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Reviews For: MFJ-1020C Antenna Preamp/Preselector/Active antenna

Category: Receive Accessories

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Review Summary For : MFJ-1020C Antenna Preamp/Preselector/Active antenna
Reviews: 4MSRP: $ 99.95
Description:
This device functions as either an Antenna Preamplifier, Active antenna and/or pre-selector.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.mfjenterprises.com/Product.php?productid=MFJ-1020C
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0042.8
AB1GS Rating: 2020-05-24
Not Worth The Money Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Does it work? Yes, to a point...but it's not great. I switched it in and out on my loop antenna (used for MW Dxing) and it did not substantially improve performance.

My big beef with the unit is that it is poorly constructed. The battery holder is taped in place and ripped away when installing the 9-volt battery. When I touch the front panel knobs, they wiggle in and out, moving the circuit board inside the box. The most annoying problem is that there is no fine-tuning function on the tuning knob. It would be nice to have a reduction drive so you can really zero in on the frequency.

I am sure there are much better active antenna units out there.
WA1UFO Rating: 2016-10-16
Nice! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I love this preamp! With the little whip it doesn't perform as well as it does with 10 or 20 feet of wire. Also, a good earth ground or short counterpoise really helps. Ok, here is the important thing, signal to noise ratio. On some signals a preamp just makes the signal and noise louder. However, I use this with a 35 foot wire and earth ground and it really improves the signal to noise ratio, especially on MW and LW. I highly recommend this rig for use with a short wire aerial and an earth ground or counterpoise. It is a real gem when I use it with my hula hoop loop in horizontal position as it really makes weak signals pop up out of the noise. After 60 years of playing with radios I can honestly say that this is worth every penny to me!
AB3TH Rating: 2016-10-09
Not useful Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I bought one at a hamfest. New in box. It's very noisy and insensitive. A random piece of wire tossed out the window works better. When you put it in bypass with no other antenna it actually works better. Just the leakage through a foot of coax. Almost no signal that way but less noise. I didn't expect it to work well but this really doesn't work at all. Yes, it lights up and you can peak it. It just gives louder noise.
K1FPV Rating: 2016-05-15
Great Receiver Product Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
A couple weeks ago, I decided to put one of my older general coverage receivers in my office. Not having much room for and antenna, I figured the receiver would need a little help. So I ran a small wire out a window, about 15 feet long and let it hang for now temporarily. I tied it into the MFJ-1020C and was amazed at the performance.

I opened it up initially to inspect the device's internal construction. There were no poor or sloppy solder connections and it appeared to be well constructed. Well, the performance tells all!
Before installing it in the office, I tried it on a couple receivers in my shack and noticed a considerable improvement in reception when using less sophisticated receivers. With a good receiver, it increased the signal as well as noise which would be expected.

If you have limited antenna space or a receiver that needs a little help, I think the MFJ-1020C may fit your needs. Would I buy it again?...... You bet!