HRL 26: MFJ 1788 Antenna. Full Review With SWR Readings From 15m thru 40m
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- Опубліковано 7 вер 2020
- Find me on Twitter at: LeosCoast2Coast
Full detailed review of MFJ 1788 Receive and Transmit Loop Antenna.
My SWR Readings:
15m 1.3-1.5:1
17m: 1.7:1 (Entire Band)
20m: 1.2:1 (Entire Band)
30m: 1:1 (Entire Band)
40m: 1:1 (Entire Band)
The MFJ 1788 Antenna will work from QRP power levels of as little as 1/4 watt all the way up to 150 watts.
Find out not only how to use it, but how it works. Plus SWR readings from 15m all the way through 40m.
This “Antenna Arsenal” works FIVE amateur bands with low SWR and fits ANYWHERE! From your RV to your patio, it’s easy to deploy and works right away.
It’s a “must have” if you’re running a dipole or vertical antenna. Because it allows you to HEAR the signals your vertical or dipole can’t hear because they’re not built to be a “listening antenna.”They’re built to be a resonant transmit antenna.
From Field Day to Parks On The Air, SSB to CW to FT 8, from an HOA restrictive or Assisted living QTH to a home deployment, this antenna won’t disappoint!
Top quality receive and up to 150 watts of transmit power will really get your signals out there. It’s the most versatile high quality antenna I’ve ever seen in over 47 years of DX work.
Don’t sell off all of your Ham gear because you’re downsizing! Even if it means moving to a retirement home. This antenna simply and easily does it all and it well built.
This antenna will keep you on the air SUCCESSFULLY!
MFJ can provide you everything from amplifiers to antenna tuner‘s from antennas to noise cancelers.
Find out more about all that MFJ can for you to improve your shack at this link: mfjenterprises.com - Розваги
Greetings from Sweden!
You,Sir, just got yourself a new subscriber 🎉
The waterfall display really shows how narrow of a bandwidth this has. They weren’t kidding about Hi-Q. Probably nice for people with a lot of local QRM or transceivers without tight preselectors. I suppose it’ll keep splatter down too.
Love your enthusiasm !
Thank you! I waited so long to get my license. Too long. Very grateful to finally have a chance to share the real love I have for doing this. It’s amazing how many different ways you can make contact with people. This is a novel and ingenious way to do so and I’m pretty impressed by it.
Thanks for reaching out to say what you did. It means a lot to me.
To be very clear, at the opening when I said it was the best antenna I’ve used in 47 years,“ I’m referring to “receiving signals.“ I’m a firm believer in a “dedicated receive antenna” for ham operators who don’t have a directional.
I believe it could save many senior Ham’s staying on the air because frankly many of them are moving out of their “forever home,“ where they’ve raised their children and now need to downsize to a condo, townhouse, or assisted-living of some sort. but HOA’s prohibit antennas.
Because this antenna can be deployed so quickly outside and then brought back in, it’s perfect for someone in that position to be able to keep them on the air where there isn’t room for a dipole and no chance for a vertical.
Because this antenna is so easily deployed and can be mounted in a portable manner, they can be placed as low as 3 feet off the ground but still be effective.
Will it be as effective as a vertical antenna on transmit? No. Will it be as good as a dipole on transmit? I believe yes. It was designed to be similar to a full size dipole.
This test was done in unhealthy atmospheric conditions, where there is so much carbon, smoke and ash in the air. That we’ve been told to stay inside. The ions within smoke will refract a signal. Many studies have been done proving this.
Yet this loop on transmit was still able to make a confirmed 2,600 mile QSO over land in these conditions.
I’m pretty impressed with any antenna that can be put up in one minute and placed on the air. Or placed permanently and used successfully. Frankly I don’t know of any others like it.
It’s for this reason I do believe strongly that many hams who are downsizing will be able to stay on the air if they purchase a loop like this. They can put it outside when they want to work and bring it back in when they’re done if their HOA’s are that restrictive. It can be that portable.
Kudos to MFJ for developing such a product that can keep many ham operators on the air long after they can no longer deploy a vertical or dipole antenna to keep them on the air.
I have a 1786 on order from DX Engineering, finally. It's expected to arrive within a couple of weeks. I've been posting on forums for since 2021 about how my situation, both housing and age, cause burying radials, running long wires, and climbing ladders, to be out of the question.
When I mention that one of these MFJ's may work in my situation, the younger hams who climb towers as well as the high techies who build their own systems are very critical of my leanings. I've had one high techie who sent me lengthy tomes about how I should run long wires all over.
I already tried the downspout antenna (noisy on RX, and would probably would cause interference and complaints from attached households). I also installed a G5RV Jr. on my roof that just didn't work, even with the MFJ auto tuner that I since sold.
Critics can be relentless and often believe that everyone's situation, needs and abilities are just like theirs. Glad this has worked for you and I appreciate your well done demonstration. KK4GMU in Florida.
Today I bought the MFJ 1886x. I am very excited how the antenna works. vy 73 de DL1ZM
Sorry but this sounds like a cleaning product ad on a shopping channel- and makes a great pudding too!
- Stan Freburg.
Sorry you feel that way. Best Wishes to you and yours this Christmas.
