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Reviews For: Super Antennas MP-1 Portable Antenna

Category: Antennas: HF Portable (not mobile)

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Review Summary For : Super Antennas MP-1 Portable Antenna
Reviews: 160MSRP: 150.
Description:
Covers 40 thru 6 Meters. Will cover 80 Meters with accesory coil MP-80. Capable of QRP thru 150 Watts. Coil Size 10.5x 1.25 inches.
Product is in production
More Info: http://newsuperantenna.com/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
151604.4
AD9P Rating: 2024-08-02
Excellent Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Very good customer Service. and the Antenna just works very well.
Al
AD9p
KF0AWL Rating: 2024-02-18
I enjoy the easy setup, excellent antenna Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Bought it used for a VERY good price at a hamfest and had problems at first because of operators error, the plastic insulation on the base mount was in wrong and didn't notice but after I found the issue I am very pleased with the antenna. I did add the add on flexible whip and Tuning Card as I'm not a fan of collapsible antenna and that also is very good quality, mine has some older counterpoise wires that I plan to replace before spring but in all a very good antenna at a very nice price! IMHO as good as a WRC that costs much more!
N7LK Rating: 2023-08-17
Tested and found Serviceable... Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I ran tests on 40 meters with a large dipole antenna and an MP-1 at two locations, about 30 miles apart. The tests were conducted around 0900 MST two days apart.

The AlexLoop antenna was relocated to the second QTH on the second test date. Tests were conducted at 10 watts using a LAB599 Discovery at both ends.

The adjusted results for both stations on both days are:
AlexLoop = S1-2
MP1 = S5
Large Dipole = S9

The results were adjusted to indicate the relative signal strength between the antennas. The effects of QSB were mitigated.
HB9VQQ Rating: 2023-06-26
Great DX Antenna Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I recently purchased the MP1 and made some simultaneous RX performance comparisons with my EFHW using WSPR. I was very surprised by the results - read the details here https://groups.io/g/wsprbeacon/message/91 (Nbr. 18). Considering the size of the MP1 and how easy it is to deploy and tune the Antenna, it's definitely a keeper and a great DX Antenna also for space or antenna restricted (HOA) locations.
K7XRL Rating: 2023-04-30
Great materials and construction. Compact and lightweight. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
So I actually have two of these antennas. One is probably 8 years old, and the other I just purchased a week or two ago. There have only been very minor changes to the antenna in that time.

I purchased the second, newer antenna because I liked the old one so much I wanted a backup.

So the great thing about these antennas is the materials and construction. They are made mostly of aluminum, with your choice of a telescoping steel, or nitinol whip. Either whip will tune with the included frequency guide card. The key to having the frequency card work is you have the antenna set up outdoors, clear of other metallic objects, and with the appropriate radial wires laid out for the band you want to tune.

One of the good attributes is the 3/8"-24 threads on the coil, universal mount, antenna whips, and tripod base. These allow you to use the antenna coil with many other combinations of mobile antenna hardware, though tuning will differ if you use a different length whip.

So, how well does it work? That's a question that you really shouldn't be asking. It's a coil-loaded, 1/4 wavelength vertical antenna. Its performance will depend on band conditions, number of radials, antenna height above ground, ground conductivity, and a myriad of other variables. In short, antenna reviews, particularly of a very common design like a 1/4 wave loaded vertical, really shouldn't comment on performance, because performance can vary from one hour to the next at a given location with the exact same antenna.

So suffice it to say, this antenna is a really nice portable kit because it breaks down to a very small package, and is well made. How it performs has far more to do with the band conditions, and how the end user sets it up.

