MFJ whips

[Kd5txx]

So, I travel a lot for work and wanted to try something quick and easy to set up as an antenna when I am at a hotel.  I purchased a MFJ 20m whip for my KX2.  I am in Vermont at the moment and using this whip and a 14 foot counterpoise, at 4 watts just worked a station in Georgia.  That?s about 1000 miles.  To make it even better, I was inside my hotel room.  This may be a compromise and everything, and I don?t expect much from it, but just that contact was worth the $25 the antenna cost.  Again, I am amazed by what you can do with compromised antennas and low watts.

 

[G4HAA]

That's good going for 4watts and a mobile whip! bd

Do you attach the whip and counterpoise directly to the rig, or are they mounted on some kind of stand or bracket?

I was wondering how you tuned the antenna too. Was it set for the lowest SWR by adjusting the length first, or did you just use it as-is and then rely on the auto ATU in the rig to correct the matching (if it has one of course)?

73, Mark...

 

[Kd5txx]

I attached the antenna directly to the KX2.  Then ran a wire for counterpoise on the floor.  I used the tuner on the rig.  Guy I talked to was using a QRP rig also but into an amp doing 20 watts.