PL-880 LongWave (and some strange idea's)

[pjxii]

You might want to read this previous thread for some ideas later...

https://forums.radioreference.com/hf-mw-lw-equipment/327892-portable-longwave-receiver.html

 

[WA8ZTZ]

Did some quick research on the PL-880 and it appears to have no provision for an external LW/MW antenna.
However, you can create an inductively coupled external antenna. Get a ferrite rod 43 or 61 material at least 3-4" long and close wind 150-200 turns of enamel magnet wire (about 26 to 30 AWG). Connect one end of the coil to earth ground and the other end to an external wire antenna. Bring the coil close to the radio internal ferrite rod (no need to remove the cover on the radio), experiment with the positioning until you find the sweet spot where you will notice a large increase in signal strength.
Even though you are using inductive coupling you still must observe lightning safety precautions.
This may somewhat limit the portability that you desire but you really need a good antenna for any kind of LW reception beyond perhaps a few local beacons.

 

[Boombox]

Stick with your DX-398 or 880 and get or build yourself a smallish LW external loop.

Even a small external loop will do the trick. On its own, my DX-398 pulls in LW beacons from 500-800 miles away. They are capable radios in that part of the spectrum. Not much, if any, MW interference in my location. Some RFI here and there, but that's expected anymore.

Good luck.

 

[ka3jjz]

Did some quick research on the PL-880 and it appears to have no provision for an external LW/MW antenna.
However, you can create an inductively coupled external antenna. Get a ferrite rod 43 or 61 material at least 3-4" long and close wind 150-200 turns of enamel magnet wire (about 26 to 30 AWG). Connect one end of the coil to earth ground and the other end to an external wire antenna. Bring the coil close to the radio internal ferrite rod (no need to remove the cover on the radio), experiment with the positioning until you find the sweet spot where you will notice a large increase in signal strength.
Even though you are using inductive coupling you still must observe lightning safety precautions.
This may somewhat limit the portability that you desire but you really need a good antenna for any kind of LW reception beyond perhaps a few local beacons.

There was a mod discussed in some detail to enable the jack to work for MW/LW antennas discussed in the PL880 Yahoo group some time ago. Mike

 

[WA8ZTZ]

There was a mod discussed in some detail to enable the jack to work for MW/LW antennas discussed in the PL880 Yahoo group some time ago. Mike

IIRC, there was a procedure that involved pushing various buttons on the keypad to make the radio use the SW external antenna on LW/MW if that is what you reference.
However, again IIRC, it seems that this may have been some sort of bug that has since been corrected in newer radios.

Sometimes a mod can be made using an external antenna connected to the ring on a stereo plug and then using a stereo jack on the radio with its ring terminal connected to the internal ferrite.

 

[WA8ZTZ]

Stick with your DX-398 or 880 and get or build yourself a smallish LW external loop.

Even a small external loop will do the trick. On its own, my DX-398 pulls in LW beacons from 500-800 miles away. They are capable radios in that part of the spectrum. Not much, if any, MW interference in my location. Some RFI here and there, but that's expected anymore.

Good luck.

As Boombox mentions, the use of an external loop is another approach that will produce good results.

An external loop inductively coupled to the radio will greatly enhance reception.

 

[WA8ZTZ]

Here is an example of what an external antenna can do to a portable with mediocre LW capability on its own.
At my QTH using an ultralight portable with no antenna other than its internal ferrite, 2 or 3 local beacons can be faintly heard.
However, during a listening event this past Summer, using an external antenna (as described in my post #22 in this thread) with this receiver resulted in reception of over 20 beacons. This was mostly during daytime under less than ideal Summertime conditions.
The point is, experiment with some sort of external antenna if you want best results.

 

[ka3jjz]

No this was not a button push procedure. I think it had something to do with rewiring the antenna jack, but to be honest I didn't follow it fully since I don't have a 880 (yet)

Mike

 

[Haley]

I want to thank everyone who has replied -------it has been a tremendous help! All the ideas as far as antennas (or not) has given my a lot to look into. I am still learning all I can about this part of the hobby. I will try and keep this post updated once I get going in LW. Mike

 

[WA8ZTZ]

I will try and keep this post updated once I get going in LW. Mike

Let us know how things work out for you.