RA0SMS Active Mini Whip

[VK4012SWL]

Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone here has or has used RA0SMS' mini whip antenna.
I will be using it with an RTL-SDR for HF utility and broadcast listening.

Also the eBay page says that BNC connectors are included and all you need is coax. Is that true?

Regards,
Sam

 

[ka3jjz]

A RTL-SDR only goes down to 25 Mhz, if memory serves. Are you using some sort of upconverter for HF coverage?

While this article is addressing using that antenna on a SDRPlay, not a RTL stick, the observations are worth noting. Not a particularly good performer, it seems - way too sensitive to E field noise (as are most all mini whips) and overloading issues. There seems to be some instability issues, too...

RA0SMS Miniwhip bad performance on SDRPlay - SDRplay Community Forum

What is your situation? It sounds like you're in a flat or other space where you can't put up antennas...as are lots of us (unfortunately)...Mike

 

[VK4012SWL]

What is your situation? It sounds like you're in a flat or other space where you can't put up antennas...as are lots of us (unfortunately)...Mike

I currently live in a suburban area and I am planning on riding my bike out to the local scout camp for a day and setting up. My dad runs a Wellbrook magloop and it is still an S4-6 noise floor.

A RTL-SDR only goes down to 25 Mhz, if memory serves. Are you using some sort of upconverter for HF coverage?

The rtl-sdr.com V3 has HF when you use Q-branch in SDR#