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Reviews For: Miracle Whip

Category: Antennas: HF Portable (not mobile)

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Review Summary For : Miracle Whip
Reviews: 68MSRP: 129.95
Description:
The all-band rig-mounted whip for the FT-817 (and lots of other radios too...)
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.miracleantenna.com/miracleWhip.htm
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00683.9
OE3SGU Rating: 2006-10-01
OK for what it is Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
This antenna really works. No counterpoise and you tune it from 40-10 meters. Great for travelling, listening and doing occassionally some qsos with it. I worked on 40 CW and it was not bad at all. Of course longer and other antennas are better, but I would not like to miss this one.
KQ6XA Rating: 2005-04-20
Waste 90% of Your Power in Heat Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I own a miracle Whip Antenna "mW" and currently hold the world record for the longest distance miracleWhip -to- miracleWhip SSB QSO (both stations Pedestrian Mobile "/PM" with counterpoises), about 1000 miles, on a north-south path at the peak of the sunspot cyle using 25 Watts on 17 meters. Just goes to show that you can make "miracle QSOs" with only milliWatts of effective radiated power when the conditions are just right.

The same "mW antenna" used for the world record was measured at the HFpack Pedestrian Antenna Shootouts using an FT-817 on 20meter CW. This is a real-world test event that was witnessed by hundreds of hams (2 years in a row) and is documented on the web.

The "mW Antenna" measured -10dB down with a counterpoise and -29dB down without a counterpoise.

-10dB down means that the "mW Antenna" is wasting 90% of your power heating up the little black tuner knob box... and -29dB down means that it wastes over 99% of your power in heat!

If you use the "mW Antenna" with a 5 Watt transmitter and an elevated resonant counterpoise on 20 meters, the maximum power you will radiate into the air is half-a-watt (500 milliWatts). This is the "best case" condition! Using it on lower frequencies or without a counterpoise means you will radiate much_less_than_500_milliWatts.

The "mW Antenna" was one of the least efficient antennas tested in the shootouts. There are many other antennas on the market with similar length (or shorter) telescopic whips that are more efficient for transmitting.

The Superantennas MP-1 and the Buddistick are at least 8dB better. The ATX, Outbacker Joey, and similar antennas are about 5dB better.
See the results and photos of the event at:
http://hfpack.com
(HFpack. HF Portable.)

Here is a sample of the measured dB results... Reference Vertical is a quarterwave whip.
-------------------------------------------------
VERTICAL POLARIZATION
ANTENNA=========================dB+/-Ref
Reference Vertical============== 0.00
KA5DVS "PAC-12M" =============== -1.76
SuperAntennas MP-1 ============= -1.88
KA5DVS "PAC-12"================= -1.88
SuperAntennas MP-2============== -1.94
Webster Short Bandspanner======= -3.92
Diamond RHM5==================== -3.95
Waters & Stanton ATX Walkabout== -4.61
KA5S Backpack Delta Loop======== -4.82
Outbacker Tri-Split============= -5.03
Outbacker Joey================== -5.12
Miracle Antenna Miracle Whip==== -10.48
Miracle Whip [no counterpoise]== -29.21
-------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------
Note: The estimated "margin of error" was +/-0.3dB.

That said, I still keep the little mW and use it for certain situations... the "mW antenna" is useful for two things:
1. As a close-range test antenna HF receive whip for 50ohm input receivers.
2. When an antenna that radiates slightly more than a dummy load is useful for bench testing.

