Thank you for such a bear truth review, you hit the nail on the head. It is supposed to be portable but, it isn't if you have to elevate the counterpoise off the ground. The kit is not complete. If you buy a portable kit it should come with everything that makes it work. Thank you for your honest review.
The one I got had the tripod included. I think it came with everything I needed. Wait I needed an adapter to my radio, but I don’t expect them to supply adapters to everyone’s radio, should I? I’m still new to all of this. Something to hold up the counterpoise is needed.
I have the Buddipole Deluxe package and several accessories, including two long wire assemblies for the counterpoise. I purchased the Versa Hub and 5 section shockcord legs and an inexpensive pistol range bag to carry everything in. I'm using it portable as I type this. Zero issues and I have clips in the coil for 20 and 40 meters. The counterpoise is marked with tape at the correct lengths for several bands. Easy to setup and I can recreate a low SWR every time and no tuner needed. Bandwidth coverage is excellent and is about 200kHz with 2:1 or less SWR. 73, Tom / W1TXT
I have found the buddistick to be one of the best compromised antennas you can use. Using one radial will give you a stronger lobe in the DIRECTION THAT THE RADIAL POINTS, but you will lose some contacts from the rear of the antenna. The signal on the back side of the antenna (from the direction the radial is pointing) will be 8db to 15db lower than the front side. Quite a difference. If looking to get more contacts from one direction, the single radial is the way to go. If you want to get good signals in all directions (because of having an even pattern), add a second elevated radial on the other side, 180 degrees. If you are looking for maximum DX distance, putting four radials in a cross pattern will lower your radiation angle. Example, on a 17 meter set up, four elevated radials will lower the take off angle from 25 degrees to 20 degrees. Adding more than four elevated radials will make little difference. The extra radials give very little extra gain, but they do affect the pattern and take off angle. Buying one or two (for horizontal dipole set up) 17' extendable antennas will allow you to have a full size antenna from 20 meters to 10 meters with no coil or heavy poles in line. It will also help to make tuning easier on 40 meters and offer an advantage in signal strength. Buddipole also offers their "Triple Ratio Switch Balun". This allows you to get much closer to a 50 ohm match for your transceiver, allowing more power output. This can be quite a bit of extra power, especially on 40 meters. I use one all the time, it's a great addition and can be used with other antennas also. These types of antennas tend to go much lower in ohms the lower you get in frequency and the switch can make a big difference. It also has a 1 to 1 balun built in for feedline isolation. It's a worthwhile addition to the buddipole kit. Hope this helps. I got this info from the book "Buddipole in the Field" by B. Scott Anderson. Excellent book if you want to understand and get the best from your Buddipole/Buddistick antenna.
People are buying 3'-4' long fencepost sections at the home improvement stores, but overlooking the wooden dowels that can be cut to length to fit in the bag.
I have had nothing but exceptional performance from mine. Over 550 QSOs and 100 dx stations since I bought it in February and use it most evenings and weekends. I have never had any difficulty tuning it using the preset markings and following the instructions. I set the radial wire at 2 ft off the ground using a $4 electric fence post. I don’t get why others have a hard time with tuning to the different bands. I run mine with an IC7300 and honestly feel it’s great. Anyways, hope others have fun with theirs as much as I have with mine. Catch y’all on the air, 73! -KO4VTJ
It’s a great antenna and really gets out. Easy to store and carry with you. I’ve been using one for 18 months now. Just last night I worked all up and down the west coast with 12w and a Buddistick from the Midwest. It does need to come with something to elevate the radial. I’m one of the dopes carrying around a big stick as Mike alluded to.
I’m probably too late to this discussion but I used to have the mk1 buddistick deluxe and to raise the counterpoise wire off the ground I used a telescopic bank stick for fishing . Very cheap and inexpensive to buy but effective and can fit in the buddistick bag
I love mine. One tip though, find an eye bolt that is the same thread as the tripod screw on the versahub, I then use a piece of string and a tent stake on the bottom of the hub. Provides great stability and wind won’t blow it over. I also use multiple taps. Usually 10m (for my lowly tech ass) and then 20m and 40m when I set it up at club meetings for the general + folks to play with. 40m was the only tricky one to tune for me, but I still got it down to 1.3. I use a nanovna to tune with and it’s been working really well.
Using an electric fence post for the counterpoise makes it much more easier to tune. Plus I bought extra taps and leave them tapped on the coil so all I have to do is move the tap wire to appropriate color tap.
Hey Mike! Solid video. I agree with offering something to support the counterpoise. That said I’ve never yet had a problem improvising grass, trees, or hanging the counterpoise from the door handle on my car with a few feet of paracord for separation. $57 for the legs isn’t the worst thing considering they’re specialized, the crappiest eBay tripod would run you like $30. Either way glad you got some more time with this antenna and are seeing some of its advantages now
K5CIP here. Mike, Thanks for the review. I know their are many vertical antennas on the market. I am of the opinion that if it markets itself as a portable it should come as a complete unit. I have a WRC and like that it comes as a complete kit. Whip, Coil, Base, Legs and 3 Counterpoise wires. I cant believe that an antenna system at this price would be sold that could not be used out of the box. Great Quality of an Incomplete antenna system.
I have been using the Crank IR, it gave me the idea of using a Dewalt crank-up chalk line holder, replace it with bare wire and mark the different band points with different colored shrink tubbing.
I've not tried the BuddiStick, but you're spot on with the pricing. I bought the mini BuddiPole, and it's very well made, but it wasn't at all clear at the point of purchase that it doesn't come with everything to get it working - you need to buy an extra stick or tripod (for much $). Doesn't leave you with the best feeling to have paid a lot of money for an antenna then find out you need to spend more to make it work. I think they'd do better to fix that business model.
It works REALLLLLLLLY well. and it is sturdy and modular and pleasing to the OCD. Certainly not perfect, but totally worth the $57 for the fiberglass legs and the $200 for the base Stick... etc. for the slap-it-up-fast-and-pack-away-quickly-ability.
I bought the whole package. I've very happy with it. I do have to carry the "big stick" but it works, so I'm happy. I agree with you on all of your points, as always.
Thanks for the review. This is one of my most fav. antennas. A little practice with it and as you said, less than 10m on the air. Multiple taps more than two as you said can get problematic. I take a sharpie and mark the coil when I find where i need it so i can reproduce it. Great idea about the counter poise prop. Maybe Chris will add the "K8MRD" mod! worked a kilo with only this antenna.
I have this antenna and I love the portability; it's amazing what you can fit into that bag. I'm also able to carry my RigExpert Stick-Pro Antenna Analyzer in the bag to get the best SWR. I activated 6 parks in DC while on vacation, with great success this spring. To get the counterpoise off the ground, I used a collapsible golf alignment/training stick. They fold down pretty small and you can find them in high-viz colors. I also used high-viz plastic trail marker clips on the counterpoise to prevent tourists from walking through it. WI0O, 73
Great video Mike. One tip I’ve got is in regard to the taps. Yes, they do get crowded between 12 and 20 meters. However, the coil has other indentations in the casing a third of a turn off the main marked tap line to allow for additional taps. Have tested in field, works great.
I know that, duh. I still couldn't get 20 to tune with 2 other taps above it. There wasn't an indentation where it needed to be. Needs more indentations.
