MFJ 1917 Telescopic Mast
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 พ.ย. 2024
- A look at the 43' telescopic fiberglass mast, and how to set it up.
mfjenterprises...
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I love it when the hamtubers explain their mindset in their decisions. It makes it easy to see how this could fit into my arsenal. Good work!
Thank you good sir
The cap idea is great. I would be looking for the cap for hours
Your guying solution is very clear. You can now get those HCL nylon 66 clamps with hex or wing nut head direct from HCL. I got spares for my DX Commander. $35 higher now! Inflation at work.
Good ideas with the mods. Got the sotabeams pole, swear by these things.
I just bought the MFJ-1916 which is the 34ft version =) I'll be using your guying solution for my build. Thanks for the video, you have a new subscriber.
I recently picked up some sports cones (like traffic cones but short, soft & flexible) to put around anything I might put out like dipole legs, coax or guy wires. Also some plastic caution tape looped over the guys would help make them visible.
Thats always a good idea for sure. Once you put up an antenna people seem to be attracted to it like a moth to a flame. I'm slowly changing all my guy rope to a bright yellow that hopefully can't be missed.
You sold this one for them. I bought mine after watching your video and will set it up tomorrow for a POTA activation. Thanks
Hope you enjoy it!
Nice review. I like the cord mods...good idea!
Looks like maybe you were at Kensington Metropark? My old stomping grounds. :) Great video, thanks for making it.
You never cease to surprise me!
Uh oh. What did I do now?
@@hamradiotube You have a great time with radio and share that with so many others. QSL inbound w/ wire sample in envelope.
@@NSNorfolk ah that, yes. Well it’s fun I can’t help myself. What’s this wire you speak of now?
Great video. I have the Spiderbeam 12m pole at my QTD with a Aerial 51 OCF Dipole 20/40. This is a lightweight antenna and on a 12m pole I get fantastic results. Works great on 17,20,30,40, and yes 80 meters too. I use mono to guy it. The 12m height gets great results. Actually thinking of getting the 15m pole. I have a small yard and would never get on the air like I do without this long pole. I recommend 12m, regardless of manufacture if you don't have tall trees or room for a tower. Keep up the good work. John N6NRO
I like your setup for anchoring the base. Also, there's no crying in baseball...
I used a sota telescoping pole for 18 feet and I got contacts to Italy, Croatia and South America too with a delta on my chameleon II.
But I use a 2, 10 pole made of pvc.
New meaning to the word Longboi!
This is gonna take a lot of Hwip Grease!
$189. That's actually a good price compared to what I've paid for less inferior fiberglass masts over the years. What was 'state of the art' 10 years ago no longer is. Too bad its taken 10 years for the US manufacturers to improve the quality and the sellers asking for that product to sell to customers. The 10 meter pole I purchased 10 years for $235 was great then, but I had to order from outside the US.
I have a 15.24 meter fiberglass push up that weights under 15 pounds and is sold in the US. Certainly not a back packable telescopic mast but useful the type outings that you do. I can put it up alone similar to how you show in this video but it is easier with at least one helper. I use the 3-4-5 guying method. That mast will hold a small yagi and a TV rotator, although the mast is not designed for that use, without much flex at the top provided its guyed,
Another manufacturer, outside the US, sells a great 15.24 meter pole and slide on nylon strap guy rings are available. It be great if MFJ had that type of guying for their MFJ 1917. You've peaked my interest for another 'I want' item. 72 KB8AMZ
I have some other guy rings I can use and may experiment with them in the future, but for now, thats just more setup time. I just want to get on the air haha!
You made the price go up! Cool mast. Me want!
Its actually always been pretty expensive. I think around $189 if i'm not mistaken.
Wow @ that pole. Great job with the video Mike!
K8MRD RADIO STUFF I was waiting for that comment. People are gonna be asking to see your permit with that thing.
@@TheSmokinApe It's ok, I've got one. Permit # Glock 19 haha!
K8MRD RADIO STUFF that probably will quell any further questions.
I have the spider beam. The first time I put my 1000 watt 80 through 10 endfed on it it looked like I had a "wicked tuna" on the hook. I was surprised how much they flex.
Yeah they pretty much are big fishing poles. Maybe I'll use it to catch some bass in the spring!
Great video and we'll thought out modifications! In the market for a mast will be watching Black Friday deals! 73
this video is Great Mike.
Hey thanks so much!
