MFJ end fed


How would this work, planning on running it up the side of my house then running it back and forth thru my attic.

I have the same antenna, and it's LONG. 134ft sounds short until you start unrolling it I have a good sized suburban lot, and in an inverted-V configuration with the apex at 30ft I still had to run it diagonally to fit in my lot. In an inverted-V it does work really well though.

When I lived in a townhome, the best performing antenna I used was the AlexLoop. I had so much RF noise from my neighbors that I needed that deep null on the mag loop to reduce it and actually make contacts. I also just started operating portable from the mountains and parks more often.

The EFHW is a good workable antenna, but I would not call the 135ft. version a "limited space" antenna.

You can also get the same antenna that's only about 66 feet long at the expense of losing 80-meter capability, look for the models so named "40-10", they cover 40,20,15, and 10 meters.

Also, the MFJ models, while less expensive, are not the best options for a commercial EFHW, they use material and construction choices in their transformer feed-box that makes the antenna lossier than it should be.  I'd recommend the options from ParEndFedz (now sold by Vibroplex) or MyAntennas.  Or better yet, make your own for less than even the MFJ models, I did a write up thread a few months back on it here that also includes some shortened versions that may help in smaller space applications.

Get a vertical antenna.

DXE 43 foot vertical.

+1

Even a shortened vertical is going to outperform a low wire like that.

All depends on who you want to talk to, but in general I'd MUCH rather have a vertical than some "end fed" thing at a low height.

Butternut HF-6V for example is like 25 feet tall and can work the world. 80m bandwidth isn't much but with a tuner you can cover the whole band.