Commercial (ie, buy it; not build it) HF multi-band vertical that requires no radials

[prcguy]

I think you have made a mistake. Its "bloody inbred cretins".

I bought that several years ago. I found to my dismay that there was a problem with the power switch and returned it as defective. The bloody cretins had the gall to charge me a "restocking fee." I refuse to buy anything from the "Mighty Fine Junk" company...

 

[N4GIX]

I think you have made a mistake. Its "bloody inbred cretins".

Oh, not a far of MFJ either I suspect. To expand on the actual issue, without power to the "autotuner" built into the plastic box, the motor wouldn't run at all. With the sticker on the power supply/control box stating that opening the box would void the warranty, I wasn't about to proceed any further.

Just to add insult to injury I had to pay the return charges via UPS...

 

[KB2GOM]

I bought that several years ago. I found to my dismay that there was a problem with the power switch and returned it as defective. The bloody cretins had the gall to charge me a "restocking fee." I refuse to buy anything from the "Mighty Fine Junk" company...

Restocking charge for a warranty issue? Yikes!

 

[AK9R]

I bought that several years ago. I found to my dismay that there was a problem with the power switch and returned it as defective. The bloody cretins had the gall to charge me a "restocking fee."

You purchased from MFJ directly or one of their dealers?

 

[N4GIX]

You purchased from MFJ directly or one of their dealers?

Directly, I ordered from the MFJ website.

 

[GlobalNorth]

This is the last product I bought from MFJ:



Sadly, they've gone downhill since this came out.

 

[Firekite]

You also get the correct type of balun, so why even consider a Maxcon?

Out of curiosity, how do you even hang that balun? It’s got the SO-239 connector in what appears to be the back, not on the bottom. Do you just hang it with the back facing down somehow? Mount it rigidly to a mast and zip tie a service loop of the coax to the mast so that it enters at a right angle but keeps the strain from being perpendicular? Or what?

I realize this is probably a stupid question, and the answer may be obvious in retrospect, but I’m genuinely confused.

 

[prcguy]

The top of the box opposite the connector has a molded tab with a hole for attaching rope, etc, and the SO-239 is recessed to keep the water out. Its a very good and well thought out box to accommodate the two ferrite toroid's. Take note of the balun design with two separate toroid's, that is the only type you want for an OCFD antenna and nearly all other companies are using the wrong type of balun.

Out of curiosity, how do you even hang that balun? It’s got the SO-239 connector in what appears to be the back, not on the bottom. Do you just hang it with the back facing down somehow? Mount it rigidly to a mast and zip tie a service loop of the coax to the mast so that it enters at a right angle but keeps the strain from being perpendicular? Or what?

I realize this is probably a stupid question, and the answer may be obvious in retrospect, but I’m genuinely confused.

View attachment 110991

 

[Firekite]

The top of the box opposite the connector has a molded tab with a hole for attaching rope, etc

Ohhh, I see, so you hang it from that hole so that the connector is actually underneath (on the bottom) after all. Got it. Thank you!

I knew it would seem obvious in retrospect…

 

[K6GBW]

Just a little tip with OCFD antennas. If you hang them from a metal mast be sure to either pull the coax away from the mast or make a stand off for the top of the mast. If the coax ends up running along the mast it will send your SWR all out of whack.

 

[AK9R]

If the coax ends up running along the mast it will send your SWR all out of whack.

That tells me that there's RF on the outside of the coax...which shouldn't be there.

 

[K6GBW]

Well it is.