Radioddity HF-009 and HF-010 Review

 

--By Eddie Bryant

There are lots of portable antennas available, and some you can even make, but I am going to recommend two that are offered by Radioddity. The reason for this is their quality and the ease of assembly for use. The HF-009 and the HF-010 can be assembled in less than 10 minutes. In fact, it takes longer to remove all the components from their nice included case than it takes to get the antenna up and ready to use. But that is not a disadvantage because it is good to have a nice case that is easy to carry and to store your antenna when it is not in use. Also, while some portable antennas could cost you more than $300, these two antennas can be purchased inexpensively.

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HF-009:

The HF-009 at this writing is currently less than $200. Listed below are some of its features:

• Wide Frequency Coverage & High Performance: Covers 60m to 6m bands (5-50 MHz) with up to 100W CW / 150W PEP SSB power handling—ideal for most HF transceivers and amplifiers. Delivers a stable SWR: 1.0-1.5 across all bands for efficient signal transmission with minimal tuning hassle.
• Lightweight & Field-Ready: Weighing just 1kg, this collapsible, segmented antenna is built for portability. Comes with a rugged padded carry bag and reinforced Velcro straps—perfect for hiking, camping, road trips, or remote field operations like POTA/SOTA.
• Durable & Tough Build: Crafted from high-grade aluminum alloy and Stainless Steel with anti-corrosion coating, it withstands harsh outdoor conditions (rain, dust, etc.). The internally housed tuning coil eliminates exposed parts for improved durability over traditional designs.
• Quick-Tuning Technology: Easily switch bands using the slide-and-lock manual tuning system—no tools or complicated adjustments required. Tune in seconds and get on the air quickly, whether at home or in the field.
• Plug-and-Play Setup: Includes a 5-meter pure copper coax cable and BNC-male to SO239 adapter for quick setup with most HF radios. No extra gear needed—just unpack, connect, and transmit.
• Hassle-Free Ground Installation: Skip magnetic bases or vehicle mounts. The integrated Stainless Steel ground spike and aluminum base let you anchor directly into soil, sand, or grass. Ideal for outdoor adventures, emergency setups, or any location without a metal surface.

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HF-010:

The HF-010 at this writing is currently less than $240. Listed below are some of its features:

• 10-Band HF coverage (80M–6M): Operates from 3.5–50MHz, supporting up to 100W CW / 150W PEP SSB. Features dedicated fixed coils for 80m and a smooth sliding tuning coil for 60m–17m, delivering low SWR (typically ≤1.5:1) and stable resonance across bands—ideal for portable HF operations.
• The 80m Band Advantage: Since the 80m band is highly popular (drawing about 26% of user interest). The HF-010 is an out-of-the-box portable solution supporting 80m, whereas the HF-009 requires an additional coil purchase for that band.
• 304 Stainless Steel Construction: Built for demanding outdoor use. Critical connectors are upgraded to 304 Stainless Steel for superior corrosion resistance, enhanced structural rigidity, and long-term durability. The enclosed sliding coil design protects against dust and moisture, ensuring stable tuning in harsh field conditions.
• All-terrain deployment: Deploy anywhere with confidence. Use the ground spike for soft soil, switch to the included tripod with a weighted water bag for concrete and hard surfaces, or mount to a vehicle using a compatible magnetic antenna base (sold separately). Ideal for POTA, SOTA, camping, and rapid field activations.
• Quick sliding tuning & easy setup: Slide to tune and use the included tape measure to mark resonant points for quick band switching. Segmented design allows fast setup and storage in the included Oxford carrying bag, perfect for hiking, travel, and emergency use.
• The "Tangle-Free" Storage Spool: The storage spool effectively solves the most frustrating issue in outdoor setups—dealing with a "tangly mess" of cables.
• The 10-foot Tape Measure: The included tape measure isn't just an accessory but a key tool for rapid tuning. By using the included tape measure in conjunction with the coil markings, band switching can be achieved almost instantly.
• Complete all-in-one portable kit: Ready to operate out of the box with a 32.8 feet (10m) 50Ω coaxial cable, BNC-male to-SO239 adapter, cable management spools for the coax and three radials, and a tape measure for recording tuning points. All components store neatly in the included padded carrying case with Velcro straps for secure transport.

