[Antennas] MFJ Mini Bugcatcher

Fri, 7 Jun 2002 11:17:16 EDT

Jim,
I am wondering what rig you are using? I would look into an ATAS 100 from 
Yaesu. It will continuos tune from 7 MHz-54 MHz automatically with an FT 100 
and will tune manually with most other rigs with a simple inline circuit 
board that schematics can be found in a couple of places on the net in kit 
form, prebuilt and just the schematic. I do not remember right off hand 
where I had seen it last. The nice thing about the ATAS 100 is that it will 
mount on a mag mount, trunk lip mount or you could rill a hole. The mag and 
the trunk lip might need extra grounds added to help with the tuning but 
otherwise it is a very very good antenna for a very short (69 inches or so 
fully extended) "screwdriver" antenna. Performance on 40 mtrs is akin to a 
NVIS but it is good for 200-500 mile contacts. On 20-6 mtrs in performs as 
well as Hustler resonators or in some cases even better especially when 
coupled with an FT 100. On 6 mtrs the ATAS 100 out performs my 1/4 wave 
antenna for the same band by as much as 2 "S" unit or about 6 dB.
Take care and all the best 73
DE KG4FET Sandor