Due to space restrictions, I’ve been experimenting with various loft antenna combinations. My latest experiment is using the Watson Magitenna.
Watson Magitenna
This is essentially a 7.6m long bit of wire, designed to operate between 40metres and 6metres. It will handle 400W CW and 550W PEP SSB.
Due to the relatively short length of the wire, this makes a handy portable HF antenna, either for mobile operations, or for stealth antenna installation where space is at a premium – it could be used in a loft, gutter, slung over a branch or fixed to a fibreglass fishing pole for vertical working.
The kit includes the wire and a UNUN balun. It connects to your rig/ATU via an SO239 socket. The antenna wire connects to the UNUN using a wingnut, and there is also a wingnut (colour-coded with a green dot) for a connection to an RF earth.
Using the Magittena
As an experiment, I installed the Magitenna in my loft, running the length of the loft at the highest point, running South-to-North. I then placed a few CQ calls on all bands from 80m to 6m on PSK31. I called randomly on the bands for about an hour (off and on), and here is a summary of what was spotted by PSKReporter:
PSK31 Screenshot with results from Watson Magitenna
The coloured markers indicate how long ago the signal was received by the listening stations, the colours referring to the bands, as follows:
- Brown: 15 metres
- Yellow: 20 metres
- Green: 30 metres
I’ll continue testing this long wire antenna and add any additional notes.
Magitenna construction
Here are a couple of photos of the Magitenna balun, for reference:
The Watson Magitenna Balun
… and the inside of the Balun box:
Inside the Watson Magitenna Balun
If you have any question or comments, please add a message in the section below.
Hi Pete
You had to take it apart just like a kid with a new toy HI
On a serious note i have one of these antennas and for what they are and the size they are they get the thumbs up from me
They are ideal for holidays camping , caravaning etc
Or just at home where space is tight
Catch up with you soon mate
73′s
Tom
2E0TNC
This looks a lot like the SRC antenna X65 – £40
http://www.snowdonia-radio-company.co.uk/ourshop/prod_2012937-SRC-X65-80-6-meters.html
or why not buy an SRC 9:1 unun for £20 & add the long wire ?! all on
http://www.snowdonia-radio-company.co.uk/ under HF antennas
Not that I would want to persuade anyone away from W & S…!! (just hope you don’t have to take anything back to them !!)
Cheers
Jim
SRC are unfort no longer trading just as a point of interest.
This looks like its made actually by M0CVO antennas and badged up as watson.
I have a OFC Dipole made by the same (M0CVO) not bad but deff not waterproof, Balun made same with red n black wire.
Shame the UNUN and my balun was not made with proper copper wire windings rather than just using red and black dc cable.
Can recomend baluns or ununs made by M0PLK, availible on that well know aution site… They are made with proper windings on quality Toroid Cores in a much better hard abs plastic box.