For over 50 years, Hustler® Antenna has been a leader in innovative antenna design. Our team of expert engineers and ham radio enthusiasts have worked tirelessly to develop the highest performing, most reliable antennas on the market today for hobbyists and professionals alike.
Our History
Hustler® Antenna was founded in 1968 by James Hustler, a passionate ham radio operator and antenna engineer. As a teenager, James spent countless hours tinkering with radios and building his own antennas in his parent’s garage. This hands-on experience gave him unique insights into antenna design that he would later incorporate into the company’s products.
After graduating from MIT with an electrical engineering degree, James set up a small shop in his hometown in Ohio and began producing HF and VHF antennas for the ham radio community. Thanks to his innovative designs, quality craftsmanship, and fair prices, it didn’t take long for Hustler® antennas to gain popularity throughout the region.
Over the next few decades, James grew the company into one of the most recognized and respected names in the antenna industry. He surrounded himself with a team of talented engineers and operators who shared his passion for pushing the boundaries of antenna technology.
Major milestones included the introduction of the industry’s first multi-band trap vertical antenna in the 1970s and the launch of the revolutionary RockFiend series of HF mobile antennas in the 1990s. Through it all, James and his team never lost sight of the core values that the Hustler® Antenna brand was built on – innovation, performance, and reliability.
Today, Hustler® Antenna operates out of a state-of-the-art production facility in Ohio. James’ son, Michael now heads the company as its CEO and President. Though the business has grown dramatically from its humble beginnings, the same commitment to excellence and hands-on engineering instilled by James decades ago remains unchanged.
Our Antennas
At Hustler® Antenna, we produce a wide range of antennas for hobbyist ham radio operators, amateur radio clubs, and professional users alike. Our product line includes:
- HF Base Station Antennas – Our HF base station antennas are designed from the ground up for top notch performance on the HF bands. Models include verticals, dipoles, and yagis with features like dual resonance, high power capacity, and small footprints. Flagship antennas like the Thunderbolt Ultra and Hurricane Dominator set the standard for low noise and gain.
- HF Mobile Antennas – Over the years, Hustler has led the industry in HF mobile antenna innovation. Our newest RockFiend X series features a rugged epoxy encapsulated coil along with stainless steel construction for durability on the go. A quality HF antenna like the RockFiend X9B can turn any vehicle into a high performance mobile command center.
- VHF/UHF Base Station Antennas – Excellent coverage on VHF/UHF doesn’t have to be complicated. Our base station antennas for 144 Mhz, 220 Mhz, 440 Mhz deliver simple, no-nonsense performance for repeater access, amateur television, satellite operation, and weak signal work.
- VHF/UHF Mobile Antennas – Hustler designs VHF/UHF mobile antennas optimized for the 144 Mhz, 220 Mhz, and 440 Mhz ham bands. Models like the RM series feature flexible bases and come in a variety of mounts to match any mobile installation.
- Multiband and Portable Antennas – We offer several antennas designed for versatility and mobility. Our Tak-Ten series features lightweight 10 meter portable verticals for quick setup in the field. For multi-band coverage, antennas like the 4BTV can handle 10m, 15m, 20m, and 40m from a single compact unit.
Our Team
The antenna engineers and ham radio operators at Hustler® Antenna represent decades of combined experience designing, building, and installing antennas. Their diverse backgrounds and specialties all come together to continue advancing our product line.
Our engineering team is constantly experimenting with new materials and modeling software to optimize our existing antennas and prototype new designs. They hold several patents on innovative features like the bi-square matching system on our X9B mobile antennas.
Our manufacturing team assembles every antenna by hand with care and precision. Their expert craftsmanship ensures that every antenna meets our strict quality standards before shipping out. They take pride in building products that perform flawlessly for years even in the harshest environments.
Our customer support staff consists of experienced ham operators who truly understand the real-world setup and use of our antennas. They are available via phone and email to provide personalized recommendations, troubleshooting, and installation advice.
