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MFJ 1898 Collapsible Antenna

 

Hello:
My first post and I have had a reasonably good experience with the MJF products.
Just before MFJ announced their closing, sad for amateur radio.
I purchased the 1898 collapsible antenna which came with no directions.
My question, has others used this antenna?
Do you have any tuning suggestions, I find it a bit touchy to tune.
Or have you worked out a Tuning Chart for the bands as to how to set the lower and upper sections
?
Thanks
Charles
W5CRY
 

Charles . . .

On Sun, 19 Jan 2025 05:36:29 -0800, "CRY42 via groups.io"
<cy122042@...> wrote:

I purchased the 1898 collapsible antenna which came with no directions.
I looked on their website for directions and that product apparently doesn't
come with any directions. Most of their products did come with directions that
you could download from their website if they weren't in print form in the box
or package.


Do you have any tuning suggestions, I find it a bit touchy to tune.
Or have you worked out a Tuning Chart for the bands as to how to set the lower and upper sections
Perhaps someone else here who has one of those or has one of the similar
antennas sold under different names, but looking at what you bought, it looks
like you extend the telescoping part on top, then find a tap on the coil by
moving the silver metal part on the bottom out or in at the bottom, where you
get a low SWR reading on the low end of the band, then fine tune by shortening
the whip section. (I think I have that in the right direction, because shorter
means higher frequency.) It appears that there might be a coil inside and when
you move the bottom part down and away from the top, you are selecting a coil
tap. In essence, I think you are shorting out turns using the bottom silver
metal part by moving it into or partially out of the black coated section.
That's my best guess, so if I'm wrong, some of this may not apply.

You didn't say what radio you were working with, but if it has a built-in tuner,
you will probably have to use it if you change frequency in the same band. But
before using the tuner, I would bypass the tuner and get the SWR under 2:1, then
let the tuner do its thing. If you don't have a built-in tuner, you will
probably want one (or need one). I like an auto-tuner like the MFJ-993B but
their Versa Tuner II with the cross-needle SWR meter works well, too. It just
isn't automatic.

You will probably have to work out a tuning chart, but you are on the right
track. Since the antenna came with no directions, you will need a ground of some
sort, at least one wire up to or longer than a 1/4 wavelength on the lowest band
you will be operating on. So for 40M, somewhere around 33-35 feet or so. Ideally
(and this isn't an ideal antenna, of course), you would want several radials,
but this is an antenna for portable operation and we don't want to make this
difficult to set up, so one or two wires as a counterpoise for your ground,
connected to the ground of your tuner or radio, but it would be best to connect
it where the coax connects to the antenna.

You don't get anything to mount the antenna on, so you'll need something for
that. Maybe something like this:



Sorry, but when I shortened the link it didn't work. :-)

Then you would connect your counterpoise to the copper part of the ground mount
above. (I just ordered one of these ground mounts from MFJ. They apparently
still have some, along with some other goodies, some of which are factory
seconds.)

Here are three videos that might be of some help.







Maybe you can see how the presenters used their 1898. Keep in mind that a low
SWR does not mean your antenna is efficient. A dummy load is close to zero
efficiency yet it has a near perfect 1:1 SWR! Also, as ground losses mount (less
radials, dry, rocky ground, etc.), SWR may improve but efficiency can be very
low.

If you don't get what information you need here, try out our ham-antennas group
or the HamRadioHelp group.


(antennas, feedlines, anything related to antennas like tuners, etc.)


(general purpose amateur radio discussion group)


Donald KX8K








----------------------------------------------------
Some ham radio groups you may be interested in:
/g/ICOM /g/Ham-Antennas
/g/HamRadioHelp /g/Baofeng
/g/CHIRP

 

开云体育

Thank you Don,

Yes I checked there as well.

Seems there are several reviews on the internet, but no one addresses the HOW TO set the antenna up.

Thanks again.

Charles

It's a very narrow window to?have health, wealth and?time all at once so don't let?that window close.?






On Jan 19, 2025, at 7:25?PM, Donald Hellen <donhellen@...> wrote:

Charles . . .

On Sun, 19 Jan 2025 05:36:29 -0800, "CRY42 via groups.io"
<cy122042@...> wrote:

I purchased the 1898 collapsible antenna which came with no directions.

I looked on their website for directions and that product apparently doesn't
come with any directions. Most of their products did come with directions that
you could download from their website if they weren't in print form in the box
or package.