Mike I have had one for about 8 months now and work into Europe and down in to South America. On 5 to 15 watts on CW and SSB. I used on field day this year. The pole you talk about is electric fences pole that you can pick up at trucker supply. I use 3 aluminum arrow they work and very light and small. Nice job. 73
Good review. I agree with your pro's and cons. I do think it would not be hard to come up with a expandable pole for the counterpoise on your own, but a factory supplied pole with the 3 legs would be a welcome addition. I have the Buddipole and Buddistick set ups. I've found them to work very well. They are a compromise antenna, but until I can find a way to hump a 60' tower and three element beam up a hill, I'll use my Buddistick. One thing I've added to my antenna kit (not that it will fit in the case) is a 17' whip. Being a high "Q" antenna, any additional metal you can put in the air will increase efficiency and bandwidth. It will help quite a bit, especially on 40 meters. Getting the whip as close to 1/4 WL as possible will make a difference, and between the stock whip and the 17' whip, you can do that from 6 meters to 20 meters. Tuning goes fast once you get the hang of it. I've seen people struggle until they figure out exactly how to do it. I'd love to try the Silver Bullet, but don't think there would be any great advantage. For a very portable kit, the Buddistick Pro is hard to beat in a vertical antenna. On 40 meters, I use the two long BP poles and the 17' whip with great success. I do have to guy it on the antenna and it's less portable, so there's that. I love resonate antennas ! Oh, the antenna will be slightly directional with a little gain in the direction 180 degrees away from the counterpoise. Not cheap at $95.00, if you do a lot of operating on 40 and 80 meters with this antenna, the Triple Ratio Balun Switch from Buddipole can keep you much closer to the ideal 50 ohms at the feed point. All High Q antennas have a pretty low ohm number on the lower bands. Makes tuning easier and increases efficiency on the 40 and 80 meter band. No shortened, portable vertical antenna is going to be a great DX getter on 80 meters no matter what you do. Thanks Mike, keep up the good work. Get out and operate !!!!
Correct on all counts. For the counterpoise, I use a hiking pole that I can stab into the ground, fully extended and that seems to work in most cases. I also use PVC pipe, which consist of 3×12 inch sections connected by V connector, which gives it stability enough to hold a smaller rigid pole. I then can tie that pole off to either.a stake or a water bottle to keep it at the proper height. As for the Coil itself,I've substituted a Wolf River Coils for the Buddie Stick coil, which results in a quicker and more precise tune. Now I'm looking at a slimmer coil, like a Super Antenna coil that has a similar form factor to stock. With this set-up, from my QTH in Georgia, I've reached Bulgaria with 10 watts!
Mike, great & appreciated review buddy. I have an original Buddistick and you called me out exactly, I actually bought one of the electric-fence posts you spoke of. Shame on me though, I negated the theory behind the portability quality because I got frustrated with the tiny little supplied tripod after it tipped over numerous times, and bought a $50 surveyors tripod from Lowes. But thank you for sharing your first-hand experience and thoughts! 73
Hi MIke, thanks for the review. I have the Buddistick Pro Dlx and like it a lot. I agree that the legs are a bit pricy and it should have something for the counterpoise to be elevated included in the package. That said, I don't think this antenna was intended to be used for SOTA or some other situation where you're hiking long distances, but it surely could if you didn't mind the size. Its best use is POTA and other situations where packing it long distances is not required. And in a POTA situation where you drive an park and maybe walk 2-3 hundred yards or something, having to carry a home depot electric fence post ain't no big deal in my opinion.
Great review. Just a couple of points, while you are correct that for $199 you don't get the legs, or the coax or the SO-239 to BNC adapters, all are extras. If you are like me and get the Buddistick Pro Deluxe for $299, you get everything in the $199 kit, the legs, the coax, the adapters. I don't know why it isn't the same price as if you bought the base model and added the extras making the kit only $289.50, but the $9.50 isn't a deal breaker. When I bought mine, the $199 version was sold out but the $299 version wasn't, so I basically paid the "Buy it now tax of $9.50". [Edit] looking at my receipt, I apparently got an early adopter special that made the Deluxe kit only $275. I agree with you 100% about the counterpoise holder. They should offer one, just like their leg. Maybe include that for "free" in the $299 kit and charge say $20 separately. Lugging around a cheap $4 fence post just wasn't an option for me. So what I did is purchased a tri-folding "Elevate Gold Alignment Stick" kit for $12.88. They are neon green/yellow, fold down like the legs (fiber glass with shock cord in the middle) and are 48" long when assembled and 17" when folded. You get 2 48" sticks (one end on each has a point so you can push it in the ground and just use 1, or you can use a tie of some type and use both like you do with your tree limbs) and 1 16" stick (again, one end has a point) so you could use that for a sloper. No this solution doesn't fit in the nice bag from Buddipole, but at only 17" it isn't too bad. It even comes in a clear plastic tube with endcaps so you can put all three poles (and some other things) in that and go. If you are creative, you can get some of those reusable hook and loop (aka Velcro) adjustable cord ties and with a pair of them, have the gold sticks attached to the Buddipole bag. I love those hook and loop cord ties, I use them on everything ... coax, radial wires, you name it.
I've been using the Wolf River Coil with the Buddipole Versahub system. It works extremely well, and with three 17' radials I can get a 1.2:1 match right across 20m, and 1.5:1 on 40m. I have all the Buddipole parts but I find the Wolf River Coil a lot less of a hassle to set up.
I bought the Slidewinder coil, UK version of the Wolf River, and mounted it on an old light weight camera tripod. I use 3 ground counterpoises and a 105" whip. Much easier to tune than the Buddipole, and works on all bands, 40m and up very well. Instead of the click ring used to adjust the Wolf River, this one has a stainless collar that slides up and down , with adjustable tension. Love it!
Hi Mike! Great Review! I wanted to share my solution for the support for the counterpoise. It is a cheap whip fishing pole holder. i bought it at wal-mart for a few bucks. collapses down and attaches to my pack. It is just under 3 ft extended, shave off a couple inches once you put it in the ground and works great. I also 3 tap my coil for 15, 20, 40.
Regarding the counterpoise support; If you are in your backyard, you're home and have access to all sorts of options. If you are in the forest, there are trees. If you are in the middle of the desert you either, hiked, drove or crashed your aircraft to get there. If you hiked, use your walking stick. If you drove, tie off to your vehicle. If you crashed your aircraft, you have bigger problems. But, you could tie off to what's left of the fuselage. The point of the kit is to be as compact and light as possible. Good video!
I’ve yet to buy me a telescopic pole for my efhw’s, still throwing them into tree branches, for that I suppose it why I still primarily use the BuddiStick , good points in your video, stupid easy setup and take down, tuning and getting that radial wire setup is what you’ll spend time with. Happy with my purchase of it still. Keep up the good work Mike✅
I've found that not keeping the taps on the coil works better for tuning. Use the chart for the initial setup, then use the antenna tuner to get the best tune. I found the ground fas a large affect on the tuning. The initial settings get you in the park, but you usually have to fine tune. I use a carbon fiber collapsible shooting sticks work best for elevating the counterpoise. They fit in the bag. I bought the legs, but many years ago, I bought both Buddipole collapsible masts. I found they work better than the legs when working with the Buddistick Pro. Putting the antenna 13 ft up works btter than 4 ft.
Why the hell didn’t I consider that? I have the mast, too, and use it home to put the antenna way up in the air. Works great. But when I’m in the field I’ve been using the fiberglass legs. Why I didn’t just use the mast, but leave it mostly down…. No clue. it just didn’t occur to me. In fact I usually have the mast with me as I use it to get the counterpoise up in the air.
If someone walks past the counter poise it will raise the SWR crazy! I love mine but in windy days and lots of people around the magnetic aspect of the receive is touchy!
Hey Mike, Great balance between pros and cons. I use a pair of folding shooting sticks as I demonstrated in my video on the Buddistick Pro. I like it but without an analyzer, I think it would be frustrating.
My Buddistick is now my main POTA antenna for activations. I added their minicoil and tapped it for 10M and 17M. The standard coil is tapped for 12, 15, 17, 20, and 40. Another thing… I bought extra coil taps and color coordinated the coil taps (as best I could on the std coil) to match the counterpoise marker colors. -KD2ZZA
Love this antenna. I've had one for years, and recently bought the new versahub and tripod. Before I used a 11' shock cord mast and made hundreds of contacts.
