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Author Topic: Mfj 1796 or Ciro stealth loop?  (Read 382 times)

MW7OFS

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Mfj 1796 or Ciro stealth loop?
« on: March 26, 2023, 12:34:24 PM »

I'm restricted with what antenna I can use at my location. I have no room for radials and wire antennas are a no .
 Which would perform best out of the two above ?
Regards
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AC7CW

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Re: Mfj 1796 or Ciro stealth loop?
« Reply #1 on: March 26, 2023, 01:19:07 PM »

I had an MFJ loop, it was very offputting to have to tune the thing so very often and so very carefully. For 30M CW it was ok, could set and forget but for everything else; I did not even use it after awhile. Nowadays it would be fine in that regard for FT8 because that does not require any frequency changes at all just a tuneup when changing band.

I did not know that an autotuning loop was being manufactured until just now when I looked up the Ciro offering.

Loop antennas are very narrowband and won't allow your radio's bandscope to capture much outside of the received signal's frequency. Loops are very compromised and inefficient in transmitting but can be more that just ok for receiving and fine for just getting on the air and making some qso's, not so much at all for dxing or contesting I'd say.
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Novice 1958, 20WPM Extra now... (and get off my lawn)

W6MK

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Re: Mfj 1796 or Ciro stealth loop?
« Reply #2 on: March 26, 2023, 02:58:50 PM »

Which would perform best out of the two above ?

Neither would probably perform BETTER than the other. The BEST performance you will get will be with whatever wire you can put up. An end-fed piece of wire, hidden as well as you can, will doubtless be a lot more fun for making sundry contacts than either loop.

Small loops can be good for reducing RX noise because they are very narrow banded and are directional. For transmitting, however, they are not efficient and require retuning whenever
frequency is changed. A further consideration might be which of the two would likely be more reliable. Look up the reviews of the loops here on eham.
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AK5B

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Re: Mfj 1796 or Ciro stealth loop?
« Reply #3 on: March 26, 2023, 04:03:38 PM »

The MFJ-1786 is decent for an MFJ product but as with all things MFJ be prepared to open the thing up and make minor repairs or adjustments.  Their Loop Tuners (not actually tuners in the usual sense) are an easy and inexpensive way to brew your own; just add HVAC tubing to the two terminals).  But I would heartily recommend one of Ciro Mazzoni's larger and better constructed Baby or Midi Loops that also handle a bit or QRO (500 to 800 watts, as I recall).  I have built several STLs myself and all are capable of those power levels by using single conductor elements with vacuum variable capacitors for about a third of the cost of Ciro's remarkable creations.  But if you're not into DIY, choose a CM and enjoy!  (search my QRZ thread if interested in STL DIY: "If you really want to build an optimized STL"

73,

Jeff, AK5B
The Loopy Guy in South Texas
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KH6AQ

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Re: Mfj 1796 or Ciro stealth loop?
« Reply #4 on: March 26, 2023, 05:24:07 PM »

The MFJ-1796 exhibits nearly 100% radiation efficiency on 20 meters and above and pretty close to that on 40 and 30 meters. I had an MFJ-1795 for a few years and liked it. Tuning took two cuts per band and was finished in two hours. While the Ciro Stealth Loop might be efficient enough on 20 meters and above it is narrow banded and will require auto-tuning whenever you QSY about a band. And the price is $1800 for the Ciro vs $360 for the MFJ. I see this as no contest; the MFJ is the one to buy. 


MFJ-1796   https://mfjenterprises.com/products/mfj-1796

Ciro   https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/mzz-stealth
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N4UFO

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Re: Mfj 1796 or Ciro stealth loop?
« Reply #5 on: March 26, 2023, 08:29:51 PM »

The OP needs to clarify I think... an MFJ-1796 vertical dipole or an MFJ-1786 magnetic loop? I've owned both.  :)
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W6UXB

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Re: Mfj 1796 or Ciro stealth loop?
« Reply #6 on: March 26, 2023, 09:50:49 PM »

If you want quality, I would go for the Ciro Mazzoni stealth loop, it is flawless with the companion tuner box, pricey though but you get what you pay for, remember this when you buy MFJ. Mine works pretty good in a gated 55 plus community, if anyone asks, I say it is a modern art sculpture!
« Last Edit: March 26, 2023, 09:53:35 PM by W6UXB »
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WA3SKN

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Re: Mfj 1796 or Ciro stealth loop?
« Reply #7 on: March 27, 2023, 08:37:41 AM »

Only two choices?
Well, you have a 12 ft vertical vs a 54 inch(?) squashed down loop that costs five times as much... the vertical.
But I would look for better options.

-Mike.
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