| SP9HZX |
Rating:  |
2024-04-11 | |
| Good job |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
Cheers for MFJ!
I am very pleased with this magloop.
Works fine in horizontal and vertical position.
Mounted on balcony about 23m AGL.Easy and fast tuning.No problem to work with any DX station.
And two years later.Feb 2021.
The same impressions.The antenna is still in very good condition and works perfectly on all bands.
It's definitely worth its money.Only to recommend it.
Four years later.May 2022.
No changes.My 1788 looks and works great.
No problems with tuning 40-15m.Recently we've had really poor conditions but no problems to work DX from all continents,SSB and CW. Also a lot of QSOs with mobile,QRP and portable stations.The antenna often competes successfully with big guns.
April,2024
MFJ1788x still works perfect here.Up to know no problems at all.Really weatherproof!
I am still extremely satisfied with it.
It is really worth recommending not
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| VK2ATA |
Rating: |
2024-04-11 | |
| Super Q, Low profile, Good results |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I have a restrict area for dipole, so i have tested the MFJ-1788.
My 1788 is sitting in very small backgard surrounding with appartment building, really bad for HF operation.
Wow, MFJ-1788 with Icom7300 opens communication windows and allow me to operate with US, Japen and Euro HAMs in voice and FT8 on 15m to 40m when conditions are right. Super high Q antenna.
I have adjusted fine tuning moter speed on its control box through a hole on top of the box, this gives me true fine tuning ability, I can tune SWR to its lowst point without overshoout issue. Great!
My MFJ-1788 is in vertically on a tripod above 2m above ground. I can't see the loop is directional in turn of transmitting.
NB: User needs to adjust fine tuning motor speed, otherwise it is too sensetive and causes overshoot!!!
MFJ-1788 is highly recommeded for Ham with restrict area.
The disadvantage is not good for Icom 7300 full bandscope display. This is undertandable for High Q antenna.
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| KB3PUW |
Rating: |
2023-04-12 | |
| Good option if you have space constraints, great for receiving |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| Just got the thing and it was not easy - MFJ can't keep up with demand. So far really good. I have it on a tripod only 3 feet off the ground. Making contacts on 20 & 40 meters, though usually I get reports of about 57. The receive signal-to-noise is at least 3 s units better than my under-the-eave 20 meter dipole. I get better SWR on 40 meters than 20. I don't know why for sure but I wonder if it is because of the NVIS on 40. The only issue I have had is some mechanical drift of the tuning on 20. I sometimes need to re-tune during a QSO. |
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| VE4RI |
Rating:  |
2022-05-14 | |
| Disappointed to the extreme |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| Ordered one last summer ...arrived mid winter...didn't work out of the box...tried it on three different runs of new coax..all tested to ensure no shorts...still nothing worked...MFJ sent me a replacement control box.....again nothing...no tuning capacitor movement...only thing that came on was the meter lamp...You shouldn't have to rebuild something purchased brand new to get it to work. At least I got a full refund but I ate the shipping. |
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| 2E0CPU |
Rating: |
2021-10-09 | |
| Good performance but poor quality. |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
The performance of the antenna is very good allowing me to work most of the world QRP. The build quality is the worst I have ever seen, This must have been engineered by Gibbons.
The shaft that connects the motor to the capacitor is too big for the rods allowing it to work its self loose once a month, This makes tuning very difficult.
If you purchase this product then be prepared to rebuild it before use.
This experience has made me reluctant to purchase any other MFJ products. |
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| KG5LWD |
Rating: |
2021-07-18 | |
| MFJ-1788 - A Subpar Product |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I've seen many reviews raving about the MFJ-1788 and how quiet it is while using it. I have no qualms about the performance of the antenna at all. But, I do have some issues with the qualify control of the product that is very subpar in my estimation.
In August 2019 I purchased my MFJ-1788 and it sat in the shipping box for almost the next two years since I was not able to install it as a result of a serious accident I had shortly after it was delivered. Then recently I decided to give it a go to install. Right out of the box there were issues with the mounting bolts and the press nuts that are fitted into the antenna frame. As soon as I started to tighten the bolts while mounting on a mast, the pressed nuts came loose from the soft aluminum frame. This happened on three of the four nuts the clamp assembly is bolted to the antenna. The nuts were frozen and would not budge off the bolt even when holding them with Vice-grips. The bolts had to be cut. It took about 30 minutes to cut the bolts.
Instead of trying to install another set of press nuts into the soft aluminum frame, I used 1/4-20 rivnuts and stainless steel bolts and nuts.
Using the press nuts in the construction of the antenna is not the best idea MFJ could have come up with to make securing the antenna to a mast due to the softness of he aluminum frame. MFJ could have simply used some stainless steel rivnuts to make a much stronger mounting assembly. To me, MFJ went the cheap route to save a few cents per antenna by putting in press nuts when it would have been much better to use rivnuts. For an antenna approaching nearly $600, MFJ has the duty to provide a quality product instead of a cheaply made one that might be worth half the sales price at best.
But that's not all. The ABS cover that encloses the guts of the antenna is not much better. The drill holes for the screws were all stripped out and the cover could not be put back together without the cover falling apart. The issue was solved by using larger screws. There must have been a deeply dissatisfied worker who put this antenna together since the quality definitely was not there.
I subsequently wrote MFJ expressing my dissatisfaction about the MFJ-1788, but to date no one from MFJ has responded other than saying they will pass my recommendations to the boss and engineer. The non-response for addressing my concerns means the owner apparently doesn't care.
