SuperAntennas MP1 HF Antenna Info.
>
> Portable HF Antenna Review From A Blind Hams Perspective.
>
> December 3, 2010, Toccoa, GA.
>
> From Danny Dyer, Wb4idu.
>
> I’ve not had time until this evening to search through my pack rat email file to find these notes, which I’d sent last january, to both the developer of
> the MP1, and to the moderator of its’ email list for comment and corection.
>
> Both Vern and Virgil were very helpful, and wasted no time in getting back to me.
>
> It’s taken me too long to edit, update, and finalize this, but I hope it may help someone.
>
> I’m posting this to the blind hams lists, to handihams and to Icanworkthisthing.com,
>
> in hopes of introducing more folks to one of the finest and most useable products around.
>
> Thanks to all, for all you are and all you do. Danny.
>
> *Text*
>
> “InMay of 2008, the following note appeared on one of the internet lists
> frequented by Blind Ham Radio Operators.
> which said in part,
> “Can anyone give me some suggestions for purchasing an auto antenna tuner
> that is accessible? ….
> I only plan to use it with 200 watts or less. Also, I would like to do some
> portable HF work. I am not looking to mount the antenna on a car. I am
> planning to use some type of tripod mount such as a roof tripod. I want
> something that I can take to people’s houses when I visit or camping. I
> would like some suggestions on antennas that will work 10 through 80 meters
> that I wouldn’t need to run a lot of wire with. Thanks for the help.”
>
> In early January of 2010, came these questions&observations from another blind ham on list.
>
> “I’m trying to find something that is 6 feet tall or less, that will play on
> at least 40M and up, and that won’t break the bank…IE, less than $200….
>
> I can deploy an antenna on a somewhat permanent basses on the balcony, …I can run counterpoise/ground radials along bassboards, and possibly smaller
> radials
> outside, or use the railing for a counterpoise system…
> during the winter months, I have to bring the antenna in because I can’t run coax cables out the balcony door as the cold air coming through the
> crack can freeze hot water heating pipes directly below the doors….
>
> As a last resort, i could go mobile and mount on the car and play HF in the
> mobile, but I would prefer something in the house.”
>
> Well since I’m a lifetime blind, longtime ham who’s
> experimented a bit with both, portable antennae, and “mobile antennae
> operating as portable antennae,”
> both with and without tuners;
> I thought I’d chime in, with my observations/your mileage may varry, as to
> which antenna, other than longwires, dipoles, and such, I’ve found to be,/
> Not necessarily in this order:
> 1, simplest to deploy,
> 2, cheapest to obtain,
> And, 3, most efficient for tuning and use by both
> blind and sighted hams, wishing to
> A, run 200Watts or less,
> B, on 80-10meters,
> C, in fixed and or or portable configurations,
> D, either with or without a separate tuner.
> And while I regret not completing and posting these observations before now;
> It seems to me that in light of A, continuing marginal band conditions,
> B, increased interest in many aspects of our Amateur Radio Service, and
> C, increased financial and logistical challenges experienced by sighted and
> blind amateurs alike,over the past couple of years, these findings may prove
> to be even more valuable now than they would have been then:
> ***for either a sighted or blind ham, Other than typical wire antennas, the
> most accessible, easiest to deploy,
> simplest to use, and easiest to tune, portable HF antenna I’ve successfully
> used,owned, sold, swapped, and keep coming back to, is the Super Antennas
> MP1, Antenna system, made and marketed by
>
> VERNON L WRIGHT,/Vern, W6MMA,
>
> Phone: 916-434-9936
>
> Email,
> w6mma@wavecable.com
>
> (****Important Note,
>
> Due To Litigation, Use Only The Above Contact Information.)
>
> The antenna was rated _very highly in real world, Independently Supervised
> Ham Radio testing, recorded in the “antenna Shoot Out, as listed in the
> archives of the files section of the HFPack Yahoo Group;
> I know of at least One Other Blind Ham,
>
> (Jack McSpadden/Wa5ROP in Little Rock, AR, USA, )who,, for a number of years, has successfully used this arrangement in several venues,
> including on a cruze ship;
>
> And I know of several sighted hams,
>
> who swear by, rather than swearing at, the MP1 Systems:
>
> *Notes, 1, These observations/instructions ar derived from having talked with and having read comments from a number of users, and from my own experience
> with a number of these systems over the past six or seven years.
