thats probably were a lot of us started with our love of communications, now the difference is we are older, and still dumb thats why 50 years later even if we built 100s of Antennas over the years we still click on videos, sometimes people have different prospective, hearing a topic again may trigger us to think of something else too :)
I have about 6 shortwave radios ranging from $15 up towards $500. The mla loop is the best thing that ever happened to me. In a pinch I will go with the Simple wire, But I prefer the antenna that you suggested and it works very well for me in the city Of South Portland Maine.
What is it about us SWLers...We ALWAYS have to have several radios.I had a Drake SW8 which cost around 800.00 back in 2000.It picked up around the world with ease,esp SSB.Plus,of course I had a few other small portable shortwavers.
I get pretty excited when you post a new video. You speak well and keep it simple. I've learned alot about radio from your videos. Got me back into CB and feet hit the ground running. Everytime I hear the far point farms song in the beginning i have to go listen to the full version. Puts me In great mood. Big Z waving from Missouri.
@@FarpointFarms I'm always listening for Farpoint Farms. One day I hope to. Raising the maco v5000 another 12 feet. Just waiting on 75ft of lmr400 to replace 50ft coax to make up for the additional height.
Just some pointers for better reception on a long wire antenna. 1. Make sure you use coax if possible to connect the antenna and GROUND the shield part of the coax to a ground rod and connect the center coax to the long wire wire. It will be a big big improvement. 2 . Length of the wire makes a big difference longer is better , but it should not be a half wave of any band you want to listen to. Google for best lengths for long wire. 3. A cheep 9 to 1 unun used with the long wire makes it a multiple band powerhouse. Love your videos, good job AA4CP Chuck Fort Pierce FL
@@gabrielv.4358 . Where V is a constant (approx. speed of light), f = frequency, λ (lamda) = wavelength. Wavelength (in metres) = 300 / frequency (in MHz).
An active loop antenna is the way to go for anyone living in a built up area. Don't even try a long wire, it will pick up so much crap that you'll lose interest in short wave immediately. I've heard that advise so many times given to beginners: "Just throw a wire out the window, anything will work". No it won't. It's just gonna pick up the strongest stations such as China Radio International and a lot of static from your own house and from your neighbors' cheap electronic devices.
The YouLoop is another good option, Eric. Good for noisy environments, doesn’t need a power supply, inexpensive and portable. Good performance on AM/MW as well 👍🏼
Another great post Eric!!....I bought the MLA-30 after your initial review, and it's quite frankly amazing at bringing in stations and cutting out the interference, so it was a good shout chap!
I have 2 MLAs about 25 feet high and about 40 feet apart on two separate radios… really cool antennas that allow excellent reception down in here in Alabama. ✝️🇺🇸🤙🏻🅰️
If you have old land-line telephone jacks in your house, make an adapter to plug the external radio antenna port into the phone jack. It uses the phone lines up on the poles as a long wire/beverage antenna.
I'm doing the same with an old cable coax that's disconnected it goes up the wall on the outside of the house and it goes over the roof to the other side of the house and I used a splitter that I had laying around and then 2 transformers that converts one end to the other cause one of them has the right plug for the antenna plug for the radio and it works pretty darn good I do plan on maybe possibly running the wire to a tree this summer but for right now it works good
I made my own loop antenna from car brake pipe. You can purchase the amplifier pcb board from china very low cost. However minec is for rx and tx. Cheers from old George in the UK
I can't put up a big outdoor antenna where I live, but I bought a magnetic loop antenna with a preamp similar to the one you show here and it was a game changer for sure. Only catch is you need a radio with the proper external antenna jack to hook it up. A couple of my smaller SW radios only have the internal telescopic antenna but the Eton Elite 750 has a few different connectors. The mag loop also works great for AM radio stations with the 750.
if you have room and you are a Ham, we all have more than one, for SW listening I also like the MLA-30+ Loop, I have a dipole for 10, 11, & 12 meter it has pretty good SWR across those bands, and a long wire with taps upwards of 130 foot from 1 to 30mhz and one for 6 meter, not wanting to spend thousands on antennas over the years at Ham fests, yard sales and FB marketplace I have put together a good Antenna Farm LOL and I was able to put the big money into radios that could pull QRP stations out of the QRM/QRN :)
I don't know the answer, but you can have a little fun with this. I bought my wife a birthday present and put it in the box that one of my radios came in. Then I wrapped it up. Before she unwrapped it, I was playing up how we are going to have so much fun. Then she unwrapped it and I kept putting it on really thick. I'm gonna mount it here and put the antenna there. Then she opened the box, and the relief on her face was priceless! Haha!
