This month I purchased a K-180WLA to see how it it does for me. I am kind of surprised. I didn't think it would do as good but on the CB band it did better than the MLA 30+. It also received a SSTV PD120 image from the ISS. I have no comparison to provide but it seems to be receiving well in it's designed frequency range.
I tested it's daytime MW reception and was able to receive KRMG 740khz from Tulsa which is about 88 miles northeast of me. On VHF NOAA I was able to receive Stillwater NOAA frequency about 60 or less miles north of me.
Very little noticeable FMBC breakthrough and no MW breakthrough. The FMBC breakthrough can be eliminated by opening the pre-amp box and throwing the switch to SWBC which attenuates FMBC by 15db. This proved effective. No FMBC while the switch is in the SWBC position.
On Amateur bands the signals sounded clear and at a reasonable SNR. I wouldn't say the SNR is high on this antenna, but it works. I have been using it on the Airspy HF+ Discovery. This SDR's noise floor is -140dbm. That means the ATT has to be set to 18db to tame the 20db gain of the K-180MLA. That produced a -130dbm noise floor with the K-180WLA powered on.
Directivity is noticeable on the MW band and a little bit on the HF bands. On VHF it seems to behave as a folded dipole on 2m reception. 145.800MHz ISS SSTV I had to literally sit at the antenna and keep adjusting it for best reception. Reception was best with the ring facing the signal source rather than the broadside facing the signal source. Only on VHF. on shortwave it's reception is best with broadside facing signal source,
This antenna has had a bad history in its first runs of production. There are videos that display the FMBC issue. It has been improved upon over the last 2 or 3 years. Mine doesn't exhibit that behavior.
It has a built in battery. A flat top 18650 battery. Lasts me 2-3 days. Charges in 4 or 5 hours.
I think the community should give it another chance. It exceeded my expectations by a little and outperformed the MLA 30+ on upper HF. To me it was worth the $70usd investment.
I tested it's daytime MW reception and was able to receive KRMG 740khz from Tulsa which is about 88 miles northeast of me. On VHF NOAA I was able to receive Stillwater NOAA frequency about 60 or less miles north of me.
Very little noticeable FMBC breakthrough and no MW breakthrough. The FMBC breakthrough can be eliminated by opening the pre-amp box and throwing the switch to SWBC which attenuates FMBC by 15db. This proved effective. No FMBC while the switch is in the SWBC position.
On Amateur bands the signals sounded clear and at a reasonable SNR. I wouldn't say the SNR is high on this antenna, but it works. I have been using it on the Airspy HF+ Discovery. This SDR's noise floor is -140dbm. That means the ATT has to be set to 18db to tame the 20db gain of the K-180MLA. That produced a -130dbm noise floor with the K-180WLA powered on.
Directivity is noticeable on the MW band and a little bit on the HF bands. On VHF it seems to behave as a folded dipole on 2m reception. 145.800MHz ISS SSTV I had to literally sit at the antenna and keep adjusting it for best reception. Reception was best with the ring facing the signal source rather than the broadside facing the signal source. Only on VHF. on shortwave it's reception is best with broadside facing signal source,
This antenna has had a bad history in its first runs of production. There are videos that display the FMBC issue. It has been improved upon over the last 2 or 3 years. Mine doesn't exhibit that behavior.
It has a built in battery. A flat top 18650 battery. Lasts me 2-3 days. Charges in 4 or 5 hours.
I think the community should give it another chance. It exceeded my expectations by a little and outperformed the MLA 30+ on upper HF. To me it was worth the $70usd investment.
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