Hi Mike,
I've had two 12m Spiderpoles outside for almost two years with no guying for my terminated inverted u antenna that have withstood 70 mph gusts and icing. They are attached to the 4x4 posts of the shadow box fencing out back with large velcro buckle straps. 73 WB3BJU
Wow thats pretty impressive! I'm only using this for portable so I don't think I will ever get a chance to test it at those conditions. I have compared the Spiderpole to this side by side and they are very similar. Thanks for watching! 73
Great tips. I just did my 12m SpiderPole in the same way. Easy setup.
Glad it helped!
Solid "A League of Their Own" reference! I laughed! :-)
I'm glad some people got it. I couldn't not do it once I saw some footage from that height.
Came to say the same. Excellent reference!
@@Dustin_Crops Awesome that you got it too! Only took me 2 months to see your comment lol!
Richard Stubbs is a cool guy.
Nice Vid Mike Keep up the great work !!!
Thanks, will do!
It’s a nice 👍🏼 setup Mike! 😎👽
Thanks Gabe!
Thank you.
Sure you are not an engineer? Great mods and thoughtful add ons. BTW, to the video on black Fridays. Carabiners, paracord and hose clamps. Great video and some wonderful tips.
You can never have too many carabiners and paracord.
Good video, especially the guying technique. I'm wondering, if you lift a dipole with RG8 and an ugly balun, that's a bit of weight. I suspect there will be a good bit of bend. For your Packtenna, do you have a current balun attached. I checked out the Spider beam mast but shipping doubles the cost and brings it close to the MFJ.
Thanks for watching. A dipole, even the PackTenna is going to make this bend quite a bit but that’s ok. I’ve ran RG8X up it until I got some slightly thinner coax. It’ll hold it. I don’t use a balun, no. There is one built into the antenna.
Nice video, good ideas for me to use on my mast, thanks!
Hey thanks for watching. Glad it was helpful.
Tnx for this informative vid Mike.
Reading thru your replies, I take it that the Eyelet version SpiderBeam @ $119 is the 'Hands Down' winner over the MFJ @ $189 given that there's no real difference in flex.
Is that a reasonable assumption or am I missing something?
As you know, DX-Commander's 'kit' is focused on permanent/semi-permanent installations with milti-elements for milti-band ops and also uses radials for a 'No-Tuner-Required' system.
Your setup plus adding some features of the DX-Commander's setup would make a great weekend-camp-out aerial.
Impressed with your 'Guy to Guy' presentation, are subbing now and will start viewing your other vids
Good job OM.....
Yeah I don't know why MFJ's is so expensive. I've asked them and got no response. Oh well. The DX commander is a great antenna. It's basically a vertical fan dipole. A little bit more setup than I'm looking for in a portable application but I know a lot of guys use it as their base antenna. I'm pretty set with the multiple ways I can get on the air. I'm currently decreasing the size of my portable rig and have been using an end fed 9:1 antenna for multiple bands and have been really happy so far. Thanks for watching and thanks for the sub. 73
Great video, good work !!
Thank you very much!
Awesome, gave me some good ideas
Sweet, I hope you share them with us! 73
K8MRD RADIO STUFF got a ? For a first or best qrp radio what would you recommend? Not sure if I want to wait for icon 705 so not sure what I should get? Yaesu 818 or 891?
I upvote all your stuff anyway, but the Tony impersonation reminded me to lol
Haha, glad you liked it. Thanks for watching. 73
Tie some yellow or orange flagging ( engineers tape? ) to the guy strings for better visibility. Even with yellow cord the flagging is much easier to see as it blows in the wind. If they walk in to it with yellow flagging then at least you can say you did your best! =]
Good suggestion, also I would use reflective tent paracord line so it will reflect at night when light shines on it (might even give off some reflectivity in daylight).
Thanks for sending the mast URL during the HRCC Livestream. After watching your video, I ordered it. Also ordered the guying rings. If they don't work well, I'll try your method with the carabiners.
I use a lineman hot stick I found on the road side. They are expensive, but stronger. Check em out.
That's a good find!
Great idea about the base stakes. 73 Roger w8rlp
Nice I'm liking it
Excellent video, thanks! Looks like a killer mast. I like all the stuff you've added to it to make it more practical and easy to set up in the field. So here's the big question: What antenna(s) do you plan to deploy with this mast? Can't wait to see what you come up with!
Thanks for watching. It is a really well bit of kit, and quite easy to set up for sure. I am using this mast with my PackTenna Linked Dipole, and the PackTenna Mini.
@@hamradiotube Wow, that should work really well! I hope you show this in upcoming videos. Thanks!
@@thormusique I certainly will. Another video is already edited. Thanks again!
Wow, over-priced is right! Granted this was 2014 but I got the same thing for $59 from E-Bay. It looks very similar to this MFJ model.