Great video Mike. I'd like to comment that the word "counterpoise" is widely misused today. Back in college in EM Theory they taught us that for an antenna located above a ground plain, the "counterpoise" is a virtual mirror image of the antenna located below the ground plain. The horizontal wires extending away from the antenna base help to define the ground plain and are more accurately referred to as radials. Thanks for everything. Keep it up! Tom K8CC
My solution for the counterpoise was to get 3-5' lengths of CPVC 1/2 inch pipe from the home improvement store. They are $4 each. Buy a coupler for each then cut them in half. It's non-conductive and breaks down to 6-2 1/2 foot lengths. I'm already carrying my camera tripod for the versa-tee so these fit into my tripod bag. When operating I assemble the 3-5 foot sections back together and tie the tops to make a tripod and hang the counterpoise off of that. I also didn't get the counterpoise from BuddiPole. Instead I made my own for each band, soldered and crimped round ends on them. I'm still trying to dial-in the lengths of these but I think this will work and won't require a tuner after I get this set up.
If you use hiking sticks you can use them similar to what you did with the sticks. You could also use fiberglass tent poles from Amazon or a camping supply store.
Great setup, and I've wanted one for a while, but I'm with you on the ridiculous cost of add-ons. You're really looking at $275 (deluxe package minus coax).
When I bought mine, I missed the fact that it didn't come with the legs. Learning the cost (plus additional shipping) to get legs was more than I was willing to spend, so I concluded I was going to send it back. *HOWEVER*, that was on a Friday, and I decided to test the antenna out with a POTA activation over that weekend before sending it back. It was really easy to deploy and it just worked (on an old camera tripod). So, instead of sending it back, I now bring that tripod with me and use the $3 electric fence post for the counterpoise (prior to that I used a bamboo garden stick). This is my go-to antenna for "quick and dirty" POTA activations as it's really quick and easy to set up. With that said, I have zero plans on ever doing any business with the company again. There are other options and I just can't get over the feeling of being "nickled and dimed".
I also carry some yellow marker flags to mark the counterpoise wire when activating a park -- the dark green wire's not easy to see and people tend to want to walk through it.
I use two aluminum arrows connected with a flimsy piece of rubber for the counter poise bipod. You could cut them to fit in the bag although I haven’t. Some old timers would call them shooting sticks.
Seems to me for the price and what is and isn't included it would be most useful in an isolated location with no trees and no people who might walk near the counterpoise. Would you prefer using it instead of an end-fed wire antenna like an EFHW or non resonant antenna with an unun if there are trees available? Wouldn't a wire antenna be less expensive, have less packable weight, and be just as easy to set up using a small external or internal antenna tuner? What are your thoughts and preferences?
Absolutely great for remote locations with no trees etc. it fits well in my backpack and I keep an EFHW in there or a speaker wire dipole as a just in case antenna. I have not needed a tuner with this antenna at all. You just need a good way to measure swr when you are setting it up. But it’s very easy.
I'd like to add one more point that I forgot to say before (sorry for monopolizing the responses here...) This antenna, like all antennas of this type are very susceptible to common mode currents on the outside shield of the coax. This can make finding a stable resonant point difficult, and can play havoc with RF getting into station peripherals. ALSO... antennas of this type MAY have an ohmic resonant point of lower than 50 ohms... may in the 20 to 30 ohm range. In cases like that SWR's in the range of 2 to 1 plus or minus a few tenths may be the best that one can achieve. The set up of this antenna is actually not a vertical but a coil loaded bent OCFD (Off Center Fed Dipole, that just happens to have one of its ends bent up like a coil loaded vertical. In many cases 50 ohm can be achieved by moving the resonant point off center to where the rig "sees" that 50 ohms. But in some cases no matter what you do, you can't just get there. With an analyzer you may see in deed a resonant point much lower that 50 ohms. So... how do you 1. Stop Common Mode Currents on the coax, and 2. Get the resonant point up to 50 ohm? Answer... Use the Buddipole TRSB (Triple Ration Switchable Balun). I use it with my antennal ALL of the time. I set it to 1 to 1 and have no common mode current problems, and when I have a resonant point less than 50 ohms, I can just switch in say... 2 to 1, and bingo back up to 50 ohms and happy transmitter. Personally I think the TRSB is an essential part of the kit, and highly recommend using it. I know it is one more piece to carry in the bag, but the problems it solves far out weighs it physical weight and the space it takes up in the bag. Best 73's K1YPB
Like KE0OG, ARRL and QST's new technical editor sez: A vertical is a vertical is a vertical.....I was a very early customer of BuddiStick, however lately I've been using the Wolf River coils and IMO much easier to set and more stable....73/K6SDW
@@hamradiotube I’m not sure, I think this is the first I’ve heard of not being able to leave the taps on. I have two on one groove and the third is on the other.
@@K5QBF Same. I leave my taps on all the time. In fact, I have all 5 taps on so I can work 6, 10, 12, 15, 17, 20, and 40. I had to buy some extra taps (sold separately for $16.50), but once I tuned it once, I just hit the right color hole on the 6 coil clips and go. As dumb as this sound, I painted several of my knobs so that they matched the colors in their cheat sheet for all 6 clips (6M doesn't need a tap).
You and everyone in the world are waiting for that hex beam. It's a very hot item for sure! I've had the privilege of using it on multiple occasions and I'll tell you it works great.
Bought kit and accessories 10 yrs ago. Rarely used after i put a permanent antenna up. Worse than an EFHW, overpriced. It works, but there are better solutions out there. Thanks for the honest review, one of your TX fellow ham TH-camrs is in Buddipole’s pocket and basically does ads for them disguised as reviews.
Nice review! Let me add my two cents with regard to supporting the counterpoise wire. I use a three foot Home Depot wooden dowel that I sharpened on end like a pencil. I also use one of those Buddipole Velcro straps to attach the wire winder to the dowel. You can slide the wire winder up and down if needed. It is cheap and makes a reliable support for the counterpoise wire. And I am sure the resourceful can figure a way to make the dowel into a multi piece "thing" to make it small enough to fit in the antenna bag. Best 73's K1YPB
In wind, you can hang the bag underneath the hub or drive a tent stake straight down from the hub and tie a piece of cord to a hook from the local hardware store to stabilize the antenna.
Ironically I was scolded for having multiple taps simultaneously on the coil. Very difficult tuning for usability. Plus the elevated radial/counter poise needs flags/markers on since folks tend to walk into. Only way around was TOTAL isolation, real hard to do in any urban metropolis.. returned mine out of frustration.
Hi Mike hey good evening I’m just real curious with that buddy pole antenna how has propagation has been for you. Still not Hearing that much on 20. Have a great evening Mike and a great weekend 73 WD5ENH Steve
I wonder if you could put the versa hub and coil higher up in the air, how it would effect performance. Such as, putting it 20 feet in the air on a portable mast. But then the question about the counter poise wire and how you deal with that comes up. Thanks
If they do come out with a two pole solution it will be $38 for the legs + whatever they come up with for the device to join them together. BP makes good stuff but not inexpensive. I have a buddipole and a buddistick.
Quality costs money. WRC can be built from parts at the local menards store. Buddipole actually makes molds and forms the custom parts, along with a lot more attention to detail. I have both WRC's and Buddipole and Buddistick (not pro). The Buddistuff was purchased 10-12 years ago, still going strong. (things cost less before.. well you get the idea).
@@arnoldgrubbs2005 No doubt quality costs cash. For me the WRC is just "good enough" to not necessitate the upgrade to a Buddistick. I will give credit to the Buddistick though, that thing packs down TINY. I would be all over if I was a SOTA guy.
@@IrregularInterest Yes, the Buddistick does pack down small. I actually use a mix of both kits. I like the shock corded whips of the Buddisystems, and use the extention arms to get the WRC up high enough where I don't have to bend over so much to adjust the coil. The BP whips are a bit better at resisting the effects of antenna flop over syndrome. Lately I decided to set the antenna over a cork screw dog tie up that I bring along, and run either a bungy or some cord to tie the antenna down to the dog tie so to prevent antenna blow over or flips.
Mike, You can put two taps in each groove…. Have done this with the Buddipole and BuddiStick. Some how I don’t visualize your problem. Will have to put mine up today and recheck….. maybe I am missing something. Dave K8WPE
You can watch HamRadio2.0 to see how well he did with the end laying on the sand on a beach. It was okay when I did the same thing with mine, had to fiddle with the length a bit more than usual but got her tuned up, but we got there.
