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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
M5TAW Rating: 2003-12-10
Good antenna Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have seen these advertised for several months and was tempted to try one. They retail at £130ish in the UK which seems expensive. Anyway, I picked one up on ebay for half price and so far am pleased.
Most of my radio activity is listening when I have a spare few minutes, or when I am travelling somewhere. For me the miracle whip is perfect. I cannot think of another simple to tune antenna that will resonate on the ham bands without a counterpoise/ground.
Owning this antenna makes the difference between turning the radio on for a few minutes and not using the radio at all. It is sometimes just not possible to deploy a bigger more complicated system. I use mine with the FT817 when out and about and in the back of my IC7400 as backup in the shack.
I did not expect much on TX, but so far have been pleasntly surprised. 5 watt SSB contacts into Russia, Italy, Germany etc.. There are more efficient QRP antennas for sale, but there s nothing like the Miracle whip for convenience.
W4LGH Rating: 2003-11-16
EXCELLENT Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
The Miracle Whip is a SUPER antenna. One has to remember what you are working with here. 5 watts into a 54" radiator. I would have never believed it worked as well as it did until I tried one. Its a bit pricey, but it is well constructed, and it does WORK! I would highly reccommend one for your FT-817!
73 de W4LGH
www.w4lgh.com

M1RAL Rating: 2003-09-06
This antenna does work Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
This antenna does work. Sometimes I wonder just what people expect from a 55-inch whip antenna, primarily designed for low power operation. Remember to keep things in perspective - this is NOT a multi-element beam at 30 ft and it never professed to be either.

I've had the MW just short of a year now and have used it from my home QTH as well as /P. I find it is an excellent companion for my FT-817 and have had great success with it. As an example here's a list of countries I have worked from the UK using my MW/817 combo:

Azerbaijan (20m)

Belgium (20m)

Bosnia-Herzegovina (20m)

Estonia (15m)

Finland (15m) (**2.5W SSB both ways**)

Germany (20m)

Hungary (20m)

Italy (15m, 20m)

Lithuania (15m)

Slovakia (15m)

Slovenia (15m, 20m)

Spain (15m)

Sweden (20m)

Inter-United Kingdom (70cm, 2m, 20m, 40m)

Ukraine (40m)

United States (New Hampshire) (20m)

Yugoslavia (15m, 20m)

Now who says it doesn't work???

73,

Rick M1RAL
G3XBM Rating: 2003-08-12
Good compact antenna for QRP but needs lower UK price! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Used a MW antenna as my ONLY antenna since last November with the FT817, mostly on 5W SSB. I operate from an upstairs bedroom and use a central heating radiator as ground/counterpoise. With this set-up I've worked 11,000kms on SSB (LU) on 10m SSB and about 800kms on 40m SSB. It is sometimes hard going but I never cease to be amazed how such a basic set-up can work so well. Only downside is the UK price is TOO HIGH for most.


KC8MEW Rating: 2003-08-10
good reciever Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I bought this antenna about 3 months ago to use with my FT-817. I found that it recieves real well, but as far transmit I would rate it a zero. So far, I have only made 1 contact. That was 40 meters ssb @ 5 watts. This contact was only 100 miles away and my signal report was a 535. I have made several attempts calling cq on 20, 17, 15,and 10 meters with no response. I also tried to answer a few stations calling cq. No response.I also tried the 2 meter FM to hit the local repeater, nope. I must say I live approx from 20 miles from the repeater. I contacted the company via e-mail. Their response was very pleasent and blamed the failure of the antenna on band conditions. I believe I gave it a fair chance. The final down fall of this experience is, I bought this antenna from a very well known radio dealer in Columbus, Ohio and they have a return policy of only 14 days from the date of purchase. The only value I see is to use it on my Drake SW8 when I am out and about.
WR5D Rating: 2003-08-10
Small but nice! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I bought this little antenna so I could try some picnic table portable. I'd been using a dipole strung up between to scruffy scrub oaks at my favorite campsite. Well, it works, that much is true, but it isn't great. It won't solve all your antenna problems, but it packs easily and it sets up fast. By the way, I use it with a SG2020. It's attached to the side of the rig with 3M heavy duty Velcro. I run a short jumper to the antenna and I'm done! It is fairly well made but I wish the little box was a bit sturdier. Anyway it's fun, relatively inexpensive, and easy to use. have fun!
K7VO Rating: 2003-08-01
OK, but not great Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have used the Miracle Whip and as a receiving antenna it's just brilliant: small, compact, and easy to tune. For transmitting it does work after a fashion from 17m on up, but most other portable antennas I have tried seem to get better results. I think the numbers Bonnie, KQ6XA, posted are spot on. If you have nothing else to compare it with it may seem like it's doing the job. I have other portable antennas and the Miracle Whip is about the poorest of the lot. That doesn't mean you can't get out with a Miracle Whip -- you can. You just can't get out as well as you can with something else.
N8CMZ Rating: 2003-07-29
Great for Portable Use Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Miracle Whip attached to a low power 5W Yaesu FT-817 Xcvr yielded 23 countries over the last weekend. Antenna works extremely well on 10M and 15M. Solid SSB signal reports from my backyard patio location using battery power.
NF0G Rating: 2003-06-08
Nice for portable use. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I really have enjoyed this antenna. Of course it is not going to compete with a dipole. The reason I got it was I can set it up ANYWHERE and operate. It works nicely for general coverage listening too. It is not the only antenna I carry for portable use, but I woldn't be without one either.
7N4MQN Rating: 2003-04-22
Great piece of kit ! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Works as advertised. Out of the box, onto the rig and Australia, Austria and USA booming into Japan from the top of a picnic table and no counterpoise. VERY well made.
Mentioned the product on the South East Asia Net and more endorsements. Gotta get off work for more DX !!..... 73's