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You can
write your own review of the MFJ-1621 portable antenna.
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KB3PLX
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 27, 2008 18:28
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Great little antenna, gets you on the air
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I've been licensed since July '07 but just got an HF rig. I was looking for the easiest way to get on the air, and knew this would be a compromise.
Using 50w PSK on 20m I've had QSOs with Guatamala, Cuba, FL, GA. On 40m I've reached WI and MA.
RX seems to be pretty decent. I've listened to a few interesting broadcasts.
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KB5IAV
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Rating: 4/5
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Jan 26, 2008 14:37
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Will get you on the air when there are no other options
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I bought one of these at the Mobile, AL hamfest in 1991 shortly after I moved out of my parents' home into my first apartment. I've had it in multiple apartments and a condo and it worked. Putting it on a balcony in both second and third floor apartments, I was able to make contacts on it. I even broke a few pileups. This antenna will not outperform a dipole or any other standard antenna, but it will get you on the air if you're in a place where getting a full sized antenna up in the air isn't possible. If you are in such a situation and want to get on HF, get one of these, and you'll be on the air.
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KC8ARD
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Rating: 4/5
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Dec 22, 2007 08:34
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I rate it closer to 3.5
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Well, I've had this product for several years. I used it a long time ago and found its performance less than satisfactory. It was quickly placed in a corner of the shack and abandoned. Well, not too long ago I took a second look at it, and found that the main lead connecting the tuner portion to the antenna(off the cap) was not soldered in any way. A dab of solder later and it works fine. Nice concept, but shame on you MFJ for your manufacturing mistake.
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EA5CEC
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 13, 2007 05:58
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Works great!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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It tunes easily in all bands (40-10mts), and in 50 and 144mhz too!
It works well outdoor and indoor (VY2/WV8Q worked indoor from Spain with about 70w in 14mhz).
It is light and easy to assemble and disassemble.
Very good for weekend or holidays.
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MM0NDX
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 3, 2007 12:08
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It's better than you think.
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Every year the XYL and I go on holiday/vacation to the Highlands of Scotland. A little cottage near Glencoe. I take the MFJ 1621 with me.
Now, to look at the MFJ 1621, it appears cumbersome, raw and altogether like a desktop receiving aerial. Indeed, it does receive well; very well.
A telescopic whip, tuning dial/box, hi-caps and 25m of cheap coax cable is all that makes this thing work.
I’ve found it works best on 7Mhz, which considering its size is quite remarkable. I also found 17m quite enjoyable too. Notable contacts on any band are Iceland, USA (East Coast), all of Europe and as far as Asiatic Russia. All with the aerial atop a bed and less than 3ft away from the rig firing out 100w..SWR is never high.
Of course, it’s easy to dismiss this aerial, but until you pick one up yourself, persevere with it and generally tune about the bands, you might just discover it’s better than reported
http://hamspirit.wordpress.com/
*Footnote to the reviews manager - by mistake i've added this comment regarding the MFJ 1621 to the MFJ1622 thread also..apologies.
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WB2AZE
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Rating: 0/5
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Jan 23, 2005 19:35
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forget about it
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I bought one of these units a few years ago, when I had just gotten married and was living with my wife in her deed restricted townhouse...After following the instructions to the letter, I decided to try CW. Using my Tentec 555 scout with less than 50 watts output, I keyed up to check the SWR..... Now that's a funny smell I thought... OUCH !!!! my finger slipped off the key a little bit and my skin started to burn.
Sent it back for a full refund...used to cash to buy Hamsticks for mobile use.
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G4GXL
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Rating: 2/5
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Sep 9, 2003 18:43
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Poor value
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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This aerial was given to me as a gift when I was recovering in hospital from a car accident. There was no alternative at the time and it was the only way that I could work HF.
Under normal circumstances I would never have bought it. It's way overpriced for a simple whip and matching unit and could easily be homebrewed for $10 from surplus parts. There is no weather protection at all and it should only be used indoors or in fine weather.
I have worked from G to USA on 5 watts on 40m with it, so yes, it works OK but it's no miracle aerial. Save your money and make something similar or spend a bit more and get an MP-1.
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AG4YO
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Rating: 4/5
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Sep 9, 2003 17:35
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Review Update
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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Update of my June review. It is now September and I have used this antenna every week in various hotels. I still agree with my review 100% and will add that I have CW contacts in Italy and Spain in the last 2 weeks on this little antenna sitting on top of my hotel room bed on the third floor.
Again, my only complaint is it picks up electrical noise. Lowest S-Meter hotel noise reading has been S-5.
NOTE: I set it up at my home where power lines are buried and noise was S-1.
Here are some hints on minimizing noise:
1. Ensure as many neon lamps are off as possible.
2. Hotel bathroom fans sometimes give off noise.
3. Computers and their battery chargers give off noise.
4. Best SWR (zero) if you lay the coax out as straight as possible on the floor.
5. Other noise sources depending on Hotel are refigerators, air conditioners, TVs, outside power lines closer than 200 feet to your room, and elevators if you're next to a control room.
6. Best range if there is a window in the direction you want your signal to travel.
73 and good DX!
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N9AP
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Rating: 4/5
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Nov 10, 2002 11:30
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Useable and portable
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Stop! don't pull down the beam or the elegant dipole up so high it can barely be seen. However,this antenna will radiate and allow signals to reach a receiver.I have used it with 50 watts and 2-4 watts and have been able to establish comms.up to and including DX. Two things: do not modify the feedline length and do not allow feedline to be coiled up or cross itself.It can be laid out "serpentine"for close ops w/a xmtr.Usually,it is enough to adjust it for max noise in the receiver.I have found that adjusting it for max deflection on enclosed meter is also effective.I like it and enjoy complimenting worked stations on their receiving skill.I also have a B@W AP-10 but band switching is really cumbersome.
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N2RIU
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Rating: 2/5
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May 23, 2000 17:39
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Pain in the neck to tune
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I also have this santenna, and I can't share the enthusiasm expressed.
My biggest problemw ith it - if you put this "box" away from the rig, you can't tune it (because the "box" is 25 ft from where you are). And if it's right by the rig (so you can transmit for tuning only as little as necessary) - you're basking in RF, and then you have to move it to where it belongs (on the balcony in my case).
It is very portable, granted. it is light-weight, compact, all those things. But it needs to be retuned for each band, and most likely - depending on the frequency you may need to retune it within the band too.
Working with this antenna, I fully understand why people would pay big bucks for SGC SmarTuner and such.
To summarize - it works (as well as you can expect with a meager 54" whip :-), but it is SOOOO inconvenient that I'm preparing to buy something (anything!) different.
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