If it were my business, I would have bent over backwards to make a customer happy instead of just blowing things off. But, I guess that's how the American business model is now followed these days. |
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| K8RDG |
Rating: |
2021-05-20 | |
| Works Surprisingly Well |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I needed a portable antenna that I could place on the 3rd floor balcony of my condominium. After researching various portable antennas, I came across the magnetic loop antenna but most were limited to 45 watts or less. I wanted an antenna that could handle 100 watts. I soon discovered the MFJ-1786 and MFJ-1788 mag loop antennas were each rated at up to 150 watts. I decided the MFJ-1788 was appropriate as the 40M through 15M bands were most desirable for me, and I could operate QRP to 100 watts with my Yaesu FT-857D transceiver.
A new MFJ-1788, however, was cost-prohibitive. And, after reading several reviews citing poor quality control issues at MFJ and with the 1788 in particular, and mixed reviews on mag loop antenna performance, I almost gave up on the idea. As fortune would have it, I had an opportunity to purchase a used MFJ-1788. The seller assured me it performed as designed and there were no quality control concerns with it, so I thought I would give it a try.
The MFJ-1788 arrived and was in good physical condition as described. After reading over the instructions a couple of times, I have found that tuning the antenna is not difficult.
I have the MFJ-1788 secured horizontally above the balcony railing using 6 ft. of PVC pipe. It tunes on 40M (1.0:1 SWR); 30M (1.7:1 SWR); 20M (2.5:1 SWR); 17M (1.7:1 SWR); and 15M (1.7:1 SWR). The SWR is likely affected by the close proximity to the railing.
So far, and depending on propagation, the MFJ-1788 is performing surprisingly well considering my /4 operating location in SE Florida is challenged. I'm surrounded on three sides by buildings but I have made FT8 QSOs with 50 watts to California, Canada, Brazil, Ukraine, and Israel, to name a few.
This is a quality antenna providing acceptable results in a challenging location. I confidently recommend this antenna but READ THE INSTRUCTIONS and BE PATIENT.
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| K7HN |
Rating: |
2020-11-03 | |
| MFJ 1788 40 Meters 1:1 SWR FULL BAND. Coast To Coast QSO! |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I wanted this loop because it would receive as well as transmit on up to 40 m.
I have the MFJ 1788 at 22 feet. I would’ve liked to have mounted it higher but I was limited in my ability to at the time.
The MFJ 1788 is an outstanding product. While most loops limit you to QRP transmit, this loop will let you transmit at up to 150 Watts!
I have used it during our catastrophic wildfire season here in Northwest Oregon where the air was so thick with smoke the atmosphere looked like a dark orange at midday.
I was able to make a QSO from Northwest Oregon all the way to South Eastern Florida! That was in smoke so thick it looked like we lived on the planet Mars.
I can’t speak highly enough of this product.
Quality was excellent. Aircraft grade aluminum tubing, my variable capacitor worked as described and has remained very reliable.
This is a “High Q” antenna.
Because it allows you the luxury of being able to transmit up to 150 W of power on it, you have to tune it. The tuning box is easy to understand and for me has worked flawlessly. It has to be tuned to a very narrow “null” for good SWR, but STAYED at 1:1 SWR for me from 7.0-7.35 MGz. All of 40 meters was 1:1.
I still can’t believe that this loop worked coast to coast.
Here’s the video I produced on my YouTube channel of that QSO. Keep in mind, this is despite heavy smoke that’s pictured in the. Video. https://youtu.be/B1aK5uRaG98
This loop can be mounted as low as 3 feet off the ground on a camera tripod and still work very effectively. If you’re moving into an area with strict HOA’s
IT WILL KEEP YOU ON THE AIR EVEN TO 40 Meters!
I think it’s one of the most creative products out there especially for hams who are downsizing, those who like to work Remote, and is perfect for field day, parks on the air, IOTA or in your backyard.
I cannot say enough about how pleased I am with this antenna. It will lower your noise floor, bringing in signals that are lost on vertical and dipole antennas plus make QSO’s at up to 150 watts. Nothing that I researched can allow you to transmit on a loop antenna at above QRP levels. This one goes all the way to 150 watts.
I highly recommend this product. Simply Amazing. Did everything and more than I expected. |
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| G4HUN |
Rating: |
2020-09-13 | |
| Very impressed! |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
A couple of local hams have had good experiences with this antenna, so I thought I'd give it a try.
My house has a tiny garden and is located in a valley. The only aerials I've been able to fit in so far have been simple verticals with a single counterpoise - fair results, but not great.
Due to Covid-19 it took six weeks for the aerial to arrive; all I can say is it was worth the wait.
There have been none of the quality control issues that others have reported. The aerial is mounted 1.5m above ground on a fibreglass post. It tunes easily on each band and the results have been great.
My first QSO was on FT8 with AP2TN (Pakistan) for an all-time new one.
Long may it continue to work this well! |
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| WT6F |
Rating: |
2020-01-29 | |
| My Experience to get the Antenna to work |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
Just received the antenna last week. Following the instructions prior to operations of running the capacitor up and down, it never stopped tuning down. Opened it up, found the capacitor nuts holding the plates and limit arm in place loose, thus the plates spun and spun never applying enough pressure on the limit switch to stop. Fixed that, then found the capacitor still would not stop. After taking it apart further, found a glob of solder shorting out the bypass capacitor across the limit switch. Cleaned that up and bingo, capacitor worked fine up and down. Tried using the antenna on the air and found it was not tuning right. Re-opened it up and found two plates actually touching the fins, thus shoring. Bent them to center, and I was able to use all bands except 40m. Opened back up and re-adjusted the limit arm so when fully tuned down, all of the plates are engaged into the fins. Cleaned everything up, re-assembled the antenna and everything works great. In about 2 hours operating time on 15, 17, 20 and 30 have 12 contacts with Japan, others to Brazil,Uraguay, Dominica, etc.
My opinion, it is a great antenna for a limited space environment (CCR's, etc.) but be prepared to address the quality control problems with manufacturing.
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