Very good presentation. However, as simple as this is to set up, I find that having to purchase the tripod separate is a let down. I'm sorry to say, but I can't justifying the price.
3:12 caught redhanded... as me. I have pac-12/pac-7 and I can only change inductance by a full turn. It took me a while to understand my mistake. The Foundation license had a requirement to tune an antenna as part of the exam. Let's get to the point: have you tried to tune radial length? I don't blame you as I'm guilty too.
You could use the 80m coil , the triple ratio switch balun (TSRB) the long whip, maybe two more arms and a 66 foot long elevated radial but at that point I would use a small parachute cord guy system as well. The Buddistick was not designed to bear that much weight and it would be low to the ground. It would be more reasonable to just purchase a Deluxe long Buddipole with the mast and tripod and go from there. I have been using all the Buddipole equipment for the past 20 years with great success. I urge you to experiment as much as you like but each antenna system has it's own advantages.
Great review. Waiting for mine to ship, wanted an alternative to wires and my EFHW which can be operated where there are supports. Thank you for calling out the counterpoise support. I’m trying to figure out a solution for that myself with a lightweight collapsible support. Yes, I know folks are using the hiking pole approach, but really a skinny version of that with two tent guy lines and stakes (or weight bags) to stabilize would be perfect as an alternative to the tripod suggestion. Anyone have something that fits this bill?
@@Zyn88 took almost a week for mine to ship. I ended up trying a tent pole shock cord and that appears to be working. It was like 12” sections, total of 12’, and I shortened it to 10 sections (5 for each leg). I can lower the counter poise as needed by folding off sections and just let gravity do its thing. Hanging the winder over top of the inverted V shape works, but a plastic carabiner helps. Works very well so far. Hang in there!
Hmmmmmmmmmmm I would think the Wolf River coil is better because the ground radials can just bet thrown out on the ground and don't have to be adjusted to get your SWR down......................
Coil is coil. HF doesnt care who build the coil. Is the WR Coil at the same position as the Buddicoil? The coil shoud be in the position with the lowest current afair. (pls correct me, if i am wrong, maybe some misunderstood, coz my english isnt the best). It is all the same stuff. Coil for electrical match to the length etc.. And btw. when the best antenna is proved with the best SWR, than you should use a 50 coalresistor as antenna. :P
Not very impressed with the coil tap deal, like you said, not many options or shall I say bands available, I can probably build a more versatile set up on the garage bench!😏👍
@LA5PPA / Lasse I'm now down to using 4 radials for simplicity. The radial lengths are the same as the single counterpoise that comes with the antenna. Since they slope from the single connection point, I slope them to the ground and I mark the wires with colored electrical tape to mark the various bands
@LA5PPA / Lasse from my QTH in Georgia, I've reached California, NY and Florida as well as Texas and several other states, with no adjustment or moving of the radials. I did it from a park, using my ICOM 705. Conditions were good and it worked. With my other radial system, I reached southern Chile also . I had some issues with that system so I will be doing some work on to figure out the issues and improve the system. They're both viable systems but the 4 radials is just simpler and easier to deploy
Hi Mike, Very honest review and I like your suggestions to Buddipole on how to make the Pro kit more user friendly. I also like your T-shirt. 🙂 Stay safe. 73 WJ3U
Thanks bud. I forgot what shirt I was wearing. Had to go back and look lol! It's from Josh's store: UNUN Arc Reactor Shirt: hamtactical.com/collections/tees/products/unun-ark-reactor-ham-radio-t-shirt
I got a buddipole deluxe set back in 2011. I can't say it doesn't work, but it is the most overrated commercial antenna EVER. I got the extra long telescopic whips (which cost extra) just to get a full size antenna "down" to 15m, which is actually quite laughable considering the price. Back then I was quite inexperienced and fell for all the marketing bullshit. But even when you build a full sized dipole, the mast is too short (by a lot) and all you get is a cloud warmer. Not even talking about the bands below 15m when you have to use the loading coils. No way to work DX. Same is for the buddistick, you get a matching quality for much less money (PAC-12 Antenna f.e.). But if you fiddle around a little bit you'll get a muuuuch more capable antenna if you just build it yourself. Invest your money in a good mast/pole (at least 10m, spiderbeam etc.), a big spool of wire, a banana plug adapter and you can build a full size vertical for any band down to 40m and you have nearly endless possibilities for other builds. And here we're talking about full size quarterwave antennas with no compromise at all. To answer the question: NO it is NOT worth the hype, not at all. Even if you just want a portable antenna out of the box and are willig to take a compromise, the buddiwhatsoever won't make you happy in the long run.
Mike, you probably gave Buddipole an idea and to charge another $25 for the extra stick…. Ha! Also you have to think about Buddipole followers (like Elecraft followers). They will buy it because it’s a Buddipole or Stick and it works. But as I have found if you don’t have an antenna analyzer you will have frustration. Until I bought my graphing analyzer setting up my first Buddipole was very frustrating and time consuming. Now with a nano it’s a piece of cake.
Just broke down and bought a Rig Expert AA-35 analyzer and hope this is going to let me tune that one counterpoise (radial) much easier than just using my RIG (7300) 😄
Hi Mike, I have the Buddistick Pro Deluxe Package. It came with the shockcord legs and coaxial cable. I keep the taps for 10, 20, and 40 on the coil. 73, K8CRV
![ILLSLICK - KILLSHOT REMIX [FULL VERSION]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/RIK8RrqIAzE/mqdefault.jpg)
Thank you for such a bear truth review, you hit the nail on the head. It is supposed to be portable but, it isn't if you have to elevate the counterpoise off the ground. The kit is not complete. If you buy a portable kit it should come with everything that makes it work. Thank you for your honest review.
The one I got had the tripod included. I think it came with everything I needed. Wait I needed an adapter to my radio, but I don’t expect them to supply adapters to everyone’s radio, should I? I’m still new to all of this. Something to hold up the counterpoise is needed.
I have the Buddipole Deluxe package and several accessories, including two long wire assemblies for the counterpoise. I purchased the Versa Hub and 5 section shockcord legs and an inexpensive pistol range bag to carry everything in. I'm using it portable as I type this. Zero issues and I have clips in the coil for 20 and 40 meters. The counterpoise is marked with tape at the correct lengths for several bands. Easy to setup and I can recreate a low SWR every time and no tuner needed. Bandwidth coverage is excellent and is about 200kHz with 2:1 or less SWR. 73, Tom / W1TXT
I have found the buddistick to be one of the best compromised antennas you can use. Using one radial will give you a stronger lobe in the DIRECTION THAT THE RADIAL POINTS, but you will lose some contacts from the rear of the antenna. The signal on the back side of the antenna (from the direction the radial is pointing) will be 8db to 15db lower than the front side. Quite a difference. If looking to get more contacts from one direction, the single radial is the way to go. If you want to get good signals in all directions (because of having an even pattern), add a second elevated radial on the other side, 180 degrees. If you are looking for maximum DX distance, putting four radials in a cross pattern will lower your radiation angle. Example, on a 17 meter set up, four elevated radials will lower the take off angle from 25 degrees to 20 degrees. Adding more than four elevated radials will make little difference. The extra radials give very little extra gain, but they do affect the pattern and take off angle. Buying one or two (for horizontal dipole set up) 17' extendable antennas will allow you to have a full size antenna from 20 meters to 10 meters with no coil or heavy poles in line. It will also help to make tuning easier on 40 meters and offer an advantage in signal strength. Buddipole also offers their "Triple Ratio Switch Balun". This allows you to get much closer to a 50 ohm match for your transceiver, allowing more power output. This can be quite a bit of extra power, especially on 40 meters. I use one all the time, it's a great addition and can be used with other antennas also. These types of antennas tend to go much lower in ohms the lower you get in frequency and the switch can make a big difference. It also has a 1 to 1 balun built in for feedline isolation. It's a worthwhile addition to the buddipole kit. Hope this helps. I got this info from the book "Buddipole in the Field" by B. Scott Anderson. Excellent book if you want to understand and get the best from your Buddipole/Buddistick antenna.
