Working QRP with FT-817 and MFJ-1899t

This antenna works very well. A great addition to my Go-kit or any portable operation. Easy to take with you, easy to set up, easy to make contacts. 59++ on FM 10 meter repeater in NY.
Support my channel and efforts at www.patreon.com/hamradioconcepts

[@RegNatarajan]

Really useful video. I like how you show the things you review in action instead of just on the table.

[@Scraws]

This antenna rocks with the right counterpoise!!! I just did FT8 from Ohio to Cuba and to Texas with this antenna. Made a tape measure counterpoise, and it's rocking!

[@amram101]

I love your counterpoise demo with the wirecutters! Thanks. Mark N5CBF

[@KentVanderploeg]

Thanks for the video. I have one of these on backorder for my FT-817 as well. Not expecting miracles, but a quick way to makes some contacts with little setup.

[@o00scorpion00o]

I have the MFJ-1820T whip and it works great, never fail to make contacts with my FT-818 but the counterpoise is the difference between it working and not. I find that at different locations I have to adjust the counterpoise so I decided to leave it a bit longer, some places I have to use a longer counterpoise and others a shorter counterpoise or even raise it a little bit to get SWR low. One thing for sure, without the proper counterpoise that antenna will probably not be heard at all.

[@michaeldavidheit]

Great video. I've been looking for a good antenna for my KX3 and based on your video I bought one of these ... the KX3 has a built in ATU so using a good counterpoise and the ATU I should get good use out of this antenna in my travels around Alaska .... thank you sir for posting this great video.

[@slaznum1]

Great video Eric always looking for new ideas for my 817

[@MatthiasLenardt]

Thanks for sharing 👍

[@KX4UL]

Good Demo Eric! Thanks for showing the importance of the counterpoise as I think many take that part way to lightly. Seems this MFJ-1899t antenna and the "Wonder Loop/Wand" antennas work for some and not for others. I think they are both very fickle antennas and that the unique circumstances of each persons location, band propagation, RF power etc. of course all play a big role. But nonetheless, both are fun to experiment with and seem to receive fairly well, even though they do not generally transmit well unless all the planets in the solar system are in line...lol!

[@LimonEllie]

😀❤ HQ2H, thanks to Alex for this grate repeater system!!

[@k5wxp22]

Nice contact with the setup! With you being in Florida, that go kit is mighty important. The only concern I might have would be over time that the connection to the back of the rig would get warped or worn out. That's a pretty large antenna to be hooked up to the BNC connector. Still, a nice compact setup that seems to work well. Thanks for sharing! 73, Brett

[@philipchandler330]

Just amazing super for portable communications thanks as always for your expertise and sharing on youtube

[@lonewolfdetecting9793]

Where did you get the rotatable Pl 259 to NBC adapter. Been doing web search and finding nothing. I ordered on of the MFJ antennas for my go kit. I'm in Pasco County and plan on doing some IOTA's with my FT 817 ND. My Buddipole works great but it's still a bit much to load in the kayak.

[@ttony0074]

Thanks for your videos you do the best reviews

[@DuckingAround58]

Can I get a clarification on the wire. Is it connected directly to your antenna or is it more like a ground in the sense it could be connected anywhere onto the body of the radio?

[@jimawhitaker]

Nice video thanks. Question you said "the proper" length of counterpoise do you carry a few different wire lengths in your go bag?

[@TheOutdoorFun]

Thanks for the video. Which one would you recommend for a FT-817 QRP

[@adventuresofbobandlana4939]

I use Mfj telescopic whips with my KX2 and my shortest contact is 982 miles. 1500 miles or more is common. I have a Windcamp dipole that goes with me and performs well but for quick fun I use these whips! N7KHH

[@huntrkilla4408]

Great vid, Just purchased an MFJ 1899T can't wait to try it out. How did you mount the antenna straight/vertical? I purchased right angle bnc connector and the lock nibs inside connector are offset. Antenna mounts on an angle either left or right but not straight..

[@qhack]

Eh... I own one. It works great as a tunable dummyload... As an antenna, not so much. Gave up on it and have had much better luck with a long wire and my Elecraft T1 antenna tuner. Since you are getting it to work, I suspect mine is more a problem of quality control.

[@357pythoncolt]

I've been experimenting with a couple of the mono band telescopic whips and am encouraged by the results. Can you tell yet if there is any difference in performance between the mono band versions and the 1899t?

[@MoTown44240]

Have you tried making a counterpoise for each band you want to work then sticking the ends of the counterpoise wires into one common terminal eyelet (crimping or soldering)? Wonder if the meter will cancel the counterpoise wires not for the specific band you're checking the SWR on.

