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Reviews For: MFJ 1899T

Category: Antennas: HF Portable (not mobile)

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Review Summary For : MFJ 1899T
Reviews: 29MSRP: 79.95
Description:
Yaesu FT-817 Multi-band Telescopic Antenna 6M/10M/12M/15M/17M/20M/30M/40M/80M

Covers 80 Meters through 6 Meters.

This special antenna was designed specifically for the extremely popular Yaesu FT-817 Multimode HF/VHF/UHF Portable Transceiver. This antenna covers all bands (including WARC bands) from 80 Meters to 6 Meters. Power rating is 25 Watts. When fully telescoped it is 1.65M long approximately and is fitted with a BNC connector. This makes it ideal for the new FT-817 or other QRP portable radio. Band changing is achieved by plugging the "wander lead" into the appropriate socket on the base coil, and fine tuning adjustments are made using the 10 section telescopic whip. The whip unscrews from the base matching coil, so collapsed, the antenna measures only 32 cm.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.mfjenterprises.com/Product.php?productid=MFJ-1899T
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
14293.2
N6QIH Rating: 2014-10-17
Easy to set up on BNC Mount Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have this antenna MFJ 1899T and had a chance to use on a mountaintop trip to Topaz Mountains in Utah.
I was going to set up my buddipole antenna but had this antenna and decided to put it on my Jeep in the roll up window on a Bnc Mount I had purchased on Ebay. I put antenna up and put in the wire to the correct hole and pulled out the whip for 10mtrs. The mount has a 8ft of coax with BNC so I used an adapter to connect to my FT 817 rear So239 and I was on the air.
My first QRP transmission was to a station calling CQ CQ on 28.425 USB. He ansewered my first QRP call and said that he only talks to stations with 1KW power and that a QRP station would not have a 5/9 siginal. WOW what a great report from a station that only wants to talk to 1KW stations. TEST COMPLETE Thanks for that report 73.
That station was.....
KC4TVZ
ToddBurnette@att.net
Todd Burnette
6415 Ivy Springs Drive
Flowery Branch, GA 30542
USA
KB2CWN Rating: 2014-02-22
update Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Just an update. Tonight I set up the 1899T with the mag mount on my vehicle. 40 meters was hot, with signals coming in so strong I had to put the HB-1B attenuation switch on. I tried for over an hour to make one contact, nothing. Every everything was perfect, flat SWR, good height, perfect weather. The antenna is just a plain dud. I was for sure I would make a few contacts, but nothing. I have decided to order a new Buddistick, and don't know what to do with this antenna. Maybe use it for shortwave listening since it receives great. But for transmitting, forget it. Working QRP can sometimes be frustrating alone, with having to deal with a looser antenna.
KB1VAV Rating: 2014-01-06
works great Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I got the MFJ 1899t in a trade along with a Yaesu 817nd and a LDG Z817 tuner. My first try was in a attic chamber room under a metal roof at my in-laws in VT. Fat chance I thought until I worked numerous countries on QRP cw 20m. Then I tried a buddy back in Maine on 40m SSB who is a no code extra forcing me to go to ssb (hihi). Again FB. Now babysitting grand kids in the Boston area same setup, with little kids on my lap, more DX. I have a 10ft counterpoise and use the onboard swr meter on the 817 and the mighty Z817 with a rt angle pl159 to BNC for connection. Would not recommend this unit for bouncing around over the shoulder use as it seems too fragile. I own a ATAS 120, and a little wonder and numerous others and this little inexpensive gem has worked great for me. A windom it is not, but a light and easy way to travel (have not tried it with out a tuner) it works great for a way for "grampy to beep beep" when on traveling.
KJ4NWZ Rating: 2013-06-19
Crap. Period. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I literally threw away my money when I bought this "dummy" load a few years ago. I have only one word for this product: rubbish.

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Earlier 4-star review posted by KJ4NWZ on 2011-11-18

I bought the MFJ-1899T a few months back as a temporary antenna to use with my FT-857D until the SuperAntenna MP-1 became available (still waiting, by the way). True, the 1899T was designed for the 857D's little brother (FT-817) but I decided to give it a try anyway (matching the two was like installing VW Beetle engines in a Rolls Royce).

I wasn't satisfied with the 1899T while using it indoors as I was having a lot of counterpoise SWR issues so I decided to try a different approach. I ordered the MFJ-332B magmount (which arrived yesterday), attached the 1899T antenna, slapped it on to the roof of my car, pressed the PTT button and BINGO - no SWR issues. Now I am going to do a bit of mobile globe-trotting hamming to really see how the antenna works with the magmount and vehicle groundplane. I gave the 1899T a 4 rating. That may change after testing. Stay tuned.
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Earlier 3-star review posted by KJ4NWZ on 2011-07-07

UPS delivered my MFJ-1899T yesterday from Gigaparts and I quickly pressed it into service. So far so good. I have a FT-857D so I turned the RF output down to 20 watts (25w is the max RF output on the 1899T). A counterpoise (CP) is highly recommended for this antenna. I use a 40' CP secured to the body of the 857D. I am wondering if that is the best place to secure the CP on the 857D. Any ideas? The heat sink perhaps?

