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Reviews For: MFJ-1786 Super Hi-Q Loop

Category: Antennas: HF: Verticals; Wire; Loop

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Review Summary For : MFJ-1786 Super Hi-Q Loop
Reviews: 68MSRP: 379.95
Description:
High Efficiency 10-30 MHz Continuous Coverage Magnetic Loop
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.mfjenterprises.com/Product.php?productid=MFJ-1786
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00684.3
KF3KWO Rating: 2003-08-27
Good but a few issues Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I've used this antenna indoors and outdoors, originally with an HTX-10. Now I'm using it with a TS-520SE. I think this is a great antenna for the space it takes up (very little), but it's a bit on the pricey side. The well-known MFJ curse has not struck this antenna, as I've had no problems with it at all. Having to retune when you move a few KHz is a pain though. But, living in an HOA community, I have to trade convenience for stealth. I'm nervous about it being out in the rain (I always bring it in anyway) due to the plastic shell, even though the manual says it's OK.

Can't get it any higher than about 20 feet (2nd floor) off the ground behind my 3-story townhouse, so SWR isn't always the greatest, but is workable with an easy adjustment inside the plastic shell. Worked fine in my attic while I was on 10m only. Made my first 2 contacts on 20 recently with the antenna laying on the deck.

PROS: stealthy, works indoors and outdoors, good quality, good manual, versatile.

CONS: pricey, retuning every few KHz, bulky so not transportable very well, pricey (again).

N1YRK Rating: 2002-01-04
Nice, but needs modernization Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
This antenna really pulls in the signals, and leaves the noise out. This is located on top of a 4 story residential building in the middle of the city. Compared to every other space limited antenna I have ever used, this this is great.

The plastic housing seems a little shoddy. Also, I wonder what performance we would have got if the aluminum element was copper electroplated? My largest compaint is the lack of computer tuning. With it's narrow bandwidth, it requires constant returning and it wouldbe great if the rig and/or a computer could do this. The auto-tune feature doesn't really work too well.

Maybe some hardware hacker can figure out how to make a computer interface for it. If I had the time, I'd be tinkering with it myself.
N9EYL Rating: 2001-11-02
A very TV friendly Antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have one of these that I have used horizontally more than two years now. And I would have to echo practically all of the comments I heard here so far. I have mine up about 7 Meters in the air and it does provide me a very good downward null into the house.

One thing to keep in mind about this antenna that is very important. It IS Hi-Q! And what that means is that if it is not tuned chances are you will hear NOTHING in a given band. This antenna is very much so a tuned circuit. The HI-Q effect is even more pronounced on the lower bands. For me my 3:1 SWR bandwidth on 20 Meters is between 6 and 10 Kc's. The higher bands are progressively wider. Luckily, it is tuned from the shack using just four buttons. The good thing about this Hi-Q effect is that it is a very low noise antenna. When I first hooked it up to my radio I thought I had my RF gain turned down or that my receiver was a little dead. The fact is that all of the snap crackle pop and woosh that I was used to was just many S units down from a comparable long piece of wire.

Also, the horizontal polarization of this antenna seems to be very pronounced. My ability to communicate with local vertical users versus horizonatal folks seems to be really pronounced. However for DX stations this antenna works wonderfully.

I really like this antenna. But, I would not recommend it to somebody that likes to jump around the bands a lot as it needs to be tuned when you jump more than a few Kc's in frequency.

G0RGU Rating: 2001-10-21
super performance Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've been using the 1782 ( version without auto tune ) for over a year now and would recommend it. It's only 3 foot diameter and radiates as well as a full size dipole across 6 bands ( 10-30Mhz )with an swr < 1.5:1. Mine is horizontal, 12 mtrs above ground. I work regular CW DX on 18Mhz upwards ( best was VK on 20 watts ! ) and occasionally on 14Mhz. On 30 mtrs range is limited to 2000kms but usually good signals both ways. I use power levels from 20 watts down to qrp ( 1 watt ). The antenna has never caused TVI and reduces electrostatic noise to almost nil by design ( easy to rx the weak ones ). The antenna is usable as an attic antenna but signals are reduced by approx. 1-4 s-points at this location. I still got some nice qsos on it indoors though. So, if you are stuck for space and have qrn/tvi problems, this antenna is your best bet.
G4ILO Rating: 2001-04-01
Amazing performance for the size Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have the MFJ-1782, the 10 - 30m version with the simplified control box. I think this antenna works very well, especially on the higher frequencies. On 10m it outperforms a trapped vertical ground plane by about 1 S-point. On 20 it is about half an S-point worse. I have nothing to compare it with on 30m. It stands to reason that the 15 - 40m version would be worse still on 40.
Yes, it does need retuning, but I find it easy to tune just using static noise from the capacitor motor. You can then fine-tune for minimum SWR if you want. I have an IC-756PRO, and you can actually see the tuning curve on the panoramic display when it is set to its widest position.
I have my loop in the attic. Although it is supposed to be OK to mount outdoors, it doesn't look too well weatherproofed to me. Nevertheless, I reckon this is one of the best performing small-size antennas you can get for the money.
W1MW Rating: 2001-04-01
MFJ 1788 Works OK, but... Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have the MFJ 1788. It is the same as the MFJ 1786 but covers 40-15m instead of 30-10m. It has been in the condo attic for over two years. My biggest complaint is the Hi-Q narrow bandwidth. It is necessary to transmit a carrier (I use 5w for tuning) and re-tune every few KHz. You're frequently better off calling CQ than chasing. Often, by the time you tune, the station is working someone else or quit calling. On the other hand, I've worked JA, OD and A4 on the higher bands. Performance on 40m is not all that hot. The 30-10m model would be a better choice. PSK31 is great but phone is so-so. It is a viable solution for severe antenna restrictions. I am currently looking to revamp my attic antenna farm and will be looking for a solution with greater bandwidth.
DL8BAG Rating: 2001-03-06
MFJ 1786 --fine Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I am using the MFJ 1786 for three years now, since I am restricted in antenna usage, but it is a nice peace of equipment. I use it most often on 10 MHz together with the Elecraft K2 or my IC 706 MKIIG, I especially like its sharp resonance point because this reduces noise and intermodulation considerably. Tuning the antenna is very easy and can be done within seconds
KB1DDT Rating: 1999-10-03
This 3 foot diameter loop performs like a full-siz Time Owned: unknown months.
This antenna is a 3 FOOT DIAMETER, remotely controlled ("magnetic") loop. It plays on all bands from 30 thru 10 meters (there's a 40 thru 15 version too). It comes with a remote-control box with SWR/Power meter for remotely tuning it (via the coax - no control cables needed). It is EXTREMELY effective for it's size. If you have a need for a high-performance, low-profile antenna, and don't mind having to re-tune it when changing frequencies, this will not disappoint !