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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: 155MSRP: 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
001554.4
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.
W3JJM Rating: 2019-10-02
Very Happy with it. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Bought mine way back when they were 100 or so. Really liked the slider and the original package worked well.

Beefed mine up a bit by using 4 black Buddipole arms under the slider and put a 66 inch black Buddipole fiberglass whip on top. This gave me 10 feet of blended goodness. Looks great with camouflage duck tape on the slider.

Clamp it to my deck railing.
Love the thing.
EI3IBB Rating: 2019-08-29
Definitely , a Super Antenna ! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I have the MP1 a Couple of Months now and I have to say that it has greatly exceeded my expectations. I don't get a lot of time to go on the radio be that portable or Base but I enjoy getting out to do portable work as much as possible when the weather is fine.

Just yesterday I got in contact with Rocco, VE3YJ, 3,200 miles from my QTH in Ireland, using my FT-891 @100 Watts. I was over the moon, even if he gave me a 52 from his Yagi at 120 feet I knew without his antenna I probably wouldn't be heard but the point is, I was heard, I made a contact 3,200 Miles away and this is what it's all about making contacts, This was with the Titanium whip too.

I get regular contacts up to 3,600 Kms away easily with 100 watt. With more time and at the tight times I could probably catch a lot more DX.

Regardless, with this MP1 Antenna I know I'm always going to make contacts, I have not yet tried QRP with the MP1 because with the limited time I have when I can get on the radio I just want to make contacts and not be calling the same station 20 times or more.

It's super easy and quick to set up and tuning is a breeze with an analyser.

The Antenna is very well made and breaks down to a very small side and with the supplied bag I can also fit my portable EFHW and Antenna Analyser.

Very happy with this Antenna, sure it's not going to perform like a Yagi, Dipole or EFHW @50+ feet but it works and it works very well as intended as a portable quick to deploy antenna.
K6BSR Rating: 2019-06-12
First impression is quite good Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I just received this antenna on Monday and so far I'm pleased. It arrived in an approximately 10x10x4 box and only weighed about two pounds. I got it set up in my backyard yesterday and the super spike came in quite handy for ground mounting it. I only made a handful of contacts running QRP 5 watts and even made a contact into Central Texas on 40 meters. I intend to ultimately use it in pedestrian portable configuration and may even press a drag wire counterpoise into service for my QRP forays. As I just got this antenna I won't delve into the finer details yet, but my first impression is quite positive.
KA4VNM Rating: 2019-04-29
Good starting point Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I purchased an original MP1 off Ebay for a good price. I had been looking at new but the price was to much to spend for an experiment. What I did discover is it tunes very fast with an analyzer (IP30) and performs moderately well in the back yard. When I say starting point, I changed the original whip out to a standard Buddipole whip things got better, a Buddipole long whip really makes it shine.It also becomes a bit broader and easier to tune. Keeping it upright in wind is best accomplished by driving a short piece of mast into the ground and using the universal mount U clamp. Mine has the old multi conductor wire which provides, 4 nice to pack, radials and good tuning across each band. I have used both with my Xiegu 5105 and my KX3 with good results. If you are willing to mod it a bit its a better than good compromise antenna for field work. Out of the box it works as advertised if mounted in a free space like a beach or field or a mountain top.
M0VHC Rating: 2019-04-03
wow Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Used this antenna portable from the north east coast of England, it has performed very well, first time out with it worked west coast usa ,north and south Africa then to top it all worked vk on 40m
second time out at the same location worked Hawaiian islands, to say I am impressed would be an understatement
very quick and easy to set up and tune.