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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
W6GQ Rating: 2008-04-30
has potential Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I had this antenna for 6 months then sold it on EBAY. It has potential, but you need to carry the manual or a cheat sheat with you to find out what tap to use on a certain band then had to adjust the telescoping antenna different for each band. Just a pain in the butt. Once adjusted like the manual says it will work. I made several contacts using a counterpoise. If your looking for doing it on the cheap and do not mind refering to the manual everytime to adjust then go ahead and buy it
W8YT Rating: 2008-03-03
Great antenna! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
My antenna got broken and I tried MFJ's no questions return policy. I only paid minimal shipping and handling ($7.00) and quickly received a brand new antenna. I use it on 80 through 20 meters with good results; it is much easier to use with the Outback Joey tripod, and a PL-259 connector to the rear of the FT-817. It's definitely a keeper and go-with-you- everywhere antenna.
K5CLC Rating: 2008-01-02
Fantastic QRP Antenna Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Purchased an MFJ-1899T used for a good price, didn't expect miracles from it, but added it to my QRP gear collection. Over the holiday using my Yaesu FT-817ND and this little antenna on 20 meters I was able to check into the Maritime net. 2.5 Watts output (on the internal battery) I talked to Utopia, ON Canada from central Texas. It's a keeper, and if i ever break this one accidentally, I will buy another to replace it.
N3YZ Rating: 2007-12-05
Excellent SWL antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
The MFJ-1899T is an ok TX antenna with a counterpoise, when used with the FT-817. I’ve had some QRP DX with it. And then it sat in the box while the MP-1 did most of the QRP DX work. However, I've found that using the 1899 as an SWL antenna, with these broadbanded HTs such as the Th-F6A and the VX-2, and it is excellent!
W6GF Rating: 2007-11-10
Don't tell MFJ Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Well my FT-897D puts out 20 Watts on internal battery, so why not give it a try. MFJ says the antenna is good for 25 watts. I hurriedly connected it to the radio and gave it a shot inside. Nothing and hard to tune. So the next day was the on the air swap meet day and a lovely day outside. (I have to say that I live in Southern California). This time I added a counterpoise to the ground lug on the radio. I could not believe what I heard and did. SWR was tuneable to flat and signals were strong. Ok it heard, but can any body hear me. After a couple of listing I did my "contact" and net control came right back with a great signal report.

I used a right angle adapter to connect to the coax connector. I just used the internal bar meter of the FT-897D to adjust SWR. The factory setting get you close enough. You just have to use your noggen a little to get the SWR down.

For the FT-817 yes, but it is great for any QRP radio, just don't tell MFJ.

George, W6GF
KI4CRA Rating: 2007-05-14
It works as advertised. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I purchased my 1899T with my Ft-817ND. I had had both the radio and antenna a couple of days before I even attempted using it. Read the instructions on the 1899 and set it up as prescribed. Let me tell you, the figures they give you to tune the anteena are guidelines only! Wound up taking it down, jury rigged my MFJ 259B analyzer and actually finding "where" the antenna was resonate. Once I found out where the 1899 was resonate, I again hooked everything up threw out a 50' earth ground and was checking into a net in MI. So yea this antenna does work as advertised, just wish the instructions were a little more clear.

This antenna still holds a place in my gear, and once I'm in a position to where I can give it a proper workout, I will revise my post then.

