Tuning the HFJ-350M and Getting On The Air

[@FITFO]

As someone who does majority portable work on HF at the moment (living in the barracks) this antenna really seems great to play HF and monitor the bands before i go out.

[@mostlypostie1]

I have had this antenna for over a year also. I love this antenna. It does exactly what it should do, *for an antenna of this small size*. It is brilliant for pedestrian mobile and quick QRP activations! It has always surprised me how much negativity this antenna gets. YES the antenna instructions are rubbish, but did anyone actually pass their ham radio test??? It's so EASY and straightforward to get this to match, without an instruction sheet! I have had excellent results using this with multiple different rigs, and I think the build quality is great too. Thanks for the video!

[@jimnelson726]

Thanks for the video. I bought the Comet MFJ-350M when I bought my IC-705. I have not been pleased with the SWR at all and the instructions are about worthless. Your video has demonstrated to me that I need to be more patient with the thing and take the time to learn how to get the SWR where it needs to be! Thanks for the video and good luck to you and thanks for your Air Force service! KD9VAN

[@W9ZKHamRadio]

Amazing! This was exactly the goal of the video, I'm glad I could help. Thank you!

[@lyledal]

Commenting to feed the YT algorithm! I just got my general and am still looking for antennas and equipment to use with my new HF privileges. This was informative and very helpful. Thanks!

[@W9ZKHamRadio]

Congrats on the general! That's a great place to be. I've only been licensed for 3 years but I've been having a blast I know I said in the video that I wasn't gonna tell people what to buy, but I can't in good faith recommend the HFJ-350M for anything other than an emergency backup antenna for that price. But I'll make a video soon showing my entire station and talking more in-depth on that!

[@lyledal]

@@W9ZKHamRadio Thanks! And I look forward to seeing the new video!

[@Macjohn1419]

Thanks for the video. Too many hams are concerned with having a perfect theoretical antenna. You’ve shown how a real world practical antenna works.

[@seanbridge8390]

Great presentation. I watched the entire video. And it was helpful, thank you.

[@TK4619]

Great idea on the tape measure counterpoise. I just picked this antenna up cheap at a hamfest for use with my IC-705. I am going to look into a counterpoise like that. Thanks for the informative video.

[@bunston1000]

I’ve used one of these in the U.K. I primarily wanted it to work Topband (160 m) as pedestrian portable, I also use the FT 891 and FT 817. That particular antenna also has the name “Toybox”, a name which I think doesn’t do it many favours if I’m honest. The antenna came with the main loading coil, an 80 m loading coil, an additional 160 m loading coil and of course the telescopic whip. I have only used it on Topband (all three coils / inductors) in circuit, and it worked very well. I ran comparative tests between this antenna and an Ampro 160. The Comet “Toybox” antenna was only one “S” point down on the Ampro 160. When you consider it’s size and the way this antenna breaks down and stows away, it works reasonably well. I would suggest as you have done, before taking this antenna out in the field, spend some time setting it up at home. Time and patience with this antenna is a real virtue, but it will reward with some time put in. Many thanks for the well presented video. 👍

[@SteveH-TN]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experiences with this antenna.

[@romanrevzin5009]

Dude, thanks so much, I was about to return it, but now happily receiving on 40m band from Texas (I'm in a brooklyn basement lol)

[@hk5nbe]

Estoy en Cali, Colombia. Hoy he recibido la antena HFJ-350M, pero tengo pendiente el Conector de Angulo para conectarla al Radio. Te quiero agradecer infinitamente el Video tan espectacular, porque tiene la traducción al español, esto me permitió escucharlo hasta el final del Video. Apreciado colega. Usted será mi maestro para aprender a operar con esta antena. La idea es trabajarla con un Radio Kenword-TS-440. Cordial saludo. CARLOS E. GALVEZ-HK5NBE

[@temporarilyoffline]

The tape measure is a good idea! I found out later that HFJ has a radial kit that you can buy separately. Too late for me and you... would have been nice if you knew when you bought it that you needed more parts. In my case, I got mine for a trip and it was pretty useless out of the box. You got yourself a new subscriber!

[@W9ZKHamRadio]

Oh no! That's tragic I'm sorry hahaha yeah the HFJ-350m was my first introduction into the concept of a "counterpoise." Very important and painful lesson there Thank you!

[@jtn104]

Yeah that tape measure trick was a good idea. For those who try it, make sure the tape is electrically connected to the case where you tap your short wire to the transceiver. My first tape measure had plastic internal parts and had no continuity to the tape!

[@DK5ONV]

Good job Zack, using the Antenna Tuner as a Mounting Stand. 73's de Your Friend Uncle Guenter

[@ryankc9oza118]

Glad to see another ham from Illinois

[@W0DHZ]

Great video! Look forward to seeing more content from you!

[@tommylyons5007]

Excellent video have one but havnt used it yet

[@LarsHayton]

once again a beautiful man puts out a beautiful video keep it up

[@steinshaw2490]

I'm curious if your counterpoise was pointing towards Calgary. 73 de ki7cia

[@submarineradioman5535]

We’ll done! I’m determined to get mine on 160. It works well on receive. Now it’s time to get out the rig expert analyzer and experiment!

[@Levy3o8]

I've seen a lot of people saying they can't get this antenna tuned, but it just takes some fiddling with it and adjusting. I wrote down, in the back of my field contacts notebook, how many segments need to be extended/exposed to get in the ball park. I guess "how many segments to retract" would be a better way to approach it though.

