The MFJ 9232 QRPocket Loop Tuner Ham Radio Antenna

A really cool 40-10 Meter QRP portable antenna.
www.mfjenterpri...
I may make a small commission on purchases made through the following links:
Bioenno BLF-1203W: amzn.to/3bXsRhP
Bioenno BLF-1203AB: amzn.to/39OAW74
Bioenno BLF-1206A: amzn.to/2XaWQ1L
Bioenno 20AH LiFePO4 Battery: amzn.to/2XfZPWT
Bioenno 12AH LiFePO4 Battery: amzn.to/2WHU9kp
Lunch box for QRP: amzn.to/2xQfbGO
Xiegu X5105: amzn.to/2U4jrtM
Xiegu G90: amzn.to/30fszPD
Yaesu FT-891:amzn.to/2XaTkof
Charger: amzn.to/2YARsSt
Goture 10 Meter Carbon Fiber Mast: amzn.to/2IexWq6
Shakespear 20' Wonderpole: amzn.to/2Rd9IiG
Powerwerx Power Pole Distribution Block: amzn.to/2WHI3Ym
Powerwerx Volt Meter: amzn.to/2IG8AAw
Ailunce HD1: amzn.to/35HqBYZ
Baofeng UV-5R: amzn.to/2Ot3NX7
Tactical Backpack amzn.to/2k6jya7
Condor Rip EMT Pouch: amzn.to/2XjLUPG
iPad mini Bluetooth Keyboard: amzn.to/2IOtI7o
Red Rock Outdoors Sling Pack: amzn.to/2FdCKdf

[@johnk8091]

I have two of those MFJ-9232, and also have the bigger brother MFJ-936B. There are indeed High- Q with narrow bandwidth, when fed with a low resistance conductor. The more resistance in your wire (thin wire), and poor connections will give you wider bandwidth, lower Q and more losses. But hey, you still make contacts. Mine use 3/8" soft copper tube, formed in a circle, and they are very high Q and have a very narrow bandwidth - they almost work like a pre-selector, any station above and below my frequency is notched out. These have the same attributes as a regular magnetic loop antenna - mag loops can be fed in many different ways, inductively fed, gamma, toroidal, or capacitively fed. These units are capacitively fed....also called an "army loop" or a "Pattersons Loop". Try it out - use a thick conductor, and you will see your Q go up, and bandwidth narrow. These are great units for experimenting with antennas

[@mssippijim]

I made a loop from 1/2 inch x 6' aluminum strip from Lowe's. Fashioned a loop and bored a hole big enough to fit on the studs on the tuner in each end. I sit it on my desk after connecting to the tuner and "tuned" it using my MFJ antenna analyzer for 20M FT8...much easier than tuning with receiver / swr meter on rig. I made a few contacts with it. Just a quick note, these loops are not true magnetic loops, they are tuned loops.

[@SevenFortyOne]

I just got back home to CT from my camping trip in VT and saw this video. When you said you had your antenna wrapped around a tree you weren't kidding! I can't believe how strong I was coming in on that thing as my antenna wasn't really much better. I was running 30W into my zip-line inverted vee with the center up only about 12 feet and the ends about a foot off the ground. I was powering my radio with my SUV which was close to the antenna and de-tuning it to some degree as well. So I guess that means the MFJ QRPocket Loop Tuner works! This was a cool contact - I'm glad you caught me on the air! I look forward to working you again in the future - 73 and thanks for including me in your video! N1NUG - AKA SevenFortyOne. BTW - you'll be in the video I post from this activation so keep an eye out ... might be a week or two before I get it edited and uploaded....