73 de Mark
AI4HO
W6KLD Rating: 2007-03-12
Good performance for a compromise antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I gave a great rating based upon my expectations. The antenna works as well as a coiled 54" whip can be expected to. I've even worked a few 75m phone contacts with a folded counterpoise (zip wire soldered at 1 end) using my ft 817. As mentioned, the antenna does not measure up to my MP-1 but the convenience was worth the 50$ price I paid at a hamfest bone yard!
Note, the freq. measurements on the instruction page were almost useless! But once I figured out the tap/length required, I can easily tune all bands up to 80m. For Portable Ops the antenna suits my needs!
KE7HTQ Rating: 2007-01-29
doesn't work Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I bought one based on my positive experience with the Outbacker Perth. The MFJ1899 doesn't even come close to a useable SWR on the bands.
And yes I used radials tuned for each band.
Fortunately HRO took it back.
KC2GYP Rating: 2006-02-25
Amazing antenna Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Here's the story: I'd been looking for a simple, portable low power (up to 25w for QRP work) antenna for a while. I'd been using the rather pricey ($229) but unsatisfactory Outbacker Joey. The design is one of an epoxy coated series of coils accessed through a series of 'taps' that you plug a silver plated connector from the base of the antenna into for the right frequency. Further adjustmet was through a stainless steel 'stinger' that you tightened via a knurled thumb screw as you adjusted for SWR. It was okay at best.

I'd looked at the ATX walkabout which was designed by an English firm (I believe) for the Yaesu FT-817 as a portable antenna for HF but the reviews here were so-so. And at $119 or so it was a bit high. It, too worked the different bands via a connector. It attached to the FT 817 typically on the top of the rig as it had a BNC connector.

Then about a week ago, I spotted the MFJ 1899T. While MFJ claimed it was designed for the FT 817, it also seemed perfect for the ICOM 703+, an HF plus 6m QRP rig. Again the design similar to the Joey and the ATX in that it covered a wide range of HF (the $229 Joey doesn't cover 6m by the way) through a series of 'taps' that the user plugs a connector wire into to achieve resonance on the various bands. The construction which consisted of a base of a series of coils and a longish, very extendable whip seemed substantial. As was the BNC connector at the base. The whole unit collapses to about 18 inches or so. So it doesn't take up much space and is very packable.

Unlike the Joey and more like the ATX walkabout, the top of the antenna (which extends to about 58" in total) is a collapsable whip. So SWR adjustment is easy. The instructions give you precise lengths for each band that you can quickly adjust for optimal SWR on each band.

Now for the neat part. When I bought the Joey, I also bought (and still available from many retailers) the Joey 'tripod'. This is a VERY well built, polycarbonate folding base with a rugged dual SO-239 connector which you connect the Joey and the feedline. The tripod also comes with a very ruggedly built counterpoise which you can add additional ones to through a wing nut arrangement on the base (it's connected electrically via a substantial aluminum plate). I know AES carries it but check with your fave retailer first, of course.

Since the MFJ 1899T has a BNC male end for attaching (remember, it was designed for the top of the FT 817) I bought a simple PL259/female BNC adapter.

(MFJ, by the way, provides instructions via a PDF file to create additional counterpoises for the antenna: www.mfjenterprises.com/man/pdf/MFJ-1899T.pdf )

Okay, now the part you've been waiting for. The performance.

I connected the whole thing to my FT 857 first to listen.

The reception on ALL bands was ASTOUNDING. Very clear all across the HF/6M spectrum as well as all frequencies from .5 to 30 Mhz.

I then decided to give it a little test on the transmitting side. Set it up for 80m. BOOM clear transmission with little trouble. Also on 40m, 20m, 15m and 10m. I was hitting all over the globe. Very impressive for an antenna like this.

While I'd read some comments saying the antenna might not perform as well as the ATX or Joey, the reviews were from a cursory (it looked like a cheaper version of...) but not from ACTUAL use.

I had excellent results running just 10w out of my FT 857 (I plan to buy an ICOM 703+ off Ebay) to the South and Europe with little problems under what I had heard were not so hot conditions band-wise.

I highly recommend this antenna for portable use. But to get the most out of it, I STRONGLY suggest you also purchase the tripod made for the OUTBACKER Joey, and get the PL259/Female BNC adapter. With the Joey's supplied counterpoise (which you can aim opposite to the direction you wish to transmit to get a little more directivity) or constructing the array of counterpoises (a cluster of wires of varying length that MFJ recommends) you will have a fine antenna to reach a lot of the world from just about any location on earth when portable. The adjustable whip makes fine tuning SWR a breeze.

Sorry for going on so long, but I was really impressed by this antenna.

Cheers

Peter