Do you have any tuning suggestions, I find it a bit touchy to tune.
Or have you worked out a Tuning Chart for the bands as to how to set the lower and upper sections

Perhaps someone else here who has one of those or has one of the similar
antennas sold under different names, but looking at what you bought, it looks
like you extend the telescoping part on top, then find a tap on the coil by
moving the silver metal part on the bottom out or in at the bottom, where you
get a low SWR reading on the low end of the band, then fine tune by shortening
the whip section. (I think I have that in the right direction, because shorter
means higher frequency.) It appears that there might be a coil inside and when
you move the bottom part down and away from the top, you are selecting a coil
tap. In essence, I think you are shorting out turns using the bottom silver
metal part by moving it into or partially out of the black coated section.
That's my best guess, so if I'm wrong, some of this may not apply.

You didn't say what radio you were working with, but if it has a built-in tuner,
you will probably have to use it if you change frequency in the same band. But
before using the tuner, I would bypass the tuner and get the SWR under 2:1, then
let the tuner do its thing. If you don't have a built-in tuner, you will
probably want one (or need one). I like an auto-tuner like the MFJ-993B but
their Versa Tuner II with the cross-needle SWR meter works well, too. It just
isn't automatic.

You will probably have to work out a tuning chart, but you are on the right
track. Since the antenna came with no directions, you will need a ground of some
sort, at least one wire up to or longer than a 1/4 wavelength on the lowest band
you will be operating on. So for 40M, somewhere around 33-35 feet or so. Ideally
(and this isn't an ideal antenna, of course), you would want several radials,
but this is an antenna for portable operation and we don't want to make this
difficult to set up, so one or two wires as a counterpoise for your ground,
connected to the ground of your tuner or radio, but it would be best to connect
it where the coax connects to the antenna.

You don't get anything to mount the antenna on, so you'll need something for
that. Maybe something like this:

https://mfjenterprises.com/products/mfj-342t?pr_prod_strat=jac&pr_rec_id=7c01d551c&pr_rec_pid=4393806332003&pr_ref_pid=6889855451235&pr_seq=uniform

Sorry, but when I shortened the link it didn't work. :-)

Then you would connect your counterpoise to the copper part of the ground mount
above. (I just ordered one of these ground mounts from MFJ. They apparently
still have some, along with some other goodies, some of which are factory
seconds.)

Here are three videos that might be of some help.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nl-smSwQBgE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RdyNZN343I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPXO-27M22Q

Maybe you can see how the presenters used their 1898. Keep in mind that a low
SWR does not mean your antenna is efficient. A dummy load is close to zero
efficiency yet it has a near perfect 1:1 SWR! Also, as ground losses mount (less
radials, dry, rocky ground, etc.), SWR may improve but efficiency can be very
low.

If you don't get what information you need here, try out our ham-antennas group
or the HamRadioHelp group.

https://ham-antennas.groups.io/g/main
(antennas, feedlines, anything related to antennas like tuners, etc.)

https://hamradiohelp.groups.io/g/main
(general purpose amateur radio discussion group)


Donald KX8K








----------------------------------------------------
Some ham radio groups you may be interested in:
/g/ICOM ??/g/Ham-Antennas
/g/HamRadioHelp ???/g/Baofeng
/g/CHIRP ?https://rf-amplifiers.groups.io/g/main
 

Thank you, Don.

Had to smile, agree, a Dummy Load has a good SWR.

Am using the Xiegu6100 and have three radials attached.

Will keep tinkering.

Appreciate your time to reply.


73

Charles

On Jan 19, 2025, at 7:25?PM, Donald Hellen via groups.io <donhellen@...> wrote:

Charles . . .

On Sun, 19 Jan 2025 05:36:29 -0800, "CRY42 via groups.io"
<cy122042@...> wrote:

I purchased the 1898 collapsible antenna which came with no directions.
I looked on their website for directions and that product apparently doesn't
come with any directions. Most of their products did come with directions that
you could download from their website if they weren't in print form in the box
or package.