Our founder James Hustler’s mission was to surround himself with passionate, knowledgeable people who share his love of all things radio. That mission continues today through the dedicated team at Hustler® Antenna. Their expertise is what enables us to fulfill our commitment to providing the finest antennas on the market.
Our Design Process
At Hustler® Antenna, every new product starts from the ground up with a blank slate. Our engineering team doesn’t simply take an existing antenna and make a few minor tweaks. We start by carefully analyzing the intended use case – the frequency bands, power levels, and environments the antenna will operate in.
Armed with those requirements, our engineers employ industry-leading modeling software to begin prototyping design concepts. Dozens of virtual prototypes may be modeled before a few candidates are selected for real-world prototyping. Our large testing facilities and outdoor ranges allow for rigorous measurement of parameters like SWR, gain, and pattern shape.
Throughout the design process, we draw upon decades of antenna knowledge and past project experience. However, our veteran engineers are always open to trying creative, unconventional approaches if they show promise in improving performance. Each new antenna must represent a meaningful advancement – not just a new model to add to the catalog.
While computer modeling provides valuable insights, the true test comes from building physical prototypes. The combination of software modeling and real-world testing sets our antennas apart from the competition and ensures optimal performance in the intended environment. We reject any virtual design that doesn’t hold up when built and measured.
Finally, our team puts the antennas through their paces in exhaustive environmental testing. They are exposed to heat, cold, vibration, and salt spray to ensure each design exceeds industry durability standards. At Hustler® Antenna, we don’t release any product to the public until we are completely confident in its long term performance.
Our Customers
Hustler® Antenna users span the range from casual hobbyists to professional operators. Our commitment to quality helps both new and experienced ham radio operators get maximum performance from their stations.
A brand new Technician licensee can start with one of our affordable vertical antennas to access local VHF/UHF repeaters and experiment with basic communications. When they upgrade to General or Extra and want to start operating HF, adding one of our proven HF verticals or mobile antennas is an easy next step.
On the other end of the spectrum, seasoned DX chasers trust Hustler antennas like the Dominator series to give them an extra edge in competitive on-air events. Hams who operate portable love our Tak-Ten series for quick deployments from hotel rooms or remote locations.
Beyond amateur use, many government, military, and business operations rely on Hustler® as their critical communications infrastructure. Our combination of advanced technology and rugged reliability makes us the choice for radio professionals across the globe. Some of our proudest moments come from seeing our antennas deployed in critical situations where failure is not an option.
Whether used on a kitchen table or at a remote research base in Antarctica, Hustler® Antenna strives to give all of our customers the best possible performance and enjoyment from their radio operations. We succeed when you succeed.
Our Commitment
For over 50 years, Hustler® Antenna has delivered innovative, high performance antennas to meet the needs of ham radio operators and professional users. That tradition continues today through our investment in engineering, manufacturing, testing, and customer service.
We are committed to understanding the evolving demands of our customers and delivering solutions that exceed expectations. Whether it’s improved durability, increased bandwidth, higher gain, or simpler installation – we will remain agile and forward-thinking in our antenna designs.
Just as our founder James Hustler started the company from his passion for pushing the limits of antenna technology, our current team shares that same enthusiasm. We come to work every day motivated by the opportunity to create the next great antenna that will change what’s possible in on-air communications.
Of course, all the engineering knowledge and state-of-the-art facilities mean nothing without the people behind it all. Our staff’s unrivaled expertise and pride in their work is the heart of the Hustler® Antenna brand. Their hands-on commitment to quality sets our products apart year after year.
At Hustler® Antenna, we don’t just make antennas – we make connections. Our antennas connect radio operators to the world, enable life-saving communications in disasters, and bring loved ones together across any distance. We take pride in playing a small but vital role in those connections.
Thank you for considering Hustler® Antenna for your communications needs. Please contact us any time with questions or feedback. We look forward to having you as a customer!
73,
The Hustler® Antenna Team