Old Style	New Style (pictured above)
10 meters  10 1/16 inches	10 meters  9 1/8 inches
15 meters  9 1/4 inches	15 meters  8 1/8 inches
20 meters  10 7/8 inches	20 meters  10 inches
30 meters  12 inches	30 meters  10 3/8 inches

Note: The old style trap is identified by it's squared off bottom and is not tapered.

The lengths in the table above shows the initial bottom tube length of each trap as they usually come from the factory. Mark the position of the trap sleeve before you start so returning to the initial point will be simple if needed. Refer to the drawing as needed.

NOTE:

Start with the 10 meter trap first. (The first trap up from the bottom of the antenna).
The actual trap adjustment is made by disconnecting the main tubing section (known as the intermediate sections in the instruction manual), between each trap. This is done by loosening the SECOND adjustable clamp from the bottom of each trap. Then slide if off of the tubing that leads to the trap to be adjusted. The tubing extending from the inside of the trap is the length to be adjusted using the chart lengths above! The black area in the drawing above represents the tubing extending from the trap to the end of the tube. The total length from the end of the tubing to the point where it touches the trap housing is the length to be adjusted.

Just like other antenna adjustments, trap adjustments are not permanent and can be restored easily. Start with the 10 meter trap, (the one on the bottom in drawing), because any adjustment done there affects the rest of the antenna. Slightly loosen the clamp at the bottom of the trap sleeve, and then adjust the trap sleeve position on the trap bottom tubing using the chart above.
Typical adjustment is about 1/4 to 1/2 inch for a shift of 500 kHz. Firmly tighten the trap clamp and re-test with the entire assembled antenna upright to track the resonance or the SWR dip to the desired frequency. Once you adjust one trap, check all bands before deciding to recalibrate other traps.

After trap adjustment above, now you can fine tune the antenna if needed using the
intermediate tubing sections represented by "Y" in the above drawing.

Hustler BTV antennas can resonate at frequencies much lower than desired, when installed on very good soil or with a good radial system. Most Hustler BTV series antennas come from the factory adjusted for use WITHOUT RADIALS and ground mounted. A high efficiency quarter-wave vertical requires a good radial system.

You will get your best overall performance with plenty of radials.

Installation and tuning solutions with few or no radials will result in poor efficiency from high ground losses. Since most Hustler BTV series antenna come from the factory with traps adjusted for use without radials, then some readjustments of traps for your location may be needed if the intermediate tubing adjustments won't get the resonance or swr frequency range where you need it.

Trap Calibration adjustment may void your warranty with a new antenna. Check with Newtronics or your dealer before you attempt. Make certain you give them all your installation details.

Never Cut The Aluminum Tubing: You can’t properly adjust the resonant frequency of the antenna by cutting the traps or by cutting the aluminum tubing above or below the traps.

An antenna analyzer is the best tool to use for adjusting the resonant frequency of an antenna. Use a 5 or 6 foot piece of 50 Ohm coax between the antenna and the analyzer. Your body presence can affect the tuning if you are too close to the antenna as will other very close conductive objects. If you are too far, the coax may act as a radial and resonate.
Tune the antenna for resonance (minimum reactance, X=0) rather than for low SWR, although they may be close or at the same point. If you only have an SWR/power meter, you should plot a chart of SWR measurements at several frequencies within each band. Start at the lowest frequency of the SWR curve and record measurements upward at frequencies through the entire SWR curve. When making antenna adjustments, DO NOT try to shoot for a minimum SWR by watching a certain frequency. You might "miss the dip" as it passes your target frequency. It is a much better practice to follow the minimum SWR point as you make adjustments, to achieve resonance at the correct frequency.