Do you have any tuning suggestions, I find it a bit touchy to tune.
Or have you worked out a Tuning Chart for the bands as to how to set the lower and upper sections
Perhaps someone else here who has one of those or has one of the similar
antennas sold under different names, but looking at what you bought, it looks
like you extend the telescoping part on top, then find a tap on the coil by
moving the silver metal part on the bottom out or in at the bottom, where you
get a low SWR reading on the low end of the band, then fine tune by shortening
the whip section. (I think I have that in the right direction, because shorter
means higher frequency.) It appears that there might be a coil inside and when
you move the bottom part down and away from the top, you are selecting a coil
tap. In essence, I think you are shorting out turns using the bottom silver
metal part by moving it into or partially out of the black coated section.
That's my best guess, so if I'm wrong, some of this may not apply.

You didn't say what radio you were working with, but if it has a built-in tuner,
you will probably have to use it if you change frequency in the same band. But
before using the tuner, I would bypass the tuner and get the SWR under 2:1, then
let the tuner do its thing. If you don't have a built-in tuner, you will
probably want one (or need one). I like an auto-tuner like the MFJ-993B but
their Versa Tuner II with the cross-needle SWR meter works well, too. It just
isn't automatic.

You will probably have to work out a tuning chart, but you are on the right
track. Since the antenna came with no directions, you will need a ground of some
sort, at least one wire up to or longer than a 1/4 wavelength on the lowest band
you will be operating on. So for 40M, somewhere around 33-35 feet or so. Ideally
(and this isn't an ideal antenna, of course), you would want several radials,
but this is an antenna for portable operation and we don't want to make this
difficult to set up, so one or two wires as a counterpoise for your ground,
connected to the ground of your tuner or radio, but it would be best to connect
it where the coax connects to the antenna.

You don't get anything to mount the antenna on, so you'll need something for
that. Maybe something like this:



Sorry, but when I shortened the link it didn't work. :-)

Then you would connect your counterpoise to the copper part of the ground mount
above. (I just ordered one of these ground mounts from MFJ. They apparently
still have some, along with some other goodies, some of which are factory
seconds.)

Here are three videos that might be of some help.







Maybe you can see how the presenters used their 1898. Keep in mind that a low
SWR does not mean your antenna is efficient. A dummy load is close to zero
efficiency yet it has a near perfect 1:1 SWR! Also, as ground losses mount (less
radials, dry, rocky ground, etc.), SWR may improve but efficiency can be very
low.

If you don't get what information you need here, try out our ham-antennas group
or the HamRadioHelp group.


(antennas, feedlines, anything related to antennas like tuners, etc.)


(general purpose amateur radio discussion group)


Donald KX8K








----------------------------------------------------
Some ham radio groups you may be interested in:
/g/ICOM /g/Ham-Antennas
/g/HamRadioHelp /g/Baofeng
/g/CHIRP




 

I found a QST review on the dx engineering site. You can download it.
?
good luck
73
Mike AD0L
 

开云体育

MFJ 1898 collapsible antenna is simply a new spin on an old product. There are several “similar in function” versions of this antenna, including one made by Wolf River coils, Buddipole, GRA (found on Amazon), and CHA. Of these, I believe the CHA recently introduced MCC antenna more closely resembles your antenna. I have attached a copy of their manual on how they tune the antenna which should help you turn your antenna. Until you can get the antenna “dialed in,” I recommend that you use a SWR meter. I have attached a manual of the MCC antenna from CHA.Let me know if you need additional help.
73
Steve Isaacs KO4IVH


On Jan 19, 2025, at 8:33?PM, CRY42 via groups.io <cy122042@...> wrote:

?Thank you, Don.

Had to smile, agree, a Dummy Load has a good SWR.

Am using the Xiegu6100 and have three radials attached.

Will keep tinkering.

Appreciate your time to reply.


73

Charles

On Jan 19, 2025, at 7:25?PM, Donald Hellen via groups.io <donhellen@...> wrote:

Charles . . .

On Sun, 19 Jan 2025 05:36:29 -0800, "CRY42 via groups.io"
<cy122042@...> wrote:

I purchased the 1898 collapsible antenna which came with no directions.

I looked on their website for directions and that product apparently doesn't
come with any directions. Most of their products did come with directions that
you could download from their website if they weren't in print form in the box
or package.


