You've heard the story before - "HOA" and Shortwave (receiving) options.

[Omega-TI]

Okay, I'm sure you've heard this story before, retired dude, HOA BS, needing inside options...

Well, I'm different! I'm not looking for a stealth antenna, I'm not looking for a project to complete, I don't want to read endless claims on websites about why X, Y or Z's antenna is better and that's why I should buy theirs. Fact is you guys here know your stuff, so why should I spend weeks researching stuff only to possibly be disappointed later, when you guys have the practical experience and probably already own one you are happy with and can wholeheartedly recommend.

Will be getting an RSP1 (SDR), so here is the skinny, third floor of a retirement condo, windows facing south. Antenna will be inside on the window sill or hanging in the window which is 7 feet, 8 inches wide. Antenna will be about 3 and a half feet from the PC. I don't care if it's a loop, vertical or whatever, I just want to hear that it works WELL and is under $150.00... but the cheaper the better... is this too much to ask?

 

[Omega-TI]

To give you an example of something I would pick...

<< Deshibo GA-450 >>



... but I don't know if it's really any good, or if you guys know of something better.

 

[Marcy57]

My friend had a Tecsun active loop in his apt. high rise
and said it was ok, in a apt. there is always going to be
qrm from neighbors and stuff think he got it on EBay
not sure have a look goes in the window...whatever you
chose enjoy good luck...73,s Marcy

 

[Omega-TI]

My friend had a Tecsun active loop in his apt. high rise
and said it was ok, in a apt. there is always going to be
qrm from neighbors and stuff think he got it on EBay
not sure have a look goes in the window...whatever you
chose enjoy good luck...73,s Marcy

Thanks. There are just too many to choose from and unless you spend your entire life online, you can never be sure you're making the right choice. For instance this << MLA-30 Loop Antenna >> has some decent reviews.

 

[Marcy57]

Thanks. There are just too many to choose from and unless you spend your entire life online, you can never be sure you're making the right choice. For instance this << MLA-30 Loop Antenna >> has some decent reviews.

Yes alot of choices..and opinions...I have heard of the MLA-30
think alot of people use it ?...I only mentioned the Tecsun cause
it,s like $45 of course there are a alot better ...73,s Marcy

 

[ka3jjz]

I would always recommend a W6LVP loop but that's a tad out of your price range. Something that might be a bit better electrically than the MLA30 plus is the loop below, the site for which also has a YouTube video on it. What is interesting is that there is a switchbox that allows you to choose your configuration, and the amp is built around the LZ1AQ design which ought to be better than the broad band video amp the Chinese MLA30 uses...

HFDY 50K-500MHz Wideband Active Small Magnetic Loop Antenna LZ1AQ Amplifier HF AM FM VHF UHF SDR Receiver Radio Tescun Malahitea

Only US$36.99, buy best hfdy 50k-500mhz wideband active small magnetic loop antenna lz1aq amplifier hf am fm vhf uhf sdr receiver radio tescun malahitea sale online store at wholesale price.

tinyurl.com

Mike

 

[Omega-TI]

I would always recommend a W6LVP loop but that's a tad out of your price range. Something that might be a bit better electrically than the MLA30 plus is the loop below, the site for which also has a YouTube video on it. What is interesting is that there is a switchbox that allows you to choose your configuration, and the amp is built around the LZ1AQ design which ought to be better than the broad band video amp the Chinese MLA30 uses...

HFDY 50K-500MHz Wideband Active Small Magnetic Loop Antenna LZ1AQ Amplifier HF AM FM VHF UHF SDR Receiver Radio Tescun Malahitea

Only US$36.99, buy best hfdy 50k-500mhz wideband active small magnetic loop antenna lz1aq amplifier hf am fm vhf uhf sdr receiver radio tescun malahitea sale online store at wholesale price.

tinyurl.com

Mike

Oh yeah, the W6LVP is outta my league. I clicked on the link, to check out the other thing, but got this instead...

 

[ka3jjz]

Bogus warning.

 

[mastr]

Link works fine for me. But I do not have all of the "you are not smart enough to use the internet" stuff enabled on my box.

 

[Omega-TI]

Link works fine for me. But I do not have all of the "you are not smart enough to use the internet" stuff enabled on my box.

I took someones word for it about 15 years ago that a site was okay, it took me three days to pick up the pieces afterwards with a total reinstall. I'd rather play it safe, and that's worked for me ever since, but that's just me.

 

[dlwtrunked]

Okay, I'm sure you've heard this story before, retired dude, HOA BS, needing inside options...

