I have a wonderwand widebander mk2 here, similar unit and it works to a fashion and is better than no antenna at all but I think I'd stick to a fishing pole, wire and a cheap antenna matching unit like an mfj travel tuner or something. For hassle free use and more radiator. Myself I run the IC-705, ah-705 and a sotabeams bandspringer midi up a 7mtr pole which is a great combo. Nice to see a deep dive into the whizz whips operation!
Hi Peter, thanks for another enjoyable video. When i bought my 817nd nearly 6 years ago, I decided to buy a small antenna to go with it, but ended up going for a Wonder Wand Wonderloop 750, which covers 40-6m, rather than a whip. Like the WizzWhip and similar antennas, I get rancid comments from people who haven't tried one, but I've had many enjoyable QSOs with the tiny loop and also find it very effective for SWLing with my Icom ICR10, for this I mount tuner and loop on a miniature camera tripod and connect to the R10 with a short coax cable. As you say, with any of these little antennas having fun experimenting is the key. By the way, i think there's a reprint of the original Miracle Whip article in a book called, IIRC, "The International QRP Collection". 73, Simon G0CIQ
When I was a teenage radio amateur I used an old mains autotransformer to load up a long wire on 80m and top band. It must have been hellishly lossy but I got QSOs with it. Like a giant Wizz Whip.
Interesting but not really the right choice if you really want to work the bands, if your going to be limited to 5 to 10 watts I'd be looking for the most efficient antenna I could setup for better performance, the whizz whip is an interesting curiosity but it's not going to be a good option.
Thanks for all you do. You ought to try a snake antenna and ATU. I built a top band one last week and it's an easy, simple and hidden radiator. Sure it's a bit deaf but I'm seeing good dx.
The 710 Field is one heck of a portable rig for under £1K. 2Kg lighter than my DX10, and I'm seeing 1A less RX current draw too. It feels and sounds quite different to the DX10 (and not in a bad way). Definitely aimed more at the casual operator, but it's fun to use! Bargain.
Hi, I purchased this antenna about 10 years ago. I tried to use it with my yaesu ft 817 but I can never get it to tune (even with 0.5 w). Can you give me some advice! Thanks hello Alex in3yks
Roger, Looking through your list of videos, I was trying to find a video on off-centre fed antenna. Could you do one? I know it used to be called a Windom antenna.
Interesting. I would have also tried the matching transformer on a short dipole. Simply stated it is where the value is. I would like to own one for when I can't set up a resonate antenna on the band of interest, but at $102 I'd have to say, perhaps down the road. I would like to build a similar transformer & save a few dollars....
Well I think something this short might work as a receive antenna don't put it on your QRP rig and expect to make any contacts. I've been a QRP operator since 1978 and quit trying to use compromise antennas, 73 from ki0ad
@@watersstanton well I imagine you have to get lucky now snd then. Using a homebrewed end fed halfwave a 30 ft I have worked alot of dx coming from far east, Indonesia, Australia, etc etc this last running 5 watts from my ft 817. I don't think the wizz antenna could do that. Anyhow I enjoy your videos so keep them coming. 73 from ki0ad
I have an original Miracle Antenna and have have used it successfully over the years. In fact it goes with me now, with my FT-818, when I work away on business. For hotel portable it allows me to make contacts that I otherwise wouldn't be able to.
A whizz - or wizz, isn't that what you go to the smallest room for? 🙂 I'm surprised that it actually works, because it goes against the old rule of thumb - get more metal into the air!
Watching this video, although informative, is similar to watching water freeze. Do yourself a favor and change the playback speed to 1.5 and you'll have more time to mow your yard. You're welcome!
I've used a Miracle Antenna successfully over the years from a hotel room when working away on business. Out of curiosity, how you would set up for operating HF QRP from a hotel room, especially if you can't open the room window? Thanks.
The word _”whizz”_ has a couple of meanings here in the _USA._ One meaning seems to be a shortened form of _”wizard”_ - the other is _”go take a whizz”,_ IOW to *urinate.* 😀 *73 de AF6AS in **_“DM13”_** land*
