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| Reviews Summary for MFJ 1899T |
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Reviews: 17
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Average rating: 3.3/5
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MSRP: $79.95
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Description: Yaesu FT-817 Multi-band Telescopic Antenna
6M/10M/12M/15M/17M/20M/30M/40M/80M
Covers 80 Meters through 6 Meters.
This special antenna was designed specifically for the
extremely popular Yaesu FT-817 Multimode HF/VHF/UHF Portable
Transceiver. This antenna covers all bands (including WARC
bands) from 80 Meters to 6 Meters. Power rating is 25 Watts.
When fully telescoped it is 1.65M long approximately and is
fitted with a BNC connector. This makes it ideal for the new
FT-817 or other QRP portable radio. Band changing is
achieved by plugging the "wander lead" into the appropriate
socket on the base coil, and fine tuning adjustments are
made using the 10 section telescopic whip. The whip unscrews
from the base matching coil, so collapsed, the antenna
measures only 32 cm.
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Product is in production.
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More info: http://www.mfjenterprises.com/Product.php?productid=MFJ-1899T
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KT4EP
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Rating: 3/5
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Jan 7, 2012 16:06
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Testing begings
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I'll probably up the rating after I use it more. Definitely need an analyzer to check and set it up because in my case, the instructions (which are scant) are incorrect. I'm using different taps and counterpoise lengths for each band than indicated. Also tried using my 817 in AM mode and it's swr meter and finding the instructions for tap and counterpoise are off, just as indicated by my mfj 259 analyzer. I bought this antenna for hotel and camping use and think it will work out once I figure the general whip and counterpoise settings. After all it isn't meant to be your main antenna. I built the homebrew buddistick and want to use the 1899 instead on trips. I don't like trying to put it on the back of the 817 so I made a "quad- pod" out of half inch pvc pipe and a pl259 connector will just run thru the pipe and it helps support the antenna. Then I run a counterpoise from the radio. Still testing. Testing,,,,
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F8FEO
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Rating: 3/5
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Jan 7, 2012 09:56
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walkabout antenna
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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hello
I purchase this item by "Radio world" Mfj dealer in UK , very fast shipping and good communication. I try the procuct, the adapter MFJ 7703 for FT 817 is not acceptable, the teeth of the 817 are not aligned ...( antenna is bent) First test in 40 meters with ft 817, more HSWR,
and on 20 meters (14 Mhz) with radiant of 1/2 wave and antenna connected directly more results, lenght of telescopic adjusted for best vswr appro 45" and N°1 in N°3, not in N° 2 as described in notice.
I haved a good Qso with DL Ham in 559. Swr is reduced but I must test on other bands anymore.
It is a product for pedestrian hamradio, but for SOTA I prefer a dipole or ATAS 25, it's more sure.
My 73
alain
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KJ4NWZ
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Rating: 4/5
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Nov 18, 2011 02:55
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Good - So Far.
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I bought the MFJ-1899T a few months back as a temporary antenna to use with my FT-857D until the SuperAntenna MP-1 became available (still waiting, by the way). True, the 1899T was designed for the 857D's little brother (FT-817) but I decided to give it a try anyway (matching the two was like installing VW Beetle engines in a Rolls Royce).
I wasn't satisfied with the 1899T while using it indoors as I was having a lot of counterpoise SWR issues so I decided to try a different approach. I ordered the MFJ-332B magmount (which arrived yesterday), attached the 1899T antenna, slapped it on to the roof of my car, pressed the PTT button and BINGO - no SWR issues. Now I am going to do a bit of mobile globe-trotting hamming to really see how the antenna works with the magmount and vehicle groundplane. I gave the 1899T a 4 rating. That may change after testing. Stay tuned.
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KJ4NWZ
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Rating: 3/5
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Jul 7, 2011 08:55
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Ok so far
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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UPS delivered my MFJ-1899T yesterday from Gigaparts and I quickly pressed it into service. So far so good. I have a FT-857D so I turned the RF output down to 20 watts (25w is the max RF output on the 1899T). A counterpoise (CP) is highly recommended for this antenna. I use a 40' CP secured to the body of the 857D. I am wondering if that is the best place to secure the CP on the 857D. Any ideas? The heat sink perhaps?
Last night at 0200 hrs UTC I monitored an interesting QSO between two hams on 80m (I was in my bedroom at the time with the 857D using a 12V/7Amp battery with the 1899T fully extended with no taps, as recommended by manufaturer). Not bad. Indoors? Wow. Now I will try it out-doors on 10 and 20m tomorrow in the AM. Will report on results.