[@tysonherzog8010]

Thank you ….. Very good video explaining this antenna . I have one . I have had it for a year and I am just tiered of . You are right ! Very hard to use . So I am selling mine . But ….. thank you for all the info I understand how to use it better now . Still selling it 😂

[@truckinguy92]

Good idea with the tape measure. Thanks for the video.

[@aceventuraaceventura2003]

It looks like the MFJ antenna has been reincarnated as Comet. Similar design to BuddiPole which likely performs better although costs slightly more.

[@USNavySeabee]

VE6CQ-Rick made it really nice. Thanks Zack KA2ATM

[@rogershults5607]

thank you so much for your awesome video 73

[@ryanzink5048]

Thanks for this! I had been using a similar tuning method for this antenna with good results and agree, the instructions that came with the antenna are garbage. One question... have you ever successfully tuned up to 60 meters? It's not a band with an existing tap but wondering if it is possible to get close with some combination of counterpoise length and whip length.

[@shoa2285]

Nice video demonstration. I learned a lot.

[@johnpeterson7264]

I’m thinking maybe try it with a slightly longer whip - 9 feet - and aping the coil at a higher notch with few windings of the coil …

[@tonymcflattie2450]

That’s a good callsign! Nice and short

[@dougdunlap5889]

nice job Zachyhanks for info

[@deetdustandblood7906]

Great Video. Keep 'em coming!

[@LouiseBrooksBob]

I bought the one that comes with a 160m coil in addition to 80m I wouldn't consider using it lower than 14MHz anyway, and this was just the cheapest option that was available to me at the time, so these coils will never be used, unless maybe I want to just have a listen around on 80 or 160, maybe for local hams very close on 160m.

[@W9ZKHamRadio]

It's handy to have at the very least. At the end of the day, if you can produce a signal on 160m, you're way ahead of someone like me who doesn't have the space/material to do so. Useful for Winlink, weak signal, etc. Pretty cool!

[@ke6ziu]

So, how long do you raise the antenna to? And, how do you attach the measuring tape to the antenna?

[@JosephVE3GKT]

Great video! I'm now subbed. Was on the fence about this antenna for POTA, this will definitely help me make a decision. 73 de VE3GKT Edit: only about halfway through the video right now. Will the antenna tune to 60m (5.357 ish MHz)?

[@W9ZKHamRadio]

Before buying this antenna, I'd strongly recommend checking out Wolf River Coils. It's the exact same idea, just with way more whip and less unnecessary loading, and thus notably higher efficiency. I'll be making a video shortly showing my entire portable station and actually talking about my personal opinions It definitely should, though I'm guessing you'd want to use the 80m extension coil with the whip nearly fully extended. I've never tried, but that'd be my guess

[@cwqrpportable]

Good heavens, you're in for a world of hearbreak using such a compromised antenna. There's usually lots of trees in parks......... why not throw up an end fed wire and join the big league?

[@bvds2007]

Great video - thanks

[@polishpicl]

you have quelled my fears of the 350m I justordered two days ago...

[@emmanuelgessat5677]

super coolsuper👍

[@o00scorpion00o]

I'm having good success with the DL1DN and the FT-818, You hold the radio you act as a counterpoise, other than this you need tuned radials. Check out his youtube channel it really does work. I got from Ireland to outside Moscow on 10m 4 watts FT-818 and the DL1DN whip, 3,100 kms.

[@radiociudadglobal]

Hello, where are you in Ill. I'm at Lake Villa. I would appreciate to make contact. I don't have a ham radio here. Att HK3NOJ César

[@W9ZKHamRadio]

Ah sorry my friend, I'm actually in Texas nowadays. Soon I'll be in Oklahoma. But there's plenty of hams in that area, look up the nearest ham radio club and drop into a meeting! Networking is your friend. Good luck!

[@Johnyrocket70]

Watch the impedance match. You can have a good swr with impedance of 90 ohms

[@josehenriqueschossland485]

73' PU5IKE

[@juanfgonzalez2039]

👍👍👍

[@DuckingAround58]

RF dose not cause cancer. That is a technician level question

[@W9ZKHamRadio]

Sorry, I don't know if I said this. You are right, RF is definitely non-ionizing radiation. But it can still cause harm in the form of localized tissue heating that everyone should be wary of

[@ChaplainDaveSparks]

Three things: 1.) At least *YOUR* instruction sheet was in *English!* 2.) You said it covers 80 through … what … 6 meters? I don’t see that it claims to cover 60 meters. (There is a separate coil for 160 meters, BTW.) 3.) _”Hamstick”?_ Yes, but at least a *MULTIBAND* one. *73 de AF6AS in **_“DM13”_** land*

[@AdamosDad]

✋73's🎙KD9OAM🎧📻📡

[@skyterrapin]

In reality, this and similar units are next to useless.

[@VicGreenBitcoin]

I'll be honest with you, the Comet HFJ-350M is a very poor antenna with mediocre to deplorable results, and to be honest it's tricky to use even if you change bands a lot. Save yourself the trouble and money and buy 1 or two 5 Dollar Slinky`s (you know a metal toy spiral) and tie an antenna connector to it. Together with the auto tuner in your rig or a simple matchbox will work much better than the half-baked overpriced Comet scam. Remember people this video is a PAYED video, basicly you just watched a 36 minute commercial... paid by the people who sell the Comet! In other words this is the Bitconneeect under HAM radio

[@georgeetherege8347]

There are many approaches to antenna success in a limited situation. But as the lyrics in "As Time Goes" state, "the fundamentals still apply." That is, if you want better communications on HF you need to put more metal I the air. This antenna probably works as well k AZ any other design with a similar a out of metal pointing toward the sky. SWR doesn't tell you how good your signal is. A 50 ohm resistor has an SWR of 1.0 to 1.