[@hamradiotube]

Right on man it was totally random catching you on the air. I was just tuning around and I thought your voice sounded familiar, then I heard POTA and had to get you. The antennas were working great. This little loop has a surprisingly good receive, I'm quite shocked by it. Your inverted V was doing quite well too, especially considering how low it is. But thats portable radio. It may not the the best conditions but it still works and thats what I love about it. I look forward to seeing your video. 73

[@joewoodchuck3824]

I'm in Guilford. I was living in Woodstock for a while. Where and how did you camp in Vermont. It's one of my favorite places. N1khb

[@SevenFortyOne]

@@joewoodchuck3824 I was at lake bomoseen about a year ago. I used to have family that lived in central Vermont so I'm very familiar with the State

[@nerdinium]

The lower the resistance of the loop, the more efficient antenna it is, and the better it will work. Bent copper pipe would be very efficient, but a lot narrower on the tuning too.

[@kc8bdr]

Mike, you are motivating me to upgrade my license and get on HF. Just got to save some cash for a radio.

[@KTSAdventures]

Absolutely! You will love it!

[@hamradiotube]

Dude, first off, thank you so much for your kind words. That means the world to me! Just get your General man, it isn't hard. Read the books, watch Dave, KE0OG's videos, and take lots practice tests on your phone in your down time until you are nailing it. VHF/UHF is cool, but to talk to people all around the world on a piece of wire is absolutely amazing! Keep going, you can do it. And pay it forward!

[@AndrewMurphy8383]

@@hamradiotube most people forget that tech get some hf prevlages

[@AndyWragg]

Loop antennas are great, we (my radio club) had a full wave 40m one deployed for a special event that was being run this weekend, BIWOTA British Inland Waterways OTA. They are very quiet and very easy to deploy, if you have supports. That looks like an interesting little gadget, one thing I'd be wary of though is using fork terminals with wires under tension, they may have a tendency to pull out if not properly secured. I'd be thinking about adding some kind of strain relief mod to take the tension off the terminal joint in the wire.

[@davidsradioroom9678]

Really neat piece of equipment. Thanks for sharing. Suggestion: You could spray paint the wing nuts orange of shocking pink. Makes them easier to find when you drop them. You could always keep a couple extra on hand. 73

[@buckeye5704]

Sounds like a winner Mike. The wire is 12 AWG rated for 20 AMPS. I tried an activation yesterday on with my WRC TIA and mobile TS 480 at K-0345. Heard lots of folks on 20 and 40 but no responders to my CQs. Was hearing MEXICO on 40 and FLA, NC and VA on 20. On the POTA FB Page I was told they could hear me, but I didn't hear a station that was calling CQ DX there in MI.

[@kuyckxandre268]

THX for this nice video and greets from Belgium 73.

[@hamradiotube]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@joeframo3347]

You could even get really cheap PVC tubing and make a diamond shape out of it yeah man that's really cool thanks for sharing you gave me a lot of ideas 👍👍👍 and you're a really good nature cool cat thank you so much

[@joeframo3347]

Sorry Mike when your radio it's the Yaesu 891 oh thanks again man really great video can't believe how you were getting out the way that thing is strung up in that tree amazing

[@LEXPIX]

Ha, cool to see the KZbin connection over old school coms. Nicely done.

[@garysmith8455]

Very cool happening with that QSO!! I just subscribed. Newish ham here (only a year and a month) and I have been HF only. JUST put up a new 6 meter ant. AND a TrueLadderLine dipole to change things up a bit. Still have to run the 600 ohm line into the shack. Can't wait to see how it performs over my end fed long wire.... Thanks again, looking forward to the next one !

[@hamradiotube]

Thanks and welcome to the channel! Experimenting with antennas is one of my fav parts of the hobby and it looks like you got a couple new toys to play with. I hope they serve you well. 73

[@1958johndeere620]

I missed N1NUG POTA this weekend, and yours too. Work gets in the way again. BOO HISS.

[@hamradiotube]

I just randomly found him. You didn't miss me though, I wasn't doing a POTA activation in this video.

[@SevenFortyOne]

I was lucky to get a couple days off to do this (its getting crazy busy at the shop)...but it was good to get up to VT for a couple of days and work Mike in the process.