Bonnie KQ6XA
AA3LE Rating: 2005-03-20
Good Receiving Antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Well made and receives very well. I could not make a contact with it using my FT817. Neither CW or SSB. After a year sold it and bought a Joey. Joey worked much better and made many contacts. However Joey only ok. Have switched to Buddipole and an Alpha Delta Outpost with a Hustler mobile system and am real happy. In my view its a miracle when one makes a contact using 5 watts and a miracle whip.
WB1BPV Rating: 2004-12-05
More power makes the Grade Time Owned: more than 12 months.
When I first received the MW(2 yrs ago), I was frustrated because 5 watts(my FT-817) wasn't allowing me to make more than 2meter, 440 and a few 6 meter contacts.After playing around with different lengths of wire clipped to the top of the antenna, it hit me that maybe I needed a tiny bit more power.I hooked it up to my IC706, cranked out 10 watts, and made numerous contacts,15 and 20watts made even more of a difference from inside my Brick covered condo.I felt like one of the big guns on 10-40 meters.The key(IMHO)to making contacts(for those of you who are as frustrated as I was)is more power.I know it defeats the purpose of being truly portable, but if you are on vacation and are lucky enuf to get one of those motels with a balcony,then crank up that lightweigh power supply you brought and tune up your MW.10 watts and a MW will surprise you.
DF2DD Rating: 2004-09-26
Supergood Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Bought this antenna to escort my 817 to several outdoor events. It works fantastic. Normal usage is without using any counterpoise but I attached one. 5m let the SWR be flat in all of the 20m-band e.g..
Antenna perform extremly good. Using 5W my ODX was JA during the contest. My god, couldn't believe it. So if you are looking to be megaportabel go and get the MW. It works super
WK0C Rating: 2004-09-20
I was shocked Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
It truly performs as advertised. Pulled it out of the box, screwed it on the FT-817 rear connector. Tuned for max noise, checked the SWR...flat. Ran PSK at 5 watts on 14070 at 2000L, usually dead time on 20M here. Two solid east coast contacts from the living room of my house in SE Wyoming within minutes. You really can work the world from your coffee table...no masts, no wires, no ground or counterpoise, no hassle tuning. The little monster just works wonders for it's size.
KA8ZPF Rating: 2004-04-14
Works as advertised! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I will preface what I say by telling you my QTH of Buckeye Lake, often commuting and communicating with Columbus, OH. I purchased a used Yaesu FT-817. My co-workers recommended this antenna highly so I purchased it at the same time. I am so glad I did. The first time I tried the 817, I tried 2m with a good HT antenna, then the whip. I live a county away from the repeater I tried it on. I could just make it on the good HT ant. Diamond RH77CA, though scratchy. With the Whip at full length, I hit it with full quieting, and my co-worker reported a very nice signal.

On HF, it also worked well. On their web site, they show you what to expect from the antenna. It is so-so on 160 and 80 meters as someone else here noted. However, I found it works well when conditions are more favorable on the 40-10 meter bands. I have made several contacts in the states, some at least a thousand miles away on 5 watts SSB. During Field Day 2003, I made a contact in NY on the battery at 2.5 watts. What more can I say.

With portability and very easy tuning, it is hard for me to criticize the product since its' manufacturer has not exaggerated its' abilities. I give it a 5. If out of 10, a 9.
KT3K Rating: 2004-03-29
cool Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I got the miracle whip to play with on my upcoming field day with my 40 meter rig I built. I took it out plugged it in and made a contact right away 2 states away.

Whip it, whip it good...
hi hi

John
KT3K
N3FQL Rating: 2004-03-29
Fun, Easy and it Works! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I bought mine used to try with my 817. I wanted to take it into the woods on my All-terrain vehicle to climb some hills and work DX. On the first trip out I drove up to the top of the hill, took out the radio, attached the antenna, tuned in a strong signal on ten meters, called him, and on the fifth try worked YZ5G from Western Pennsylvania! And he actually gave me a 5x9 report.
I am hooked. It works great on the vhf band as well, now on to may other happy hilltops!
KC2HBS Rating: 2004-02-10
It really works Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I am using this antenna with a FT-817. Checked into ECARS on 40. The intercontinental on 20 and worked DX on 17. No radials. No counterpoises.
Just remember, you are QRP. Be patient. If the bands are down, I ragchew on 2M/440 FM repeaters.
I would recommend this antenna.