>
> 2, I’ve noticed a lot of questions re different facits of operation, and have asked a number of them myself.
>
> 3, Anyone is more than welcome to use and hopefully benefit from any and all that’s written here.
>
> 4, I am not an official spokes person for Vern, the Company, or anyone else except myself, and nothing I’ve written here is copywrited.
>
> This is what’s known as a
>
> “manual screw driver antenna,
>
> whereby a sliding sleeve is positioned /moved by hand, along a coil to help to tune or match the whip antenna to a large number of desired transmitting
> and receiving frequencies.”
>
> *2, (all connecting “threaded stubs and holes” are 3/8by24, which is pretty standard when it comes to this type of antenna.)
>
> *3, , Because of above mentioned litigation, availability of some systems and or parts may be limited, check with dealers, ham websites, and of course with
> Vern himself.
>
> Hopefully all issues will soon be successfully litigated
>
> Details.
>
> The basic system sells for $99&Change, and consists of,
> 1, a basic, (40-10meter coil, with sliding sleeve, having a hole in its’ bottom , {for atatchment of either a
>
> 2, 2Foot Base Rod Or 80meter coil;])
>
> as well as having a
> Hole@its’
> Topp,
>
> (For atatchment of the
>
> 3, whip antenna;)
>
> and
>
> finally, a nylon thum bscrew on its’ side, about an inch from the bottom, /{to help the operator to both noncapacitively, by hand, tune the sleeve to the
> optimum position on the coil, and then to help steady it there, }*Although that thumbscrew should only be slightly tightened,/more about that later:)
>
> The basic coils’ metal sleeve, is somewhat shorter than the coil itself,
> and When Slidden all the way down over it,/
> (10Meter Position,)Covers all the coil’s windings,when slidden all the way up/(40Meter Position, )
>
> exposes the coil’s windings.
>
> *The 80meter coil typically always has all of its’ windings exposed.
>
> [The basic coil and sleeve are made so that in most instances,
>
> once its’ desired position on the basic coil is reached,
>
> the sleeve, even with the atatched whip, will stay in place.
>
> But the Thumb Screw can be employed/Tightened _Slightly,
>
> to reenforce the stability of the setting.])}
>
> (3, 4foot, 12Section, telescoping antenna,
> With Threaded
> Stub@Bottom
> ;
> 4, 2foot metal base Rod/(Made Up Of 2, 1foot Sections
>
> ,with threaded ends connected through a hexnut./
>
> (Each base rod section, comes with a corresponding nut to go on each
> end, with a “Hex Nut” to connect the rod sections/using the lil nuts to “set
> the rod sections to suit the operator’s fancy);
> 5, Universal Mounting Bracket &CClamp,/(bracket is 3pieces of same width and thickness metal, all with rounded ends/(A, a flat aprox 9x2x1Fourth IN rectangle,
> connected by screw&washer, to,
>
> B, right angle,with Aprox2IN and 1IN sides,
>
> Connected by Screw&Washer to,
>
> C, Similarly sized Right Angled piece with Female Coax To Female 3/8by24Thread
>
> antenna adapter.
>
> {These pieces can be angled differently to work with Verticle, Horizontal, and sloped surfaces};
>
> 6, Counterpoise system,/
>
> Four roughly 13 foot lengths of 3Conductor RibbonCable,With all wires atatched to washer type spade lug connecter;
> 7, paper work simple instruction sheet;
> 8, shipping box:
> ~~~Additional items are available which include,
> A, 80meter coil, (Somewhat shorter than basic coil,
> Has Threaded stub on top,threaded hole in bottom,
> {Designed to fit between lower rod and basic coil /with basic coil’s sleeve extendded all the way out, for 80meter operation,}
> [Or To be _the _only coil/using no other coil or sliding sleeve, ,/between Lower Rod And Antenna,for sixty meter
> operation,]
> (For Sixty Meters, connect the stub on coil to stub on antenna with an extra
> hex nut/not supplied,
> And Connect bottom of coil to Base Rod as usual,
>
> then use a 32-42Foot Counterpoise);
> B, tripod,(3, matching, Metal Legs,/
>
> usually 8 or so inches long,
>
> With Plastic Tips on 1 end,
>
> and threads on the other, that atatch to
>
> round CoaxToThreadedAntennaAdapter;
> C, “Rig Mounted Side Bracket”(My Description,)/
>
> (Single flat piece of metal, Maybe 1EighthInch Thick,
>
> slightly narrower and about2Inches longer than rig,
>
> has rounded end, with screw hole for nut&Bolt to connect to Same type right angled
>
> CoaxToThreaded ant adapter as on Universal Bracket,/Also comes with Coax Male To Female Elbow To Increase Useability.
