PackTenna has built a reputation in the portable operating world for making antennas that are genuinely engineered rather than just assembled. The EFHW2010 is their compact end-fed half-wave for 20m and 10m, and it brings a few things to the table that set it apart from the crowded field of portable EFHW designs: a serious 100W SSB/CW power rating, a clean no-tuner resonant design, and a modular architecture that lets you add 40m operation later with an optional add-on wire.
It is aimed at portable HF operators who have been around long enough to know the difference between an antenna that works and one that just technically transmits. SOTA activators who want genuine DX capability from the summit. POTA operators who want to work all three major HF bands from a single system without compromise. Travellers who need something compact enough to fit in a carry-on but capable enough to make it worth getting the radio out.
Why 20m and 10m?
If you are going to build a two-band portable antenna and pick the best two bands to cover, 20m and 10m is a strong argument. Here is why:
20m is the workhorse of HF portable operation. It is open for most of the day across most of the solar cycle, propagation reaches Europe, North America and beyond from UK summits and parks, and it is where the majority of SOTA and POTA chasers are listening. If you can only have one band on a portable antenna, 20m is the one.
10m is the bonus. An end-fed half-wave cut for 20m is also resonant on 10m, its second harmonic, without any additional matching required. That is a free band. During good solar conditions 10m can be spectacular for portable operation, with low-power signals covering thousands of miles. Having it available without needing to change the wire or reach for a tuner is genuinely useful.
Together, they give you a two-band antenna from a single wire, resonant on both, no ATU involved.
100W and 50W: Power That Matches Real Radios
The EFHW2010 is rated for 100W SSB and CW, and 50W on digital modes. That power rating matters more than it might seem.
Most modern portable transceivers, including the Icom IC-705, Yaesu FT-818, Elecraft KX2 and KX3, and many others, run anywhere from 5W to 100W. The EFHW2010 covers that entire range without any concern about exceeding the antenna's rating. You are not having to manage your power to protect the matching transformer. You can run the radio at its natural output and focus on operating.
The 50W digital rating is equally sensible. FT8 and other digital modes run at 100% duty cycle, which is significantly more demanding on matching components than SSB. A 50W continuous digital rating from a portable antenna is a serious specification.
The Architecture: How It Works
The EFHW2010 is an end-fed half-wave antenna, which means the feed point is at one end of the wire rather than the centre. The matching transformer steps up from the 50-ohm coax impedance to the high impedance present at the end of a half-wave element. When the wire length is correct for the band, the antenna is resonant, the SWR at the coax connector is low, and no ATU is needed.
The supplied wire is cut for 20m. At 20m length, it presents a half-wave on 20m and a full-wave on 10m, which also produces a low-impedance feed point that the same matching transformer handles efficiently. That is why both bands work from one wire with no retuning.
PackTenna vs the Competition
There are a lot of portable EFHW antennas on the market. Here is how the EFHW2010 compares on the specs that actually matter for field use:
| Feature | PackTenna EFHW2010 | Typical budget portable EFHW |
|---|---|---|
| Power handling (SSB) | 100W | Often 25 to 50W |
| Digital power rating | 50W continuous | Often unspecified or lower |
| Tuner required | No, on designed bands | Sometimes yes |
| 40m expandability | Yes, via add-on wire | Rarely |
| RF choke accessory | Purpose-made PT202 available | Rarely |
| Purpose-made feedline | RG-316 and LMR195 options | Rarely |
The PackTenna Accessory Ecosystem
One of the things that makes the EFHW2010 stand out is that PackTenna have built a proper set of accessories around it, all available at ML&S. Rather than hunting for third-party bits that might or might not fit the system, you can spec the whole feedline setup in one order.
PackTenna PT202 Mini In-Line RF Feedline Choke
A compact in-line RF choke that fits in the feedline between the antenna and the radio. At higher power levels or in certain deployment configurations, RF on the feedline can cause interference, erratic SWR readings or audio issues. The PT202 addresses this cleanly, and PackTenna specifically recommend it for higher-power operation with the EFHW2010. A small and very worthwhile addition to the kit bag.
View at ML&SPackTenna 3ft RG-316 BNC to BNC Coax Cable (PAK-121)
A short, high-quality RG-316 jumper for connecting the EFHW2010 directly to a radio with a BNC antenna socket. RG-316 is lightweight, flexible and low-loss at HF frequencies, making it a natural choice for portable use. 3ft (approximately 90cm) gives you enough length to comfortably route the cable without excess bulk.
View at ML&SPackTenna 20ft RG-316 BNC to Right-Angle BNC Coax Cable (PAK-122)
A 20ft (approximately 6m) RG-316 feedline with a right-angle BNC at one end. The right-angle connector is useful when the radio is positioned with the antenna socket facing awkwardly, or when you want the feedline to leave the radio at 90 degrees rather than straight out. Ideal for operating positions where the antenna point is off to one side.
View at ML&SPackTenna 25ft LMR195 BNC to BNC Coax Cable (PAK-123)
A 25ft (approximately 7.6m) feedline in LMR195, a semi-flexible coax with significantly lower loss than RG-316 over longer runs. If you are deploying the antenna some distance from the operating position, this cable gives you the extra reach with minimum signal loss. BNC at both ends for straightforward connection.
View at ML&SDeployment: Straightforward by Design
The EFHW2010 is designed to go up quickly and come down quickly. There is no complicated matching procedure and no tuning ritual. The typical deployment looks like this:
- Connect your chosen feedline cable to the EFHW2010 and to the radio's BNC socket
- Add the PT202 choke to the feedline if running higher power or if you encounter RF issues
- Deploy the wire: up a fishing pole, into a tree, or along a fence line depending on what the site offers
- Lay out the counterpoise away from the feed point
- Check SWR, confirm it is within spec, and get on the air
For 10m, the same wire and setup that you used for 20m is already resonant. There is nothing to change.
Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | PackTenna |
| Model | EFHW2010 |
| SKU | PAK-101 |
| Antenna type | End-fed half-wave (EFHW) |
| Supported bands | 20m and 10m (supplied wire) |
| Optional expansion | 40m EFHW add-on wire element (sold separately) |
| Tuner required | No, on designed bands when correctly deployed |
| Power rating | 100W SSB and CW |
| Digital power rating | 50W digital |
| Typical use | SOTA, POTA, camping, hiking, travel, field operation |
| Availability | Pre-order now at ML&S |
Who Should Pre-Order?
The EFHW2010 is the right antenna if you are running a portable HF station at full or near-full power and want a resonant, no-tuner solution for 20m and 10m. It is particularly well suited to operators who:
- Are running a 100W portable transceiver like the Icom IC-7300, Yaesu FT-891 or similar and want an antenna that can keep up
- Already operate on 20m and know they will want 10m available during openings without any extra effort
- Are thinking ahead and want a system they can expand to 40m when the need arises
- Run digital modes at meaningful power and need a proper continuous-duty rating
- Want a complete, matched ecosystem of feedline and choke accessories from the same manufacturer
The PackTenna EFHW2010 is available to pre-order now at ML&S. Get yours reserved before stock arrives.
Pre-Order the EFHW2010 at ML&SDisclaimer: This post is based on PackTenna's published product information for the EFHW2010, current at the time of writing. The EFHW2010 is currently listed as a pre-order item. Specifications, availability and accessories are subject to change. Always check SWR before transmitting. The 40m wire element, coaxial cables, RF choke, mast and radio are not included with the antenna.
