RADIO FOR THE GREAT OUTDOORS
AMATEUR RADIO FOR THE GREAT OUTDOORS
Antennas including linked dipoles, telescopic poles also ham radio kits - everything you need.
If you are thinking of leaving your ham shack with your radio, take a look. We can help.
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Two-band portable dipole antenna system
Product Description
The Band Hopper 2, two-band portable dipole antenna system
At a glance
Bands 20 m, 40 m
Power rating 125 Watts
Balun included Yes
ATU needed? No. Connects direct to your radio
SSB, CW, data? Yes. Fine for all modes
How long is this antenna? About 28 metres end to end (20-40 version).
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***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 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.***
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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
- High performance 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 detailed set of instructions
- A nylon carry bag with attachment clip
- Our famous back-up for any questions that you have.
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 II is designed for the lightweight portable specialist. Not sure what a linked dipole is? Click here.
The Band Hopper II covers two 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.
We include a high performance balun to reduce unwanted feeder coupling - reduces potential interference problems.
Using the Band Hopper II 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 (included).
The feeder is a 10m length of RG174 preterminated in a BNC plug. This is wound on a third Wirewinder. Also on the third Winder is a 10m 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. Just a mast or use a tree and you're good to go!
This antenna is super light too! The whole package consisting of the antenna, the Wirewinders and the back guy weighs in at less than 450g (20m/40m version); that's under a pound!
No need to adjust the Band Hopper II, 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
The Band Hopper II is a truly amazing package for a bargain price.
Each Band Hopper II includes an antenna bag and three pegs making it a complete system.
Product Videos
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SOTABEAMS Link...This is an in-depth look at a 20m/40m SOTABEAMS linked dipole.... -
Which bands to...Richard G3CWI describes the characteristics of the most popula... -
Chameleon MPAS...Side by side test with using Yaesu 817ND and RMS Express. MPA...
Product Reviews
Showing reviews 1-10 of 52 | Next
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Band Hopper 2
Posted by James on 7th Feb 2018
Love this, easy to setup and use. Packs away really easily. Cannot fault it.
Worked equally well with a clansman and ft-817.
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The most important part of the SOTA station
Posted by Pál Pelle on 18th Jan 2018
Very good, very light, very easy to handle.
I use it with a 10 m SB travelmast, cable-tied it on 6 m height, as advised by Richard.
I've disconnected the yellow rope from it, as i want to decrease the force on the top of the mast, and i use a GK10 guying kit to hold the mast. In this case it's easier to catch the links on the antenna, in my opinion.
And i wind the coaxial cable on the winder reverse as the way it has arrived to the winder, it's a bit less tricky to erect the whole thing. again, for me .
All the parts are superlight, yet strong enough !
The lenght of the coaxial cable is just perfect too !
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First contact in years
Posted by Michael d Worrell on 15th Nov 2017
Used my sotabeams 20/40 linked dipole tor the first time today. My first contact was a ve7 from my home qth using an icom 703 running 10 watts. The antenna was on a 6 meter fiberglass mast and the band was not in the best of shape. Distance was 3548 kms, not bad for an old radio and my first contact in years.
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Testing 20m Deployment in Loft
Posted by Andrew, G8UBP on 20th Sep 2017
Temporarily setup in the loft until I replace with a fan dipole.
Set up for 20m in an inverted V configuration with sloping legs favoring east direction.
Using a SDR Play RSP1 have received JT65 & FT8 from 94 countries in a few days.
Once the loft antenna is sorted it will be redeployed for QRP portable
where I have no doubt it will work great.
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Band Hopper 2 makes QSOs EASY!
Posted by John (K9JDN) on 1st Sep 2017
Recently purchased your two-band (20/40M) portable dipole antenna in preparation for our Solar Eclipse Special Event Station. We were planning to use both bands during the recent solar eclipse in the USA, but ended up staying on 40M for the entire event.
Laid out the antenna on the ground and raised it with a 33’ fiberglass pole, staked out the ends of the antenna and was “on the air” in less than 10 mins. The SWR was so good across the entire band, we never needed the ATU in our 100 watt radio! Signals from across the USA were pouring into our Special Event Station and we made 113 QSOs in about 3 ½ hours of operation, having GREAT FUN in the park on the solar eclipse day!
I can’t say enough good things about this antenna! This antenna design, wire, coax, connector, wire winders and bag w/stakes is a true bargain from SOTABEAMS! Easy “no-muss, no-fuss”, get on-the-air antenna makes it FUN to use. Looking forward to many more trips back to the park!
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Got me into South America
Posted by 2M0WDG on 11th Jul 2017
Matched with the 7m SOTAbeams pole, I went to the beach.
4w rig a bit of grey line and JT65.
I have done this many times with other antennas, I can hit the US and Canada with some regularity.
Using the linked dipole, I hit Brazil on both 20m and 40m, managed Guatemala too.
Buy the 7meter pole. Both together, well worth it.
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Wellmade and good performance
Posted by Jon Herran on 13th Jun 2017
I always make my own wire antennas for Mountain activities but reading the reviews of the linked dipole I bought one.
The antenna is Well made, lightweight components and think in the People Who rise antennas in sota.
The antenna has very good performance and swr 1:1 without tunner.
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Update.....
Posted by Gary on 3rd Apr 2017
Since my last review on this antenna I have added an FT-817ND to my portable kit. I took it out and matched it up this weekend for a bit of QRP and I was really pleased. 5w output, up on a hill and confirmed a contact in Bulgaria as my furthest. I really cannot rate this antenna highly enough and although I still have not bought the tri bander, I would recommend this two band linked dipole to anyone. 5 stars without any hesitation.
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As Advertised
Posted by Larry on 28th Feb 2017
Good SWR across 20 and 40 meters. The ATU in my KX2 brought SWR to 1.0-1 at the extreme ends of the bands but wasn't really necessary.
If you want to support the center with a "squid" pole, I do not recommend the 10M SOTA Pole. It is far too flexible. I believe the 7 M version of the SOTA Pole works best (Richard, step in here if you disagree)
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Must have for portable QRP
Posted by Sam on 22nd Jan 2017
I originally was setting myself up around a MFJ-1899T whip but in a CBD area this just resulted in QRM and grief. Not to mention counterpoise and tripod related weight.
Setting up the two bander on 40 meters using a 10M SOTA pole was a revelation! Suddenly was able to hear US and UK stations even with city level noise floor. Can't wait to get this thing into its natural habitat on a SOTA peak!
Showing reviews 1-10 of 52 | Next
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