A couple of things to help out. When you attach your coax to antenna, make 3 or 4 turns of the coax in about a 10” diameter and tape coax. This will prevent any power from coming back down the coax to your radio. To lower swr, if you need a little more length on the ends of the 1979’s, get two alligator clips attached to some copper wire and clip on the end’s of the 1979’s to possibly bring swr down.
Hi Almir, I have the Chamelion antenna 17 foot telescopic whips, they are a bit more expensive than the MFJ, but maybe a bit thicker at the top sections, but still easy to damage if not handled with care! 17M was very busy as well today also, but no contesting😃
Hi Alex, today was not an easy day to get around for sure. For me today was another learning process, that a simple coil would do a better job than what it said on the website. I forgot to mention that the top element was strip. 73's my friend.
I would return the damaged one and buy the Chameleon one like another comment mentions. I have the MFJ-1979 also and recognize how poorly manufactured they are. When it breaks I will buy the Chameleon.
Another problem you might be having is height above ground I think you said the dipole is about 15 feet high, borderline height for a NVIS antenna. If you could get it 25 to 30 feet high is going to work a lot better. 73's..
CQ worldwide contest was going on this weekend Almir , don't know when you made the video don't get discouraged 17 feet might be too long for 20 meters not an expert here but maybe elements need to be a little shorter. Either way watching in NYC 73's....