Well, I'm different! I'm not looking for a stealth antenna, I'm not looking for a project to complete, I don't want to read endless claims on websites about why X, Y or Z's antenna is better and that's why I should buy theirs. Fact is you guys here know your stuff, so why should I spend weeks researching stuff only to possibly be disappointed later, when you guys have the practical experience and probably already own one you are happy with and can wholeheartedly recommend.

Will be getting an RSP1 (SDR), so here is the skinny, third floor of a retirement condo, windows facing south. Antenna will be inside on the window sill or hanging in the window which is 7 feet, 8 inches wide. Antenna will be about 3 and a half feet from the PC. I don't care if it's a loop, vertical or whatever, I just want to hear that it works WELL and is under $150.00... but the cheaper the better... is this too much to ask?

I know you really do not want to hear it but you already made your mistake. In your case it should have been an AirSpy HF+ Discovery and the Youloop version sold by AirSpy. I had an RSP1 (and all and gave it away for the much better option and the loop will not do the same for an RSP1.

 

[Omega-TI]

I know you really do not want to hear it but you already made your mistake. In your case it should have been an AirSpy HF+ Discovery and the Youloop version sold by AirSpy. I had an RSP1 (and all and gave it away for the much better option and the loop will not do the same for an RSP1.

This video was one of a couple that geared me more towards the RSP1A over the AirSpy HF+Discovery...

 

[ka3jjz]

And if you have a good junkbox you can make your own YouLoop (which is a passive - no amp - loop). Our loops wiki has articles on this

Loops - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

Mike

 

[dlwtrunked]

And if you have a good junkbox you can make your own YouLoop (which is a passive - no amp - loop). Our loops wiki has articles on this

Loops - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

Mike

The key thing that makes the difference is the transformer. Even though the eBay version looks almost identical to the YouLoop sold by AirSpy US, I have noted a slightly better performance on the low end with the AirSpy version.

 

[dlwtrunked]

This video was one of a couple that geared me more towards the RSP1A over the AirSpy HF+Discovery...

He is not testing them right despite his claim other are not. My tests and those by others show that. His video shows he *really* does not know what he is doing with the AirSpy. He makes no mention of using decimation in SDRsharp to increase dynamic range making his appraisal at best inept. My tests and those of the World Radio television Handbook both say the AirSpy HF+ Discovery has better dynamic range contrary to his unsubstantiated claims. He needs to show what software he is using and the setting--I strongly suspect he does not know what he needs to do to get the best performance from the AirSpy HF+ Discovery. Calling AirSpy unfair is garbage. Note the end of the video. He clearly resents AirSpy by controlling the software they wrote. He is one of a group he continuous attack AirSpy as they do not like the software writen by the company for its own product controlling which hardware can use it. It is true the company acts somewhat arrogant but their product is great.
(20123 WRTH gives the following:
Airspy HF+ Discovery SEL ***** DR ***** OV *****
SDR Play RSP1A SEL **** DR **** OV ****
and I would agree.)
Note how he does not even show an actual test in the video.

See also the post by rlwsdr in

Airspy Dynamic Range Improved in the Latest SDRSharp

In a previous post we posted about how SDR# had been updated to vastly improve on the CPU usage. The author has been hard at work once again, and has now released a new update which significantly improves the dynamic range with the Airspy SDR. The new update gives a boost of up to 12dB in...

www.rtl-sdr.com

 

[Omega-TI]

He is not testing them right despite his claim other are not. My tests and those by others show that. His video shows he *really* does not know what he is doing with the AirSpy. He makes no mention of using decimation in SDRsharp to increase dynamic range making his appraisal at best inept. My tests and those of the World Radio television Handbook both say the AirSpy HF+ Discovery has better dynamic range contrary to his unsubstantiated claims. He needs to show what software he is using and the setting--I strongly suspect he does not know what he needs to do to get the best performance from the AirSpy HF+ Discovery. Calling AirSpy unfair is garbage. Note the end of the video. He clearly resents AirSpy by controlling the software they wrote. He is one of a group he continuous attack AirSpy as they do not like the software writen by the company for its own product controlling which hardware can use it. It is true the company acts somewhat arrogant but their product is great.
(20123 WRTH gives the following:
Airspy HF+ Discovery SEL ***** DR ***** OV *****
SDR Play RSP1A SEL **** DR **** OV ****
and I would agree.)
Note how he does not even show an actual test in the video.

