MFJ-1898 Telescoping Antenna paired with the Xiegu X6100…The first

I recently bought the MFJ-1898 Telescoping Antenna from the Huntsville Hamfest (2023), and I also bought a Xiegu X6100 to pair with it. You’ll find that I had a few things to figure out before activating #POTA entity K-2195 Reed Bingham State Park using 5w #QRP #CW. The actual activation went quick, but the first twenty minutes is me setting up under the picnic shelter.
Eventually I’ll get the times and descriptions added to this, but I’m posting quite late at night.
Enjoy the sounds of cicadas and CW!
I made a few shout outs to ‪@HamRadioAdventureGuy‬ ‪@WD4DAN‬ ‪@ko4nll_Eddie‬ and ‪@ThomasK4SWL‬
I love Tom’s videos because they are uncut. I make mistakes and like to add sound effects, but for the most part you get to see my short activations from start to finish. I just like playing around with editing video because I’m a little on the crazy side, and if you’re not having fun then you shouldn’t be doing it. I might be having too much fun.
I’ll have a much more in depth review of the MFJ-1898 antenna, but I have some more testing and data to collect. I can’t just throw out a video all willy nilly because the engineer inside me wants to put all the info out. You’ll notice that other than not reading what I wrote in my log as far as cheat sheets go, I pretty much have the MFJ-1898 dialed in. The measurements directly printed on the antenna slide make eyeball adjustments easy without having to find the ruler guide (I’m talking to you, New Super Antenna.)
And Eddie has owned his Xiegu X6100 for a while, but I never actually tried it out. Today is the first day I actually took it into the field, and I knew just enough to be dangerous. I also left some parts that belonged in the ‪@GigaPartsHuntsville‬ Explorer bag at home, but I just happened to have some spares in my Yaesu FT-891 box to keep me in forward motion.
I hope to catch you on the air soon!
Rob (or Robbie) W1RCP

[@AA0Z]

The # of easter eggs in your videos are worth the watch by themselves.

[@w1rcp]

I try to keep it interesting. Ham radio is fun, but being a dork is even funner.

[@dxporker]

Just found your channel from the discord. Funny the first video I watch is this one… even funnier was watching it while I was working you in the park this morning. The X6100 has the potential to be a fantastic radio if they would roll out some firmware fixes. 73 from the Mountain State

[@w1rcp]

I’ll give a proper reply once I’m not driving. Lol

[@w1rcp]

I had some trouble at first because I immediately upgraded the firmware to Firmware_Upgrade_20230807 [with wfview] And I couldn’t get WSJTX to connect to the radio. I tried all one hundred million combinations and it just gave the big error. I downgraded to the last 2022 version and things have been much smoother. The digital filters ring a little bit, but it isn’t too annoying once you find a clear frequency. I can’t wait to see what else that baby can do.

[@dxporker]

@@w1rcp that firmware was my decision to try and sell it. Why a firmware update would screw up the main feature for me (cat) and there not be an immediate fix made is beyond me. I’ve activated several times with the X and would get aggravated with it not staying in USB-D for my beloved FoxTango8 (even though it still works without) but it’s a mental thing. So I moved that rig to the bottom and just used it for Winlink. If I wanna QRP I’ll just use the 705, KX3 (❤️) or the 599. Since it didn’t sell in Bama I put it back in its go kit and I’ll continue emailing with it 😂

[@w1rcp]

I’m loving the MFJ-1898 antenna. If I can’t throw an antenna in a tree, it sets up quite quickly. The downside to the antenna is you have to have some way to mount it, and that is not included in the cost. Radials are recommended, but those are easy to make. Who doesn’t have loads of wire just sitting in a bin somewhere?

[@kd5aj]

good video.. i will be purchasing a xiegu x6100 as well; and a similar battery.. i need to know what tripod you have as it is what i was looking for...

[@w1rcp]

I have a New Super Antenna that I don’t use much. When I bought the MFJ-1898, I used the tripod and radials from the NSA kit, but searching Amazon I can’t find the tripod by itself. The closest thing I can find is the SR1 for just under $100 bucks. The pros is that it is sturdy and disassembles into a 12” space. The cons is the price. If you’re into DIY, you could probably make something for a lot less. Sounds like a weekend project I might have to hit up the Home Depot to solve. A budget tripod for antennas with 3/8-24 threads terminated to a BNC or SO-239 connector.

[@kd5aj]

thanks for the info, I appreciate you getting back to me!!!@@w1rcp

[@kylefreemason]

Great video! Just found your channel. How did you learn code? Which method/app etc?

[@w1rcp]

I used a mix of techniques. LCWO, ARRL code recordings, converting reading material to CW and then copying it down. And immersing myself in it daily. I gave up a lot in the beginning. Got it pretty good then quit all HF for five years. Then my best friend KO4NLL got his license and I get back into the hobby full speed ahead. I picked CW back up at 5wpm and worked my way up to about 15wpm. I can catch some faster code in short bursts. Thanks for finding my channel. Have fun browsing around. It’s a real motley mix up in here. -Robbie

[@kylefreemason]

@@w1rcp Great story! Welcome back. I hope to learn cw. I have tried in the past but struggle to hear the sounds.

