| KJ1H |
Rating:     |
2013-03-03 | |
| Good bang for the buck |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
As I write this, I've had my MP-1 for precisely one day. I've had poor luck getting an HF mobile station to work, and I'd been considering a Buddistick to try HF portable instead - park the car, throw up an antenna, and get on the air. Then saw the MP-1 during HRO's sale yesterday, and got it for half the price of the Buddistick. When I got home I set it up, clamped it to my car's trailer hitch (NOT for mobile use, just to clamp it somewhere!) and failed to make any contacts whatsoever on several bands.
By chance I had a friendly chat with AB1MI last night, who has been using this antenna extensively and gave me some hints. Today I used some speaker wire to make a much longer ground wire than the MP-1 comes with. I set it up again, connected my new ground, tuned for 17 meters, and soon worked HK4CZE in Columbia. Later I tuned it for 30 meters and had a nice chat with N0NWO in Minnesota.
Overall, I'm very impressed with the antenna. I give it a 4 rather than a 5 because it comes with everything you need except an adequate ground system. But all of the other components are good quality, and after making my own ground it's working great, even with the short telescoping whip it comes with. I intend to build a stand for it so I can give it a little elevation and move it away from the car, and pick up a longer whip at some point to improve its performance even further. But it's working fine right now, and I'm looking forward to getting back on HF regularly. |
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| K7FF |
Rating:      |
2013-01-14 | |
| Extreme versatility & quality |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I used the original SuperAntennas in my mobile SuperAntenna array and in a portable array configuration on my 2nd story apartment balcony for several years with great success.
I recently bought eight new replacement NewSuperAntenna SuperSliders for the two arrays. My arrays are designed to use different accessory components so I just buy and use the SuperSliders.
I installed four of the SuperSliders on the mobile array mounted above the side rails of my '05 Dodge Dakota Pickup, which took about fifteen minutes. I had made a slight 'addition' to the SuperSliders making for nearly effortless band changes without using my MFJ-259B after the initial setup.
Instant success!
I am on the cusp of making my mobile/portable antenna system design public, including the tripod assembly. I have found nothing that compares to the NewSuperAntenna Supersliders, so I will suggest they be used in building the arrays. |
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| W1KFR |
Rating:      |
2012-08-24 | |
| WOW!! |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| I just got this antenna delivered to me today and took it out of the box,mounted it to a tripod that I already had. I measured the unit to use it on 40 meters connected the radials and called CQ and a guy from Bradenton, FL came right back to me. It took me a whole 5 minutes to get it set up. I have it in my front yard and it is totally portable. I know I need a better antenna system but I have a small lot and have to be careful about what I put up for antennas. For what I need this will serve the purpose. My intention is to use this antenna portable in those situations I need to set up remote with the TS-480 in the field. I am glad I have this unit and will be playing with it the rest of the night on 40 meters. |
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| WA7NDD |
Rating:      |
2012-06-24 | |
| Solved my mobility issues! |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
Several years ago, at Sea Pac Vern and I had rooms next to each other. I offered him a ride back to our hotel and he invited me in to see the MP1. He had an FT 817 on the table, and an MP1 Supper Antenna clamped to the rail of hotel balcony. He had worked Japan on CW, and was talking about retiring from his dental practice. In those days, I was still working and had my health and thought little of the MP1 clamped to the balcony, and less about QRP, I was polite.
I retired, ended up with mobility health issues, and found the Buddipole system I had worked well, but required more fiddling then I could do, and sold it. With more health issues, I found myself trapped in a chair for ten weeks. I bought a Miracle Whip for my FT 817, yes I finally got the bug, for receive only so I could sit and listen to a modicum of ham radio in my chair, it was terrible. I bought an MP1 Supper Antenna and it was just what I needed. It sat on the floor with a short tripod, radials stretched along the wall, and worked well. I have used the antenna outside and have been impressed, with 5 watts and the original radials, I just peak the receiver noise by sliding the coil, mounted on a camera tripod, and hit the Z817 antenna tuner button, and it’s ready. I’ve had no DX, but I also have had no trouble in working the states surrounding Idaho. I still have mobility issues and this is the perfect antenna for my outings. Soon there will be an article on Eham.net that I penned, called “The Old Man Go Box” built around the uses of the MP1 Supper Antenna, both have made it possible for me to enjoy QRP outings.
Jim, WA7NDD
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| XE1UFO |
Rating:      |
2012-05-22 | |
| Great product! |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I have one. I have a small plastic toolbox where my portable antennas travel. The MP-1 resides there. As mentioned by others, all of these things will.of course, noticeably improve your signal.