[@WJ6FRadio]

Kick ass video! I am not a QRP guy, but this looks like one handy little gadget! Keep up the great work!

[@hamradiotube]

Thanks DPF! I'm not a qrp guy either but this antenna is really cool! I'm liking this for an EDC antenna. Prob not the only one I will carry but I'm def adding it to the portable SHTF radio bag for sure. Just the way one can easily deploy this and get on the air is really quite something.

[@WJ6FRadio]

@@hamradiotube I have been carrying a small end fed and the Chameleon EMCOMM III (Have a video of this one), but this would be much lighter and space saving.

[@jsieb]

Ha awesome, you got 741! Gotta bring him into the fold.

[@hamradiotube]

Yeah totally random. I just tuned around looking for a signal and I heard a POTA station on 7.188 so naturally I wanted to work him. Then the added bonus was that it was him!

[@potaactivator]

Mike, I recently ordered the MFJ-935-B which handles up to 100 watts. I'm going to experiment by making loops from 10-40 and attach them to a PVC cross section. Your video gives me some encouragement. 73 and Happy New Year. de K4NYM

[@hamradiotube]

Right on man, thanks for watching. I hope you make many contacts.

[@joeframo3347]

Very very nice platform you have thank you for sharing this to everyone very very cool 👍

[@richhill5464]

Great channel! I came from the joint video that all you guys did on amradio 2.0. I will be back and thanks. I'll be back!

[@hamradiotube]

Great to have you Rich.

[@EugenioGuarente]

Thanks, mine works also great with 1/4" cooper air conditioner tube

[@hamradiotube]

Heck yeah, thats what they are talking about when they say experiment with it. Its not just for wire, its for anything metal! Thanks for letting us know how you use it.

[@dcmoisan]

Icemaker tubing.

[@ae1tpa92gwtom2]

CEE CUE......nice Vid Mike, , Im looking at buying the 936B,..now I will think about the 9232 as a Stocking Stuffer...cheers n 73s AE1TP

[@hamradiotube]

Well its never too early to buy yourself radio related Christmas presents;)

[@alanread6596]

Excellent video very informative just bought one not used it yet.

[@BradSnyder1]

Looks really interesting Mike. I always look forward to your videos. Keep it up! 73

[@hamradiotube]

Thanks Brad.

[@joeframo3347]

Hey Mike I just watched your video on KZbin you're pretty cool dude really like your setup looks like an Icom 7000 I'm not sure but it was really good it keep making these videos really enjoy it thank you for sharing goodbye from Atlanta Georgia

[@hamradiotube]

Hey thanks, I appreciate your kind words. It's amazing what one can do with a little wire and some RF!

[@michaelrosebud]

Mike, I have done 38 years of motivational speaking, and I wish you were looking for a job back in the day....lol. I just moved to Washington State in a HOA, and have been looking for something to let me reach out and touch someone...lol I am going to give the boys at HRO a call and get one, I cant do much where I am, even though we are inundated with repeaters here in the Olympia Wa area. Thanks for the great clips Mike. Hope to hook up someday. KI4TOL

[@hamradiotube]

If only motivational speaking about ham radio would pay better haha! I think you'll be quite surprised with the antenna. I have used it inside my house just on RX and was hearing a lot of stations. My house is a faraday cage and I don't even get reliable cell signal inside so I was really amazed. As you can see in this video, I did very little setup with the antenna and just threw it in a tree and made contacts. I would still throw up a dipole in the yard if I were you and wait for people to complain about it. Better to ask forgiveness I always say! Thanks for watching and good luck getting on the air. 73

[@hamradiocq]

I like that antenna! Great video. Your audio sounds good too.

[@hamradiotube]

Thanks Tommy, it is a surprisingly good antenna.

[@vetham100]

If i used 1/4 inch copper tubing, any idea how much i would need to work 20 thru 10? Still liking your videos! Thanks.