I use my trekking pole to set it up! I use while hiking, I knew this coming into it when I purchased it.
People are buying 3'-4' long fencepost sections at the home improvement stores, but overlooking the wooden dowels that can be cut to length to fit in the bag.
That would make more sense. I just used sticks I found on the ground.
you can use walking sticks witch you probebly have when you walk to what you go for sota/pota activation.
I have had nothing but exceptional performance from mine. Over 550 QSOs and 100 dx stations since I bought it in February and use it most evenings and weekends. I have never had any difficulty tuning it using the preset markings and following the instructions. I set the radial wire at 2 ft off the ground using a $4 electric fence post. I don’t get why others have a hard time with tuning to the different bands. I run mine with an IC7300 and honestly feel it’s great. Anyways, hope others have fun with theirs as much as I have with mine. Catch y’all on the air, 73! -KO4VTJ
It’s a great antenna and really gets out. Easy to store and carry with you. I’ve been using one for 18 months now. Just last night I worked all up and down the west coast with 12w and a Buddistick from the Midwest.
It does need to come with something to elevate the radial. I’m one of the dopes carrying around a big stick as Mike alluded to.
It's a nice antenna, but I think I will stick with my Wolf Rover Coils antenna. Seems less complicated, and it cheaper.
Great video Mike. One note, this is the Buddistick Pro Deluxe version that came with everything but the kitchen sink. Thanks and 73!!
Thanks for letting me borrow your antenna. You may or may not ever get it back though!
@@hamradiotube 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Thanks for your review, I like my Buddistick pro. Easy setup and works great. Thanks
What you talked about with the elevated radial and legs is exactly what steered me from buddipole and to WRC. Major oversight.
I’m probably too late to this discussion but I used to have the mk1 buddistick deluxe and to raise the counterpoise wire off the ground I used a telescopic bank stick for fishing . Very cheap and inexpensive to buy but effective and can fit in the buddistick bag
I love mine. One tip though, find an eye bolt that is the same thread as the tripod screw on the versahub, I then use a piece of string and a tent stake on the bottom of the hub. Provides great stability and wind won’t blow it over. I also use multiple taps. Usually 10m (for my lowly tech ass) and then 20m and 40m when I set it up at club meetings for the general + folks to play with. 40m was the only tricky one to tune for me, but I still got it down to 1.3. I use a nanovna to tune with and it’s been working really well.
Using an electric fence post for the counterpoise makes it much more easier to tune. Plus I bought extra taps and leave them tapped on the coil so all I have to do is move the tap wire to appropriate color tap.
Hey Mike! Solid video.
I agree with offering something to support the counterpoise. That said I’ve never yet had a problem improvising grass, trees, or hanging the counterpoise from the door handle on my car with a few feet of paracord for separation.
$57 for the legs isn’t the worst thing considering they’re specialized, the crappiest eBay tripod would run you like $30.
Either way glad you got some more time with this antenna and are seeing some of its advantages now
K5CIP here. Mike, Thanks for the review. I know their are many vertical antennas on the market. I am of the opinion that if it markets itself as a portable it should come as a complete unit. I have a WRC and like that it comes as a complete kit. Whip, Coil, Base, Legs and 3 Counterpoise wires. I cant believe that an antenna system at this price would be sold that could not be used out of the box. Great Quality of an Incomplete antenna system.
I have been using the Crank IR, it gave me the idea of using a Dewalt crank-up chalk line holder, replace it with bare wire and mark the different band points with different colored shrink tubbing.
I've not tried the BuddiStick, but you're spot on with the pricing. I bought the mini BuddiPole, and it's very well made, but it wasn't at all clear at the point of purchase that it doesn't come with everything to get it working - you need to buy an extra stick or tripod (for much $). Doesn't leave you with the best feeling to have paid a lot of money for an antenna then find out you need to spend more to make it work. I think they'd do better to fix that business model.
It works REALLLLLLLLY well. and it is sturdy and modular and pleasing to the OCD. Certainly not perfect, but totally worth the $57 for the fiberglass legs and the $200 for the base Stick... etc. for the slap-it-up-fast-and-pack-away-quickly-ability.
I bought the whole package. I've very happy with it. I do have to carry the "big stick" but it works, so I'm happy. I agree with you on all of your points, as always.
Thanks for the review. This is one of my most fav. antennas. A little practice with it and as you said, less than 10m on the air. Multiple taps more than two as you said can get problematic. I take a sharpie and mark the coil when I find where i need it so i can reproduce it. Great idea about the counter poise prop. Maybe Chris will add the "K8MRD" mod! worked a kilo with only this antenna.
Thanks brother!
I have this antenna and I love the portability; it's amazing what you can fit into that bag. I'm also able to carry my RigExpert Stick-Pro Antenna Analyzer in the bag to get the best SWR. I activated 6 parks in DC while on vacation, with great success this spring. To get the counterpoise off the ground, I used a collapsible golf alignment/training stick. They fold down pretty small and you can find them in high-viz colors. I also used high-viz plastic trail marker clips on the counterpoise to prevent tourists from walking through it. WI0O, 73
Great video Mike. One tip I’ve got is in regard to the taps. Yes, they do get crowded between 12 and 20 meters. However, the coil has other indentations in the casing a third of a turn off the main marked tap line to allow for additional taps. Have tested in field, works great.
I know that, duh. I still couldn't get 20 to tune with 2 other taps above it. There wasn't an indentation where it needed to be. Needs more indentations.
Mike I have had one for about 8 months now and work into Europe and down in to South America. On 5 to 15 watts on CW and SSB. I used on field day this year. The pole you talk about is electric fences pole that you can pick up at trucker supply. I use 3 aluminum arrow they work and very light and small. Nice job. 73
Good review. I agree with your pro's and cons. I do think it would not be hard to come up with a expandable pole for the counterpoise on your own, but a factory supplied pole with the 3 legs would be a welcome addition. I have the Buddipole and Buddistick set ups. I've found them to work very well. They are a compromise antenna, but until I can find a way to hump a 60' tower and three element beam up a hill, I'll use my Buddistick. One thing I've added to my antenna kit (not that it will fit in the case) is a 17' whip. Being a high "Q" antenna, any additional metal you can put in the air will increase efficiency and bandwidth. It will help quite a bit, especially on 40 meters. Getting the whip as close to 1/4 WL as possible will make a difference, and between the stock whip and the 17' whip, you can do that from 6 meters to 20 meters. Tuning goes fast once you get the hang of it. I've seen people struggle until they figure out exactly how to do it. I'd love to try the Silver Bullet, but don't think there would be any great advantage. For a very portable kit, the Buddistick Pro is hard to beat in a vertical antenna. On 40 meters, I use the two long BP poles and the 17' whip with great success. I do have to guy it on the antenna and it's less portable, so there's that. I love resonate antennas ! Oh, the antenna will be slightly directional with a little gain in the direction 180 degrees away from the counterpoise. Not cheap at $95.00, if you do a lot of operating on 40 and 80 meters with this antenna, the Triple Ratio Balun Switch from Buddipole can keep you much closer to the ideal 50 ohms at the feed point. All High Q antennas have a pretty low ohm number on the lower bands. Makes tuning easier and increases efficiency on the 40 and 80 meter band. No shortened, portable vertical antenna is going to be a great DX getter on 80 meters no matter what you do. Thanks Mike, keep up the good work. Get out and operate !!!!
Mike, get a chameleon 17ft whip, eliminate the coil, the arms and use it on 6-20m. Use the coil and arms for 30m and 40m de K8MH
Correct on all counts. For the counterpoise, I use a hiking pole that I can stab into the ground, fully extended and that seems to work in most cases. I also use PVC pipe, which consist of 3×12 inch sections connected by V connector, which gives it stability enough to hold a smaller rigid pole. I then can tie that pole off to either.a stake or a water bottle to keep it at the proper height. As for the Coil itself,I've substituted a Wolf River Coils for the Buddie Stick coil, which results in a quicker and more precise tune. Now I'm looking at a slimmer coil, like a Super Antenna coil that has a similar form factor to stock. With this set-up, from my QTH in Georgia, I've reached Bulgaria with 10 watts!
