SDR Antenna?

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Token

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I guess I will have to ask each manufacturer that manufacturers antennas for software defined radios if they sell what I need.

Sheldon.

No one makes SDR specific antennas, there is no such animal. Anyone who markets an antenna specifically for an SDR is betting on people not knowing anything about antennas. They are just leveraging the term "SDR" as a buzz word for marketing.

The type of receiver does not matter as far as antennas are concerned. An antenna designed for 0.1 to 30 MHz will cover that range be it connected to an SDR, a traditional radio, a regenerative receiver, or a crystal set. The only consideration is the impedance of the antenna, and that is not SDR specific.

You will not find one antenna that covers 0.1 to 2000 MHz, at least not one that works worth a darn. To cover this range I would recommend at least two antennas, one for HF (30 MHz and below) and one for VHF and up (30 MHz and above).

Indoor antennas are always a compromise....period. An indoor antenna cannot compete with a similar antenna mounted outside. Even not considering the part about being inside a building, and the loss of signal issues that causes, inside the house there are all kinds of noise sources you have to deal with, the further you can mount the antenna from these noise sources the better. Even mounted out on a balcony is better than inside, but still not great. However, if you have to have indoor antennas, and you understand it will be a compromise, there are a few things you can do.

A good starting point for HF is an active loop like the Wellbrook 1530. Loops are less noisy than many other designs, and can be physically turned to minimize local noise sources. If you want HF and have to have an indoor antenna such a loop is high on my list.

For VHF/UHF there is no good option, but I would say one of the better ones would be a discone antenna, like the Diamond D130J.

Neither of these antennas are small, but that is just the way it is.

T!
 
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