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Reviews For: MFJ-2990 Vertical Antenna

Category: Antennas: HF: Verticals; Wire; Loop

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Review Summary For : MFJ-2990 Vertical Antenna
Reviews: 6MSRP: 360
Description:
This is a 43 foot self-supporting vertical antenna for 160 to 6 meters with stainless steel hardware and balun.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.mfjenterprises.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
1563.8
N7XCZ Rating: 2024-09-09
works for me Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Hello all, using the 2910 with the 2990. And a Palstar auto tuner and an SPE expert 1.3 K amp. Results are good I can tune 160/80/40 I have as many radials laid down as i could fit in the area the vertical is mounted at, I also used a bracket with an insulator to mount it to the eave of my house a 2 inch black steel pipe sunk 3 feet in concrete supports it. Also using the MFJ 1903 tilt bracket. The antenna is very sturdy as is the tilt bracket. The 2910 came with loose screws on the 160 coil as others have stated but all solder joints good. So how does it get out?
I get consistent good reports on 40 and 80. I have only made one contact on 160 that band not really open yet. i was running only 10 watts and worked a station about 75 miles away in California. Over all I am very pleased with the setup I don't have room for long wire antennas so it works great for me.
N5VX Rating: 2017-07-05
Works very well Time Owned: N.A.
When installed correctly with the proper ground radial field, this antenna works very well on 40 through 10. Please don't expect a 43 foot vertical to be a great antenna on 160....anyone's 43 foot vertical. 80 will be a bit compromised too. Mine is installed in a large open area with a 600 watt antenna tuner at the base.
AK4FU Rating: 2013-02-28
Poor Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This antenna just does not work on 160 meter I have 40 radials in the ground plus their extender and this is the worst vertical that I have ever bought or used.

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Earlier 2-star review posted by KK4CZT on 2012-05-04

I have an MFJ 2990 I seen it advertized as a 160 through 6 meter this antenna will not do 160 meter after hours of talking to tech support and countless other people trying to make this antenna work on 160 meters with 26 radials auto and manual roller ball tuners and four ground rods; no joy, no one at MFJ, Cush Craft or Hi Gain can make it work the thing has become a 359.00 dollar lawn ornament.
It does work 80 through 10 meters I have not tried 6 meters, I bought it for 160 meters that is what I wanted it for so I am very disappointed and dissatisfied.I can only give it a 2 as it did not proform as advertized.
N5VU Rating: 2011-10-24
Quite good Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I'll be short on this review. Some of my reviews on other ham gear are a bit lengthy.

So, here goes. Ground mounted verticals: A vertical antenna that is 1/2 of a dipole, mounted on the ground without it's other half. A ground mounted vertical without a good ground radial system (it's other half) is nothing more than an outside air cooled dummy load.

For any vertical to work properly, it needs a good ground radial system. A good start is 16 radials laying on the ground that are equal to the length of the vertical antenna.

I have 24 radials, 17 of which are 43 feet long and the remainder that fill in the smaller areas of my yard.

Always use a RF choke at the base of the vertical to prevent the coax going into your shack acting like another ground radial. RF does funny things, some are painful.

Oops, I forgot the review,... I can say that it works like any good ground mounted vertical should work. On the first day, I worked the 3XY1D DX group on 30 meters and then TX7M group on 20,17 & 15 meters. I like it a lot!

I haven't owned it long, but I have been hamming and playing with antennas for 35 years, I can recgonize a good one from a bad one. I have always had good luck with any vertical that has a good ground radial system.

Once you get it up on end with a good radial grid, you too will experience the fun of a vertical antenna.

There, that wasn't too long. Was it?

73, God Bless and Great DX! Marcel N5VU (at) yahoo (dot) com
K3ROJ Rating: 2011-09-16
Same as any 43 foot Vertical Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This is my second review of my 43 foot vertical. there was some confusion when ordering this vertical from HRO since I thought at first it was made by DX Engineering but could not find them listed in their catalog. Anyway it does work as well as any other 43 foot vertical depending on how well the radial system is and the tuner used to load this unusual antenna. I have no idea who made this antenna but it does work somewhat. Using a roller inductor type tuner seems to be a requirement, especially on 160 meter. The other bands work well however and am now using it as a receive only antenna for dual diversity reception.
PG00023016 Rating: 2011-04-17
Tuner Location is Important Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I've been using mine for about six or more months. I recently picked up an external autotuner in a trade. I decided to put it at the base of my MFJ-2990. Wow, that helped! I was very surprized at how easily it tunes. I no-longer need the help of an amp to make DX contacts. If you have (or can get) an external tuner for your 43' vertical go for it.