>
> {Comes With 4Screws, same diameter and thread, but longer than OEM./
>
> {The Bracket mounts firmly on side of rig,
>
> allowing antenna to be mounted at,
>
> 1, a 90degree angle,
> for picnic table portable, indoor, or other operation, .
> 2, parallel to side of rig for pedestrien portable, or
> 3, anywhere inbetween for other applications,/
>
> [the nut and bolt on the side mount bracket
>
> can be loosened and or tightened, to determine the antenna’s position relative to the radio}](Designed to work with
> Icom IC703, 706, and possibly other Icom Models,
> Yaesu FT817, 857, and 897 series,
> And Any Other Radio With Similar case configurations;
>
> *At last check, prices for
>
> A, B, And C, Are Vicinity Of $32Each.)
>
> D, 4Foot Base Rod,/
>
> 2,2foot sections connected by hexnut;
>
> E, 4Foot Solid Stainless Steel Whip;
>
> (D, and E, Sold together as “Mobile Kit,
>
> *At last check Mobile Kit Was available for 20To40$s.)
>
> *Explanation, and installation instructions.
>
> ~~~~
>
> *Note!
>
> ***Warning, To Avoid Damage To The System,
>
> _Please Heed And Follow These Instructions.
>
> 1, Both the basic/40-10meter coil, (which has a sliding metal sleeve around it,
>
> and the 80meter coil, which does not,
>
> although stirdy, _Are Not_ Indestructible!
>
> *The sliding sleeve has a small hole,
>
> About an inch above its’ bottom,
>
> Into which a
>
> small nylon nonconductive thumb screw is inserted.
>
> The purpose of the thumb screw is to help to hold
>
> the sleeve with whip antenna atatched,
>
> at the desired position along the basic coil.
>
> ***Before you go any further,
>
> *1, turn the thumb screw counter clockwise,
>
> Until it disengages from the sleeve.
>
> 2, slide the sleeve off of the coil.
>
> 3, Place your index finger about an inch above
>
> the bottom of the inside of the sleeve,
>
> 4, turn the sleeve until your finger touches the hole in it,
>
> 5, Reinsert the thumb screw into the hole,
>
> 6, gently turn the thumb screw clockwise,
>
> until it barely touches your finger.
>
> 7, then turn the thumb screw clockwise,
>
> with your finger still touching it,
>
> and note the pressure/don’t hurt yourself,
>
> But realize that the screw can,
>
> both hurt your finger,
>
> and permanently damage your coil.
>
> *So use its’ pressure
>
> ___Sparingly!
>
> 8, try this several times so that you have an understanding
>
> of how much or more accurately how little,
>
> head room you have in adjusting that thumb screw,
>
> between no pressure against the finger or coil,
>
> , and too much pressure against the finger or coil.
>
> 9, position the thumb screw in the sleeve,
>
> so that it barely touches your finger,
>
> then slide the sleeve back onto,
>
> then all the way down the coil.~~~
>
> *Now for the fun stuff.
>
> ***This Explanation/set of instructions,presumes your use of 1,”Universal bracket,
> 2, Basic Coil,and sleeve,
> 3, shorter lower rod,
> 4, telescoping antenna,
> but are pretty much the same if using
> A,one of the other brackets/tripod/or an existing magmount,,
> B, added coil,or only 80meter coil,
> C, longer lower rod,
> D, solid antenna, etc.
> In essence, this is a “manual screwdriver” arrangement, whereby
> Basically, you,
>
> Step1, atatch the Universal Mount to a table, railing, windowledge, or other mettalic or non mettalic
> surface via the C Clamp;
>
> Step2, Connect counterpoise wires to the universal mount, and extend them.
>
> (Note1,both brackets and the tripod have an
>
> atatched-by-screw, Spade Lug Peg,
>
> For Easy Connect and Disconnect of Counterpoise)
>
> {Note2,other types and lengths of counterpoises, IE, EG, varying single lengths of insulated wire,
>
> cut to more or less each band,
>
> or one long single insulated wire,
>
> long enough for 80meters,
>
> but with knot, or tape markers at other band lengths, are also being used};
>
> 3, connect the 2 “lower rod” sections together, through the supplied hex nut, via their corresponding
> 3/8sby24 threads;
> 4,Atatch that lower rod, into the universal bracket, using the threaded end of the coax-to-Antenna adapter, via their corresponding threads;
>
> *Note,(Instructions are the same if using one of the other brackets or the
> tripod.)