MLA 30+ wow, it’s cheep, it works very well, it’s small. I’m in Portugal and reception is poor, but now that is no longer a problem. I think it will make you happy!
I was hoping you'd do one of these! Thanks Erik! I just picked up one of the ATS-20 radios you reviewed a few months ago. It easily picked up local AM/FM traffic as well as some CB radio. I live very close to the Turnpike in Ohio so I do get a decent amount of local traffic plus the Super Bowls!
I am going to get one. Thanks for the info. I got a corbra 142gtl from you with 2 switches on it. Tuned it up. It is one of the best corbra radios I have ever had thanks. Ironman in Alabama 73s
Been using long wire for years built my own for shortwave and CB I even use a long wire up in a 60 foot tree made for 11 meter CB band works great tie a rope to the end and tie something heavy to the end of the rope so you can toss it over the tree then pull it up into the tree and tie it off and boom you have a CB antenna same with the SW long wire I got it between two trees about 30 feet up so far I have never had a problem on the CB everyone says they hear me just fine I had an Antron 99 for years and it finally gave out after over 20 years of use when I bought it it was only $40 then now they want over $100 for it now days so I built my own just Google how to build one it is will show you how. I even built my own TV antennas and they work better then anything I ever bought get 60 channels for free no cable.
My shortwave will be here tomorrow, I have plans to do a long wire antenna I have some different military handbooks that has different antenna configurations that could be used
Just got my 30+ yesterday. One minor thing--I wish the wire was not hard-wired to the pre-amp. I wanted to mount it on the fence and run it to my second floor office and take it down after each session. Not a disaster, I just have to lower a string down from the window and haul up the wire. Building it tonight and looking forward to grabbing stations!
@@FarpointFarms Just built it and played around for an hour....even at midday, which is not a great time for RX, I am blown away because I'm getting dozens of transmissions. Fantastic antenna. Can't wait for this evening.
No question, the MLA-30+ is a fantastic antenna for the price. I own a $400 Chameleon RXL loop and I love it. But I cannot say its better than my MLA. Every shortwave hobbyist should own an MLA. I own two.
Remember the boomstick? Don’t know if that’s the name for it but I used to have one years ago in Puerto Rico with an old Uniden CB I was using as a base, a great antenna. I had it setup on an “L” configuration. Picking up scrap metal, one day I found two solid SS “rebars” and I cut them at 106 (if I remember right), and I used an old 1/2” plastic cutting board. It was free, except for the cable, almost free, but an amazing intro to the CB world. Skip time was incredible!
I managed to get a RTL-SDR kit for $40 and a $37 chromebook loaded with linux and CubicSDR. I also hope to add Hamit upconverter for 300 Hz - 65 MHz and this loop. Hoping it gets me into all the fields of radio enough to invest in a proper mobile transmit setup. I found a really high spot in my city next to a huge field that has a spot completely away from the public. I'm hoping the crappy dual 40 inch antenna setup my RTL-SDR kit came with is enough if I attach it to a tree. Just have a feeling it's going to be all noise without a loop and If I want to transmit ill have to drive way far out eitherway.
I love loop antennas. If you think that amplified loop is great, wait till you try a loop cut to the frequency range you want and with a tuning capacitor. Huge rejection of signals you don't want, and massive jump in reception when you hit just the right spot on the capacitor and all with no amplifier.
Made an inverted v from a junked multrap dipole so im waiting for a 1 to 1 balun has 3 radielson each side different lengths works well and much better on an antenna tuner
One of the advantages with a loop is a rotator can be used to block out interfering signals. I like the mla-30 for the price, but the coax cable doesn't have sufficient shielding.
I was working on a 1930s Philco 38-4 radio needed a suggestion for a good SW antenna. The radios MW & SW antenna are missing. The radio itself needs a lot of work. Thank you for the recommendation.
