Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes

Reviews For: MFJ-1640T HF Stick Mobile Antenna

Category: Antennas: HF Mobile & Accessories

eMail Subscription

Registered users are allowed to subscribe to specific review topics and receive eMail notifications when new reviews are posted.
Review Summary For : MFJ-1640T HF Stick Mobile Antenna
Reviews: 8MSRP: 14.95
Description:
This MFJ monoband mobile HamTenna Whip makes HF mobiling fun and easy! Theyre small, lightweight, efficient, and super easy-to-use. Dual center and distributed loading lets you radiate efficiently -- you get more power out for working DX and ragchewing.

Each is ruggedly constructed. A heavy duty 4 foot, 3/8 inch diameter fiberglass rod, a nearly indestructible .125 inch diameter PH-17-7 stainless steel whip and chrome plated brass fittings will give you years of dependable service. Its sleek, low profile construction has low wind loading and its semirigid fiberglass eliminates the need for springs or guys. A black anti-static jackets protects the loading coil and blends with any vehicle.

The stainless steel whip is adjustable for lowest SWR. Includes Allen wrench and complete tuning and matching instructions. Handles 250 Watts PEP. About 7 feet tall fully extended and collapses to 4 feet for easy storage.

These MFJ monobanders are available for 6 Meters and each HF band. Simply screws into any 3/8 x 24 female mount for quick band-changing. Protected by MFJs famous No matter What one year limited warranty. MFJ will repair or replace (at our option) your Ham-tenna no matter what for one full year.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.mfjenterprises.com/Product.php?productid=MFJ-1640T
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0084.3
NC4RT Rating: 2022-03-20
Does not resonate in the CW area Time Owned: more than 12 months.
On the positive side: the antenna works well, is compact, and is therefore easy to transport.

Negatives: it is not possible to adjust this (or any other MFJ hamstick I've ever had) into the CW sub-band. With a tuner, I can easily get there, but "barefoot" the antenna resonates at the high end of the SSB portion.

I'm using them as a dipole, with the MFJ dipole bracket, feeding them with window line, and elevating the dipole about 30' into the air.

All that said, I have made plenty of CW contacts using a tuner, at QRP levels, with this antenna.

I currently own 3 pairs of them (10/20/40m), and store them in a PVC case I made.

Another negative: the Allen wrench supplied with the antenna is made of some sort of cheap steel, and rounds over in only a few uses. You will need your own Allen wrench if you adjust the dipole more than once or twice.

Not a negative, or a positive, but you need to know the 40m version of this product is pretty inefficient at 7 MHz. You will hear the stronger stations, and they will hear you, but don't expect it to work well with distant/QRP/weaker stations. This is not because of anything MFJ has done, but because the thing is so electrically short for 40m.

If MFJ made two varieties of these, one for SSB and one for CW, I would be happy to give it 5 stars.
AE5VM Rating: 2019-03-09
Fantastic Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I just bought this from DX-Engineering and mounted it on the roof but had to move it away from internet box on the roof since RF from coax would shut it down. No problems afterward and had to add an RF Isolator even 8ft away from the box. I finally achieved a 1:1 SWR at 7.120 but mostly wanted fair coverage on the phone portion especially on 7.279 Mhz for the moonlighters net. With the Isolator now connected I have no problems with RF. Mad contact 393 miles away to Maricopa county AZ with 50w with my Icom 718. I have 2 antennas on the roof: 20/40 trap dipole from QRPguys and 40m and MFJ-1640T.
AB1LT Rating: 2015-12-12
Great quality & Value Time Owned: more than 12 months.
It's hard to believe they can sell these for about $15ea. They match well and work great. I've worked the world from my car with them.

Pro tip: with shorter stingers the 20M stick can be used on 18M and 15M! Just be sure the part inside the fiberglass stick doesn't protrude into the coil area.
N5IFI Rating: 2015-12-12
Best Cheap Antenna Alternative on the Market Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I purchased one of these to go on a semi truck and flatbed trailer to test the mounting location and noise generated by the truck. (3406e cat and produced no injector noise at all) I installed it and tuned it in about 20 minutes and was on the air on 40 meters. It comes to you pretty far off the US 40 meter amateur band. Mine was resonant around 6800 kHz. I shortened it about 6 inches or so (guess) and it came right in on 7235 kHz. You can disassemble this antenna and not loose the resonant frequency setting too which is a big plus. I recommend keeping one of these around for emergency situations. How it last on the truck is yet to be seen. I was using a Kenwood TS 2000 and the antenna tuner and doing about 90 watts I was able to talk to my friends on 40 meters that were all 300-500 miles away during the mid day. That's not bad. It is rather noisy compared to the higher Q antennas like the bug catcher or the Hi-Q but it only cost me 20 bucks too. In an emergency it couldn't be beat for quick mobile operation. Bandwidth between 2:1 swr points was about 75kcs. I did use a Wilson 305-610 Stainless Steel Heavy Duty CB Antenna Stud which helps to spread the wind load. This is a good piece for these taller antennas using a 3/8-24 stud mount. I mounted mine on the drivers side headache rack at about 5'9 inches which is less than ideal location and it comes in just under 13'6" on 40 meters.
K7LZR Rating: 2015-04-21
Its a good mobile antenna Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I use one of these with a Yaesu FT-817 radio in my Ford Expedition. It does a reasonable job, even with just 5 watts of transmitter power.

I have a 30min. commute to/from work and I regularly listen to and check into a few nets and groups in the morning and signals are usually good.

I didn't want to put a big screwdriver or similar type of antenna on my car for a couple of reasons: First, I wanted something that did not draw too much attention nor advertise the presence of radio gear. Second, I wanted a small and easily removable antenna. I had had previous experience with genuine Hamstick antennas and so I knew what to expect.

If you mount this antenna correctly, making sure that it is grounded well to the car body, and follow tuning instructions then you will have a usable system.
K9BW Rating: 2014-04-30
AS a dipole Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Needed a simple small dipole. Purchased a pair and used a piece of right angle aluminum with 3/8s mounts and was surprised.. got 1.1 swr with out any hard work. Used a balun of course. Have space limitations and these enabled me to operate touchy solid state gear and have some ham fun. No room to hang any wires.
K1WJ Rating: 2013-03-29
Works Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Have the 40m stick mounted in bucket with 4ft wood mast with single 1/4wave 40m radial also 4ft off the ground. 100khz below 1.6:1 match. 3 quick contacts upon set up. HOA situation. Not a pile up buster but making contacts. MFJ HF sticks are the best plus the $15 price. I have had good results with the MFJ sticks 6m-20m,so I figured I would give 40m a try - I do not think I will try 80m-160 versions however, 73 K1WJ Dave
KG4RUL Rating: 2010-10-13
Great Antenna Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
This antenna is easier to breakdown than the equivalent "Hamstick". It allows you to unscrew the stinger without needing to loosen setscrews and losing the antenna tune. I have used two of these in the MFJ-347 dipole mount with excellent results.