Simple Antennas for the Amateur Radio Operator
A few days ago, the good folks at eham.net ran a series of comments from amateur radio operators who used the MFJ 1622 portable antenna system. The antenna consists of a tapped air coil, a 5 1/2 foot antenna, a counterpoise wire, a short length of coax, and a sturdy clamp to attach the antenna to a bench, railing, or other support. I was gratified to see some positive reports on this compromise antenna, which, despite its faults, can get you on the air in a space-restricted environment. The MFJ 1622 is a copy of an older design by B & K, which marketed the device in the 1970-1985 time frame. I bought one of these when I was first licensed as a novice, used it with some success, and later stored it for emergency use. Presently, my B & K system is located in my van, along with some coax, a spare ATU, about 100-feet of wire, a deep-cycle marine battery, and some pre-cut counterpoise wire. My trusty Yaesu FT-7 serves as the rig. Despite the 10 to 20 watts output of the old