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Reviews For: MFJ-1796 40 - 2 Meter Vertical Antenna

Category: Antennas: HF: Verticals; Wire; Loop

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Review Summary For : MFJ-1796 40 - 2 Meter Vertical Antenna
Reviews: 43MSRP: 209.95
Description:
40 - 2 Meter 1/2 wave dipole
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.mfjenterprises.com/products.php?prodid=MFJ-1796
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00433.6
7J1AIL Rating: 2001-05-27
Great limited space antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Not a difficult assembly project even for clumsy hands but four hands really needed for a smooth
installation. Have been using this antenna for a few years in my central Tokyo QTH about 15 meters off the ground in a very congested area. Not quite to DXCC during very casual operating with 100w or less, but quite impressed especially
on 6m, 10m and 15m. It is still functional on 40m as I use an antenna tuner and can work almost anything I can hear at 100w.
Recently began operating QRP on HF and 6m using the FT-817 and even down to 2.5 watts I have managed numerous DX contacts. I've found other MFJ products less than sensational but this antenna
seems one of their best.
K4TPC Rating: 2001-04-08
Good for limited space. Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
The MFJ 1796 Vertical HF Multi-band Antenna works a lot better than I had figured. It's easy to put together although the nuts for the 6 and 2 meter stubs were missing from the package. I used a MFJ SWR analyser I borrowed from a fellow ham to tune this antenna. A lot of trimming of the tuning spokes was involved! I have it mounted only 7 feet above ground because of limited space in my tiny back yard. You will need an antenna tuner if you want to use all the bands. I use an ICOM IC-746 and its' internal antenna tuner will give a 1:1 match at 100 watts output. It will almost tune to 17 meters but this antenna is not designed for 17 meters. An external antenna tuner will most likely allow 17 meters.

I like 20 meters and my contacts say I have a good signal and that always surprises me with this antenna.

This antenna looks kinda funny with the tuning spokes but it does work! It looks like it will put up with a lot of use.
K5ZP Rating: 2001-02-28
Good Performance Time Owned: more than 12 months.
........My MFJ 1796 has been up for two years at my south central Texas QTH. So far only a hail storm temporarily took it out of action........Here are the particulars: six and two meters are full sized half wave vertical dipoles and perform very well with excellent bandwidth -- 10 through 40 meters uses end loaded coils to resonate the remaining two five foot sections of the aluminum dipole. Performance is good on 10/15 but starts to drop on 20. It's not bad though and I've sucessfully worked DX on both 15 and 20. On 40 the bandwidth narrows down and a full range tuner will be required for full band coverage. 40 meter DX is possible but don't count on it --- It's only 12 feet long remember!.............Material quality and building the antenna -- The quality appears to be OK (not super but not bad). It actually has with stood more punishment than my R5 could. Building and resonating it are another experience. To make sure the antenna will work every possible QTH - The designer's have intentionally lowered the resonant frequency. A lot of trimming was in store for me. My Autek antenna analyzer really helped. The building and resonating process took four hours. Be prepared to spend more time adjusting than actually building. It's not a bad thing - just take your time...........Performance compared to the R5. The MFJ hears better on every band but the R5 taked better on 20 meters. Strangely the MFJ also works as a fairly good AM broadcast DX antenna - but I don't know why?............Bottom line - A good antenna when compared to the rest of the pack - It will get your FT-847, IC-746, FT-100, IC-706, TS-2000, FT-817, etc on a lot of bands at once. Performance is good to excellent on 2, 6, 10 and 15 meters. 20 and 40 are a compromise but workable. I've used a full range tuner and put the antenna on 30, 17 and 12 meters with no ill effects. So far I've run 1350 watts PEP into it with no smoke. Great for the limited space or building restricted ham.