Love this kind of review! Zero bias and real world review. Much respect sir!
I often taking resonant antennas into the field and still end up setting up the Buddistick just for convenience.
Mike, great & appreciated review buddy. I have an original Buddistick and you called me out exactly, I actually bought one of the electric-fence posts you spoke of. Shame on me though, I negated the theory behind the portability quality because I got frustrated with the tiny little supplied tripod after it tipped over numerous times, and bought a $50 surveyors tripod from Lowes. But thank you for sharing your first-hand experience and thoughts! 73
Yes they did and improved the stand. So thank you for the video. On the bipod your are correct.
Hi MIke, thanks for the review. I have the Buddistick Pro Dlx and like it a lot. I agree that the legs are a bit pricy and it should have something for the counterpoise to be elevated included in the package. That said, I don't think this antenna was intended to be used for SOTA or some other situation where you're hiking long distances, but it surely could if you didn't mind the size. Its best use is POTA and other situations where packing it long distances is not required. And in a POTA situation where you drive an park and maybe walk 2-3 hundred yards or something, having to carry a home depot electric fence post ain't no big deal in my opinion.
Great review. Just a couple of points, while you are correct that for $199 you don't get the legs, or the coax or the SO-239 to BNC adapters, all are extras. If you are like me and get the Buddistick Pro Deluxe for $299, you get everything in the $199 kit, the legs, the coax, the adapters. I don't know why it isn't the same price as if you bought the base model and added the extras making the kit only $289.50, but the $9.50 isn't a deal breaker. When I bought mine, the $199 version was sold out but the $299 version wasn't, so I basically paid the "Buy it now tax of $9.50". [Edit] looking at my receipt, I apparently got an early adopter special that made the Deluxe kit only $275.
I agree with you 100% about the counterpoise holder. They should offer one, just like their leg. Maybe include that for "free" in the $299 kit and charge say $20 separately. Lugging around a cheap $4 fence post just wasn't an option for me. So what I did is purchased a tri-folding "Elevate Gold Alignment Stick" kit for $12.88. They are neon green/yellow, fold down like the legs (fiber glass with shock cord in the middle) and are 48" long when assembled and 17" when folded. You get 2 48" sticks (one end on each has a point so you can push it in the ground and just use 1, or you can use a tie of some type and use both like you do with your tree limbs) and 1 16" stick (again, one end has a point) so you could use that for a sloper.
No this solution doesn't fit in the nice bag from Buddipole, but at only 17" it isn't too bad. It even comes in a clear plastic tube with endcaps so you can put all three poles (and some other things) in that and go. If you are creative, you can get some of those reusable hook and loop (aka Velcro) adjustable cord ties and with a pair of them, have the gold sticks attached to the Buddipole bag. I love those hook and loop cord ties, I use them on everything ... coax, radial wires, you name it.
I've been using the Wolf River Coil with the Buddipole Versahub system. It works extremely well, and with three 17' radials I can get a 1.2:1 match right across 20m, and 1.5:1 on 40m. I have all the Buddipole parts but I find the Wolf River Coil a lot less of a hassle to set up.
Hmm...I like this idea.
I bought the Slidewinder coil, UK version of the Wolf River, and mounted it on an old light weight camera tripod. I use 3 ground counterpoises and a 105" whip. Much easier to tune than the Buddipole, and works on all bands, 40m and up very well. Instead of the click ring used to adjust the Wolf River, this one has a stainless collar that slides up and down , with adjustable tension. Love it!
Hi Mike! Great Review! I wanted to share my solution for the support for the counterpoise. It is a cheap whip fishing pole holder. i bought it at wal-mart for a few bucks. collapses down and attaches to my pack. It is just under 3 ft extended, shave off a couple inches once you put it in the ground and works great. I also 3 tap my coil for 15, 20, 40.
Regarding the counterpoise support; If you are in your backyard, you're home and have access to all sorts of options. If you are in the forest, there are trees. If you are in the middle of the desert you either, hiked, drove or crashed your aircraft to get there. If you hiked, use your walking stick. If you drove, tie off to your vehicle. If you crashed your aircraft, you have bigger problems. But, you could tie off to what's left of the fuselage. The point of the kit is to be as compact and light as possible.
Good video!
I’ve yet to buy me a telescopic pole for my efhw’s, still throwing them into tree branches, for that I suppose it why I still primarily use the BuddiStick , good points in your video, stupid easy setup and take down, tuning and getting that radial wire setup is what you’ll spend time with. Happy with my purchase of it still. Keep up the good work Mike✅
I use a extendable stick rod holder to hold the counterpoise end. $4 at Walmart.
Good Idea!
I've found that not keeping the taps on the coil works better for tuning. Use the chart for the initial setup, then use the antenna tuner to get the best tune. I found the ground fas a large affect on the tuning. The initial settings get you in the park, but you usually have to fine tune. I use a carbon fiber collapsible shooting sticks work best for elevating the counterpoise. They fit in the bag. I bought the legs, but many years ago, I bought both Buddipole collapsible masts. I found they work better than the legs when working with the Buddistick Pro. Putting the antenna 13 ft up works btter than 4 ft.
Why the hell didn’t I consider that? I have the mast, too, and use it home to put the antenna way up in the air. Works great. But when I’m in the field I’ve been using the fiberglass legs. Why I didn’t just use the mast, but leave it mostly down…. No clue. it just didn’t occur to me. In fact I usually have the mast with me as I use it to get the counterpoise up in the air.
If someone walks past the counter poise it will raise the SWR crazy! I love mine but in windy days and lots of people around the magnetic aspect of the receive is touchy!
Hey Mike, Great balance between pros and cons. I use a pair of folding shooting sticks as I demonstrated in my video on the Buddistick Pro. I like it but without an analyzer, I think it would be frustrating.
Shooting sticks huh?
@@hamradiotube Yeah Buddy! I wanted something easy to pack that would hold up counterpoise. It seems to do the trick.
It does come with a bnc to 259 adapter!
My Buddistick is now my main POTA antenna for activations.
I added their minicoil and tapped it for 10M and 17M. The standard coil is tapped for 12, 15, 17, 20, and 40.
Another thing… I bought extra coil taps and color coordinated the coil taps (as best I could on the std coil) to match the counterpoise marker colors. -KD2ZZA
I have one of those garden flag holders for the counterpoise. It comes apart so it can be portable. I do really like this antenna
Got mine for Xmas last year. I have used it tons of times. It's quick to set up and tear down. I even used it to make a P2P with you from NJ!
Love this antenna. I've had one for years, and recently bought the new versahub and tripod. Before I used a 11' shock cord mast and made hundreds of contacts.
Great video Mike. I'd like to comment that the word "counterpoise" is widely misused today. Back in college in EM Theory they taught us that for an antenna located above a ground plain, the "counterpoise" is a virtual mirror image of the antenna located below the ground plain. The horizontal wires extending away from the antenna base help to define the ground plain and are more accurately referred to as radials. Thanks for everything. Keep it up!
Tom
K8CC
Ok. But this is a tuned counterpoise.
My solution for the counterpoise was to get 3-5' lengths of CPVC 1/2 inch pipe from the home improvement store. They are $4 each. Buy a coupler for each then cut them in half. It's non-conductive and breaks down to 6-2 1/2 foot lengths. I'm already carrying my camera tripod for the versa-tee so these fit into my tripod bag. When operating I assemble the 3-5 foot sections back together and tie the tops to make a tripod and hang the counterpoise off of that. I also didn't get the counterpoise from BuddiPole. Instead I made my own for each band, soldered and crimped round ends on them. I'm still trying to dial-in the lengths of these but I think this will work and won't require a tuner after I get this set up.
If you use hiking sticks you can use them similar to what you did with the sticks. You could also use fiberglass tent poles from Amazon or a camping supply store.
Great setup, and I've wanted one for a while, but I'm with you on the ridiculous cost of add-ons. You're really looking at $275 (deluxe package minus coax).