[@Pascal-F11DRE]

Sympathique votre installation. Peut être faudrait il y ajouter d'autres contre poids afin d'éviter l'effet directif. Best regards and tnk u 83's to France

[@aerozg]

Nice work. I have a similar antenna called Outback 1899T made by D-Original company from Spain, bought it just recently, and i can't get it to work. On 20m it is resonant at 14.880MHz with 2.2:1 SWR, tested multiple times with my NanoVNA. It's similar on 40m, and 80m is even worse. I haven't tried adding a counterpoise wire, which i intend to do as soon as possible, but i'm afraid i will have to return it and get something else.

[@vetham100]

Very good video!!

[@adriansalt4521]

Hi, amazing video! Where you do plug the counterpoise wire into? Does it connect to the whip or somewhere at the back of the radio?

[@yuudai1400]

PS. Don't sell yourself short... that contact was made on 2.5 watts out of the 817!! The power indicator at the bottom of the display reads 2.5 watts when it is full, and is only 5 watts when you toggle the power level until the bars don't appear. When it flashes, that means it was set to 5 watts and automatically reduced for use on the internal battery. Well done, 73 de K7SAK

[@Hanso929]

Sorry, but when the bars flashing the output will stay on 5W and not reduce tot 2,5W. Please check it with a powermeter.

[@MrJTPEPPER]

Yep, People just pop off without reading the manual. Makes you wonder how a guy that can't read a manual can get his license.

[@daviddurflinger3104]

So,do you hook up your counter poise wire to your analyzer?, and calculate the length by the wavelength.

[@miker7962]

How does it work on the lower bands below 20m? de WE0H ..

[@robdmau]

Hello, just getting into the hobby. How do you know what length for the counterpoise wire? Is that different for each antenna or is it set per band?

[@tinynhhouse5467]

I am new to the hobby myself. I think the following info is correct: Counterpoise Length (in meters) = 0.25 x Wavelength (in meters) For a 10-meter band, the wavelength is approximately 10 meters. So, a quarter-wavelength counterpoise would be roughly 2.5 meters (8.66 feet) in length. For a 15-meter band, the wavelength is approximately 15 meters. So, a quarter-wavelength counterpoise would be roughly 3.75 meters (about 12.30 feet) in length.

[@xe1zlgg]

What so impressive performance. Thanks for share. XE1ZLG

[@yuudai1400]

Love your channel. I bought one of these over QRZ swap but the telescopic portion didn't arrive with it! Have you been able to order a new telescopic element for the antenna?

[@HamRadioConcepts]

Im sure they will sell it to you. Contact them and ask, let me know what happens.

[@stickerland_it]

Hi, I found your email address on youtube, I saw the video about MFJ-1899t antenna. I have seen that you speak very well about it. Can you help me understand how the counterweight works? I don't understand how I should put the length of the counterweight wire. Do you have a pattern? Sorry for my English, I don't write well. Thanks and sorry again.

[@theexperimentalcqdx4208]

I got the same Watson muilti Ranger antenna, please make a quick video where you attach the counter poise wire. I was trying to drop the swr with the mag mount on my truck...no luck. Please help. Regards Mike

[@porkyfedwell]

Ah, the days of sunspots. How sweet it was.

[@jonathanwarner1844]

As of the time of this reply, sunspots have started to appear again.

[@porkyfedwell]

@@jonathanwarner1844 they never stopped appearing, they simply become rarer. As of the time you wrote this, there hasn't been a sunspot for 29 days, and the number of spotless days in 2020 is a record for the past 60 years at least. If you were a ham, you'd know this.

[@chuckschroeder4710]

I am looking at this MFJ 1899T and have also considered the Super Antenna MP1DXMAX Dual HF . The super antenna comes with a set of (4) counterpoise wires at different lengths, all connected at the same time, for each band used. Do you think that a similar set of counterpoise wires for each band of the MFJ 1899 T would work to allow easier configuration? Yhanks, Chuck W0CWS

[@HamRadioConcepts]

Chuck Schroeder sure, why not? it would resonate on the appropriate counterpoise length for the band you are working

[@vetham100]

Good to know, thanks!

[@southwales1980]

What is the bnc connector called tht is connect to the aerial at the back of the radio as I just sent of for the same antenna that u are using

[@rogerlong8540]

Hi , Thanks for the information, can you please confirm the length of the counterpoise wire 40m- 20m-17m-. Roger

[@vetham100]

180 divided by the frequency

[@josephkopeczy2644]

Put two of those together our got a nice multi band j pole just change the size of each antenna

[@31LR176]

Is this antenna also a cure for people who have a triple5 syndrome?