@@FarpointFarms just subbed to your channel appreciate your content. Also noticed you're from NC. I grew up near Wilmington, NC. Although after 20 years military find myself in OK.
As I was watching I got a big grin when you mentioned the MLA loop antenna. I'm a total newbie to this and have been the the research and buying developing stage and have already made one that turned out pretty good. My question is how high to these need to be? I live up on a ridge with other higher ridges around me, the cell signal is weak here too. I've seen most 3ft off the ground then I came across a guy who had it on his roof.
It would be great if you could show us, step by step, how to set up a fully working transceiver shortwave station. How to set up the transmit/receive antenna, how to orient. Then after that, show us how to establish communications with all those far off lands we all hear about. No use of Internet, telephone, or satellite, just 100% pure shortwave skip. I've looked throughout RU-vid and the internet and it's difficult to find anyone willing to show us novices how to set up a shortwave station step by step. Yes, I know we're supposed to have a license before we can press the transmit button but in a grid down situation I think the FCC may have more pressing things to attend to, if they still exist. Plus the more preppers with working shortwave transceivers the more people we can communicate with after grid down, the more info we can get, possibly access to resources, etc. Once I get good with my shortwave transceiver, I might record a video showing people how to set up a shortwave transceiver station step by step.
I know the video is over a year old, but I just got into shortwave radio. I have a metal roof, would installing the Ma30 help or cause an issue. Ps I am happy I found this station, Hello from Canada.
Hi like yourself I want another news source I am new to SWL listening just got started can you give me a list of frequencies to try thank you watching in Memphis Tn
It's probably risky but I've been touching my built in antenna to the center copper wire of my regular incoming CATV hookup. Talk about a shielded long wire. It works somewhat. I need to invest in a real long wire to go across the roof of this building. I am thinking making a speaker wire dipole and see what happens.
@@FarpointFarms You know Eric, I bought a 23 foot reel but the copper center of my CATV is better. I live inside of an early 20th century brick building. The walls are 18 inches thick and it is all brick construction. That is why I figure I have to get outside these walls. I have my reel in windows and that helps but I gotta get outside. Your channel has been very informative. I should have bought a Tecsun instead of the Eton Elite Executive most likely but I was late to find your channel. I'll come back and let you know how my experiment with the speaker wire works. I figure to take it to the roof and split it. One wire going north and south and the other wire going east and west and of course have them tied together at the antenna with an alligator clip. $12 in speaker wire will get it done. 100 foot. 😊
Thanks, Eric! I just got my first SW radio yesterday, a Tecsun R9012, a small analog receiver, and ordered a Sangean external 'reel' wire antenna to go with it. It is a great little radio and the AM reception is fantastic. This morning I already ordered an upgrade, Tecsun PL-660. Very excited to get into SWLing. Thanks for the very helpful videos!
@@FarpointFarms I think we are about to see a WAVE of people getting into this, TY for sharing your knowledge . I found you way back when modifying me garden tractor :) Glad I subbed back then.
Eric my MLA -30 should should arrive on June 14th I will let you know after I get it and get it set up if it made a big difference thank you Eric like I said earlier God bless you and your family stay safe my friend old George
These are both nice radios. The PL-660 has no muting while tuning and tunes through the band very fast allowing you to quickly locate active frequencies. The PL-330 is an incredible AM DXer connected to external antennas. You simply press and hold the 3 button and it switches from the internal ferrite to the whip antenna and external antenna port. If you get away from electronics it`s a super AM radio connected directly to a loop plus it`s interesting using the whip for AM too. Fun to experiment with. I need to get some COAX and build a longwire outside for my radios. The AC in my new (2005) 5th wheel causes bad interference plus I have WIFI in here. I bought a 4ft ground rod and have a few rolls of wire. I also use the Eton Elite Executive. These three SSB radios make a great team. The ETON is an excellent aircraft receiver and also very sensitive on AM. You can scan the aircraft band for active signals. The only thing I dislike about the PL-330 is...WHY didn`t they put a DX/LOCAL switch so we can have some antenna gain control? I need to figure out how to make one somehow.
