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Reviews For: MFJ-1734 Glass Mount Antenns

Category: Antennas: VHF/UHF+ Omnidirectional: verticals, mobile, etc

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Review Summary For : MFJ-1734 Glass Mount Antenns
Reviews: 5MSRP: 44.95USD
Description:
Glass mount dual band (144mHz & 440mHz) mobile antenna.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.mfjenterprises.com/products.php?prodid=MFJ-1734
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0053.8
W7ZZ Rating: 2022-06-09
Great solution for new vehicle Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Many years ago, I owned a Honda hatchback and installed an Avanti “through the glass” antenna on it for 2 meters. It worked very well and, by its glass mount nature, required no drilling of holes or other modification of the car. However, that Honda’s rear window was not tinted. I recently purchased a 2022 Hyundai Tucson SUV and, after considering various mag mount locations, I decided that another through the glass antenna was the way to go. However, like practically every vehicle on the market, its windows are tinted: minimally in most areas with a much more strongly tinted perimeter. My research, and indeed MFJ’s product manual, suggested that mounting of the MFJ 1734 on a tinted window was a recipe for disaster. Further research online found a message from N8MSA to the effect that few modern vehicles have metal based tinting, with the metal in the tint causing the problem for the antenna. I decided to give it a try. I chose the MJF over a competing version by Larsen for several reasons: Larsen was 32.75 inches long versus MFJ 26 (possible big difference in a parking garage – more important to me than potential gain of one antenna over the other); Larsen had no tuning ability whereas MFJ did; cost Larsen $252 versus MFJ $70. I did not consider the Tram sold on Amazon since I had never heard of the company.
The MFJ antenna is sturdy and well constructed. The adhesive patches are from 3M and I’m convinced will never fail. Indeed, it is crucial to get the patch put exactly where you want it the first time because there will be no second time – mine is a bit tilted because my hand shook just as I pressed it against the glass. It is easy to remove the whip using the supplied Allen wrench to run the vehicle through a car wash. The rear window of the Tucson was not available for the antenna due to curvature of the glass and the location of the rear window wiper, so I mounted my antenna on a small, fixed window between the rear passenger window and the rear window (on the side of the vehicle). The antenna mount has infinite adjustment capability so it is easy to get it vertical and away from the vehicle body.
After tuning (done with a jeweler’s screwdriver after MJF plastic version broke off), the SWR at 146.52 was 1.3 with less than 2:1 across entire 2m band. There is no adjustment for 440, and I didn’t have an analyzer or SWR meter that covered 440 anyway, so I presumed that tuning for 2m gave the best results on 440 as well. In my driveway, I immediately hit 2m and 440 repeaters at least 40 miles away, so the thing works just fine.
Highly recommend. Just keep it away from the heavily tinted window perimeter and any rear window defogger or antenna wire in the rear window glass. If, after a few months of use, my glowing report on the 1734 should change, I will update the review.
W6LMJ Rating: 2018-05-22
Quick and easy to install! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have installed several over the years. All worked, some have worked better than other antennas. For ease of installation, they are hard to beat. I just installed one of the front windshield of a Winnebago Sunstar 27N. As expected the installation was extremely easy. However, when I started the tunning process the tunning tool broke. No problem, just used a jewelers screwdriver and moved it out of the way after each adjustment. I easily reached 1:1.2 at my chosen frequency. This is the antenna I will use with the TM-710G for APRS and monitoring 2 meters. I think it is nearly a perfect choice. I wish there was a source for buying replacement stingers. If there is, I have not found it.
WB4SJN Rating: 2016-05-03
Unuseable Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I am using the Kenwood TM-V71A dual band radio in a 2016 Chevy Colorado. After installing as per instructions I adjusted the VSWR using an antenna analyzer. When I keyed the transmitter at146MHz I got a very loud feedback, but the repeater was contacted. When attempting to connect to a 440MHz repeater the noise was especially loud and the repeater did not respond. I was using a cigarette lighter plug for power. I changed to a direct connect to the battery and it made no difference. I had been using the audio system in the vehicle, so I changed to a portable speaker and still no difference. I am hoping that someone reading this may have had the same problem and was able to correct it.
VO1XH Rating: 2011-11-25
Great antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I first was skeptical of glass mounted antennas until about 10 years ago when I purchased a new vehicle.I was using a Maxrad MH5800 5/8 wave antenna on my 1991 Chevy S10 Blazer for about 7 years.It was mounted in the roof,NMO mount and it performed very well. I had retired the Blazer and bought a1996 GMC Safari All Wheel Drive van,was going to mount the 5/8 in the roof but the xyl(not a ham) said "no way".Well,I purchased the MFJ-1734,from Radio Shack here in St.John's Newfoundland,it was an Archer 2m/70cm dual band glass mount antenna,but was the same antenna and parts found with MFJ.
I was skeptical,but,I installed the antenna on the driver side rear glass top corner.The installation took about 30 minutes and was very easy.The antenna is black and it does look good against the dark tinted glass.I installed my Kenwood TS261A 2m moblie and when I connected the coax to the rig and checked swr,it was 1.8:1,not bad for out of the box,I turned the tuning screw on the coupling box about one 1/4 turn and it was 1.1:1 at 146.0 MHz ant 1.5:1 on the band edges.That was good,but,how well would it compare to the permanent mount 5/8 wave. Well,when doing on air checks,it seemed almost as good as the 5/8 wave on distant repeaters,simplex was equally as good so it seemed.I was impressed,as I said before,I was skeptical but the performance was very good.It handled the 50 watts from my Kenwood no problem I used it for about 4 years until I lost the whip at a parking garage,I tucked the whip under the roof rack and when I returned to the van a few hours later,I had forgotten about the whip and somewhere between my home and the parking garage,the antenna became unstuck from the window.Never did find it after.I kept the coax and the coupling box which I gave to a ham friend of mine who had the same antenna,started to have problems with his,we pried off the box from his window and opened it up,the coils had burned up,he has an Icom IC2100H and it runs 70 watts hi power,it seems that 50 watts is the maximum that it can handle but at 70 watts,it is to much.I purchased another MFJ-1734 3 years ago when I bought a 2001 GMC Safari,the same results as the first one and I recommend this antenna highly.
73,Don, VO1XH
TOYBOX Rating: 2007-10-16
Acceptable Performance All Thngs Considered Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I purchased this antenna in the fall of 2004 for use on a lease truck. Performance was very good on both bands in the beginning. In the spring of '06 I noticed that the VSWR on 70cm was of the scale. 2m VSWR started climbing also. In the fall of '07 I noticed that the 2m VSWR on 146.0mHz was better than 3:1. I retuned the antenna but this time the tuning slug had to be turned fully CW to achieve even a reasonable VSWR.

I am not sure what when wrong. The rig I was using was an FT-530 so excessive RF input was not an issue.

Overall I consider it to have been a pretty good investment. Faced again with the same vehicle circumstances again, I would purchase another one should the need arise.