Do you have any tuning suggestions, I find it a bit touchy to tune.
Or have you worked out a Tuning Chart for the bands as to how to set the lower and upper sections

Perhaps someone else here who has one of those or has one of the similar
antennas sold under different names, but looking at what you bought, it looks
like you extend the telescoping part on top, then find a tap on the coil by
moving the silver metal part on the bottom out or in at the bottom, where you
get a low SWR reading on the low end of the band, then fine tune by shortening
the whip section. (I think I have that in the right direction, because shorter
means higher frequency.) It appears that there might be a coil inside and when
you move the bottom part down and away from the top, you are selecting a coil
tap. In essence, I think you are shorting out turns using the bottom silver
metal part by moving it into or partially out of the black coated section.
That's my best guess, so if I'm wrong, some of this may not apply.

You didn't say what radio you were working with, but if it has a built-in tuner,
you will probably have to use it if you change frequency in the same band. But
before using the tuner, I would bypass the tuner and get the SWR under 2:1, then
let the tuner do its thing. If you don't have a built-in tuner, you will
probably want one (or need one). I like an auto-tuner like the MFJ-993B but
their Versa Tuner II with the cross-needle SWR meter works well, too. It just
isn't automatic.

You will probably have to work out a tuning chart, but you are on the right
track. Since the antenna came with no directions, you will need a ground of some
sort, at least one wire up to or longer than a 1/4 wavelength on the lowest band
you will be operating on. So for 40M, somewhere around 33-35 feet or so. Ideally
(and this isn't an ideal antenna, of course), you would want several radials,
but this is an antenna for portable operation and we don't want to make this
difficult to set up, so one or two wires as a counterpoise for your ground,
connected to the ground of your tuner or radio, but it would be best to connect
it where the coax connects to the antenna.

You don't get anything to mount the antenna on, so you'll need something for
that. Maybe something like this:

https://mfjenterprises.com/products/mfj-342t?pr_prod_strat=jac&pr_rec_id=7c01d551c&pr_rec_pid=4393806332003&pr_ref_pid=6889855451235&pr_seq=uniform

Sorry, but when I shortened the link it didn't work. :-)

Then you would connect your counterpoise to the copper part of the ground mount
above. (I just ordered one of these ground mounts from MFJ. They apparently
still have some, along with some other goodies, some of which are factory
seconds.)

Here are three videos that might be of some help.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nl-smSwQBgE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RdyNZN343I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPXO-27M22Q

Maybe you can see how the presenters used their 1898. Keep in mind that a low
SWR does not mean your antenna is efficient. A dummy load is close to zero
efficiency yet it has a near perfect 1:1 SWR! Also, as ground losses mount (less
radials, dry, rocky ground, etc.), SWR may improve but efficiency can be very
low.

If you don't get what information you need here, try out our ham-antennas group
or the HamRadioHelp group.

https://ham-antennas.groups.io/g/main
(antennas, feedlines, anything related to antennas like tuners, etc.)

https://hamradiohelp.groups.io/g/main
(general purpose amateur radio discussion group)


Donald KX8K








----------------------------------------------------
Some ham radio groups you may be interested in:
/g/ICOM ??/g/Ham-Antennas
/g/HamRadioHelp ???/g/Baofeng
/g/CHIRP ?https://rf-amplifiers.groups.io/g/main











cha-mcc-prv-sota.pdf
cha-mcc-prv-sota.pdf

 

开云体育

On closer examination of the image of the MFJ 1898 collapsible antenna, it appears to only be the top section of an antenna system. What appears missing are the base / mount and the counterpoise. You can pick up a base section or a mount and wire for a counterpoise from R & L Electronics in Hamilton Ohio. In my case, I purchased one from Amazon and added a long spike/metal tent stake to it so that I could simply stick it straight into the ground, attach all the components, set my counterpoise, set the height of the whip, and would be ready to go. I have attached a photo of the mount I use from Amazon. When purchasing this type of mount, make sure you select the correct threads for your antenna. Based on brand, those threads will either be 3/8 x 24 inches (most common) or 10 mm (Chinese variants).
73
Steve Isaacs KO4IVH
image0.jpeg



On Jan 21, 2025, at 1:52?PM, steve isaacs via groups.io <isaacssteve@...> wrote:

? MFJ 1898 collapsible antenna is simply a new spin on an old product. There are several “similar in function” versions of this antenna, including one made by Wolf River coils, Buddipole, GRA (found on Amazon), and CHA. Of these, I believe the CHA recently introduced MCC antenna more closely resembles your antenna. I have attached a copy of their manual on how they tune the antenna which should help you turn your antenna. Until you can get the antenna “dialed in,” I recommend that you use a SWR meter. I have attached a manual of the MCC antenna from CHA.Let me know if you need additional help.
73
Steve Isaacs KO4IVH


On Jan 19, 2025, at 8:33?PM, CRY42 via groups.io <cy122042@...> wrote:

?Thank you, Don.