1. Longer radials.
2. Adding a longer shaft under the coil.
3. Replacing the supplied telescopic whip with the 10-foot versions from either Buddypole or MFJ.
But in many situations (such as a hotel balcony) none of these will be practical. Carry them as options.
For what is was designed to do, I think it is an awesome investment.
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| N4PTC |
Rating:      |
2012-05-13 | |
| MP-1 portable off my back deck. |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| Just purchased the MP-1 portable vertical and set it up on my back deck for a quick trial today. I decided to make my own counterpoise wires from some 16ga primary wire. The MP-1 comes with 4 11ft counterpoises. I used 4 25ft counterpoises coming off the antenna that was clamped to my deck rail. The feed point of the antenna was about 6 feet off the ground. I made a handful of contacts, all with great signal reports. CO6 from cuba , OK6 from the Czech republic and a EH6 station on DX-pedition to the Balearic Islands. All on 20 meters. So far , I have to say that the antenna far exceeded my expectations. The MP-1 is very easy to setup and take down. I'm going to use an old tripod bag for a carry case. |
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| AG4KN |
Rating:     |
2012-05-11 | |
| Pretty Good to Great! |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
Bought this antenna second hand and I noticed that it was a very early version with ALOT of wear. I took it (and some other gear) with me to Japan in 2009 and was able to work down into NZ and AUS and HI using 5 watts.
When the March 11th, 2011 Sendai, Japan earthquake/tsunami events happened, we lost power for a solid week; but I was able to get on the air using the MP-1 Super Antenna with my SG-2020 with an LDG Auto Tuner(original version) with a foldable solar panel into a charge controller and was working low power (10 to 20 watts) back into CONUS. I ended up sending "Health and Welfare" traffic for the guys I worked with.
All this said, this packable, light weight, multi-band antenna worked good to great! No issues here! |
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| AL4U |
Rating:      |
2012-05-03 | |
| Great packable antenna |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
The MP-1 is great for portable operation as it packs up into a very compact package. I can fit the MP-1, IC706MkIIG, AT180, 25' of coax, radials, remote control head, mic and power cable into an old Samsonite attache case. The antenna is well constructed with machined aluminum parts. The plastic lock screw on the coil sleeve is a bit fragile, but it works well for tuning as I can hold it while tuning the radio for max noise. I'll add a better c-clamp and longer nylon screw.
I've made contacts to USA, Croatia, Spain, and Austria from my QTH in N. VA on 15m, 20m, and 10m with the MP-1 clamped to an inside window ledge or outside deck rail. The antenna performs much better than I anticipated. |
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| W6DXO |
Rating:      |
2012-04-25 | |
| Great Value |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
Let me start by stating that I own or have owned nearly every type of commercially produced portable HF antenna out there.
Vern, W6MMA, has just gone back into production with an improved Super Antennas MP-1. I needed a new MP-1 as I had worn out the last two I have owned with very heavy use during international travel. My experience with other portable antennas has been generally good, but not up to my experiences with the MP-1.
This newest MP-1 has very, very high manufacturing values and includes a simple vastly improved and well thought out counterpoise system consisting of two pair of pre-cut radials.
I have just returned from my Ops in the USVI and can report that my new MP-1 performed great. I made over 1350 contacts, including 60+ DXCC entities and 47 US states. All this with just my 706IIG and my MP-1.
I used my MP-1 in its stock configuration with the addition of two additional sections of mast extensions to help improve band width.
In addition to recommending the two additional mast extensions I also recommend that you consider traveling with a larger "C" clamp to insure that you will be able to mount the MP-1 where you want to. My experience has been that every once in a while the larger "C" clamp really comes in handy!
You can not defy the laws of physics, and the MP-1 in an addmitted compromise antenna. This being said, the MP-1 strikes a superb balance between cost, performance, and real world practacality.
For me the bottom line is that for less than $100 this is simply the best antenna I have found for use with portable Ops.
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Earlier 5-star review posted by W6DXO on 2008-03-31
Just returned from St. John in the US Virgin Islands where I operated as KP2/W6DXO using my trusty 706IIG and an MP-1. Other than using an additional 18" extension to the coil support mast the antenna was used "stock" with great results: Over 800 QSO's, 48 states and 42 countries worked over a 5 day period. This is my second MP-1. It's the perfect solution when I need to travel very light and don't want to worry about setting up a wire dipole.
At only $100 this is a buy.
73 de harry, W6DXO
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| K4JAH |
Rating:      |
2012-02-11 | |
| GREAT FOR CONDO USE |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| WITH OUT THIS ANTENNA I WOULDN'T BE ON THE AIR. GREAT HELP FROM VERN. |
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