Hop up your Hustler By Barry Kery, KU3X March 27, 2000

Springtime is here, and it's prime season for mobile activity! Here's a way to boost 20-meter and 15-meter performance of the popular Hustler mobile antenna.

With the SWR protection circuits of today's solid-state mobile radios, bandwidth seems to be a major problem when trying to keep your antenna system below a 1.5 to 1 SWR. If you are using the Hustler resonators on 15 and 20 meters, you have two choices: Readjust the resonator whip or use a tuner.

Here's a third and (I believe) better choice. If you don't already have these, first obtain, one or two 75-meter low-power Hustler resonators (hamfest flea market units should do fine). Remove the heat-shrinkable tubing that covers the coil form, and remove all of the enamel wire. Be careful to not break the solder tabs on the coil form used to attach the enamel wire.

The completed KU3X modified Hustler resonator.  [Photo by KU3X]

 

For 15 meters: 
Space wind 20 turns of 14-gauge enamel wire on the form. You can use bare wire if enamel wire is not available. Resolder the wire to the solder tabs. Replace the shrink tubing with new tubing (1.5 x 9.5 inches). If heat-shrinkable tubing is not available, you can use electrical tape, but shrink tubing makes a much nicer job.

Set the whip length to extend 26 inches. This should get you close to the center of the 15-meter band. Check the SWR and readjust the whip if necessary. I was able to set the resonant frequency for the center of the band and maintain a very low SWR curve across the entire band. Not only will you be able to cover the entire 15 meter band (450 kHz ) without the use of a tuner or readjusting the whip, but you will also have a much more efficient antenna system.

The very attractive KU3X mobile installation in his 1997 Honda Accord--featuring an IC-706MkII and Bencher CW paddles. He says 59 reports into Europe are "no problem" with his modified antenna. [Photo by KU3X]

 

For 20 meters:
 Remove the shrink tubing and all of the enamel wire from the form. Rewind this form with 37 turns of 14-gauge enamel or bare wire. Replace the shrink tubing and extend the whip to a length of 27 inches. Check the SWR, and adjust the whip for a resonant frequency near the center of the band. You should be able to cover most of the band with a very low SWR. Efficiency of the antenna system will again be improved.

Editor's note: This article is a re-print from the ARRL Extra Members Page and originally appeared in the W3OK Corral, the newsletter of the Delaware Lehigh Amateur Radio Club in Pennsylvania. It appears here by permission. 

Readers may contact the author at bgkx@juno.com.