[Elecraft] Questions re: MP-1 antenna

[Julian, G4ILO]

Kevin.

I had an MP-1. I wasn't impressed with it. It's a short, high-Q tunable
whip, like a small version of mobile whips made by many suppliers. Like any
mobile whip, it works at best efficiency ONLY when given a really good
ground. It's hard to provide it with a good ground in portable or indoor
use. When I bought mine, it came with a set of radials made from a 10 foot
length of computer ribbon cable split in 4. That isn't a good ground, or
even an approximation of one. Most of the time I got high, constantly
fluctuating SWR and very poor performance.

The people who claim this antenna works well usually seem to use it with a
quarter wave counterpoise cut for the band in use. Usually, they also try
to elevate some or all of this counterpoise, so that the MP-1 becomes half
of a low dipole with one shortened leg. This may be difficult to achieve if
indoor operation is your aim. And which is the doing the most radiating in
this configuration, the $150 MP-1 or the $1 length of wire, is a matter of
conjecture...

The MP-1 is pretty small when disassembled, but the size and weight soon
goes up once you add a few quarter wave radials to the pack. Assembled it's
about 5 foot tall. The whip itself is 4 foot. The telescopic whip is just a
replacement for the standard one made from alloy rod that you screw
together. Some people may find it more convenient. The tripod is a waste of
money. The antenna will blow over in any more than the slightest breeze.
Because you want to elevate the whip and its radials as much as possible
for best performance, the opportunities for using the tripod are limited at
best. I bought the 80m coil but I never worked anyone on 80. An antenna
that small is never going to put out much of a signal on that band even
with the best ground system in the world, and a quarter wave counterpoise
for 80 is a bit of a nuisance.

In your situation, Kevin, I'd go for an MFJ magnetic loop. That won't get
you on 80, though. If anyone knows of an efficient indoor antenna that
works on 80 metres, I'd be interested to learn of it.

--
Julian, G4ILO. (RSGB, ARRL, K2 #392)
Homepage: http://www.qsl.net/g4ilo

Kevin Cozens <kcozens@interlog.com> wrote:

Greetings, all.

A few people on this list indicated they own or have used an MP-1 antenna. 
I'm in a temporary location now and punching holes in walls for antenna 
feed lines is not currently an option. I am considering the MP-1 for use 
from within the house as well as while out and about.