Last night at 0200 hrs UTC I monitored an interesting QSO between two hams on 80m (I was in my bedroom at the time with the 857D using a 12V/7Amp battery with the 1899T fully extended with no taps, as recommended by manufaturer). Not bad. Indoors? Wow. Now I will try it out-doors on 10 and 20m tomorrow in the AM. Will report on results.
K6MA Rating: 2013-01-21
Junk Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I purchased this antenna for my FT-817 for SOTA activities. Made all my counterpoises as required. Went to a summit to start making contacts, after setting up per instructions. Occasionally I could hear someone but no one could hear me. Back at the shack I used my MFJ-269 antenna analyzer and discovered that the instructions were wrong for the tap points. After trying several combinations of whip length and various taps and counterpoise. I managed to get the SWR down below 2 for a couple of the bands but nothing else. After reading some of the other reviews it appears that many people have found the instructions to be incorrect- why has this not been fixed? Very disappointing product. Definitely do not recommend this at all.
KT4EP Rating: 2012-08-18
Figured it out Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Using my FT-817, I put this antenna on the front bnc jack and followed the antenna instructions. I used a "random" length of wire for the counterpoise, hooking it to the ground on the back of the radio. The counterpoise was set for 13 to 15 feet and draped over a wooden fence, up and off the ground. Manipulating the whip, I listened for signals to get louder and knew I was close to the right setting then I fine tuned the whip for SWR looking at the radio meter while transmitting in AM mode. It turned out to be pretty easy to tune up. I listened to some chatter on 17, 20, and 40 meters, called CQ a few times with no answer. I figure I'll have better luck with psk31 or Olivia. Testing testing testing...

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Earlier 3-star review posted by KT4EP on 2012-01-07

I'll probably up the rating after I use it more. Definitely need an analyzer to check and set it up because in my case, the instructions (which are scant) are incorrect. I'm using different taps and counterpoise lengths for each band than indicated. Also tried using my 817 in AM mode and it's swr meter and finding the instructions for tap and counterpoise are off, just as indicated by my mfj 259 analyzer. I bought this antenna for hotel and camping use and think it will work out once I figure the general whip and counterpoise settings. After all it isn't meant to be your main antenna. I built the homebrew buddistick and want to use the 1899 instead on trips. I don't like trying to put it on the back of the 817 so I made a "quad- pod" out of half inch pvc pipe and a pl259 connector will just run thru the pipe and it helps support the antenna. Then I run a counterpoise from the radio. Still testing. Testing,,,,
VE3LNU Rating: 2010-10-01
Update to my Sept. 13, 2010 review Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I thought it important to follow up on my previous review (September 13, 2010) to confirm that this antenna is indeed a practical HF portable antenna for QRP operation.

I have now worked 2 European stations on 20 metre CW from Toronto, Canada using this antenna during a period when HF band conditions are still notoriously poor or mediocre! Not to mention countless QSOs into the southern US.

These were my operating conditions:

- FT 817 at 5 watts with 12v 2.3 aH lead acid battery
- MFJ 1899T connected to rear of MFJ 16010 random wire tuner
- single wire counterpoise hung from tree branch at about 4 feet with alligator clip to radio heatsink (for convenience I use a single reel Yo-Tenna as the counterpoise but any wire will do)

I should add that the base of the MFJ antenna was only 1 foot off the ground when I made these QSOs, far from ideal!

While adding weight to my backpack, the MFJ portable tuner does make tuning much easier and is also a convenient support for the antenna. It also means that the length of the counterpoise is no longer critical.

Yes, you could do better with a dipole but this is so quick and easy to set up that I just can't resist - and it works!

Good dx, folks.

Joe, VE3LNU
KB0SFP Rating: 2010-05-24
No 17mtr & fragile Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This would also apply to the ATX 'Walkabout' antenna sold by W/S & Power Port. I've had mine for about a year. I've used it many times with my FT-817 & others while pedestrian mobile. I broke the telescoping antenna tip & purchased a 75mtr only antenna just get get a new whip. My biggest gripe is the BNC only antenna connection which is too fragile both on the radio & the antenna. I made a goose neck base similar to military antennas from an old desk lamp & this did help.

My second gripe is no 17mtrs(even though the instruction sheet & the propaganda says it does). Tuning is no where near where the instruction sheet says. They could have easily added a 60 mtr tap for a few cents but they didn't, but then, they didn't bother to have separate 20 & 17mtrs taps so..

This antenna will radiate a signal but you must be very careful, & it a bugger to set up. I would buy another one but only if it were thought out a little better. I am amazed at the fact that manufactures build & sell this stuff then keep on selling the exact same thing for years the very same way even though numerous flaws have been brought to their attention.

Dennis Starks
Military-Radio-Guy
KB0SFP
Monitor(all USB):
3996, 5403.5, 7296, 14342.5, 18157.5
KF6NTE Rating: 2009-10-23
PORTABLE Time Owned: N.A.
You need an antenna analyzer AND some sort of counterpoise to tune this thing properly. Once this is done it performs according to expectations. does a 1000 mile 20m 10-watt PSK31 QSO into Calgary from the San Francisco Bay Area during a low sunspot year while having the antenna anchored to my bed count as good performance ?. Not bad for a $50 dummy load. Are there better choices than this ?. You bet. I mostly use the antenna for monitoring the HF bands and it's nice to know you can use it for transmit albeit with limitations (the inefficiency and low power restrictions on the lower bands makes it practically unusable) but for 20m and up I bet it's pretty decent. The construction seems fragile especially the BNC connector.
KA3NXN Rating: 2008-07-02
Absolute Garbage!! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
This piece of trash is built extremely poorly. The center pin on the BNC broke off inside the connector in my FT-817. If I wasn't handy with a soldering iron and small electronics, I would have had to send the rig into Yaesu for repair and who knows what it would have cost me. Oh I also contacted MFJ about this several times and they NEVER returned an email or a phone call. I don't know what is worse their products or their support. What ever happened to their "no matter what guarantee" ? I just threw my $60.00 away. Don't by any MFJ junk. I can safely say that I will never own ANY MFJ garbage ever again. If I could give this thing less than a zero I would!