| NZ7C |
Rating:  |
2003-12-31 | |
| Poor product |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
| I think this is a very cheaply made product which is priced way too high for what you get. I had one and sold it. I would not recommend it to anyone. However, I will say that I never had any issue with customer support - all my questions were answered quickly and correctly. I'm only writing this for those who might get their hopes up and be disappointed. You might try to look one over before your order. Hope this is of help to someone. |
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| DL1ABD |
Rating: |
2003-10-02 | |
| Really Awesome Performance! |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
To say I am satisfied would be an understatement. At first I couldn't believe how well this little thing performs.
I use my MP-1 together with the FT-817 and ZM-2 Z-Matcher ATU. I have attached antenna's mount with the clamp to a tin roof's rim right ouside of my roof window, as my shack is on an upper floor of a 5 story appartment building. The roof is really huge and acts as a perfect countepoise.
Now, it works great: within 4 days of operation I got 579 from a UA9C on 40/CW; 59 from a JW5 on 20/SSB, 339 from WB1 on 20/CW, 56 from RA0S on 15/SSB, 54 from KH2 (more than 12,000 kms!) on 15/SSB, 569 from HS0 on 15/CW, 549 from V51 on 15/CW. I also worked 4Z, JY and SU on 10/SSB, and OD5 on 15m/SSB.
I never even dared to imagine such results could be achieved with only 5 W and a mobile antenna!
All in all: this is a really great antenna, well worth every cent paid for it!
The only issue I have with it: I need to climb up a ladder to poke out of my window in order to change the band, so I think MP-2 would have been even better buy for me. |
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| K5PSK |
Rating: |
2003-08-01 | |
| Good Antenna ..Poor Customer Service |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I have used the MP1 for over a year now and had OK results with it. Tuning can be tricky and a good ground plane helps.
Customer service is TERRIBLE for anything but a direct purchase online and almost as bad in person. I met this guy at the Dallas HamCom and he could care less about speaking with a customer about anything. I recently emailed him to find out about his new product the MP-3 due to the limited technical information on the website and I have not even got a response after almost a month. If you want a decent portable antenna (with proper ground only) this one is ok, but customer service needs a lot of help.
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| EA5XQ |
Rating: |
2003-07-02 | |
| Good partner of my FT817 |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I bought MP-1 during my staying in USA and considering its size, its performance is considerable.
Strenghts:
- Easy to carry (I was using in all of my trips and no problem with the customs so far)
- Easy to build up and to set up in any corner of the hotel/apartment windows with the clamping unless the hotel windows can't be opened, ;-)
- Easy to enjoy for making radio wherever you go ...
Weaknesses:
- The most important is the lack of good postsales support from SuperAntennas, quick to answer whenever they have to sell and very hard after the sale whenever you need their help.
- Tuning a little bit slow process. I always bring with me my MFJ259, without it I'm not able to tune it quickly. And when the place where you put the antenna is not easy to access, it takes some time to tune it going and back. Probably MP-2 is easier as it comes motorized but it costs 100USD more just for that, it's not worthwhile.
In any case, I'm happy with my MP-1 that I bring with me in all my trips and I always trying to improve its performance. My next will be to include a capacity hat to MP1, I need to know how mechanically to do it as the whips are too thin and HiQ Hats are too close to the coil and the losses are higher. |
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| N1QZ |
Rating: |
2003-05-21 | |
| This thing kicks butt |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
I have just started using my MP-1 bicycle mobile in the past few weeks of spring, And i can not believe the results. On 15,17,& 20 meter's SSB i have worked a dozen countries and several states, without blinking an eye. One sunny afternoon i used the c-clamp mount that comes with it to mount it to a trashcan and worked GB4SPD in Ireland right out of my driveway.
My setup consists of an FT 817, no tuner, and the MP-1. also the aluminum frame of the bike acts as the counterpoise for a great swr match.
GO BUY ONE! This antenna is awesome (many thanks to the creater) |
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| VR2XMC |
Rating: |
2003-02-16 | |
| Good antenna but with a weak point |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
It is a good workable antenna though the appearance is very 'homebrew' like. It is prefectly functionable as long as you spend some time in laying the counterpoise. I like it as it is handy, compact and fulfill all my needs in portable operation.
The only complaint is the plastic band lock screw. The thread of screw wear out at an amazing quick speed though I did not use excessive pressure.
In terms of performance, it should be 5/5 but after adding this weak point, I am afraid I can only give it a 4/5.
73
Johnny VR2XMC |
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| AA1YB |
Rating: |
2003-02-07 | |
| Just opened the box! |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| Just receieved my new MP-1. I set it up inside my home which has metal siding ( I also purchased the tripod) and connected it to my FT 817, I didn't unravel the counterpoise just laid it on the floor. Without touching anything I worked all the local 2 meter repeaters and a 6 meter repeater. Then switched over to 10 meters found a signal and slowly raised the slider until the signal peaked at S9 and then called the station that was on and was 59 into the Netherlands from here in Maine@ 5 watts! It works and it fits right into my backpack with my 817. What else can you say? |
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| KA5S |
Rating: |
2002-12-25 | |
| FIlls a need, and well. |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I bought an MP1 and FT-817 mount shortly after I got my 817. It replaced a hb antenna built from a RS "back-of-set" CB whip. I was very impressed. But of course, it's been over a year now.