Had to smile, agree, a Dummy Load has a good SWR.

Am using the Xiegu6100 and have three radials attached.

Will keep tinkering.

Appreciate your time to reply.


73

Charles

On Jan 19, 2025, at 7:25?PM, Donald Hellen via groups.io <donhellen@...> wrote:

Charles . . .

On Sun, 19 Jan 2025 05:36:29 -0800, "CRY42 via groups.io"
<cy122042@...> wrote:

I purchased the 1898 collapsible antenna which came with no directions.

I looked on their website for directions and that product apparently doesn't
come with any directions. Most of their products did come with directions that
you could download from their website if they weren't in print form in the box
or package.


Do you have any tuning suggestions, I find it a bit touchy to tune.
Or have you worked out a Tuning Chart for the bands as to how to set the lower and upper sections

Perhaps someone else here who has one of those or has one of the similar
antennas sold under different names, but looking at what you bought, it looks
like you extend the telescoping part on top, then find a tap on the coil by
moving the silver metal part on the bottom out or in at the bottom, where you
get a low SWR reading on the low end of the band, then fine tune by shortening
the whip section. (I think I have that in the right direction, because shorter
means higher frequency.) It appears that there might be a coil inside and when
you move the bottom part down and away from the top, you are selecting a coil
tap. In essence, I think you are shorting out turns using the bottom silver
metal part by moving it into or partially out of the black coated section.
That's my best guess, so if I'm wrong, some of this may not apply.

You didn't say what radio you were working with, but if it has a built-in tuner,
you will probably have to use it if you change frequency in the same band. But
before using the tuner, I would bypass the tuner and get the SWR under 2:1, then
let the tuner do its thing. If you don't have a built-in tuner, you will
probably want one (or need one). I like an auto-tuner like the MFJ-993B but
their Versa Tuner II with the cross-needle SWR meter works well, too. It just
isn't automatic.

You will probably have to work out a tuning chart, but you are on the right
track. Since the antenna came with no directions, you will need a ground of some
sort, at least one wire up to or longer than a 1/4 wavelength on the lowest band
you will be operating on. So for 40M, somewhere around 33-35 feet or so. Ideally
(and this isn't an ideal antenna, of course), you would want several radials,
but this is an antenna for portable operation and we don't want to make this
difficult to set up, so one or two wires as a counterpoise for your ground,
connected to the ground of your tuner or radio, but it would be best to connect
it where the coax connects to the antenna.

You don't get anything to mount the antenna on, so you'll need something for
that. Maybe something like this:

https://mfjenterprises.com/products/mfj-342t?pr_prod_strat=jac&pr_rec_id=7c01d551c&pr_rec_pid=4393806332003&pr_ref_pid=6889855451235&pr_seq=uniform

Sorry, but when I shortened the link it didn't work. :-)

Then you would connect your counterpoise to the copper part of the ground mount
above. (I just ordered one of these ground mounts from MFJ. They apparently
still have some, along with some other goodies, some of which are factory
seconds.)

Here are three videos that might be of some help.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nl-smSwQBgE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RdyNZN343I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPXO-27M22Q

Maybe you can see how the presenters used their 1898. Keep in mind that a low
SWR does not mean your antenna is efficient. A dummy load is close to zero
efficiency yet it has a near perfect 1:1 SWR! Also, as ground losses mount (less
radials, dry, rocky ground, etc.), SWR may improve but efficiency can be very
low.

If you don't get what information you need here, try out our ham-antennas group
or the HamRadioHelp group.

https://ham-antennas.groups.io/g/main
(antennas, feedlines, anything related to antennas like tuners, etc.)

https://hamradiohelp.groups.io/g/main
(general purpose amateur radio discussion group)


Donald KX8K








----------------------------------------------------
Some ham radio groups you may be interested in:
/g/ICOM ??/g/Ham-Antennas
/g/HamRadioHelp ???/g/Baofeng
/g/CHIRP ?https://rf-amplifiers.groups.io/g/main











<cha-mcc-prv-sota.pdf>
 

Thank You
?
To all who were kind enough to offer assistance.
?
Charles
W5CRU

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