See also the post by rlwsdr in

Airspy Dynamic Range Improved in the Latest SDRSharp

In a previous post we posted about how SDR# had been updated to vastly improve on the CPU usage. The author has been hard at work once again, and has now released a new update which significantly improves the dynamic range with the Airspy SDR. The new update gives a boost of up to 12dB in...

www.rtl-sdr.com

Well, after reading your post, I did some further checking, like << THIS SITE >> comparing the two. Maybe I'm just not sophisticated, have bad ears or whatever. I could tell very little difference, and my antenna is simply not going to be spectacular anyway. I do fail to understand the comment about how the loop "would not do the same" for the RSP1. Also isn't there more to a radio than one aspect?

Maybe a couple of others will drop in with their comments, they would be welcome because I've not ordered yet.

 

[Omega-TI]

@dlwtrunked One of my wants was a wide bandwidth, and the RSP1's is 10 MHz wide which will make it easier to find stations. How wide is it on the the AirSpy HF+Discovery? That case is pretty small too, did they eliminate the overheating problem on this model? I seem to recall some messages a while back about some AirSpy products overheating. I'm still keeping an open mind, but I will tell you, that software looks pretty mature and the ease of installation is inviting.

 

[N9JCQ]

I live in a condo HOA and I am using my gutters. Although I bought an Alpha Antenna HOABuster, you can roll your own version. I use mine as my ht antenna for ham radio.

 

[dlwtrunked]

Well, after reading your post, I did some further checking, like << THIS SITE >> comparing the two. Maybe I'm just not sophisticated, have bad ears or whatever. I could tell very little difference, and my antenna is simply not going to be spectacular anyway. I do fail to understand the comment about how the loop "would not do the same" for the RSP1. Also isn't there more to a radio than one aspect?

Maybe a couple of others will drop in with their comments, they would be welcome because I've not ordered yet.

In this site, again the person does not use SDRsharp to enable decimation. Not doing that does not allow the HF+ Discovery to do its job. It makes a difference. I can see stuff with that that is not visible without it. Makes a real difference. If a review does not show the HF+ Discovery using decimation then it is not really a review of the HF+. (Beware of anyone comparing with the same software--the HF+ Dsiovery must be run with SDRsharp or else you crippled it from doing its best. Beware of anyone also who says they set the same gain...there is no such thing as doing that--you can set the same setting visible in the software but that does not mean different receivers do the same thing with that setting or even can.) Regarding the YouLoop is more sensitive which is needed for the loop (which is passive without an amplifier). Some sites confuse testing controlling software with the testing the receiver--in this case, testing both wiht the same software is really testing the software not the receiver. The RSP1A is sensitive enough for a wire antenna but a passive loop really needs more gain. I use that loop with the HF+ Discovery clear down to VLF and was actually shocked how well it worked (and I have experimented with receiving VLF since around 1970). Some other things to see:

https://www.reddit.com/r/RTLSDR/comments/wwioo5

particularly the post by kd4das. Note that if you want VHF/UHF in one receiver then the RSP1A is the bettter choice but you would do better with two AirSpys (HF+ Discovery for HFand R2 for VHF/UHF--I keep these at two station in my house and one, with a laptop, in my car).

 

[radar_hunter]

To give you an example of something I would pick...

<< Deshibo GA-450 >>

View attachment 154370

... but I don't know if it's really any good, or if you guys know of something better.

I have very poor experience on the GA-800 antenna from the same company which is more expensive, doesn't have a tuning knob and is advertised to have wider frequency range.

The biggest problem is the power unit which contains a switch-mode converter and spews plenty of RF interference over the bands.

The frequency range seems exaggerated too - on mid-VHF the amplifier does nothing, except that turning it on adds noise from the power unit. Lower LF and VLF are unusable due to the noise.

It does receive signals, and it's possible to get rid of the RF interference with a different power injector and a non-switching power source. I've tried this but haven't tested it very thoroughly yet (will do at some point). But I think it doesn't make sense to pay 120...150 dollars to get a mediocre antenna that requires your own modifications to be useful.

When the loop is standing on the power unit and you turn it, the BNC connector often loses contact briefly. So build quality is also not quite 100% of what I expected for such price.


I don't know if this applies to the GA-450 or not, but I would be hesitant to buy that antenna either, unless I could see some thorough reviews first.


As for other loop antennas:

I also have the Youloop and I would say it's better and more worth its price, but not trouble-free. As the manufacturer warns, it requires a high sensitivity receiver, or perhaps a high-quality preamplifier, otherwise it doesn't receive much. Its build quality is also not satisfactory; I haven't even used it much and it already has very annoying contact problems either in the two connection boxes or in the SMA connectors of the antenna pieces (semi-rigid coaxial). The good thing is that it can be folded and transported easily and it doesn't need any extra power.

The MLA-30 seems to be popular and cheap, I don't have one but I might consider it if I needed a cheap general-purpose HF loop. Some people have criticized the performance of the amplifier.