Hot Rodz Capacity Hat

Since adding the DX Engineering HotRodz capacity hat system to my High Sierra Sidekick I have noticed an improvement on 20 meters, 30 meters and 40 meters. I have not had an opportunity to try the other bands yet with this combination.

DX Engineering shipped the product quickly. The Hot Rodz system came well packaged and was very easy to install. From the time I opened the box until having a working capacity hat was only a matter of minutes.

There is definitely some additional wind load by adding Hot Rodz, but I don't think that it will be enough to cause problems. The "mast section" is a sturdy 22 inch stainless steel mast. A hub section attaches to the mast with a simple 3/8-24 connection.

You have several sizes of "rods" to choose from with the Hot Rodz, including three lengths in the base package and several others that are optional. This flexibility in a capacity hat system is an advantage over competing capacity hats that have a fixed hat size. The Hot Rodz are attached using set screws. Again, very easy to install and maintain.
The Hot Rodz system is flexbile in another way... A whip may be attached to the top of the hub if you need some additional length.

Performance-wise? A capacity hat properly located is certainly going to make a mobile vertical antenna system more efficient. I have seen an improvement in my High Sierra Sidekick with the addition of the DX Engineering Hot Rodz. I haven't tried any other cap hat systems for mobiles, but based on what I've seen with this one, I can recommend it.

Background and set up:
I set up my first HF station and currently still my only HF station as a mobile since I spend a majority of time in my vehicle. I have the Yaesu FT-857D with output tuned to about 90% or about 90 watts output. I run it bare thru a MFJ dual needle HF SWR/power meter and RG-8X to the Hustler mobile HF antenna setup on a receiver hitch mount. When I ordered the Hustler antenna, the 20 meter resonator was on backorder and 20 meter is probably where I spend 75% of my time so I searched for a solution and found the DX Engineering Hot Rodz and decided to try them. I was sold as soon as I had it set up on the 15 meter resonator! Worked like a dream...It seems to actually even put out a more efficient signal than the 20 Meter resonator, once arrived. I usually can get 5-9 signal reports on any station worked with many being +10 or above if using the Capacity Hat.

Review and Opinion:
The Hot Rodz Capacitive Hat system shipped quickly and arrived in a mailing tube complete with easy to follow and complete instructions. The one I have is for the Hustler so rather than screwing in, the hub slides over the antenna shaft above the coil and secures with 2 set screws.

SWR is usually 0.1-0.3 lower using the Capacity Hat than when using the actual resonator and tuned band width is also increased over the standard resonator of the given band.

I have used it on other bands with as much satisfaction. I was so pleased that I ordered an extra hub and the extra long "radials" so I could tune to 160 Meters using my 80 Meter resonator. It works but needs to be higher for a good SWR so I have one of their 72" masts I attach to the 54" Hustler mast for 160 Meters....a little flimsy but since the radial arms are so long on 160 meters, you almost assuredly have to be stationary to use it on that band, anyway. The 160 meter setup works great but bandwidth is extremely narrow at 10-12 feet up...might widen a bit if won were to put it higher but on 160 I usually don't do a lot of moving around anyway and as a mobile 160 meter add-on option, I think it works fine and does quite a job.

I haven't tried other brands of the Capacity Hat...don't even know if any others are out there. I landed on DX Engineering and was so pleased with the product's performance and value and with DX Engineering's professional, prompt, and helpful communications that I have had no reason to look elsewhere.