I must have gotten the early bird special because I think mine was $275 with the coax. 73
@@HR4NT Same.
When I bought mine, I missed the fact that it didn't come with the legs. Learning the cost (plus additional shipping) to get legs was more than I was willing to spend, so I concluded I was going to send it back. *HOWEVER*, that was on a Friday, and I decided to test the antenna out with a POTA activation over that weekend before sending it back. It was really easy to deploy and it just worked (on an old camera tripod). So, instead of sending it back, I now bring that tripod with me and use the $3 electric fence post for the counterpoise (prior to that I used a bamboo garden stick). This is my go-to antenna for "quick and dirty" POTA activations as it's really quick and easy to set up.
With that said, I have zero plans on ever doing any business with the company again. There are other options and I just can't get over the feeling of being "nickled and dimed".
I also carry some yellow marker flags to mark the counterpoise wire when activating a park -- the dark green wire's not easy to see and people tend to want to walk through it.
I use two aluminum arrows connected with a flimsy piece of rubber for the counter poise bipod. You could cut them to fit in the bag although I haven’t. Some old timers would call them shooting sticks.
Seems to me for the price and what is and isn't included it would be most useful in an isolated location with no trees and no people who might walk near the counterpoise. Would you prefer using it instead of an end-fed wire antenna like an EFHW or non resonant antenna with an unun if there are trees available? Wouldn't a wire antenna be less expensive, have less packable weight, and be just as easy to set up using a small external or internal antenna tuner? What are your thoughts and preferences?
Absolutely great for remote locations with no trees etc. it fits well in my backpack and I keep an EFHW in there or a speaker wire dipole as a just in case antenna. I have not needed a tuner with this antenna at all. You just need a good way to measure swr when you are setting it up. But it’s very easy.
I'd like to add one more point that I forgot to say before (sorry for monopolizing the responses here...) This antenna, like all antennas of this type are very susceptible to common mode currents on the outside shield of the coax. This can make finding a stable resonant point difficult, and can play havoc with RF getting into station peripherals. ALSO... antennas of this type MAY have an ohmic resonant point of lower than 50 ohms... may in the 20 to 30 ohm range. In cases like that SWR's in the range of 2 to 1 plus or minus a few tenths may be the best that one can achieve. The set up of this antenna is actually not a vertical but a coil loaded bent OCFD (Off Center Fed Dipole, that just happens to have one of its ends bent up like a coil loaded vertical. In many cases 50 ohm can be achieved by moving the resonant point off center to where the rig "sees" that 50 ohms. But in some cases no matter what you do, you can't just get there. With an analyzer you may see in deed a resonant point much lower that 50 ohms. So... how do you 1. Stop Common Mode Currents on the coax, and 2. Get the resonant point up to 50 ohm? Answer... Use the Buddipole TRSB (Triple Ration Switchable Balun). I use it with my antennal ALL of the time. I set it to 1 to 1 and have no common mode current problems, and when I have a resonant point less than 50 ohms, I can just switch in say... 2 to 1, and bingo back up to 50 ohms and happy transmitter. Personally I think the TRSB is an essential part of the kit, and highly recommend using it. I know it is one more piece to carry in the bag, but the problems it solves far out weighs it physical weight and the space it takes up in the bag. Best 73's K1YPB
Like KE0OG, ARRL and QST's new technical editor sez: A vertical is a vertical is a vertical.....I was a very early customer of BuddiStick, however lately I've been using the Wolf River coils and IMO much easier to set and more stable....73/K6SDW
I have my taps at 20/17/15m and haven’t moved them. I like the bipod idea.
Why the hell can’t I get it to work??
@@hamradiotube I’m not sure, I think this is the first I’ve heard of not being able to leave the taps on. I have two on one groove and the third is on the other.
@@K5QBF Same. I leave my taps on all the time. In fact, I have all 5 taps on so I can work 6, 10, 12, 15, 17, 20, and 40. I had to buy some extra taps (sold separately for $16.50), but once I tuned it once, I just hit the right color hole on the 6 coil clips and go. As dumb as this sound, I painted several of my knobs so that they matched the colors in their cheat sheet for all 6 clips (6M doesn't need a tap).
Love my buddipole, have had it for more years than I can recall. Awaiting the Hex Beam from buddipole.
👀 . . .🙋♂
You and everyone in the world are waiting for that hex beam. It's a very hot item for sure! I've had the privilege of using it on multiple occasions and I'll tell you it works great.
@@hamradiotube Just beam us da Hex away Mikey. Thx for all you do for HAM Radio. Love to watch your Videos so keep your fantastic job.
I found a set of nylon collapsible shooting sticks at a gun show for around $20. The work great and fits in the Buddipole bag.
Bought kit and accessories 10 yrs ago. Rarely used after i put a permanent antenna up. Worse than an EFHW, overpriced. It works, but there are better solutions out there. Thanks for the honest review, one of your TX fellow ham TH-camrs is in Buddipole’s pocket and basically does ads for them disguised as reviews.
Nice review! Let me add my two cents with regard to supporting the counterpoise wire. I use a three foot Home Depot wooden dowel that I sharpened on end like a pencil. I also use one of those Buddipole Velcro straps to attach the wire winder to the dowel. You can slide the wire winder up and down if needed. It is cheap and makes a reliable support for the counterpoise wire. And I am sure the resourceful can figure a way to make the dowel into a multi piece "thing" to make it small enough to fit in the antenna bag. Best 73's K1YPB
counterpoise holder - 2/3 the cost of the $57 and 2/3 the cost of the versa hub added to the cost of the $200 antenna system. Use pvc Mike.
Price verses min ibuddypole is what I see. You can duplicate the vertical with the versa tee and have more options.
Mike, do NOT get the $57 legs wet, the inserts will swell, and its almost impossible to pull them apart (personal experience)
seems like a stake they provide or a small tripod for the counterpoise would be useful and should be included
In wind, you can hang the bag underneath the hub or drive a tent stake straight down from the hub and tie a piece of cord to a hook from the local hardware store to stabilize the antenna.
Cool antenna, but I agree, it’s lackluster for its price.
Maybe you can buy an extra collapsible camera tripod as a mount for the counterpoise.
Ironically I was scolded for having multiple taps simultaneously on the coil. Very difficult tuning for usability. Plus the elevated radial/counter poise needs flags/markers on since folks tend to walk into. Only way around was TOTAL isolation, real hard to do in any urban metropolis.. returned mine out of frustration.
For the counterpoise wire, maybe a collapsible tripod music stand?
Hi Mike hey good evening I’m just real curious with that buddy pole antenna how has propagation has been for you. Still not Hearing that much on 20. Have a great evening Mike and a great weekend
73
WD5ENH
Steve
I wonder if you could put the versa hub and coil higher up in the air, how it would effect performance. Such as, putting it 20 feet in the air on a portable mast. But then the question about the counter poise wire and how you deal with that comes up. Thanks
I have a homemade buddy pole and i use a driveway marker for the counter poise.
I guess I'm not the only one to come up with that idea. LOL
If they do come out with a two pole solution it will be $38 for the legs + whatever they come up with for the device to join them together. BP makes good stuff but not inexpensive. I have a buddipole and a buddistick.
Mine came with a chart as to where to put the taps for each supported band. Was that not in your bag?
The buddistick seems fine, but I can't get past how expensive the antenna is, especially when compared to the Wolf River Coil.
Quality costs money. WRC can be built from parts at the local menards store. Buddipole actually makes molds and forms the custom parts, along with a lot more attention to detail. I have both WRC's and Buddipole and Buddistick (not pro). The Buddistuff was purchased 10-12 years ago, still going strong. (things cost less before.. well you get the idea).
@@arnoldgrubbs2005 No doubt quality costs cash. For me the WRC is just "good enough" to not necessitate the upgrade to a Buddistick. I will give credit to the Buddistick though, that thing packs down TINY. I would be all over if I was a SOTA guy.