I have the old S9 vertical that's like this. It works well, just doesnt like much wind
This thing doesn't seem to mind the wind. I used it when I was doing my PackTenna mini review and it was pretty windy that day. Barely moved it. Thanks for watching. 73
Nice job. Your right. A little over priced. Like the mods.
That a pretty cool stuff how you set up the telescopic mast Pole. The only thing I can think of is that the price is a little bit high . Not all hams can afford to pay the price that MFJis wanting for it. 73 AE4OY WILLIAM EM-81UF
Yep. Hopefully they will do something about that.
I've been thinking about this mast and several others. I can't wait to see you connected an antenna and make contacts with this set-up. Question, how is 40 meters and 20 meters with an antenna at this height? It seems like it would be closer to the proper 20 meter height but I'm hoping I could make some good DX contacts on 40 meters too. I've reached England, France and Peru with 5 watts SSB with an EFHW that is about 25 feet up in a tree. I just feel I can tweak a little more performance out of my antenna if it's at a better height. Thank You in advance
I just did an activation with my club on Saturday using this mast and the PackTenna Linked Dipole. It works great. Height is might. I was getting all the way to CA and no one else was. The other antennas guys were using were the SotaBeams linked dipole and the Yaesu ATAS 120 (needless to say, I got the farthest contacts). My last video, "3 POTA activations in 1 day" was using this mast and that antenna too (I just didn't show off the antenna/mast as I hadn't don't this review on it but you do see it briefly in the video). If you haven't already, go check it out. I haven't made any dx contacts on 40 with this setup, but I'm also not trying. When I go portable I'm just calling cq pota and grabbing anyone who comes back. They are out there to be had though. I hear em'. Now go get you some!
@@hamradiotube Thank You. I'm absolutely going to get some, especially since I was told I couldn't do what I've been doing using QRP and SSB! 73's
@@walteredwards544 I'm not a QRP guy but there are plenty out there that are. It all boils down to antenna antenna antenna.
@@hamradiotube absolutely. I'm looking at the Myantennas 80-10 EFHW
@@walteredwards544 an 80 meter EFHW will do just about everything you want it to do other that be small!!! They work great though.
Nice review. Any further thoughts on it a year later? I'm interested in one for occasional use of a dual band roll up j pole - is the top couple sections up to it?
It’s still great and I still use it. No prob hanging up a jpole. It’ll bend of course but I have a couple roll up jpoles that I’ve hung from it. I wouldn’t use lmr 400 with it but a smaller coax will do fine.
I would be very interested in seeing how you attach a dipole center to the top.
I feel I've shown that in several videos, but, let's say I'm using the PackTenna Linked Dipole, I have a zip tie (2 actually, to keep the orientation proper) attached to the antenna. The zip tie is mostly closed allowing just enough room to slide it over the mast, but stop not far from the top as the mast tapers and gets wider. It's pretty simple.
Mike I missed the length of guy rope? Thanks
Hmmm, thats prob cuz I never said it lol! I didn't measure them when made em, I just did it out in the field on day. You just had me wonder so I measured one. It's just shy of 11' at the end of the loops. Zero thought behind the length. It just seemed enough to keep it up and it works great.
@@hamradiotube Thanks!! Im working a Spiderbeam setup.
The height of that one isn’t really bad. Spiderbeam makes a 26m (85ft) one. Now that’s ridiculous!!! LOL 😂
Can you not extend say the top two sections so you could attach like a set of hamsticks on it? Would those smaller sections fall down inside and mess up collapsing?
They're pretty flimsy for something like that. You'd want to go for something more rigid than this.
Sir, your mods are genius. Implementing even now and they look like MSR tent pegs very class. Thanks. 73 W6SLA
Right on, glad you found it useful. Happy guying lol!
Flagging ribbon like orchadists or surveyors use is great guy wires.
I'm not familiar with that, I may have to check it out.
I’ve used it at several field days and nobody tripped over the guy wires. It’s available in all kinds of bright fluorescent colors.
@@jctedsap Good deal, thanks for the info.
Upvote for Marla Hooch reference
How about some of the "danger do not cross" tape on the lower guys to make them more visible?
Yeah we use that for our antennas at field day but that's just one more thing to do and honestly I just want to get setup and on the air as quick as possible. One of the guys in my club has some really bright guy rope and I'm gonna get some of that. You can almost see it in the dark.
Outstanding video!! Have you had any issues with any of the sections collapsing?
Well thank you good sir. Not yet. I've only taken this out 5 times now and so far so good. I have seen a spider beam fall down though haha! I'm sure it's only a matter of time though.
