[Elecraft] Any satisfied MP-1 owners?

[Phil Wheeler]

Ron ZL1TW wrote:

>Hi,
>     I would like to know just how good the MP-1 antenna is. I am touring
>the South island of NZ later this year and will be taking a borrowed
>"Outbacker" with me again, but it would be a bit depressing should I some
>how loose or damage the borrowed antenna, so have been looking at the MP-1
>which appears very similar in size.
>I am very aware that loaded whips are always a compromise, and some not much
>better than a dummy load mounted on a stick, but there are some (like the
>Outbacker) that really do radiate a reasonable signal.
>

I gave away my Outbacker after comparing it to Hamsticks and Hustler 
systems.  Maybe it works better in the Southen Hemisphere. ,<g>

>Is the MP-1 in the Outbacker catagory?
>

I sure hope not (since I own one).  I like the MP-1 (and the PW-1 before 
it).

>Another question. The MP-1 appears to tune the different bands by sliding a
>cap on the top section. Just how good is that? Is is indented to "click
>stop" on any preset band, or do you have to fiddle with that and the top
>section to find resonance when making a band change?
>

Fiddle .. but you can find a good setting for each band and then mark it.

>The beauty of the Outbacker of course is just having to plug a flying lead
>into the band you want. If you have the "stinger" set on the top of it for
>one band it works for the others as well ( or that's how I find it) It has
>big shoes to fill, but unfortunately you also need a big wallet!
>

Indeed: Outbackers and their accessories are really overpriced IMHO. 
 But the antenna is well built.  I had one knocked off a car at 75 mph 
by a low overpass.  the magmount and coax were destroyed; but the 
Outbacker was good as new (which is not saying much).  The MP-1 would 
not have survived.

73, Phil