[@dvscotlandphoenixnetwork]

DV Scotland is an independent informal group of radio amateurs, mostly based in Scotland, who share a common interest in Digital / Analogue voice systems. Collectively we operate a number of digital / Analogue voice Repeaters / Nodes throughout Scotland, most of which are Multi-mode, operating on D-Star, DMR, System Fusion, FM modes. The Group also host a number of Linux servers to run D-Star XLX600 Reflector, YSF GB-DVScotland Reflector, DV Scotland DMR+ IPSC2 DMR Master Server and Allstar HUB 53937. @

[@kd4kzz]

Hey. Is that a 90 degree adapter. Where did you get it.

[@JimFariello]

Nice video, good review. N0USN Jim

[@vetham100]

In other videos, the counterpoise is up off the ground (and we are told that it has to be this way) , in this video, its laying on the ground. Are we to assume that it doesn't matter? (it must not because mine doesn't work regardless where the wire is)

[@HamRadioConcepts]

I am going to revisit this antenna for a 3rd time because so many people claim they have issues with it. I still use it with success with the counterpoise any way I choose to put it. You just have to tune it, dont rely on the measurments in the manual, just try longer or shorter until the swr is low

[@vetham100]

Thanks for that, i'm mainly concerned about hearing something, i wonder if it would be any good for digital stuff such as wspr or psk31 instead of voice.

[@vetham100]

i guess if i use a tuner, it wont matter how long the wires are..........

[@CliveDrone]

Manual...what manual??? Mine just came with a little scrap of paper with some measurements on it. Guess that's why I am so confused about the counterpoise.

[@vetham100]

@@CliveDrone There is no manual, just the same sheet of paper that i got.

[@jimcampbell6877]

awesome & great information , keep it up please. KE0NAV - 73's

[@kerron_]

Wow

[@paulaubuchon2336]

What is the counter poise length for 10meters...

[@denelson83]

Quarter wavelength, so about 2.5 metres.

[@dx398]

HF repeaters? I thought there were only VHF / UHF repeaters?

[@HamRadioConcepts]

dx398 only on 10 meters but yes, cool huh?

[@HamRadioConcepts]

Well, I have done it. not sure if it counts as true DX haha

[@vetham100]

Hi (nice video), how would this antenna do on a mag mount? Would it be very wobbly? Thanks

[@HamRadioConcepts]

vetham100 no. it will not work on a mag mount due to the way the counterpoise works..

[@vetham100]

interesting, i keep getting mixed reviews on sites like eham and others. Some say they use a mag mount and it works great and others, not so much. I guess its a matter of trial and error LOL. One thing i do know, it doesnt work inside at all. I meant to ask, where is the best place to connect a counterpoise and do i lay it out on the ground? Thanks for answering.

[@vetham100]

I have since discovered that this antenna does not work. There was something wrong with it from day 1. I sent it back. I had better luck with a hamstick on a tripod.

[@vetham100]

well, not everyone would agree with you on that.....kzbin.info/www/bejne/gWikpGOIr82rfbM

[@erikanthes954]

Looks like Pasco County.

[@jonathanwarner1844]

If precise lengths of counterpoise are needed for certain bands, who is to say, then, whether the telescopic bit isn't the counterpoise, and maybe the counterpoise lying along the ground is the bit that radiates, creating an NVIS setup. Then raise the whole thing off the ground a few metres, and it starts to work properly? ^_^

[@flatout1001]

Nice vid 73 M6eya

[@turdferguson2863]

_Bing bong_

[@dnwklin]

How to I calculate the length of counterpoise?

[@PGHTechGuy412]

I know this is late but the formula is 180/freq(in MHz) =counterpoise length

[@GreyGhost-r4z]

DO a contact on 75M.

[@HamRadioConcepts]

Gregory Heath why?? Nothing good or mature on 75 meters. Used it on 80 many times with digital modes and CW.

[@GreyGhost-r4z]

HamRadioConcepts 75 is ridiculous at times, I just wondered if you could do a contact on 75/80. High bands are easy. No antenna is perfect, but I enjoyed the video. I am looking for an 817 and different antennas. I am building a Magloop right now for my 40m CW Radio I built 24 years ago. 73

[@charlesdiaz9800]

O

[@teemoinvietnam1356]

Exactly 10 Minutes, oy vey!

[@bill-2018]

Try operating on 80m or 40m and see how poor a short aerial is. They just don't work efficiently and are a joke aerial. Don't waste your money buying one. Bill, G4GHB.

[@denelson83]

It's the electrical length of the aerial that matters, not the physical length.

[@bill-2018]

@@denelson83 Yes, you can load an aerial so it thinks it's longer but it doesn't work efficiently.

[@denelson83]

@@bill-2018 Not all ham radio operators are worried about antenna efficiency, but I guarantee no ham radio operator likes to have an antenna that is _too_ inefficient. Short antennas are a compromise for hams who do not have the room to run long wires in the air.