| IW5CWC |
Rating:  |
2024-08-21 | |
| Very good QRP antenna for /P operations |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I bought this antenna as a companion to a Yaesu FT-818 as my first HF equipment. Although I have experienced other antennas for portable operations (Rybakov, EFHW, random end fed etc...) and could not perform a direct comparison, I have to say that with MFJ1899T I have been able to QSO with most European countries and beyond.
The counterpoise length is critical (follow instructions) and depending on position, kind of ground (if stones or grass or concrete, etc...) SWR may change but usually stays below 1.5 or so so perfectly usable without a tuner.
I love the simplicity and compactness of this antenna, which is really pocket when folded and very fast to deploy both connected on the back of the FT-818 if you have a desk available or on a tripod (I made a simple plate for the purpose using a through PL259 to BNC female/female adapter).
I recommend it for all those hams which like to operate /P. By the way it is also pretty "stealth" and can be used e.g. on the beach without too much complains from the XYL. During the ongoing summer I had QSO with Poland, Sweden, Spain, Greece, Denmark just to mention the countries I recall on top of my head, both on SSB and CW.
P.S. I'll never forget my first CW QSO with a Russian station which was operating QRPp. I was in a park with FT-818 and the MFJ 1899T on the back of the radio. |
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| F8FEO |
Rating: |
2022-11-17 | |
| walkabout antenna |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
hello
I purchase this item by "Radio world" Mfj dealer in UK , very fast shipping and good communication. I try the procuct, the adapter MFJ 7703 for FT 817 is not acceptable, the teeth of the 817 are not aligned ...( antenna is bent) First test in 40 meters with ft 817, more HSWR,
and on 20 meters (14 Mhz) with radiant of 1/2 wave and antenna connected directly more results, lenght of telescopic adjusted for best vswr appro 45" and N°1 in N°3, not in N° 2 as described in notice.
This antenna is used now with my USDR+ as a hand head radio
good results with a radial on 40/20 m in SSB
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| K6SDW |
Rating: |
2021-07-12 | |
| Quick a simple |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
On a whim I bought this antenna knowing it was so-so and I wasn't wrong.
Antenna does work if you don't forget the ground wire, however the results are not overwhelming, just so - so. For a quick setup on a picnic table antenna fits the bill.
My big complaint is the antenna is kinda heavy for the rig's BNC connector and keeps wanting to swing over. Elecraft sells a shell to prevent the antenna from following over but it's expensive!
Would I buy it again? Probably not.
73
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| W8IJN |
Rating: |
2021-07-09 | |
| Pretty decent little portable POTA antenna |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I've had this beasty -- the non-MFJ version bought off eBay -- since before the plague set in. Planned on using it for POTA actos but, well, you know: the plague. Now that Cindy & I are vaccinated and can bite people, I figured it was time for a try out.
But before we got that far, I'd taken it out in the yard and stuck it on a couple chunks of aluminum rod that I'd threaded with 14-20 & matching couplers via an EleCraft AXT1 tripod adaptor. Maybe three feet off the ground. Seemed to tune pretty easily using the X5105's SWR scanner. Tried the antenna later on an old metal camera tripod with similar tuning results. Later with a tiny table-top tripod & a serious counterpoise, I found it a bit of a pain but still tunable on 40m, at least according to the NanoVNA I was using for that test.
Then came Field Day 2021. Not much success there. Fact, between this antenna, a 8ft circumference home brew mag loop and a wire between some garden trees, the wire worked best. Grand score of 20-odd Qs out of that. Maybe 500 mile radius from the backyard.
Then we went on our first trip since the plague & vaccination to Maumee Bay State Park in Ohio, where I got a couple chances between storms to try a POTA activation. Spent 30 minutes lakeside at 5W with the X5105 and scored two decent Qs. One Wisconsin, t'other'n Columbus, Ohio. Figured from those that the antenna was at least working as well as the wire in the garden.
All that being said, there are provisos:
1. It works best somewhat elevated, either on a tripod or on a post as explained above.
2. You need to get yourself out of the RF field. I put the antenna at the end of a 20 ft chunk of RG58. I suspect that the coax and the necessary counterpoise (proviso #3) help plenty.
3. You deff need a counterpoise. (I have a spool of wire, abt 30 ft, in a Coleman camping reel I can extend out across whatever.)
4. The counterpoise appears to work better off the ground. (It becomes part of the radiator that way, I suspect.)
5. It's way easier to tune if you use a SWR scanner (as in the X5105 or G90 or similar radios) or a NanoVNA kinda thingie.
I like this little antenna big time. It's small enough to go in a mini tripod bag with its higher power Chinese made cousin, two reels of counterpoise, the coax feedline, a few bits and pieces of necessary antenna hardware (you can never have enough extra bits) and a small measuring tape and one of those mini table top tripod doodads just in case you want to go that low.
And yes, I like it so much that I did indeed find its higher powered cousin on eBay from China (HFJ-350M) and bought that too to run on the FT891 -- once I figure the lash-up for the connections & fittings -- which is a whole 'nother story.
