I used the buddipole in the beginning of my sota-carreer in 2009. But after a few activations with > 500 vertical meters I quickly decided to look for something less heavy. I decided to buy a MP-1 vertical antenna which I used for some years.
Two years ago I built myself a linked dipole for 7 / 14 / (21) / 28 … great antenna for SOTA! Easy to make, cheap, light, better signals …
73 Martin, OE5REO
Here’s my favorite low-cost alternative to the Buddipole:
On Colorado summits I mostly use inverted-L made from 52 feet of #24 teflon wire. I have two links (jumpers) for 20M and 30/15M. This antenna works well on 5 bands:
40M: 52 feet, plus 12 foot counterpoise, half wave, medium Z
30M: link at 46 feet, half wave, no counterpoise, highZ
20M: link at 33 feet, half wave, no counterpoise, high Z
17M: 52 feet, full wave, no counterpoise, high Z
15M: 46 feet, full wave, no counterpoise, high Z
No feed-line to the antenna is used on any band. I use tiny homebrew tuners; all the tunings are easy and quick. The antenna and counterpoise weigh a few ounces. I have a 6M fiberglass pole for a support - it weighs a pound. Sometimes I leave it at home and use trees - trees are great, especially for the inverted-L.
Here on high, rocky, windy summits in Colorado, the priorities are getting up and down the mountain, getting the antenna up in difficult terrain, and keeping it up in high winds. Dipoles work well, but erecting them is often too complex - they are more than double the hassles of an inverted L. Dipoles weigh more, with two wires plus a feedline, so they require a heavier pole for support. The two wires and feedline tend to get tangled, caught on rocks, and stuck in the bushes. Changing bands is a hassle with a dipole. All I do is tilt the pole to lower the single wire, change the link, and put the pole back. To change from 40M to 17M, or from 30M to 15M, I don’t even have to change the links!
The end-fed resonant high-Z wires work incredibly well. A tuner designed for high-Z is essential. Using is believing - I was very skeptical at first. Light weight, quick set-ups, multi-band activations with the same wire, and amazing results are convincing. Look at my logs…in particular, the S2S logs.
I see the ads for the Buddipoles, and I just groan! Remember that SOTA is supposed to be fun, and yes, it really is! SOTA is not an ordeal, and you don’t get any points for pounds!
Lightweight gear and lithium batteries have changed the game.
73
George
KX0R
My only comment about Your question is "by the time you got the Bubbistick tuned up its time to go home"
My system is similar to Georges when using an end fed antenna and I know his system works because I have had several QSO’s with him when he is on summits from down under. Don’t ever recall working anyone with a Buddipole on DX. Thanks George for the heads up on your system I am giving that a test next weekend in my yard. One question what is the length of the vertical component of the L in comparison to the horizontal of the over all 52 foot.
Regards
Ian VK5CZ …
I own a Buddistick, which is my travel antenna. The main reason I have it is because squid poles don’t fit nicely into checked luggage. It is a finicky, hard-to-tune, compromise that occasionally has me swearing at it and wishing I had my linked dipole with me. On the other hand, I’ve worked some great DX with it, including nearly qualifying a summit in South Korea from VK chasers. It rarely fails to get me that elusive first contact in a new association.
As a first antenna for SOTA, it’s a waste of time though - make up a wire dipole and head out into the hills. Once you understand what you need to suit your activation style, then it can be considered.
As for its big cousin the Buddipole, I think everyone else has summarised the SOTA communities’ consensus position.
Hi Ian - thanks for your comments!
The vertical part ends up being about 18-19 feet - the pole curves over under tension. This dimension is not critical. Higher might be better on some bands, like 30 and 40M.
The positions of the links are approximate, but not critical. Those dimensions I listed are from the fed end at the bottom of the pole. I modeled the system with Eznec to get my dimensions. Eznec will correct for the teflon dielectric, which is a nice refinement.
I have a long piece of braided dacron string attached to the far end of the wire - I usually tie that to a tree or high rock to elevate the free end as much as possible. Sometimes I use dead trees as a second mast. On alpine summits, with no direct supports, I guy the pole to two or three rocks; I run the string out as far as possible and tie it to whatever is available.
There are many possible combinations for inverted-L linked antennas. I used a 67-foot wire with links for a long time - it was good, but a little big on some of the craggy peaks. The prototype for the 52-foot wire was a simple 46-foot wire with a single link at 33 feet for 20M.
73
George
KX0R
Thanks George for the reply and description I will try it.
The reason I went away from the original 58 footer back to 53 foot is the kx3 tunes it easily on 40 and 20m.
I run it up end fed about 30 ft on the rig side and the rest the other side of my 8m pole then string to the ground to make a inverted V shape with the shorted end. So I will try in in a inv L for a test.