[@KD9HBU]

Excellent activation. The MFJ and the 6100 seem to be a great pair. I have yet to dive into CW. I just made General in June and did 3 POTA activation so far. I do have a Wolf River coil vertical, but this MFJ seems like a more compact package. What brand is that antenna stand that you are using with the MFJ? Thx.

[@w1rcp]

The antenna stand is a New Super Antenna tripod. Unfortunately at this time they are not in stock. MFJ has a vicegrip mount that could be clamped to a tripod. That’s one of the issues with these antennas is mounts. I think WRC has tripods like these, but their online store is closed right now because they have an illness in the family.

[@JamesWilliam70]

I'd like to see how that works mag mounted to your vehicle for some static mobile.

[@w1rcp]

I don’t know if I would trust this one mobile. I’ve used the New Super Antenna mobile with the included whip, but the telescoping whip would probably not last. The first tree limb and it’s a goner.

[@BarefootBeekeeper]

Now you have 400!

[@w1rcp]

Congrats! You’re number 400!!!! Here’s a cool comment as your prize. Cherish it, and print it out as a commemorative addition to the POTA awards. :) Hope to hear you on the air! Rob -W1RCP

[@1979Iceman]

What is that wire winder you have? The round one with the knob on it?

[@w1rcp]

I made that from an empty 300g spool of 3D filament. I printed a knob and drilled a hole in the spool and glued the knob in. I had two of them, but one of them broke after a couple of rough uses. I need to print a new knob for that other one if I ever find it. I used the other one to wind up my 63' end fed wire. The one in the video holds about 80 feet of arborist line for easy deployment. I either tie it to a tree or get one of the kiddos to hold one end while I make a few rounds under a tree.

[@1979Iceman]

@@w1rcp that’s a neat idea. All my spools are 1Kg filament spools so it didn’t even Dawn on me that it was that lol.

[@w1rcp]

I added a better design this week to Printables. The 1Kg spool can hold a crap ton of wire, too.

[@AD2DU]

I just picked up the g90 in the sale over the x6100. Still torn

[@w1rcp]

The G90 can throw more RF. This guy only goes to 10 watts, but the features and size is what sold it for me.

[@marcussteffen743]

What is this for a backpack?????‽?

[@lassesarnhult9283]

is there not a tuner in the radio?

[@w1rcp]

There is a tuner, but the MFJ-1898 tunes almost 1:1 so I didn’t really need the tuner. I just had a brain fart and set the antenna to the 40m mark instead of 20m. Instead of editing it out I showed that even after 400+ POTA activations, brain fog creeps in sometimes.

[@lassesarnhult9283]

@@w1rcp the best with that kind of farts, they don´t smell lol

[@marcussteffen743]

What is this for a backpack ?‽?

[@w1rcp]

The MFJ-1898 antenna does fit in a backpack.

[@marcussteffen743]

Where can I bought this backpack???

[@w1rcp]

You can get these from Gigaparts. It's the explorer bag. @@marcussteffen743

[@ae4xo]

hot yet? Its the hot pink steering wheel cover for me

[@robertpitts8500]

The heat index was beyond hot pink. Look at the sweat on that shirt near the end!

[@w1rcp]

My wife bought me that pink stuff as a joke, but it backfired because I love pink. I think she knew I wouldn't care, though. She knows me too well.

[@user-yr5bk2cx4k]

Can you do 2m 70cm on this antenna?

[@w1rcp]

Not according to MFJ. The New Super Antenna does, but it is only using the tripod and the whip for it. The coil on the MFJ-1898 is what keeps it 6m and down. There isn’t anything for the whip to connect to unless you made a special threaded rod for it.

[@user-yr5bk2cx4k]

Oh ok thanks I was looking for a fixed antenna to work ISS digipeater @@w1rcp

[@kd5aj]

i know my code... and i think im reading '72' instead of 73....

[@w1rcp]

It is 72. If I’m on CW and five watts or less, 72 is saying 73 and QRP at the same time. I think the saying goes, “72 signifies doing more with less” or something like that.

[@kd5aj]

well after 50 years of ham radio i learned something new... thanks!!! @@w1rcp

[@gliderrider]

I strive to make my operations as smooth as yours. Nice ops! De n5vwn

[@w1rcp]

It’s not always smooth sailing. Lol. With 500 activations so far, there’s always some kind of hiccup. But we must adapt and overcome. Check out the activation where I had a sore throat and forgot my key. I sent using just the tip of the audio cable grounded to the ignition switch in straight key mode. Sadly, the key was actually in the Jeep the whole time, but it was disguised under my child’s trash pile.