[@DaninVirginia]

Grest review as always but i wouldve learned more if you showed us how you tuned it, recording the steps of the process you use to tune it

[@hamradiotube]

Yeah I guess I didn't really show that did I? It's exactly the same as using a manual antenna tuner if that helps.

[@ronrico2620]

You look like Jackson Galaxy the cat whisperer

[@user-fv8wf6tv4u]

How long was the wire

[@old-timeangler5356]

I see that that the tuning is done with the little tuner, but is it possible to get it as close as possible to say under 2:1 match and then use the tuner on the radio or external tuner?

[@terryjackson4075]

Why do you want to remove those from the end of The wire when you can use the side cutter and just open the circle up that's what I do when I when I messed up AE7MR MR TERRY

[@R2AUK]

Thanks for the video. It would be interesting to see what's inside. 73 de R2AUK

[@don_n5skt]

Mike, what were your other mounting options for this. Like what did you do at home with it? Fiberglass poles? How did you keep the loop shape. I can think of a few ways to get a loop shape but in the field I would guess multiple trees would be involved? Great video and explanation as usual.

[@dudleyhale1446]

Good job Mike, w4wnc

[@robinburke1469]

You’re a Anderson PowerPole guy... why not make up some short jumpers for the tuner? Thanks for the videos! W2RSB / F4WCM

[@hamradiotube]

Believe me the thought crossed my mind.

[@hhampton]

Replace terminals with banana plugs with holes through the posts.

[@Aussat]

Another great video Mike, that looks like a cool gadget... just might have to invest in one, you cost me money everytime i watch your videos 😁

[@hamradiotube]

Thats what I'm hear for

[@vetham100]

Interesting, i rarely see these used indoors...

[@hamradiotube]

First time I set it up was inside my house. I was amazed at how well it received. Would be great for someone in an apartment.

[@vetham100]

@@hamradiotube I tried an alexloop in my apartment and didnt hear anything. I wanted something for indoors because the new lease says, "no antennas" so i'm going stealth mode. It just means that i have to play radio from the covered patio (in the Canadian summer weather). I have one coming from Gig a parts because our retailers cant get them, thanks to the pandemic! Cheers and good dx yo you.

[@TechGearJunkie]

Very interesting, I wonder what the inside of that thing looks like. Is there an insulator between those two terminals?

[@hamradiotube]

I'll have to open it up and find out.

[@RackwitzG]

Wonder what it would do with a copper pipe with smashed ends hooked up. Thinking of getting one and setting it up like that for my apartment balcony.

[@hamradiotube]

Oh that would work great I would imagine.

[@jeremiahpalmer3845]

Good video, have you been to Dublin for the shirt. At seven floors the center should get you some DX Only met a few hams over there, all the people were great.

[@hamradiotube]

No I didn't go myself. My mom got it for me when she went to Ireland. I have worked the country once I believe. I don't really hear that part of Europe much. I think I only have one England contact and one Ireland contact. My signal just skips right over there usually.

[@dvcrash]

This would be a great antenna for those who work modes like JS8Call. I can rag-chew all across the USA & into Europe with 25 watts. De W8APP

[@hamradiotube]

Yep. Now imagine doing JS8Call portable with the smallest HF antenna on the block? You would def be the cool kid in town!

[@arlipscomb]

You just have to be careful with these loop tuners as you can get a lot of RF voltage present on that exposed hardware.

[@douglasdreger3852]

This is really interesting. There is also a higher power big brother. I am thinking I could setup a nice horizontal loop on my trellis. I was wondering if you or someone else who commented and use one could post an an analyzer sweep?? I am very interested in how wide the usage range might be (say the width of swr 2.0). Also any comment on a horizontal versus a vertical loop? Your loop is inclined and clearly works well. On my trellis I would have a horizontal loop at about 10 ft off the ground. One last question would it work if you formed a loop but use a short linear run of wire, maybe window wire so the unit can be located a few feet from the loop (on this I suspect not, but may be someone tried). Thanks for the video

[@hamradiotube]

I can't speak for the horizontal polarization of this antenna however, I just posted a vid of an analyzer sweep on the 40 meter band because you ask some very valid questions. I would be curious how it would perform horizontally. The great part of ham radio is experimenting, and this antenna is one that surely encourages that. Oh, and I was running 25 feet of coax to the tuner. This is not like other loops where you need to be in close proximity. That doesn't matter.