> 5, plug in your coax jumper to the Coax plug/usually on the under side of the antenna to coax adapter;
>
> 6, plug the other end of your coax jumper into the HF Coax Socket on your radio;
>
> 7, Mount the coil toThe upper end of the Lower Rod,
>
> via their corresponding threads,
>
> *for 40-10meters, simply mount the basic coil,
>
> *for 80meters, mount the 80meter coil first/,
>
> then the basic coil on top of it,
>
> *For 60meters, Mount _Only The 80Meter Coil;
>
> 8, Mount the antenna, Into the sleavetop via their corresponding threads,
>
> *For 60Meters, Atatch the top of the 80meter coil
>
> which you’ve already atatched to the lower rod,
>
> to the bottom of the antenna,
>
> through an additional hex nut, _not supplied;.
> 9, fully extend the telescopic antenna;
>
> 10, tune the desired frequency between 40 and 10 meters on your tranceiver.
>
> 11, Using the nonconductive thumbscrew on the bottom of the sleeve,/(I find it best for me to hold it between thumb and first two fingers, but experiment
> and find your own best position,)
>
> slowly slide the sleeve up and down the basic coil, until highest/loudest signal to noise ratio is reached;
>
> 12, when one reaches the best /loudest, signal to noise ratio on that desired frequency, you’re very close to best/lowest, SWR, and best /highest efficiency
> setting for successful HF Transmitting:
>
> 13, *Note, (Handd Capacitence Coupling,
>
> while working with the “slider/sleeve, as you move it up and down the coil, you will notice that the touch and or even proximity of your hand,
>
> may somewhat change the capacitence of the system./(after tuning for max signal, Removing your hand may slightly bring up/increase, or bring down/decrease,
> )the amount or level of the received/heard signal, {depending on which side of the Maximum natching position of the sleeve on the coil you’ve tuned;}
>
> and thereby somewhat change the swr and “matchedness” level of the system:
>
> Using the Thumb Screw properly, will negate most if not all of this,
>
> and You’ll learn to properly evaluate and or compensate for this as you go along.
>
> But you may also wish to slip a rubber, or other noncapacitive type of
> “ring: around the sliding sleeve to negate it even more; so that you can grasp it _without any noticeable “hand capacitence coupling, thereby simplifying
> and improving your tuning accuracy):
>
> 14, after successfully completing steps 1-12,
>
> and giving due consideration to #13,
>
> you may wish to establish, confirm, and check
>
> the accurate tuning /matching of this antenna system
>
> to your tranceiver, by use of an additional
>
> tuner, and or swr meter, and or Watt Meter.
>
> Any or All of These instruments will prove helpful to you,
>
> as you tweek/fine tune the system,
>
> And as you practice, you’ll likely find that you can
>
> Successfully And Accurately Match,
>
> this antenna system to virtually any HF tranceiver
>
> on any band, 80meters through 10meters,
>
> By Simple Steady, hand and ear coordination,
>
> without using anything more than Simply, the antenna and the tranceiver:
>
> ^^^Notes, A, All measurements are approximate, but to the best of my remembrance, accurate.
> B, I’ve successfully used this antenna with Basic Bracket, Tripod, and Side Mount Bracket.
>
> (When using side mount bracket, most users recommend staying at or under the transmitters’ 5Watt Power Output, for rf safety reasons.)
>
> C, For The Record,
>
> *I have no connection with any company mentioned;
> *I am not receiving any remuneration for these thoughts;
> *They’re shared by a pleasantly satisfied,
>
> User-Customer-Recommender
> of The Super Antennas MP1 Portable Antenna System;
> D,*,There is at least one antenna system out there, notably the Blue Star antenna System,/
>
> which, 1, I understand is somewhat similar,
>
> 2, unfortunately, I’ve never had my hands on,
> 3, I understand is more expensive,
>
> *I have no experience with
>
> other manual screwdriver antennae:
>
> These however, are my observations regarding Vern’s
> “Super Antennas MP1, System, as of December 2, 2010.
> Sincerely, Danny Dyer, Wb4idu, Toccoa, GA. email
> ddyer1@gmail.com
