Additional antenna for R8600

[jazzboypro]

Hello all,

I currently have a discone antenna and a W6LVP LOOP antenna connected to an R8600. I would like to add this antenna and switch between it and the loop. I do have 2 of their antennas (OCF and EFHW) and i am pleased with them. I would like to know if any of you used this antenna and what you think about it.

Many thanks.

73 de va2fcs

 

[k6cpo]

More information could be helpful in answering your question. Is it a transmitter, receiver or transceiver; what band(s) does operate on; what frequency are you trying to get, etc. Not all of us have memorized all the radio model numbers.

 

[mmckenna]

I would like to know if any of you used this antenna and what you think about it.

I don't have that antenna. I do have a similar antenna made by RF Systems, the MLBA-MK2. That antenna is now discontinued, but it's a similar design, end fed half wave type.

I'm using it because I was limited with space and needed an antenna that covered shortwave. This is used on a remote receiver at one of my tower sites, and while I don't normally need HF receive capability, it was an inexpensive add on to the system that sometimes does get used.

Kind of hard to compare it to other antennas since it's the only one I've used on that specific radio for HF. It does work, and I'm happy with its performance. But it is a compromise based on my space limitations.

I'd sometimes play with it after hours, and I did some pretty good long wave non-directional beacon DX'ing. It works well for AM broadcast DX'ing and has worked well on shortwave.

 

[jazzboypro]

More information could be helpful in answering your question. Is it a transmitter, receiver or transceiver; what band(s) does operate on; what frequency are you trying to get, etc. Not all of us have memorized all the radio model numbers.

The radio is a receiver, it covers 10 kHz to 3 GHz. The antenna i'm asking for is for HF only and covers 0.3-30MHz.

 

[jazzboypro]

I don't have that antenna. I do have a similar antenna made by RF Systems, the MLBA-MK2. That antenna is now discontinued, but it's a similar design, end fed half wave type.

I'm using it because I was limited with space and needed an antenna that covered shortwave. This is used on a remote receiver at one of my tower sites, and while I don't normally need HF receive capability, it was an inexpensive add on to the system that sometimes does get used.

Kind of hard to compare it to other antennas since it's the only one I've used on that specific radio for HF. It does work, and I'm happy with its performance. But it is a compromise based on my space limitations.

I'd sometimes play with it after hours, and I did some pretty good long wave non-directional beacon DX'ing. It works well for AM broadcast DX'ing and has worked well on shortwave.

I have one of their OCFD and EFHW antennas and i have been pleased with them. I use them with their RF choke. Might as well try their swl antenna, it's not too expensive.

 

[Token]

Hello all,

I currently have a discone antenna and a W6LVP LOOP antenna connected to an R8600. I would like to add this antenna and switch between it and the loop. I do have 2 of their antennas (OCF and EFHW) and i am pleased with them. I would like to know if any of you used this antenna and what you think about it.

I have not used that specific antenna, but I have used antennas very similar to it, from other companies and home brew. And while they tend to work OK, I have never been really pleased with any end fed random wire. Personally, when I have had the room, I have always prefered a fan dipole over an end fed random wire.

I currently use a home brew tri-band fan dipole as one of the HF antennas available for my R8600's. In this case a 160/60/40 meter fan. This works pretty well up to about 18 MHz, and I generally select a different antenna above 15 MHz.

T!

 

[bearcatrp]

Why not use a long wire. Worked great when I had my R8600. Another option is a PAORDT mini whip active antenna. I ordered mine from the guy who makes them overseas. Not the eBay ones. Here is the thread on the discussions.

PA0RDT Mini Whip ? Users ?

Hello, Do listening only. Below 30 MHz. a. Would be very interested in other folks opinions, and experience with the PAORDT ant. ? b. Any suggestions for an indoor antenna other than a Loop ? (don't want a loop due to the need to (almost continuously) re-orient it.) Regards, Bob

forums.radioreference.com

 

[jazzboypro]

Why not use a long wire. Worked great when I had my R8600. Another option is a PAORDT mini whip active antenna. I ordered mine from the guy who makes them overseas. Not the eBay ones. Here is the thread on the discussions.

PA0RDT Mini Whip ? Users ?

Hello, Do listening only. Below 30 MHz. a. Would be very interested in other folks opinions, and experience with the PAORDT ant. ? b. Any suggestions for an indoor antenna other than a Loop ? (don't want a loop due to the need to (almost continuously) re-orient it.) Regards, Bob

forums.radioreference.com

Thanks, i will look into it

 

[devicelab]

Hello all,

I currently have a discone antenna and a W6LVP LOOP antenna connected to an R8600.

While I don't own one, I've seen a lot of videos on the W6LVP and IMHO, it looks rather disappointing. You might want to consider a better loop. I'd highly recommend a Wellbrook loop -- finding one in good shape might be a problem -- and I'm certainly not selling mine any time soon.

The next best loop from my personal testing is the PRO-1B. DXE now owns the product. The price has nearly doubled since I've owned one, but it was a close 2nd in direct comparison to my Wellbrook.

I still have a couple of videos up on UTube:

 

[jazzboypro]

I've had the W6LVP for a few years mounted on a rotator. I have not used any other loop so i have no point of comparison but the W6LVP is working pretty good. It's just that sometimes a wire antenna does a better job than the loop so i want to be able to switch between the two antennas.

 

[devicelab]

It's just that sometimes a wire antenna does a better job than the loop so i want to be able to switch between the two antennas.

While I haven't strung up a wire antenna at 50ft, I've never seen this on my loop.

 

[RufusDawes]

Hello all,

I currently have a discone antenna and a W6LVP LOOP antenna connected to an R8600. I would like to add this antenna and switch between it and the loop. I do have 2 of their antennas (OCF and EFHW) and i am pleased with them. I would like to know if any of you used this antenna and what you think about it.

Many thanks.

73 de va2fcs

Looks like a 60 ft random wire, how well it performs you won't know until you put it up, performance call also changed depending upon the directional orientation of the wire and how close it is to other houses, etc. I say put it up, route all your antennas to the shack and connect them to an antenna switch, then you can determine which works best for each band you are scanning at the moment. I have 3 antennas coming to my antennas switch: 100ft random wire, 250ft sky loop, and 1M wellbrook, each one can do better or worse depending where I am on the bands.

 

[jazzboypro]

Looks like a 60 ft random wire, how well it performs you won't know until you put it up, performance call also changed depending upon the directional orientation of the wire and how close it is to other houses, etc. I say put it up, route all your antennas to the shack and connect them to an antenna switch, then you can determine which works best for each band you are scanning at the moment. I have 3 antennas coming to my antennas switch: 100ft random wire, 250ft sky loop, and 1M wellbrook, each one can do better or worse depending where I am on the bands.

Yeah i think i'll go with the antenna i was referring to in my original post and see what happens. I will need to look where i will be installing it. My EFHW and OCF are taking a lot of space.