AJ,
I did do some quick testing on the MFJ antenna (very non-scientific), and the single test sample did work. I used radials for each band joined to an alligator clip and clipped to the 817. I was able to make a contact across South Carolina to a fellow using a dipole (on CW, of course).
Big takeaway was spread the radials a bit and don’t cross them. Once I had a good SWR/reactance reading on each band (using MFJ-259), I wrote down (for each band) the number of whip elements extended plus the number of finger widths on a partial element. That’ll obviously change due to environment, but it’s a starting place.
Again, this was only one attempt with one contact on one band (80m), but that’s an excuse to find time to test the other bands. It’s definitely a compromise antenna, but the testing was fun and it might work in a pinch or when not much time available. I will be making radials for the single bands (2 per band as mentioned earlier in the thread), having them all together is a real rats nest.
More details at the link below.
73, and good luck. Have fun with the testing.
Mike, N4VBV