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Since both of these antennas use a slider to tune the antenna, you can watch some YouTube videos for each to get an idea of where you should put the slider for certain bands. Once you have the best SWR, be sure to write down the slider setting for future use. I have a sheet of paper with the settings, so when I am in the field, I can refer to it. Of course, it does not help completely to verify the SWR for the area you are in because ground conditions may play a role in the SWR. If you are using a Xiegu G90 in the field, it has a built-in SWR meter and tuner as well as the Xiegu. Also, you can use the Xiegu X6100 or the X6200. For the Xiegu G106, as I did, you can use an SWR meter to check your SWR.

I could not just leave you without going over the particulars of the types of antennas that might be the best antenna type for your field experience. But also, I want to point out why a portable antenna like the HF-009 or HF-010 is a good choice.

So, to help you in deciding what might work for you, I have included the following information about the different types. The main differences come down to design and setup: a dipole uses two equal elements and is fed in the middle, an end-fed is a single wire fed at one extreme end, and a portable antenna is just any lightweight, collapsible design meant for travel and temporary field use.

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Dipole Antennas:

Design: Consists of two identical conductive elements (usually wires or metal rods) totaling a half-wavelength. The feedline (coaxial cable) connects directly to the center of the two elements.

System Type: Balanced. It does not rely on the ground or the feedline to complete the circuit.

Advantages: Highly efficient, very low noise, and produces a predictable, broadside radiation pattern.

Disadvantages: Requires two high anchor points (trees or masts) and is usually restricted to a single frequency band unless modified (e.g., as a fan or trap dipole).

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End-Fed Antennas (e.g., EFHW):

Design: Consists of a single continuous wire that is a half-wavelength long (or a multiple of it). The feedline connects to the very end of the wire through an impedance-matching transformer (UNUN).

System Type: Unbalanced. Because there is no second physical half to the antenna, the feedline or earth acts as a counterpoise (ground).

Advantages: Multi-band operation without needing a tuner, very easy to set up (you can drop the wire from a tree and place the box near the ground).

Disadvantages: The high-impedance feed point requires a transformer, and it can be prone to "RF in the shack" (stray currents traveling down the coax) if not properly grounded or choked.

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Portable Antennas:

Design: This is a broad, application-based category rather than a specific wire configuration. Portable antennas are designed to be compact, quickly assembled, and easily carried (like in a SOTA—Summits on the Air—backpacking kit).

System Type: Can be either a dipole (like a portable buddipole) or an end-fed (like a telescoping vertical or EFHW wire).

Advantages:

• Quick Deployment: Ideal for "parks on the air" (POTA) or summit activations, as they only require a single, unguyed support and no tall trees.
• Low Radiation Angle: Verticals naturally exhibit a low angle of radiation, making them highly effective for DX.
• Omnidirectional: They radiate evenly in all horizontal directions, eliminating the need to orient the antenna toward a specific target.
• Compact Footprint: They take up very little horizontal space, which is great for restricted operating zones.
• Multiband Capable: Many portable models use telescopic whips and coils or integrated UNUNs (like the popular 9:1 UNUN) for broad multi-band coverage without changing elements.

Disadvantages:

• Ground Plane Dependency: To function efficiently, they almost universally require an adequate radial system. Poor soil conditions or inadequate ground planes severely degrade performance.
• High Noise Floor: Because vertical polarization matches the orientation of many forms of man-made electrical interference, these antennas can be significantly noisier on receive compared to horizontal loops or dipoles.
• Efficiency Losses: When used on longer wavelengths (e.g., 40m or 80m), portable verticals rely on loading coils. These coils introduce resistance and significantly limit the antenna's bandwidth.
• Wind Susceptibility: Taller telescopic whips can act as excellent wind sails, often requiring guying in even mild breezes.

No matter if you are using a QRP radio or one with higher power, you cannot go wrong by using these easy-to-use and quick-to-set-up portable antennas. They are certainly a must for your go bag. Have fun!

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