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VE3LNU
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Rating: 4/5
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Oct 1, 2010 11:38
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Update to my Sept. 13, 2010 review
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I thought it important to follow up on my previous review (September 13, 2010) to confirm that this antenna is indeed a practical HF portable antenna for QRP operation.
I have now worked 2 European stations on 20 metre CW from Toronto, Canada using this antenna during a period when HF band conditions are still notoriously poor or mediocre! Not to mention countless QSOs into the southern US.
These were my operating conditions:
- FT 817 at 5 watts with 12v 2.3 aH lead acid battery
- MFJ 1899T connected to rear of MFJ 16010 random wire tuner
- single wire counterpoise hung from tree branch at about 4 feet with alligator clip to radio heatsink (for convenience I use a single reel Yo-Tenna as the counterpoise but any wire will do)
I should add that the base of the MFJ antenna was only 1 foot off the ground when I made these QSOs, far from ideal!
While adding weight to my backpack, the MFJ portable tuner does make tuning much easier and is also a convenient support for the antenna. It also means that the length of the counterpoise is no longer critical.
Yes, you could do better with a dipole but this is so quick and easy to set up that I just can't resist - and it works!
Good dx, folks.
Joe, VE3LNU
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KB0SFP
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Rating: 2/5
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May 24, 2010 12:33
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No 17mtr & fragile
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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This would also apply to the ATX 'Walkabout' antenna sold by W/S & Power Port. I've had mine for about a year. I've used it many times with my FT-817 & others while pedestrian mobile. I broke the telescoping antenna tip & purchased a 75mtr only antenna just get get a new whip. My biggest gripe is the BNC only antenna connection which is too fragile both on the radio & the antenna. I made a goose neck base similar to military antennas from an old desk lamp & this did help.
My second gripe is no 17mtrs(even though the instruction sheet & the propaganda says it does). Tuning is no where near where the instruction sheet says. They could have easily added a 60 mtr tap for a few cents but they didn't, but then, they didn't bother to have separate 20 & 17mtrs taps so..
This antenna will radiate a signal but you must be very careful, & it a bugger to set up. I would buy another one but only if it were thought out a little better. I am amazed at the fact that manufactures build & sell this stuff then keep on selling the exact same thing for years the very same way even though numerous flaws have been brought to their attention.
Dennis Starks
Military-Radio-Guy
KB0SFP
Monitor(all USB):
3996, 5403.5, 7296, 14342.5, 18157.5
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KF6NTE
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Rating: 3/5
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Oct 23, 2009 14:40
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PORTABLE
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Time owned: months
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You need an antenna analyzer AND some sort of counterpoise to tune this thing properly. Once this is done it performs according to expectations. does a 1000 mile 20m 10-watt PSK31 QSO into Calgary from the San Francisco Bay Area during a low sunspot year while having the antenna anchored to my bed count as good performance ?. Not bad for a $50 dummy load. Are there better choices than this ?. You bet. I mostly use the antenna for monitoring the HF bands and it's nice to know you can use it for transmit albeit with limitations (the inefficiency and low power restrictions on the lower bands makes it practically unusable) but for 20m and up I bet it's pretty decent. The construction seems fragile especially the BNC connector.
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KA3NXN
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Rating: 0/5
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Jul 2, 2008 17:02
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Absolute Garbage!!
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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This piece of trash is built extremely poorly. The center pin on the BNC broke off inside the connector in my FT-817. If I wasn't handy with a soldering iron and small electronics, I would have had to send the rig into Yaesu for repair and who knows what it would have cost me. Oh I also contacted MFJ about this several times and they NEVER returned an email or a phone call. I don't know what is worse their products or their support. What ever happened to their "no matter what guarantee" ? I just threw my $60.00 away. Don't by any MFJ junk. I can safely say that I will never own ANY MFJ garbage ever again. If I could give this thing less than a zero I would!
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W6GQ
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Rating: 1/5
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Apr 30, 2008 18:45
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has potential
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I had this antenna for 6 months then sold it on EBAY. It has potential, but you need to carry the manual or a cheat sheat with you to find out what tap to use on a certain band then had to adjust the telescoping antenna different for each band. Just a pain in the butt. Once adjusted like the manual says it will work. I made several contacts using a counterpoise. If your looking for doing it on the cheap and do not mind refering to the manual everytime to adjust then go ahead and buy it
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W8YT
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 3, 2008 07:08
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Great antenna!
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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My antenna got broken and I tried MFJ's no questions return policy. I only paid minimal shipping and handling ($7.00) and quickly received a brand new antenna. I use it on 80 through 20 meters with good results; it is much easier to use with the Outback Joey tripod, and a PL-259 connector to the rear of the FT-817. It's definitely a keeper and go-with-you- everywhere antenna.
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