@@IrregularInterest Yes, the Buddistick does pack down small. I actually use a mix of both kits. I like the shock corded whips of the Buddisystems, and use the extention arms to get the WRC up high enough where I don't have to bend over so much to adjust the coil. The BP whips are a bit better at resisting the effects of antenna flop over syndrome. Lately I decided to set the antenna over a cork screw dog tie up that I bring along, and run either a bungy or some cord to tie the antenna down to the dog tie so to prevent antenna blow over or flips.
Mike,
You can put two taps in each groove…. Have done this with the Buddipole and BuddiStick. Some how I don’t visualize your problem. Will have to put mine up today and recheck….. maybe I am missing something. Dave K8WPE
How bad does it affect the performance if the raised counterpoise lays on the ground?
I think you'd find it quite difficult to tune. It really needs to be elevated.
You can watch HamRadio2.0 to see how well he did with the end laying on the sand on a beach.
It was okay when I did the same thing with mine, had to fiddle with the length a bit more than usual but got her tuned up, but we got there.
@@johnclark2149 even when tuned there will be high ground losses if not elevated.
2:14 If you thought $57 is a lot..their new 10m Mast Werkz tripod/mast system (no antenna included) is $859 (facepalm)
Very good presentation. However, as simple as this is to set up, I find that having to purchase the tripod separate is a let down. I'm sorry to say, but I can't justifying the price.
Use nail polish to mark coil
The same coil clip color for each band can be used for nail polish color on the wire.
3:12 caught redhanded... as me. I have pac-12/pac-7 and I can only change inductance by a full turn. It took me a while to understand my mistake. The Foundation license had a requirement to tune an antenna as part of the exam. Let's get to the point: have you tried to tune radial length? I don't blame you as I'm guilty too.
Yes, you use the counterpoise to fine tune the antenna. But there wasn't a good place to tap the coils with 2 other taps already on.
I want to order your Tri-Lam. Will it be back in stock soon?
Prob a couple weeks.
Hi Mike, Thank for showing it for me I will stay with my WOLF coils ,I can use mobile or field and ,and lower or raise just what I feel like,73
Mike, what is the maximum height and the minimum height for the counter poise wire? I have an idea!!!
I've not measured the height but id say anywhere from about 1-3 feet off the ground has been successful for me.
I sold mine. WRC and ground radials just performed better.
Can you use a 80mtr coil on the buddi stick pro?
You could use the 80m coil , the triple ratio switch balun (TSRB) the long whip, maybe two more arms and a 66 foot long elevated radial but at that point I would use a small parachute cord guy system as well. The Buddistick was not designed to bear that much weight and it would be low to the ground. It would be more reasonable to just purchase a Deluxe long Buddipole with the mast and tripod and go from there. I have been using all the Buddipole equipment for the past 20 years with great success. I urge you to experiment as much as you like but each antenna system has it's own advantages.
Great review. Waiting for mine to ship, wanted an alternative to wires and my EFHW which can be operated where there are supports. Thank you for calling out the counterpoise support. I’m trying to figure out a solution for that myself with a lightweight collapsible support. Yes, I know folks are using the hiking pole approach, but really a skinny version of that with two tent guy lines and stakes (or weight bags) to stabilize would be perfect as an alternative to the tripod suggestion. Anyone have something that fits this bill?
Ordered one myself and I haven't heard anything from them. Tried reaching out and nothing.
@@Zyn88 took almost a week for mine to ship. I ended up trying a tent pole shock cord and that appears to be working. It was like 12” sections, total of 12’, and I shortened it to 10 sections (5 for each leg). I can lower the counter poise as needed by folding off sections and just let gravity do its thing. Hanging the winder over top of the inverted V shape works, but a plastic carabiner helps. Works very well so far. Hang in there!
I ordered a Chinesium camera tripod to use for the counterpoise. why doodle around with bipods when you can just use a totally freestanding tri?
Hmmmmmmmmmmm I would think the Wolf River coil is better because the ground radials can just bet thrown out on the ground and don't have to be adjusted to get your SWR down......................
Coil is coil. HF doesnt care who build the coil. Is the WR Coil at the same position as the Buddicoil? The coil shoud be in the position with the lowest current afair. (pls correct me, if i am wrong, maybe some misunderstood, coz my english isnt the best).
It is all the same stuff. Coil for electrical match to the length etc..
And btw. when the best antenna is proved with the best SWR, than you should use a 50 coalresistor as antenna. :P
now the legs are $63.
Dude! You are standing right next to a tree! Could you use the HUGE tree next to you to hold up the counterpoise?
Not very impressed with the coil tap deal, like you said, not many options or shall I say bands available, I can probably build a more versatile set up on the garage bench!😏👍
I've created a radial set of 9× Radials and the performance increase was dramatic and surprising
@LA5PPA / Lasse I'm now down to using 4 radials for simplicity. The radial lengths are the same as the single counterpoise that comes with the antenna. Since they slope from the single connection point, I slope them to the ground and I mark the wires with colored electrical tape to mark the various bands
@LA5PPA / Lasse from my QTH in Georgia, I've reached California, NY and Florida as well as Texas and several other states, with no adjustment or moving of the radials. I did it from a park, using my ICOM 705. Conditions were good and it worked. With my other radial system, I reached southern Chile also . I had some issues with that system so I will be doing some work on to figure out the issues and improve the system. They're both viable systems but the 4 radials is just simpler and easier to deploy
looks like a counter poise booby trap for all those people who like to walk into a pota activation
Hi Mike,
Very honest review and I like your suggestions to Buddipole on how to make the Pro kit more user friendly. I also like your T-shirt. 🙂 Stay safe. 73 WJ3U
Thanks bud. I forgot what shirt I was wearing. Had to go back and look lol! It's from Josh's store: UNUN Arc Reactor Shirt: hamtactical.com/collections/tees/products/unun-ark-reactor-ham-radio-t-shirt
49:1 arc reactor represent lol.
Hell yeah. Love that shirt!
Having only one counterpoise, does this become directional?
Great question! I just did a video on that. Can Vertical Antennas Be Directional? | Mad Ham Science!!
th-cam.com/video/v2USfvay3QU/w-d-xo.html
I got a buddipole deluxe set back in 2011.
I can't say it doesn't work, but it is the most overrated commercial antenna EVER.
I got the extra long telescopic whips (which cost extra) just to get a full size antenna "down" to 15m, which is actually quite laughable considering the price.
Back then I was quite inexperienced and fell for all the marketing bullshit.
But even when you build a full sized dipole, the mast is too short (by a lot) and all you get is a cloud warmer. Not even talking about the bands below 15m when you have to use the loading coils.
No way to work DX.
Same is for the buddistick, you get a matching quality for much less money (PAC-12 Antenna f.e.).
But if you fiddle around a little bit you'll get a muuuuch more capable antenna if you just build it yourself.
Invest your money in a good mast/pole (at least 10m, spiderbeam etc.), a big spool of wire, a banana plug adapter and you can build a full size vertical for any band down to 40m and you have nearly endless possibilities for other builds.
And here we're talking about full size quarterwave antennas with no compromise at all.
To answer the question: NO it is NOT worth the hype, not at all.
Even if you just want a portable antenna out of the box and are willig to take a compromise, the buddiwhatsoever won't make you happy in the long run.
Use 17ft whip and eliminate the coil.
Mike, you probably gave Buddipole an idea and to charge another $25 for the extra stick…. Ha!
Also you have to think about Buddipole followers (like Elecraft followers). They will buy it because it’s a Buddipole or Stick and it works. But as I have found if you don’t have an antenna analyzer you will have frustration. Until I bought my graphing analyzer setting up my first Buddipole was very frustrating and time consuming. Now with a nano it’s a piece of cake.
Just broke down and bought a Rig Expert AA-35 analyzer and hope this is going to let me tune that one counterpoise (radial) much easier than just using my RIG (7300) 😄
Hey Mikey... Have you noticed if the length of coax has any effect on this baby? WA7Ws
Hi Mike, I have the Buddistick Pro Deluxe Package. It came with the shockcord legs and coaxial cable. I keep the taps for 10, 20, and 40 on the coil. 73, K8CRV
If a fly fisherman, collapsible wading stick.