I just subscribed as your videos are very informative. I just purchased an Eton Elite 750 and have an MLA-30 plus antenna coming this week from eBay. I have a shortwave antenna question that I can’t seem to find the answer. I’m putting my antenna on the East-South corner of my home about 25’ high and won’t have the ability to hand turn it for best signal. Is there a good direction to face the antenna looking at it head on as a circle? Thanks Steve North GA mountains.
Farpoint Farms shortwave antenna this cool my hobbys are painting pictures and lisining to shortwave and ssb iam thinking about getting my ham license I have 4 shortwave receivers iam thinking about getting sangean ATS 90 9x 2 or the Tecsun Pl 660 mw lw fm air SW ssb 6 bands receiver
I purchased a shortwave radio (Tecsun PL- 880) because I watched some of your videos) Not one signal I picked up was decipherable. Only static noise with a human voice that is useless as far as understanding (actually. one static station came in and I did this at 10:00 PM). How is this going to help anyone if the internet goes down? does one have to hook up an outside antenna to make shortwave at all useful?
That is NOT normal. I'd look for something at your home interfering with your reception. You can start by throwing the main fuse at your home. With all power off, did it help? If so, power everything back up and then throw one fuse at a time to narrow down what is causing the interference.
@@FarpointFarms I live in a pretty urban area and was wondering if a different antenna would be a worthwhile improvement or if it would moreso be an apples to apples comparison with no clear winner. I did get an am filter from the RTL SDR guys recently, and it definitely seemed like it perceivably improved things, but there are still stations not too geographically far from me that I'm not getting super clear, so I'm wondering what the reason might be. Perhaps I need to experiment with the location of the passive loop in my apartment. Oddly enough, it seemed like it was working better indoors than outdoors, but perhaps the bad weather was part of that.
Just ordered the Eton Elite 750 and would like to use a MLA 30+? I am in a HOA that will not allow outside antennas. So inside the house will have all that electronic interferences that you mentioned. Would it be beneficial to install this in my attic , unexposed to the outside elements and such ? Still in the house technically however would also give me more height than the antenna built into the radio and actually in a room of the house. I know this is probably the worse choice but, just curious as a newbie what others in my situation might suggest. Other than move .
Hey Eric. My receiver doesn’t have a antenna jack. I connect my long wire with a alligator clip to the telescoping antenna. Any way to hook the MlA-30 loop to my antenna? Thanks Dave
Does height matter with a long wire ? Or can I run it on the side of house about 5 ft off the ground about 50 long ? I'm using a panisonic rf2800 and have # 12 wire
I just bought a Tecsun Pl 990 , I wanted a solid radio for emergency Coms really. Received it today tried it out cannot get anything but AM / Fm. I have I tried the reel in antenna they give, but not much help. I live in a 5tth wheel and I could run a long wire antenna as long as I need on the top of my 35 ft trailer. But how do you do it correctly is my question, can it be in any contact with the metal roof at all ? Or just stretch it out as far as possible. Any help would be awesome, otherwise I just bought a higher end radio .
I'm in a fifth wheel also, basically a tin can with a bunch of single pane windows, and radio reception from inside sucks. You'll get better reception right next to a window, but the best option is the antenna outside the RV. Mount it on the ladder if you have one.
I finally got a radio that actually picks up decent Shortwave (Tecsun PL-380). But I'd love pick up even more. So I want to set up an antenna. I'd like it to be permanent and semi-stealthy. But I'm worried about lightning strikes. Any tips? (besides not leaving my radio hooked up to the outside antenna)
I am trying to add my MLA-30 Loop Antenna to the ATS25 and having difficulty finding the correct end for the ATS. Any suggestions on which one to get so I can attach the MLA-30 to the ATS25? Thanks!
You can build a "Loop" antenna, if you have some skill, and there are websites, books, and videos, to help. but the MLA-30 is very popular and thus, inexpensive. If you choose a long wire antenna, use an insulator, like a ring of 1-inch PVC pipe for an insulator on the far end. Drill two holes for the wire and the end rope.
Hi! I have an Eton Elite Field with a shortwave antenna input with a coaxiel plug. Wondering if just running a cable line from it might make any difference. Thanks for reading.
I am quite new to getting an all band radio but I am in a flat high up and I'm not aloud a long wire would the ml in the video be able to be secured to my balcony securely please I just want to hear something and it's long wire is out of the question for this chap help thank you Ian 👍