Larry
Good review Larry! I have always been fascinated with the MFJ-1788 Loop. Especially since I am in an HOA gated community. It seems Hams are both hot and cold with their opinions about it. That along with the high price has kept me from purchasing one of these antennas. I have seen many good and bad reviews on UA-cam about the MFJ-1788. I wonder if in some cases it might be user error and/or lack of patience that plays a roll in their negative opinions, as well as what mode they are using it for. As you pointed out, if you are in an HOA, condo or apartment antenna restricted area then this would be an excellent choice regardless of price. At some point I am sure my curiosity will lead me to try one. 73!
awesome video...thanks a million (W5ZM)
Hi i stay in a high rise flat which is 183 feet high and I'm on the top floor which is the 19th, I'm not allowed to put antenna on the roof but I can fix a bracket and pole on balcony so could you advise me if i should put the loop vertical or horizontal it's the 1786 I've ordered
I have a condo at the beach that I took a radio to and used a Wolf River coil and placed . The noise level was an S 6. Will this antenna reduce condo noise. I imagine those other units. Have all kin’s of noise generating crap. I am a wee bit troubled by the other reviews I find on UA-cam. You are the only one I can find that is excited. I tried a 20 meter dipole with the same noise problems. I appreciate your time. You sound like the kind of ham who is helpful to others. Thanks again. N4KBM
At 4:11 minutes you talk about positioning the antenna according to the feet off of the ground. But if you mount the antenna in your attic, I can't get it past 5 feet high from my attic floor. So will I have to mount it in a horizontal or vertical position? Also, if the antenna is in a vertical position, will a rotator be a better option for the antenna? 73's from N3NQP
I have so many questions.....These are hi Q narrow band antennas. I get the tuning part of it for transmit. My question is on receive can you actually see signals across an entire band on a waterfall or only the portion in the band you tuned to? Another way to put it, as a receive loop do you need to tune it with the module to hear signals or only to transmit? All the best 73’s KE8ASZ/AG
Will this antenna work as well.inside my apartment. 17:35 ?
I am using a Magnetic Loop antenna that I built myself. It is on the wall next to me. 15 to 40 meters at about 40 watts. I learned how to make it on UA-cam. KG7IRJ Ohio Extra
Is it ok to use this antenna in a fixed vertical position around 50 feet height. Tnx vu3mes
This is a great question. According to MFJ if you use this antenna above 20 feet you should mounted horizontally. I’m sure that’s because of takeoff angle. If you can get that thing 50 feet in the air, oh my gosh I think you’re really solid. I couldn’t get mine that high. I’ve just had surgery and I can’t get on my roof. My brother took care of that but I didn’t want him going any higher than he was. At 50ft. Wow.
I'm thinking about getting one of these for my attic, which would put it about 15 to 18 feet above the ground. Which is the better way to mount this? Vertically or horizontally? Thanks. Bob, KI5HXQ.
MFJ Says if you’re above 20 feet mount it horizontally. To be quite honest, I didn’t notice a difference between the two mounting suggestions using this loop.
It worked really well for me. Keep in mind it has a very “narrow Q” meaning that you’ll be re-tuning it a lot when you change frequency. But it works well and it made a Coast to Coast call for me at 100 W.
Just tune it by the noise. No need to send out a carrier
Thanks for the show. My adult son is getting into ham radio and has the first two licenses. He lives at home and bank of Dad is currently financing everything. The 1788 is $600. Recommendations for less expensive setups?
GREAT QUESTION!
Had to laugh... “bank of dad” BELIEVE ME... I remember those days.
The 1788 is truly remarkable because it provides 20m and 40m. A less expensive “sister model” is the MFJ 1786. It works 10-30. So it works the same as this loop (but doesn’t provide 40m) but would be EXCELLENT as an alternative. They’re the same antenna, just the “variable capacitor is different, so it won’t work 40m.
The receive only (MFJ 1886) is OUTSTANDING for a receive antenna, which is where SO MUCH of the value is for these antennas is. Those are asking $300 new i think.
Would need to use another transmit antenna and receive on the loop which would definitely “receive much better” than whatever antenna he’s now using, unless it’s a directional beam.”
I’ve reviewed them both. The 1886 Is no slouch on receive at all. It’s a great antenna that saves about $250 but doesn’t transmit.
Your son will need to be absolutely careful to not transmit even a Watt into that antenna, otherwise he will destroy it.
That’s the “safety“ built into buying either be 1786 or OR less expensive (but missing 40m) 1788.
You could always check Ham Radio website sales for used equipment to try to find one as well at a cheaper price.
Be careful, because this is a unique antenna with a motor and moving parts inside. Plus, if you buy one new, MFJ has I think the best warranty in the business.
It’s a one year warranty, even if you take the thing apart yourself and can’t fix it, MFJ still will under most circumstances repair it.
What rig does your son use? Any amplifiers? Does it have an Auto tuner? Are there any tall trees on his lot? These are important questions
Does he have any antennas presently?
Btw: Congratulations to your son! Moving up to the General is TERRIFIC and an accomplishment to be proud of.
I built mine for about 30 bucks. KG7IRJ Ohio Extra
Do they make a 75 meter version?
No. They only go down to 40 m meters my friend. Thank you for asking and thanks for watching.
Larry
How much did you get paid for this. ?
If using as a receiving antenna, why not use the MFJ-1886? It helps you on all HF bands including 80 and 160. It costs less and doesn’t need tuning. It has a built in pre-amp. The TR version simples switching…
Nice review, I just subscribe to your channel.
Yes indeed it does that. But a loop Antenna, because it works on the magnetic portion of the electromagnetic wave is going to hear better whether it’s the 1886 or the 1788.
I completely understand your point and you are right. But both antennas work the same way. It’s just that one doesn’t need to be tuned obviously for SWR.
Thanks very much for writing in and a very good point as well.
Larry
If you say this is the best antenna you have ever used, then you probably haven't used a lot of antennas.