Only watching this in 11/2021. Yes, far too expensive. The Spiderbeam 12m pole is a lot cheaper and far stronger - compare the size of the top section of the Spiderbeam 12m to this one, simply no comparison....like comparing a matchstick to a cigar in size. However, I loved your tips for guying, I will use the same for my FG poles. Thanks Mike, great video
I've not used a spiderbeam myself so I can't compare but they do look nice. It is weird that this one is so much more expensive than all the other ones, even that MFJ sells.
Can it be used as a Permanent installation or just when you go out?
i need a telescopik system for my repeater antenna on my tripod on my garage,i wonder if this one is hd enough?
thanks
Gervais ve2ckn
For a repeater prob not. Assuming you're talking VHF/UHF. This would be too flimsy at the top to hold the antenna. You'd be better looking for some 4' fiberglass masts at an Army surplus store. They work great, are inexpensive, (~$4-5) each and connect to each other so you can use as many as you want and get as high as you want. I use that for my VHF/UHF antenna at home. For HF, If you guyed it properly at multiple points up the mast and secured the telescopic elements so it won't fall down I would say this would last a while, yes.
How well can this or the 33ft version support heavy coax? I'm interested in something like this for a slim jim or something with an HT, and I'm not sure where the balance between something heavy like LMR400UF vs something lighter but lossier like LMR200 or RG58.
This would not be the best mast for heavy coax. They are pretty flimsy at the top. I suppose you could make it work if you coiled the coax around the mast but I suspect it would still bend quite a bit. Not a big deal if it dose though. Just don't expect it to be straight up. You could prob look at something more rigid like a painters pole or something.
@@hamradiotube Thanks. I'm not too concerned with it drooping, but I just wouldn't want to risk damaging it. Would the loss of a 40' or so run of something lighter like RG-58A/U be an acceptable trade off with getting a 2 meter antenna 33' up? I've never used runs of coax near that long and I'm not sure what the loss figures on charts are like in practical use.
@@Martinroadsguy It just so happens I did a video on thatsubject. th-cam.com/video/H9O4B1Kd3_E/w-d-xo.html
You wouldn't damage the mast though. They are very flexible.
I have a 10meter packtenna mast. Would you use the same type of mods for it? 73 from NC - N4JMB
You know I have a couple of those 10 meter masts and I haven't done anything to them as far as guying. I've just been leaning the mast in a tree lately. I have been wondering that lately actually. I need to try that. I would guess it would but that center of gravity is getting pretty low.
73 dr OM from 🇨🇵...
Hi Mike, what do you recommend for a multi band antenna to suit?
I’m using the PackTenna Linked Dipole and PackTenna Mini antennas at the moment.
Sweet setup, I like the additions you've made. Great for POTA or Field Day. Thanks for the Video. 73 KI5HII
It's been serving me quite well. Perfect for my portable ops.
What kind of plastic tube did you use under the clamp? What size was it?
I don't know what kind or size but I went to the hardware store, Ace Hardware I think, and they sell plastic tubing on a big roll that they cut to fit. I just found the one my hose clamp fit in and bought that.
Does anyone have any idea how the MFJ 1917 compares the SpiderBeam 12M pole. Wondering if the MFJ pole is substantially sturdier ? The Spiderbeam pole definitely bends
This one bends in the wind too don't get me wrong. I took a quick look at the Spiderbeam side by side with this mast and the only real differences I could see was the Spiderbeam was actually a little heavier, and a little shorter when it was all collapsed.
OK. You have a 43 ft mast. What antenna are you mounting on it and how? Don't leave us hanging. W4MKH
I use quite a few antennas with it but primarily my Packtenna linked dipole, or Packtenna mini 9:1.
@@hamradiotube I have a 31 foot telescoping mast similar to yours. I will give that a try
I enjoy the video and you and I both setup the same way not walking from the car and at 5 lbs I don't mind carrying it with me. I need a lighter battery when I bring my IC-7200 out in the field. I use my AN/PRC-104 often out in the forest preserve. Will you be doing Winter Field Day in 2020? 73's Mike Kc9dfk I'm thinking of building that setup you have I like it a lot Thanks again
Hi Donnie, thanks for watching. Get yourself a Bioenno battery, they weigh about 1/3 the weight of an SLA and you get almost 100% of the batteries capacity. I do plan on doing winter field day with the club again this year. Have fun out there. 73
@@hamradiotube I saw you have a 20amp hour on your Amazon I'll have to get it too.
@@Frisky0563 It is a beast of a battery, I can't say enough good things about it. I did a review video of that too if you want to learn more about it.
Spiderbeam 12 meter at 109.00 usd can’t be beat. Good on MFJ though. I have lots of their toys.
