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Reviews For: MFJ-1625 80-6 Meter Window/Balcony Antenna w/ Built In Tuner

Category: Antennas: HF Portable (not mobile)

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Review Summary For : MFJ-1625 80-6 Meter Window/Balcony Antenna w/ Built In Tuner
Reviews: 4MSRP: 199.95
Description:
Complete antenna system mounts on window frames, balconies, and railings. Perfect for apartment dwellers. Covers 80-6 Meters. Includes universal mount/clamp, built-in antenna tuner with RF isolator, long 12 foot telescopic whip (22.5 inches collapsed), high efficiency loading coil for 40/80 Meters, counterpoise wires, and safety rope. Handles 200 Watts.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.mfjenterprises.com/products.php?prodid=MFJ-1625
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0044.3
VE3WEF Rating: 2016-06-25
Great for its purpose Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
This has been my first antenna for HAM radio. Based on the postings here, I wasn't too sure what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised. Even in the relatively poor conditions now, at the low end of the solar cycle, I've made great contacts. The furthest confirmed thus far was 7600km. Unconfirmed,8300km, which is past Moscow from Ottawa in Canada. Decent signal reports, in spite of the small antenna. Not the best for pile-ups, but got through even there maybe twice in every ten pile-ups. Note that I was able to get SWR of 1.1 : 1 on both 20m and 40m, however I did use a SWR meter, in addition to the tuner, to get it down that low. Also, a good ground. Running only 100W through it. I love being able to easily put it away, or bring it to the cottage or on trips. Very satisfied! A great first antenna, small and portable, to get you going.
W2WCM Rating: 2015-03-14
Gets me on the air Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I would give this antenna a 3.5 if I could. When I first got it, I felt like it was not going to be of much use beyond relatively local contacts in the U.S. However, during a recent DX contest, I was pleasantly surprised when I worked over 20 countries in a short while, all with only 100 watts into the coax. They were mostly in Europe and the Caribbean, with some S. American countries as well. All of these contacts were on 15 and 20 meters. I have a difficult time tuning this antenna to any band below 20 meters. What it has done is make me determined to somehow get up a better antenna! In the meantime, I am glad to be on the air.
KD8SAV Rating: 2012-09-14
Good performance for window mounted antenna Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I've been back on the air since July after 30 years.
Where I'm at this was the handiest antenna I could put up without any outside antenna. It's in my window about 12 feet off of the ground. Using counterpoise wires cut for 20 and 15 meters, I've been able to work 45 countries, with 22 confirmed through LOTW, mostly in Europe, Russia, South America, and the Caribbean, with one in New Zealand.
I was unable to get the antenna to get the swr down to usable levels on 80 and 40 meters, even with the coil. This antenna works pretty well, though on 20 thru 10 meters, and this is with just the whip and no coil.
For the situation I'm in for now, with no possibility of putting a larger antenna, I am definitely satisfied. If someone wants to use this, they just have to be aware of the limitations of an antenna sticking out their window.
CT7AEZ Rating: 2007-07-26
Best portable solution available for the price Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I recently buy a MFJ-1625 80-6 Meter Window/Balcony Antenna w/ Built In Tuner, I have a FT-897D and I was thinking about the ATAS-120A and the counterpoise kit (the perfect marriage for my radio but too expensive), I have some antenna restrictions (space mainly) and I want a light transportable antenna ease to install and de-install so I decide, with some reserve, to buy this one because it seem more versatile and cheaper. I was expecting some efficiency from 20m to 10m, but this antenna as prove to work on 40m and 80m also, I estimate a 5% efficiency on 80m and 10% efficiency on 40m, not much but enough for PSK31 operation on this bands and with some luck some SSB too. On 20m and high bands this antenna behaves almost like a full size vertical the higher the better.
The big advantage of this antenna is the big telescopic radiator that can be adjusted too you space needs or to tune the antenna for 6m operation. This antenna is very easy to tune, if you can’t tune it first read and follow your instruction manual if you still can’t tune it your problem is the counterpoise or your RF ground, this antenna really needs a good ground. The VSWR is less than 1,5 on all bands after tune. The counterpoise kit is perfect for apartment balcony operation (my case, were there is no RF ground possible on a third floor) the built-in tuner gives you control of the RF current and is able to maximize it thru the counterpoise knob. The MFJ-63 loading coil is really a High Q coil, and that’s why this antenna woks relatively well on the low bands. The built in tuner could by it self tune the antenna but there would be no signal living this antenna whit only 3,6 meters radiator on the low bands.
I live in Portugal and I didn’t think that the mounting bracket could be a problem, well it was. This bracket was made having in mind the American type of window not the common European window, anyway this bracket is full of surprises and it ended, after other experiences too suite me best, mount on a professional camera tripod. Bee aware, the tripod I use can be mount ground flat and it stands loads like 12 Kg, now I have a camera and an antenna fighting for a tripod ;). Unfortunately the universal mount/clamp can’t stand by itself, it needs the help of a C-Clamp or anything else.
This product fulfils my expectation, after 8 weeks of operation the telescopic whip didn’t break (be careful with the strong wind) and the built in antenna turner still tune. After all this is not a heavy duty product and it was not built to be at the rain, snow or strong wind. Until now I have no problems with RF feedback and I’m able to mount the antenna and tune it in less than 5 minutes, if you don’t have space for antennas I think this is the best available commercial solution for the price.