[@douglasdreger3852]

@@hamradiotube Thanks Mike, that video was very interesting and impressive. I think I will try one of these out.

[@hamradiotube]

@@douglasdreger3852 No prob Doug, I was so excited to make this video I didn't even think about doing a sweep of the band. Thanks for the suggestion.

[@vetham100]

would this work in the cold? I have a covered patio where i could set this up and use it in the winter. I have tried loop antennas indoors and they just don't hear anything. Thanks for another great video! Cheers from Lewis VE3QJ

[@hamradiotube]

Temperature shouldn't matter at all. I used this antenna inside my house and it heard all kinds of signals. I was amazed as my house was like a faraday cage.

[@kylefreemason]

Hey Mike, do you still have this? If so, do you still use it? I have one coming soon to play with.

[@hamradiotube]

I do not. I gave it to a young ham.

[@californiakayaker]

Of course, the cool thing is the tuner. I run a 275 ft at 75ft high loop, I've got 450 ohm running to it and a 4/1 ballun in the shack with a short piece of rg58 to the 7300 and get really good reports but I really think it could do even better ? What would you do or do you know any Guru's ? N6GRG Mike

[@hamradiotube]

Thats a heck of an antenna you got there. This is just a little portable gadget, quite far from what you are talking about. That big of an antenna is a little above my pay grade!

[@adamkowalski323]

Cool 73

[@hamradiotube]

thanks

[@53capridrive]

Hi Mike. What gauge wire do you suggest using? Thanks

[@hamradiotube]

You can pretty much use whatever you want. It came with some 14 or 16 gauge I think. If your doing qrp you can use some super thin stuff if you want.

[@joeshmoe7899]

So, this unit and the 891, are adequate? No other tuner needed?

[@hamradiotube]

That is correct.

[@o00scorpion00o]

Check out my channel, I have the MFJ-935C loop tuner and having lots of fun with it, it can handle up to 150 watts also, yesterday I was working some QRP with just 1.2 meters of 10mm soft copper pipe bent into a loop, I think this would be great to use with the MFJ-9232 which I also have but haven't used yet. I think a wire is easier to use for 40m. But with 4 meters of pipe bent into a loop and made contact with ham in Canada on 40m, I couldn't believe it and it was just sitting on a patio table! Also for those with the 891 and do not know, in order to easily tune up you can press PTT and UP on the mic and it will send a 5w carrier and change the meter from power to SWR so you don't have to go through menus, just set 5w on AM once and you won't have to do it again, the 891 is an amazing radio and one of the most underrated radios in ham radio.

[@vetham100]

I think i live in a dead zone! MFJ-9232 set up for 20 meters, nothing. I tried different bands (and wire lengths) and nothing, Looks like i'm stuck on 2 meters......

[@hamradiotube]

Really?? That’s odd. This thing was picking up signals inside my faraday cage of a house. The rx was fantastic. I didn’t use this too much on tx and eventually gave the antenna to a new young ham. I just followed the instructions for the wire lengths and it worked for me.

[@guyhornbeck8940]

Hi Mike: BasedontourKZbin review (and others) I decided to buy the MFJ 9232 mini loop tuner. I’m using a qrp rig that doesn’t have a built-ion SWR meter Do you see a problem in tuning this antenna using a mini VNA? I have another antenna analyzer but I want to keep weight and bulk down 73guy AE6FE Newark, CA

[@hamradiotube]

Not at all. That NanoVNA would be perfect. Have fun out there.