MFJ-1886 with Drake R8A Will it work?

[Rt169Radio]

Hello all, I'm looking into getting a MFJ-1886 loop antenna to use with a old Drake R8A shortwave radio but I noticed something that I was wondering somebody could answer.

MFJ-1886, LOOP, RECEIVING, .5 TO 30 MHz, 110VAC

MFJ-1886 Loop AntennaDig out previously unreadable signals and track down annoying sources of interference with the MFJ-1886 HF Receive Loop The MFJ-1886 Receive Loop gives you tremendous power to copy weak stations through impossibly strong levels of QRN or QRM. Covering AM broadcast through 30...

mfjenterprises.com

For the antenna connections on the Drake R8A all what they have for connections is a VHF antenna, Dipole low impedance, and longwire high impedance. I included a link to the Drake R8A manual, the antenna connections page is on page 8.

http://www.radiomanual.info/schemi/Surplus_Radioamateur/Drake_R-8A_user_1997.pdf

So my question is will the MFJ-1886 work on the Dipole low impedance antenna connection? Since its a plug for PL-259 connections which the MFJ-1886 needs for a connections. Or I'm I out of luck?

 

[Blackswan73]

Yes, it will work, but I am curious why you would want such an expensive antenna when many other antenna options exist that will work just as well or better that are much cheaper. For instance, depending on what you want to listen to, and the space available, you could build a decent shortwave antenna for less than a hundred dollars. Or you could even buy a commercial wire antenna for less than $200

B.S.

 

[MDScanFan]

Yes, you would connect the antenna to the 50 Ohm SO-239 Ant 1 input. See the photo here RigPix Database - R.L.Drake - R-8

 

[ka3jjz]

Well a lot of folks don't have a good sized lot for a good antenna, or have HOAs - loops can be hid in many different ways. In fact they work quite well mounted close to the ground. Our loops wiki has lots of links on this subject, and several hombrew projects, too

Loops - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

Mike

 

[Blackswan73]

I agree. In fact, I have a loop antenna I just purchased for my Belka. I haven’t put it together yet, but I have perused several reviews of it, and it cost less than $50

B.S.

 

[ka3jjz]

If you want something a bit less expensive, and have some building skills for constructing a loop and frame to hold it, this is worthwhile looking into....

W6LVP Magnetic Loop Antenna Experimenter’s Kit | W6LVP

www.w6lvp.com

Mike

 

[ka3jjz]

I agree. In fact, I have a loop antenna I just purchased for my Belka. I haven’t put it together yet, but I have perused several reviews of it, and it cost less than $50

B.S.

A MLA-30 or similar, I expect? Mike

 

[Blackswan73]

MLA-30+. I am most interested in seeing how it performs compared to my 46’ T2FD. I am impressed with the reviews, and I have noticed several folks on another forum I patronize use them. Less than $50 including the PVC

B.S.

 

[ka3jjz]

In fact there's a FB group that talks about various mods to this little Chinese gem that is so popular...

Log into Facebook

Log into Facebook to start sharing and connecting with your friends, family, and people you know.

www.facebook.com

Mike

 

[Blackswan73]

Cool!

B.S.

 

[Rt169Radio]

Yes, it will work, but I am curious why you would want such an expensive antenna when many other antenna options exist that will work just as well or better that are much cheaper. For instance, depending on what you want to listen to, and the space available, you could build a decent shortwave antenna for less than a hundred dollars. Or you could even buy a commercial wire antenna for less than $200

B.S.

Unfortunately I don't have enough space for a longwire or dipole antenna.

 

[ka3jjz]

You certainly aren't alone. That's where loops come into play

I don't think I would trust that flimsy wire the MLA30 comes with to stand up to any weather. Indoors it might be OK, but outdoors no way jose. The first things I would probably do would be to improve the waterproofing of the amp box and replacing the loop element. I would wager the FB group has something to say about that

Mike

 

[devicelab]

Unfortunately I don't have enough space for a longwire or dipole antenna.

Before spending the $$$ just understand the indoor loop receive performance will be 75% less than if it were outside. It'll be 0% if you have any broadband RFI inside the house.

 

[KB2GOM]

I use an MFJ1886 with a Grundig Satellit Millenium 800, which has, basically, the guts of a Drake SW8. It works well and works particularly well on medium wave.

See Comment #2 here: https://www.eham.net/reviews/view-product?id=600

Check out this review: Testing the MFJ-1886 Receive Loop Antenna

 

[Rt169Radio]

Before spending the $$$ just understand the indoor loop receive performance will be 75% less than if it were outside. It'll be 0% if you have any broadband RFI inside the house.

The loop will be mounted outside up on a pole.

 

[ka3jjz]

If you are going to use this on MW, then keep it close to the ground. No more than a few feet - some say about the diameter of the loop itself. Too high and you lose the loop's directionality .

Mike

 

[Rt169Radio]

If you are going to use this on MW, then keep it close to the ground. No more than a few feet - some say about the diameter of the loop itself. Too high and you lose the loop's directionality .

Mike

Hmm, I was going to put it up 20 feet off the ground because that is what I built for a antenna pole setup. Though I'm kinda in a little valley of sorts.