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write your own review of the MFJ-1780 Box Fan Portable Loop.
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NV7E
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Rating: 4/5
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May 1, 2000 17:22
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Send this review to a friend
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Innovative and works well
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I bought the MFJ-1780 Box Fan at the same time as I got the MFJ-1788 40-15 Meter Loop Antenna. Both use a similar tuning mechanism which tunes the antenna from a box connected between the antenna and the transceiver. The tuning box that comes with the Box Fan comes without an SWR meter while the box with Loop Antenna comes with an SWR meter. The box sends a current through the coax to the antenna to tune the antenna higher or lower in frequency by activating a motor moving a variable capacitor. You can tune the Box Fan Antenna to the desired fequency by listening to "hash" sound created by the antenna and by tuning for maximum level using the transceiver's S-meter or SWR meter. I have been using the tuning box supplied with the 40-15 Meter Loop (which has an SWR meter) with the Box Fan. It seems to work better than the one (without the SWR meter) supplied with the Box Fan.
I place the Box Fan Antenna on a table on the balcony of my apartment. I have worked about 30 countries without trying too hard even under less-than-ideal conditions. I am not allowed to have an antenna permanently mounted on the balcony, so I just place it there when actually in use. The nice thing about the antenna is that it is light and easy to move around. For apartment use it is ideal.
The Box Fan Antenna is made of pasteboard which is screwed into the antenna's box frame. When the antenna arrived from the dealer most of the screws had fallen out and had to be screwed back in. It is not made for rough handling and could not survive a trip checked in as airline luggage. It would be nice to see the construction upgraded for travel.
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