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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
K2DER Rating: 2009-07-01
very satisfied Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I do not want to believe, I bought one, and really all I can say is extraordinary antenna.
W6RDG Rating: 2009-06-14
just what the doctor ordered! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
recently relicensed with a used FT-897, i was looking for a temporary antenna to erect in my backyard... tried a couple of long wires but wasn't happy so i went down to the local HRO and they recommended the MP-1... i was skeptical, but clamped the antenna onto a heavy-duty camera/telescope tripod with the included c-clamp, and proceeded to tune up on 20 with near 1:1 SWR (no external tuner). from my home in northern california i worked arizona, utah, calgary and pennsylvania this past weekend... considering the weak propagation we've had, i'm feeling pretty good about this portable antenna.

don't know how sturdy it will be over the long run (fit and finish isn't perfect and one section is slightly wobbly... contacted SA to see what they recommend), but for my needs, its just what the doctor ordered!
G1WEV Rating: 2009-06-12
Superantenna for portable use! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've used this antenna for around 3 years now, usually as a ground mounted portable vertical with 40 x 16ft wire radials. I have used it with the MFJ 12ft telescopic whip which worked great but now i have a 2 piece 9ft tank whip as this is much sturdier. I have had no problems tuning the antenna for lowest swr on all the bands (6mtrs thru to 40mtrs). Obviously full size wire antennas will work more efficiently but as a good all rounder this takes some beating. I have worked over 100 countries with this MP1 including Hawaii on 5 watts. Other stations of note include Rarotonga (South Cook Islands) and Tuvalu. Give it a try.
AA8OY Rating: 2009-05-07
Super Portable Time Owned: more than 12 months.
In my former life (before retirement) I traveled frequently to EU and took my FT817 and Super Antenna along. My most memorable QSO was from the roof garden of a hotel in Nice, France with my Super Antenna shoved under the flashing of an adjacent roof. I worked JA on 17 meters and 4-5 watts and got the QSL card for the QSO. I've notched a piece of plastic and use to set the coil position. It works great. Give it a try.
ZS4U Rating: 2009-05-07
Good Performer Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
When I received the parcel from the States I was very surprised at the small size! Sure enough the little nylon lock nut broke on the first attempt and I replaced it with a more dureable one. The whip is not of good quality - the copper stopper plates popped through the collar. So I replaced the whip with a durable one that is also a foot longer. I added another foot of shaft length and converted a junk box mobile ball mount to accept the MP-1. Setup is with the MP-1 on the ball mount with a stake into the ground. I use the supplied counter poise. I used an MFJ 259B to get the resonant point on all bands 40 -10m and used a little plastic ruler to mark the gap between the slider and coil bottom on the ruler - now no more hunting SWR - just place my ruler next to the coil and move the slider tube to corresponding band mark!

After all this was done I tested the antenna in action and with only 100 watts from the IC-7000 was able to work USA on 40m SSB! Worked USSR on 20 and Europe on 15! The little MP-1 really performs well and I am pleased with it. For just $99 it is a good buy!

KE7GGZ Rating: 2009-04-02
ONE HOT DOG OF AN ANTENNA Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I picked this antenna up used (2weeks old)yesterday, from a ham that chose the wrong antenna for a base unit?

I tried it out with my Yaesu FT-817nd QRP rig with the antenna coax connector set up at about waist height and the antenna tip, raising above another 8 ft, or so.....From Arizona into the South Cook Island of Raua Tunga, a 5/1 report last night, on 14.260mhz! (5watts of qrp power!)
Hawaii from Arizona, a 5/3 report and Ill. from Arizona, a 5/7 report! All after dark on the 20 meter band! (did I say, 5 watts of power?!)

Vern, ya did it~! This is one great antenna for my backpack rig!

I'd buy one for the low price of $99.00, ya all! All it takes is a little patience, a black majic marker, to mark each band on the coil and tune for most noise, than tune for lowest SWR!

(Don't over tighten the screw either, since it is plastic, or you just screwed yourself!)
NA7US Rating: 2009-03-30
Wow Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This antenna is awesome for portable work. Solid construction and I worked from Atlanta with 5 watts in early March, HK0, VE1, VE3, Colorado, Ohio and PA in about an hour. If you want a portable antenna that does what they say it will do then get one. I do recommend a tuner or an analyzer so you can get the lowest SWR.
K2GLW Rating: 2009-03-17
This antenna is worth the effort Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I live in a New York City apartment building with no balcony, no access to the roof and no way to put up an outside antenna. Bought the Super Antenna based on another ham's recommendation and am delighted I did.

I have the antenna inside the apartment with a quarter-wave counterpoise hanging out the window.
It takes a long time to tune the antenna to lowest SWR and Vern's suggestions for tuning are only suggestions. Tuning at 20 meters was very different from the settings Vern recommended.

However, it can be tuned and once tuned, the results amazed me. Within a few days I worked Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, the Azores Islands and Italy. The station in Mississippi said I was coming in 20db over 5/9. Awesome for an antenna inside a steel frame building.

Vern worked hard with me to get the antenna working. The unit is beautifully made and easy to set up. So far, has only used on 20 meters, but will try 40 meters as well very soon.
WD0CNZ Rating: 2009-03-08
Awesome Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I bought the antenna mainly for QRP work. I recently used it with my FT-857D indoors and worked Europe, Alaska and the Caribbean in the ARRL International contest (just DXing not participating). Even week stations heard me using the stock radials on 40/20/15 meters. It was fun. Even got the Czech Republic 5W SSB with the Antenna in my family room. I think it works !!!!!

Don--WD0CNZ
KE7UEJ Rating: 2009-03-08
So So Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Pros: Receives signal great, small size, perfect for me because I live in an apartment.

Cons: Talking to people, really hard to get out with this antenna.

It's a little over priced considering what a good GR5V Jr would set you back. Drop me a line if you want my MP-1 (callsign at gmail.com