The only potential issue is if using a heavy whip, you may need to use the locking thumbscrew to keep the coil from sliding back down under the weight of the whip.
K8ESE Rating: 2021-11-13
Super Antenna nice portable antenna Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I have 2 MP1 coils and have made my Super Antenna into a dipole configuration. It works great with my FT 891 portable operation. I'm impressed with this antenna. It is so easy to set up also. With the bands slowly opening up it is going to be interesting how good this antenna can even work better. 73. de K8ESE
KG4KTB Rating: 2021-10-04
Great for my purpose. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I bought one of these about 2 weeks ago. This past weekend, from my QTH south of Atlanta, I made plenty of CA contacts during the CA QSOP and made one contact in British Columbia on 20M. I cut a radial for 17M and worked Belize on 17. I'm in an HOA restricted area and it works as least as good as my hamstick dipole on painter's pole and band changing is a snap. Tunes easily using my MFJ-259B. I'm happy!
N7KHH Rating: 2021-05-14
I think it is fine. If I think it through. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I bought this antenna for its breakdown size. It is called “super”, not “miracle” antenna.
Works fine. I live in Oregon, USA and have done coast to coast with 100 watts.
It doesn’t change the laws of physics. Neither does my full-size vertical. It does make for some picnic table/camping/backyard/ rv park or wherever fun. ( no way i’m gonna disassemble my full-size 6btv just take it camping.)
This antenna probably won't win you any contests. But then, it might.

I can sit and wish I was playing radio, or, I can take this antenna out and play radio.
Just like fishing, I might catch a fish and I might not.
Hmmm.... seems I said that when using my home station the other day.

So far I’m catching fish. Figuring out how to arrange the bait and tackle to get the fish is half the fun for me. This antenna gives plenty of opportunity to do that if one wishes to. Most of the time, if I’m not interested in rigging my line, I don’t fish. Same with this antenna. If my heart ain’t into it today, I don’t fish.
Physics is not the fault of this antenna. But every antenna I have ever used has defied the theory from time to time. This one is no exception.

It does what it does very well by my experience. This antenna is for those who liked “tinkertoys” as a kid. If that isn't you, don’t buy it. And probably one should reconsider portable ops anyway. It is a sport after all and one has to adjust to whatever “court you are playing on.
That is the fun for me and this setup provides that.
Next I will try making it into a dipole. Some day.
GW0JLX Rating: 2020-07-13
8/10 for effort Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I got one of these MP-1 Super Whip antennas about a year back and just yesterday was able to run a direct comparison to an Australian Outreach Outbacker as both use a 3/8ths screw mount and it was easy to dismount one for the other.

I was on top of a 410m high mountain (1345 feet) and the antennas were on top of a tripod some 5-6 feet above the ground. The counterpoises remained deployed for both antennas.

I was running 100W out from an FT-857 into 30m (100 feet) of RG58U feeder to the tripod 30m away from my operating position to minimise RF feedback.

Comparison bands were 40m and 80m with the Super Antenna needing the additional coil for 80m fitting.

The Outbacker was 2-3 "S" points better than the Super Whip and definitely produced slightly better results with an 55 report rather than an 53 report obtained with the super whip.

A good aerial as it is ultra portable and very light.
G8FXC Rating: 2019-10-04
It can't break the laws of physics, but... Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
... it certainly tries to! I've tried a variety of portable and compact antennae on our boat and they all tend to be disappointing. The MP-1 beats all of them easily and is fairly unnoticeable. It's never done much for me on 80, but I've made QSOs over surprising distances on 40 and up. It clamps easily onto the aft rail of the boat and is small enough that it can stay there provided the weather is not too bad.

It is narrow band - of course, given its size. I don't have an antenna analyser, but I find that it is easy enough to set up using the ruler that is supplied with it. I usually set it a bit longer (lower frequency) than the ruler suggests, then telescope it down a fraction of an inch at a time - normally get a decent tune within three or four steps. It is decently built - at least for static portable use - I would not try to run mobile with it installed and, on the boat, I would bring it in if bad weather is forecast.

Let's be reasonable about this - any antenna that is much less than a quarter of a wavelength long is going to be a compromise. The MP1 at around 2m long can get you some useful range on 40m and as you move up in frequency it actually gets closer to the right size! Don't try to compare it with a beam, or even a genuinely long wire - it will lose hands down - but in a portable context it may be your best chance of making a few QSOs.