MFJ-1835 Cobweb antenna review and testing 

Been using a cobweb antenna here for a few years now and they work very well, its a full size half wave dipole on each band. Also only about 9ft square so doesn't take up much room so great for small gardens...

Sold Eric.. Got a 1836H on the way... Thanks for the upload. 73"s HS0ZOU

I thought your presentation was done very well. We see all kinds of Ad's for stuff. However getting out there and putting it together and testing as well as letting other get the scale of these Cobweb antennas. I say good job. Look forward to see what you test next N5STK 73's

Nice antenna and nice demonstration.

The MFJ 1835 cobweb antenna is fantastic, however when securing all of the nuts and bolts, I used guerrilla construction adhesive in a small tube. For $200 you cannot beat this antenna, I've work more DX with it then I can mention it is affixed to a 10 foot mast on my back deck, and when I first put it up I didn't think I was going to receive any signals. Given it a shot, and you will not be surprised.

Looks like an awesome antenna....might try to get one soon. Thanks for the video

There is a lot to be said about an antenna with low reactance, even at a compromised length. Enjoyable Video, Get the front feet up on that 450 it's driving me nuts.

Great video, Eric! Always look forward to a new one. You convinced me with this one ... I ordered a MFJ-1835 today. I'd been sitting on the fence, trying to decide ... 73 de Dick N4BC

Did you find that the horizontal polarization helped with power line noise, etc.?

great video on how to build it and its on my Dayton list

Good video but would have appreciated some information on the 2:1 bandwidth on each band. At the impedance transformation necessary, would expect it to be relatively narrow. Good job!

Thnx for the clarification UFO

What is the over all width? I am limited on space to put it up/down.

Nice video. I plan on getting one of these ASAP.

GREAT VIDEO..I WILL BE ADDING THE 1835H TO MY COLLECTION..I READ THAT ONE HAM USES IT ALSO ON 40 METERS

Since when is SWR checked on the SSB mode? I would have used FM instead.

I'm fixin to buy this antenna. Would it work better on my 30 foot tower or my 70 foot tower? I'm curious of the angle of radiation and what would happen if I mounted it on each tower?

That is great...read on e-ham, that someone has used it on 40 meters, which is great...good luck with the new antenna, and may you have many dx contacts...73, de K2YNY

I liked that . I have the big gap and i.m sure the cob web is not as expensive. I have a low take off the gap. right now I 'm have antenna problem to. I can't seem to keep a table end on the cable. I waiting for new cable ends from Amazon they are expensive I know that much thanks for Video for one it cost me five dollars to get them delivered and before I could go out to the brick and moter store , and get the ends and all I had to do is drive to the store.

Hey! Followed you over from Calum's video on some guy who could only manage a 6' height off the ground for his cobweb. What height did you decide would work best for this antenna?

What is the total radius of the antenna end to end, and how does it hold up in bad weather?

Those center plates look square. How wide are they? Seem to be about 8" to 12" square by my guesstimate.

Do you think I would be able to assemble the cobweb in an attic - a an HOA community? WB2MKX

WA0RSD Whats your recommend as qrp Do we have enough radiation resistance

The Cobweb Aerial was invented by Steve Web G3TPW

Great Review!!! Thanks

Good Evening Sir. I am wondering how much that antenna cost you and if you know of plans to be able to build it. I am in rural Canada on a corner lot in a small town a long way from radio stores and I am a visually impaired amature radio operator.

Looks like a loop but Its not a loop. its open in the middle. It is dipole ends bent towards each other. No gain but hi efficiency because of current coupling at the centers and voltage coupling at the extremeties. same principle as the hex beam or Moxon beam or the VK2ABQ rectangle.