I had a short 9 ft length of wire spare so that how it became counter poise.
hope KA0RSN can try all sorts of antennas for SOTA but it critical to keep that back pack as light as possible especially in my case with extra body weight to carry as well up the hill.
regards
Ian vk5cz …
Thank you Ian!
Thanks to all for your thoughtful and experienced replies! Although I do currently own a Buddipole with decent results, it seems the main consensus is the linked dipoles, lightweight, etc. I am really excited to “get out there” and activate some around my area, so I will need to prepare a little more during these remaining winter months and get ready for some spring climbing! I do like the SotaBeams linked dipole that was mentioned.
You guys have been great and thanks again for all your ideas, opinions and insights! Hopefully I can work you soon and get you logged!
73 to all
KA0RSN
This is great info George! I really appreciate the data and experience you have compiled! Hope to work you soon!
73
KA0RSN
Hi Andrew,
There are short versions of the squid poles, such as the 10m one from DX-Wire which fit easily into checked luggage. I also have a 5m one (originally 6m but the top section broke) that I bought at Friedrichshafen 3 years ago which is really small and light. Can’t remember the name of the company who sold it, I think it might have been a company from Eastern europe. I met some Amateurs on the free shuttle bus who had them and I had to ask - I think they were only €25 or so, so as soon as I got to the hall I made a B-line to the stand and got the last but one pole.
Ed.
I am using Buddistick vertical, worked all continents, almost DXCC, 5W output - Yaesu FT-817ND. I think Buddipole is too heavy and it needs also the tripod and the mast. I am using walking stick to mount my Buddistick vertical on most my SOTA activations.
73, Milos S57D
Hi Ed,
I am aware of the shorter versions, but the cost + shipping was prohibitive at the time. I keep an eye on the chinese wholesalers to see if they ever offer them, but my search fu appears to be weak.
Cheers,
Andrew
I understand. Shipping costs can really mess up a good deal!
Perhaps see if anyone is coming over to Friedrichshafen this year from your local amateurs and see if they can look out for you and bring one back. That no-name 6m pole was a real bargain - it wasn’t at FN the next year!
Ed.
Hint noted. 
Hi.
you can review the following article (written in Spanish).
Maybe you like it !!!
Here is the link:
http://www.ea5fv.es/resources/Mi+compa$C3$B1era+de+aventuras.+EA5FV.pdf
I bought a Buddistick some while ago when I was in the States. The publicity is good, the idea is good, but I found them too fiddly and a compromise. You set the tap on the coil to get the best signal, and SWR when transmitting, but it is a wide step. Once you have done this you fine tune the SWR to zero by lengthening or shortening the counterpoise. The instructions say the counterpoise should be something like 18 inches off the ground. So it is fiddly to use and not ideal for SOTA. I am thinking of selling mine because I don’t use it now.
I now use a link dipole which I bought from Sotabeams, which is so easy to use, and doesn’t need tuning. You can make your own link dipole, which is very easy. Sotabeams also have other simple wire aerials, and they are all way way cheaper than a Buddistick.
Regards,
David
I just have to throw my 2 cents in here. The buddipole is best described as a compromise antenna - you get the benefit of a small compact antenna that has minimal space constraints to put up, but the compromise is that you lose a significant proportion of performance compared to a full sized antenna.
I have a homebrew buddipole knockoff, but do not use is for SOTA activations. Rather I use the best antenna that I can use on a summit. Generally I use an OCF dipole cut for 40m which gives me 40/20/10/6m without need for a tuner and 30/17/15/12m with a tuner with reduced efficiency.
I have heard one or two people using a buddipole (or copy) for SOTA activations and they have ALWAYS been significantly weaker than other activators around the same time and distance running a full sized antenna. QRP does not have to mean little signals - if you have a decent antenna a QRP signal can be very effective. But put simply, cute little radio (i.e. QRP) with a cute little antenna results in a cute little signal.
The buddipole is also heavier than a simple linked dipole and squidpole not to mention quite a lot more bulk. Do yourself a favour and leave it at home and use a more efficient antenna when out activating.
Matt
VK1MA
I built one (from Budd’s own article) and made it specifically so it was easy for SOTA. Takes hardly any time to setup and unlike the commercial one is very light. See here: Simple 3 band vertical (20m/17m/15m)
With a shorter top section it covers 12 and 10m and with an extended coil I can also cover 30m.
Works for me, YMMV.
And I copied it from his post after seeing him put it up on a summit in just a couple of minutes, and it works well for me, too.
Brian
I bought a buddistick for a rocktop that I was going to activate. It came with 3 plugs. Perfect. My MTR has 3 bands. I dialed it all in at home, check it at a near by park. Nice.
I took it on an activation prior to my rocktop activation. All the numbers were off, SWR horrible. Same set up and everything. I had it mounted on a low tripod, and I found while on Mountain tops I have to adjust the height of the tripod by a good foot to make it resonant again.
Stupid! Parts of it are now rolling around the the back of my car. I went back to my EFHW wires.
DE K6CMG