diff --git a/tangostationcontrol/tangostationcontrol/devices/antennafield.py b/tangostationcontrol/tangostationcontrol/devices/antennafield.py
index d9ea40ea3bc9dbf1c3e08d80caabbfaca2ddd55f..25b58719c287c4a6fe6e4b690f0228187ac17989 100644
--- a/tangostationcontrol/tangostationcontrol/devices/antennafield.py
+++ b/tangostationcontrol/tangostationcontrol/devices/antennafield.py
@@ -90,7 +90,8 @@ class AntennaField(lofar_device):
     Antenna_Names = device_property(
         doc="Name of each antenna",
         dtype='DevVarStringArray',
-        mandatory=False
+        mandatory=False,
+        default_value = [f'Antenna{n+1}' for n in range(MAX_NUMBER_OF_HBAT)]
     )
 
     # ----- Antenna states