Yeah thats the only down side to this mast. I've compared them in person and they are almost the same darn thing. Hopefully MFJ can work on that. We shall see.
I looked at the Spider beams - nice pole, but the shipping to the US was almost as much as the pole.
Just ordered the Sotabeams 32-foot travel mast but your's seems to be a little more sturdier
Those are great masts. I like the smaller size of them. Not sure how they would compare if they were the same length. So long as you are getting the antenna up, thats all that matters.
7:49 $209.95 now. :-( Do you still use it?
Now this mast is $199.95 after coupons and discounts!!!
Hi Mike Santa Cheryl bought me this mast for Christmas so I'm watching to add your mods to mine. 73's I hope to work you soon tweet when your setup sometime. Don de kc9dfk
Now $210 plus $25 shipping most zip codes.
So you have a pole stickup 43 feet. That is NOT an antenna. What do you USE it for???????
Correct, this is a review of a mast. Used to elevate wire antennas.
What is the connector and band range of this, I can’t seem to find anything about that
Um…it’s a mast. It doesn’t have those things.
@@hamradiotube yea fun fact apparently I make dumb comments right before I learn what a mast is lol
Haha no worries.
I wouldn't use paracord, paracord stretches way too much
What kind of antenna do u put on it
Either a dipole or an end fed 9:1 wire.
I see your Schwartz is as big as mine!
Now lets see how well you handle it!
I feel like the Mods should be standard.... how does Mfj actually recommend guying this antenna mast?
I don't think any mast company has any recommendations. There are so many ways to deploy these you just have to be creative.
There's no crying in ham radio...
folks that have had lighting strikes might disagree...
The diameter of the top looks flimsy to me....just like a fishing pole. Nope...wouldn't want it. Check out DX Engineering's 40 ft mast. It starts at 3" and is a lot bigger at the tip.
do you get better cell reception @ 43 feet?
Like you wouldn't believe.
Do they still make this?? The link doesn't work at this time
Yes. They updated their website. I’ll have to fix the link.
Will that fit in my stocking? ;)
Yes, yes it will, just get a really big one!
I have had toddker kids almost get clotheslined....parents totally oblivious to the lil buggers running amuck...smartphones.
Now it's $209
$209.95 now :o
Put pool noodles on the guy wires for visability
I just switched to yellow rope.
Marla Hooch?
Haha you got it!
@@hamradiotubeAm I the only one? She had a sweet swing.
Name the competition. I need one but price is high
Spiderbeam makes a good one. Also DXCommander and Sotabeams. 73.
Thanks I bought the MFJ. It was hard. I may need another. Going to look at the competition. Great videos. I like all your videos. Very informative.
I have one of these and had it collapse on me while putting it up. I use clamps at each joint now and wear a hard hat just in case. Like the mods you made. 73! - KC3HUL (kc3hul.com)
Just got mine. Missing the top eyelet. With 18 gage bare copper wire in an inverted v. It’s extremely flimsy. Looks like I got a huge fish on. Definitely not a great product. Wish now I bought something better.
So send it back. Any telescopic mast that tall is going to be flimsy at the top. You gotta guy it properly. Perhaps it's not product related??
windload?
watch the video after this
got it thanks
@@hamradiotube got it thanks
Marla Hooch!!! Lol! A League of Their Own. Tom Hanks was great in that movie. Not thrilled about his politics nor the mess he is in. Great actor though.
anyone tried this as permanent installation at the base station?
That's not really what it's designed for but I'd like to hear from anyone who has as well.
@@hamradiotube I'd gorilla tape the sections to ensure it does not collapse.
For longer than a couple of hours of operation. Can peel it off when done.
I don't know about permanent installing it but with the gurilla tape it would stay up longer.
Just an idea.
Great video brother. And good question about longer deployment.
73.
I picked one up, going to try and leave it up a week. We shall shee.
I believe it's 43 feet. I don't believe it's 12 meters...if a meter is still 3 feet 3 inches. 😉
Hmmm...I'll have to look into this.
43 feet =13.1064 meters
I just went and looked at their website and it no longer exists
mfjenterprises.com/products/mfj-1917?_pos=1&_sid=3c7f263e0&_ss=r#videos
Thank you
tony montana say hello to my little friend hahahahaha 73 de n3lou
Say goodnight to the bad guy!
220$ now. Wtf
The one I got off them is a pile of shit ! I will never bye off them again
Hmm, thats weird. I'm sure if you contact them they will make it right. The have excellent customer service.
An amateur radio operator has to toss in a "fricking". Define the word please. Oh never mind. Just unnecessary and disappointing to hear. Stupid and you really like it? Oh well, thats my criticism, other than that nice video.
What on earth are you talking about???