Eric, are you familiar with the RH-DX1020 SpiderDXMan Antenna? I just found it on Radiohausamerica.com but can't find many videos about it. Would love to see a video on it, Thnx de K1DHH

Awesome videos, thanks for sharing :) Soon relocating to Canada, so we'll maybe have a QSO someday :) 73 and HNY 2018 from ha7wx Chris

Nice video thank you. At the end of the video you mention to compare the cobweb with the hygain av-680. Is this still on your todo list ? Wonder what the 2:1 bandwidth is of those two antennas. 73

Looks good, I'm looking at the MFJ-1838 which includes 40m, plus I can hang my laundry out to dry as well! ;-)

Eric - I appreciate the wind but am not going to bare with your. Not my style. Regardless, great review on an antenna concept that I for sure am going to use with my station. Am in between antenna construction projects and the cobweb is perfect for the fill. Thanks for the info.

Hi. I just purchased a MFJ-1835. Thank you very much for making this video of the setup. I'm having trouble tuning this antenna and was hoping for some help/advise. I noticed that your wire elements have soldered eyelets on the tuning end where they attach to the insulators. My wire kits only had the soldered eyelets on one end (which I attached to the balun box), but the other end was just unterminated wire that I attach around the screw/nut arrangement for adjusting while tuning. I was wondering - did your wire kits come with terminators on both ends, or did you solder the terminators to the free ends? I think adding the eyelets would assist in tuning at the insulator point, as your video shows. I am having a difficult time getting the SWR down into a decent range on every band except 20M. That has no problem getting down to about 1.4 in the CW portion where I'm shooting for. The others range in the high 2's to 3's and I can't get them any lower. I've opened up the balun box just to see if all looks well in there. All solder connections are nice - no cold joints visible. The construction went together quite well in about 2 hours total. Tuning is another matter. I have the whole assembly on a tripod at 6-7 feet off the ground, as you show. I'm using a Rig Expert AA-54 to assist with the tuning. Any help you can give would be most appreciated! Thanks. 73 de Dave W5ABM

Do you. Hav the. Clamps backwards

How about stacking 2 of these puppies? .....N6OA/4

Are the wires precut and labelled or color coded? are Are the spreaders predrilled and marked, ?

Did those power lines in the background just look close, or were they really that close?

You mentioned tightening the wires. But wouldn't tightening shortening the wires somewhat thereby changing the swr. Or was there a physical way to tighten them? Can you describe the tightening process?

When listening on SSB, you should be using "slow AGC" instead of fast. Much better receive audio on slow AGC. Good video!

Does anyone know if the cobweb will work in a valley location?

How. Tight should I tighten to

Nice video.. you are right under that electrical transformer on the pole....wondering how that affects your performance

Great video Eric, thank you!! Too bad it doesn't have 40m but that would add a lot of size. For the bands its got, how easy it is to assemble and put up and how compact it is; seems like its a no-brainer. I think I will be making a purchase...I think this fits my needs to a T. Thanks again and 73!

Nice video!

Yes!

Its been 6 years, how is it holding up for you?

Same as spyder beam?

Thanks for this video. Say, has anyone tried to extend this antenna with some lightweight fiberglass rods in the ends, enough to add 40m?? One would probably have to mount the antenna in such a way that the mast could stick up a couple of feet past the center platee, then add some poly rope to the ends to support it better.

Should be twin speaker wire single wire is a no no

Dude, NOticed the power lines appear close to your setup. Be careful when raising them. Especially the vertical. Dont want it in the fall zone .

Are you still using the 1835 ? If so, how is it performing ? This antenna would be ideal for my qth ,but I've heard the qc with the newer mfj stuff isn't very good. 73

It's a flattened out Hex beam.

Good demo. What are the electrical wire lengths per band? Thx

Is it directional like a beam?

Can't get mine to tune.

Think you mean 'bear' with me ...Bear like in bearing!

jouliet not japan!!

I would love to see usable bandwidth figures. If it is resonant and 1.0:1 but only for 200kHz that will impact performance a lot. Thx. I added a post here with a rough example- forums.qrz.com/index.php?threads/the-mfj-1935-cobweb-antenna-review-and-on-air-test.545159/page-3#post-5547808

Needs to have twin wire ,it will work a lot better,,,,,,, make one for 50 dollars yourself

japan? mixing ITU and DX alphabets? use the old us navy alphabet. able baker charlie dog easy :)

lazy susan? wassat then?