I mainly use the MP1 on an FT-817, and rarely with a counterpoise. This works best on 20m and higher frequencies, but I've had success on 40 meter CW over some hundreds of miles, walking around with the rig around my neck and the antenna sticking out in front.
Tuning this setup is easy -- I loosen the nylon screw, adjust (holding the nylon screw as an insulator) the sleeve for maximum received noise, then push it up a couple of turns (to make up for hand capacitance I've removed) and transmit a dash while watching the SWR meter on the rig. Usually, I have to move it a couple more times to get the SWR right. Then I tighten the nylon screw. Tuning is sensitive to nearness to the antenna, and what is connected to the chassis, or near it. Sometimes I grasp the FT-817 in my left hand to raise capacitance to the body and improve "grounding.".
It is harder to tune when remotely mounted, and an antenna analyzer, even a lowly MFJ-207, is handy for that. Also, on a mount fixed to a non-conductive object, radials of some sort are really necessary. The counterpoise kit provided works best if its wires are separated, spread out around the circumference of a circle, and kept elevated.
The short mast and collapsible whip will pack away inside the loading coil, and fit in a briefcase beside a small rig. The provided clamp and mounting plate are serviceable, too.
Where headroom may be limited (say, walking through doorways) it's possible to leave off the whip, and just use the metal tube as the coil's top loading. This allows operation from 30 meters on upwards in frequency. Performance for an antenna less than three feet long is shamefully good!
Because the hardware is standard 3/8" by 24, it's possible to assemble the coil to other masts and other whips, though I do not recommend a heavy whip, as it may overstress the aluminum threads and deform the coil form or the beryllium-copper contacts. A mobile kit is available for the MP-1 which consists of a longer mast, around two and a half feet, and a thin, lightweight, about 5 foot stainless steel whip. This puts less stress on the antenna than cut-down CB steel whips.
A caution: Aluminum hardware must be treated carefully when assembled to dissimilar metals, as it may "gall," with pieces of aluminum metal actually abrading off and jamming the hardware together. A squirt of a thin silicone lubricant may help, but this works against making good contact.
For mobile operation, it helps to have am insulating stick or rod with a hook on it so the coil may be slid up and down while in place, to adjust for best SWR. I found it necessary to keep the door open to watch the SWR meter, but again, connection at the antenna base to an antenna analyzer makes this less of a problem.
While a dipole coiled up in a pocket is hard to beat, I consider this antenna one of the best small, walking-about portable HF antennas an Amateur can buy. Results at the HF-Pack shootouts have shown it down a negligible amount from a reference quarter-wave vertical on 20 meters. I've not seen it tested on 40, though. There is no reason to expect it will be particularly good on 40, portable, considering its size and less than perfect coil. However, the competitors don't look built for *better* efficiency overall.
Cortland |
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| N1ODL |
Rating: |
2002-12-21 | |
| Really Works |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
have owned this antenna about one year to use with my K1 when traveling. The firsst time I set it up was on a second floor window with the counterpoises hanging down the side of the building and along the floor of the room. I have a built in tuner with this rig. The antenna took about 5 minutes to set up. Got on 20 meters and my first contact was with South Africa. Boy was I suprised!Have used this antenna in several different configurations now and am still very pleased with the results. I now use the tripod mount as much as possible as it seems to help with the signal over hanging out a window, but that also works fine.
I highly recommend this antenna for Portable use.
Aron
NN1F
NH |
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| N6PEQ |
Rating: |
2002-07-26 | |
| Excellent Antenna! Easy to Deploy! |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I just purcahsed a Super Antennas MP-1 for my Yaesu FT-817 QRP rig. The MP-1 takes under 5 minutes to setup. It is quite "idiot proof". The antenna receives extremely well, and "talks" very well too! I first set it up on my front yard where I practiced tuning the unit on the different HF bands. I was surprised to see how broad banded the antenna is. On 10, 15 & 20 the MP-1's SWR is almost flat across the entire band. On 40, I have two settings, one for CW and one for SSB. I also purchased the 80 meter coil unit, which also works quite nicely!
My first few contacts were on 40 meter ssb with 5 watts. I then jumped up to 20 meter ssb where working the Caribbean was not a problem. 15 meters cw/ssb into South America... No problem! I have used the antenna both at home and at the beach with very favorable results.
I highly suggest this antenna to anyone who needs an antenna for picnics, hiking, etc that can be setup quickly and hassle free. Of course it is does not perform like a 6 element triband yagi at 70', but considering its size and simplicity, it does VERY well !!!
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