So yeah, five stars. |
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| VE3QJ |
Rating:  |
2021-04-29 | |
| not impressed |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
i need an antenna for portable use. The MFJ-1899T seemed like the ideal antenna for sitting outside on a nice day making a few contacts or maybe even usable for field day. I have had this antenna now about 6 days. all i have heard was some cw on 40 meters and one qso on 20 meters. I would probably have better luck putting a hamstick on a tripod and throwing out some counterpoise wire.
UPDATE:
I now have 2 of these paper weights, maybe i'll start a museum of ham gear that just doesn't work!
It is very unstable when used with the right angle adapter.
I would not recommend this antenna. |
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| VE3IPS |
Rating: |
2020-02-08 | |
| Great Portable Ops Antenna |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
This is a great antenna for portable operations and will work best with the counterpoise lengths suggested. I also use it as a travel antenna. Its a compromise but it does work if the bands are in good shape. I made quite a few contacts on 40m from the Dayton Hamvention operating portable out by the fleamarket area . Mark the counterpoise with some orange flag tape so no one trips over it. The CP is best when a few feet off the ground.
Sure its a compromise antenna but not every has the time or space to throw up a dipole when out in the field. I have the counterpoise in a Colemans clothesline winder and another in the Radio Shack SWL antenna spool. |
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| KJ6MC |
Rating: |
2019-05-30 | |
| The MFJ Motto: "It Almost Works" |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
| I followed the instructions carefully, using a counterpoise and checking the SWR with a digital graphing analyzer. Could I get it to work on 80-10, yes. It did resonate. The issue: it's about 6 inches too short for the CW of FT8 part of several bands, where I suspect is the sweet spot QRP. I was able to get it to work by adding some additional (stiff) wire to the end of the stick. As usual, MFJ doesn't sell finished products, but rather a series of kits that need to be carefully modified before they are actually useful. |
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| KJ4YZI |
Rating: |
2016-12-06 | |
| Read this to learn how to use it |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| This antenna is great. I made a YouTube video showing it, search for "HamRadioConcepts". First off, the person below mentioned he used it on a mag mount and has 0 luck with it? C'mon man, you should know better than that. Anyways, the counterpoise wire is the main KEY!! if you use a random length, or not the right length, prepare to be dissapointed. The instructions come with it for a reason. There is an issue regarding the tap locations in the manual, for instance tap 3 is for 20m, but manual says tap 2.. No big deal. If you are a ham, and cannot be intuitive to try a different tap or adjust the end of the whip to achieve working conditions, you need to re-evaluate your ability to be a licensed operator. Especially if you try it on a mag mount on your car. |
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| KU3X |
Rating: |
2016-09-08 | |
| So far so good, minor issue |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
After watching a YouTube video on this product I decided to get one. But before I put it into full service I figured I’d make a few basic tests.
I made a mount for the antenna and clamped it to my wooden picnic table. I tested each band and used one MFJ suggested length radial per band. I tested one band at a time and had only one radial attached at a time. I used the Rig Expert AA-600 to take readings. I also added a current balun at the feed point.
I got the SWR down to 1.3 to 1 on 15, 20 and 40 meters. It was a tad higher on 10 meters but still very usable on 10. I am still trying to get a match on 17 meters with no success so far. I am not saying it won’t work on 17, I just did not find the right combination just yet.
The main reason I posted this review is to point out that tap #2 is incorrect for 20 meters. Way too much base loading inductance. It should be tap #3.
So far, here are my findings for the bands I tested:
7040 Tap #2, whip 45 “ and radial 25"6"
14144 Tap #3, whip 43" and radial 12"10'
21100 Tap #4, whip 48" and radial 8'6"
28100 Tap #5, whip 39" and radial 6'6"
I don’t expect to work the world with this antenna, but I do plan on having many hour of fun with it and my KX2.
Barry, KU3X
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| KK6NLZ |
Rating: |
2015-08-11 | |
| BEST Antenna I have tried for my 817nd! |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I knew what I was expecting but got soooo much more!
I have a 20x20 area outside my bedroom that is surrounded on all sides by house and a concrete block wall.
I sat on the ground with antenna in hand, ran my counterpoise wire off the ground lug all the way out... Someone told me not to put a counterpoise on the ground so I strung it on the lowest braches of trees so it was about 3 feet off the ground. Called CQ @5 watts and immediately made a contact 500 miles away! He sent me an email saying the noise was up and I was over it with 5 watts! HE was very impressed and will buy one too. VERY VERY PLEASED!!! it did better than my great lakes antenna actually. But you know how antennas are.. very picky.. this one works awesome.
The counterpoise is the trick! And for the ones who didn't have luck.. give it time. Conditions change all the time and when they are down, I don't care if you have a 500' antenna. it still sucks. Well actually. I'd love a 500' antenna.
I have a 392m great lakes, hamsticks, and a really nice Inverted V dipole. This beat them all!!!!! |
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