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This is the Antenna Section.
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Welcome to the Antennas Wiki. Here we've gathered numerous links on this popular topic and placed them in 3 distinct categories;
  
Here you'll find Antenna Reviews, Pictures, and Frequently Asked Questions.
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* [[Loops]] - Long time favorite of MW DXers, many now cover HF as well. Their low noise characteristics, and in some cases portability, make them an ideal temporary antenna or one for the apartment or condo 
  
If you submit something, make sure you link to it on the appropriate page.
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* [[HF Antennas]] - Longwires, dipoles, end-feds, commercial or homebrew - you're likely to find something in here to spark your interest
  
==Loops==
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* [[Scanner Antennas]] - Mobiles, rubber ducks, base stations - all are covered in here.
===MW only===
 
* [http://www.radiointel.com/anthooploop.htm Altazimuth 'Hoop Loop' project]
 
* [http://www.amradioantennas.com/ AM Radio Antennas]
 
* [http://www.mindspring.com/~loop_antenna/ AM Loop Antennas]  
 
* [http://www.radiointel.com/review-ccrane_twincoil.htm C Crane Twin Coil Ferrite Antenna Review]
 
* [http://www.radiointel.com/review-edek.htm Edek loop review]
 
* [http://www.hard-core-dx.com/nordicdx/antenna/loop/hulaloop.html Hula Loop MW DX Antenna]
 
* [http://www.kiwa.com/kiwaloop.html  Kiwa MW loop]   
 
* [http://www.mindspring.com/~loop_antenna/ Loop Antennas]   
 
* [http://www.frontiernet.net/%7Ejadale/Loop.htm  Loop Antennas (courtesy Minnesota DX Club)]
 
* [http://www.dxtools.com/ Radio Plus+ (Home of the Quantum Loop)]
 
* [http://www.grove-ent.com/ANT21.html Select-A-Tenna (via Grove website)]
 
* [http://www.grove-ent.com/ANT40.html Super Select-A-Tenna (via Grove website)]
 
* [http://www.ccrane.com/antennas/am-antennas/terk-am-advantage.aspx  Terk Advantage (via C Crane co.)]
 
* [http://www.ccrane.com/antennas/am-antennas/twin-coil-ferrite-am-antenna.aspx Twin Coil Ferrite AM antenna (via C.Crane co)]
 
  
===MW/SW coverage===
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* [[Feedline]] - Coaxial Cable, Twin-Lead
* [http://www.grove-ent.com/ANT13.html AOR LA350 (via Grove website)]
 
* [http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/sw_ant/0380.html AOR LA380 (via Universal website)]
 
* [http://www.kiwa.com/pktloop.html Kiwa Pocket Loop]
 
* [http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/sw_ant/0445.html Palomar LA1 (via Universal website)]
 
* [http://www.radiointel.com/review-wellbrook.htm  Wellbrook ALA330 review]
 
  
===SW only===
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== User Antenna Projects ==
* [http://www.greertech.com/hfloop/mymagloop.html Coax Loop Antennas]
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* [[Tilt-Over Mast]] - Details and pictures of a 35 foot Tilt-Over mast for all to read and hopefully for people to build for their scanner antennas!.
* [http://www.greertech.com/gpmag/gpmagloop.html 160-40 meter constant voltage loop]  
 
* [http://www.grove-ent.com/wl500.html AOR WL500 'Window' loop antenna (via Grove website)]  
 
* [http://www.io.com/%7En5fc/loop_ant.html N5ESE Shielded Loop Receiving Antenna]
 
* [http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/sw_ant/3676.html Sony AN-LP1 (via Universal website)]
 
* [http://www.radiointel.com/review-degende31.htm RadioIntel Review: Degen DE31 vs. Sony AN-LP1]
 
  
==HF Antenna Sites (Commercial/Homebrew)==
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*[[Antenna mounted Amplifier Project]]- Details and pictures of how to add a antenna mounted amplifier.
* [http://ac6v.com/swl.htm#ANT AC6V antenna links]
 
* [http://www.alphadeltacom.com/ Alpha Delta Communications]
 
* [http://www.antennasmore.com/ Antennas and More]
 
* [http://www.antennasupermarket.com/ Antenna Supermarket]
 
* [http://www.monitoringtimes.com/html/ant-2.html Antenna Terms and Build a Dipole Antenna - from the MT Website]
 
* [http://www.antennex.com/ Antennex Magazine] - Very technical discussions,construction projects and reviews are presented here
 
* [http://www.antentop.bel.ru/ Antentop] - Partially in Russian
 
* [http://www.bwantennas.com/ama/amaindex.htm Barker and Williamson Amateur Products]
 
* [http://anarc.org/naswa/badx/antennas/ Boston Area DXers Antennas page] - Construction plans for a low noise antenna, grounding and other topics
 
* [http://www.hamuniverse.com/shortwaveantenna.html Build a Multiband SW antenna (from the Hamuniverse site)]
 
* [http://www.monitoringtimes.com/html/ant-1.html Definition, History and Building a Random Length antenna - from the MT website]
 
* [http://www.dressler.com/products/antenna Dressler Active Antennas]
 
* [http://www.dxing.info/equipment/ DXing.Info Equipment Page]
 
* [http://www.dxzone.com/catalog/Antennas/ DX Zone Antennas Catalog]
 
* [http://www.eham.net/reviews/products/13 EHam reviews of antennas (Wire,Verticals)]
 
* [http://www.grove-ent.com/shortwaveantennas.html Grove SW/MW Antennas]
 
* [http://www.hard-core-dx.com/nordicdx/antenna/ Hard Core DX Antennas Page] - Technical Discussions, Plans, Hidden Antennas and more
 
* [http://www.iacantennas.com/  International Antenna Corporation]
 
* [http://members.fortunecity.com/xe1bef/loop.htm Loop Antennas - Construction and Theory]
 
* [http://www.miracleantenna.com/ Miracle Antenna]
 
* [http://www.northcountryradio.com/Kitpages/actant.htm North Country Radio Active Antenna]
 
* [http://www.parelectronics.com/swl_end.htm PAR EF-SWL antenna]
 
* Radio Database International sells a White Paper on [https://www.comcat.com/~mwk/pages/orderform.htm#Anchor-RADIO-3800 Antennas]
 
* [http://www.radioworks.com/PDFantenna.html RadioWorks catalog pages (PDF)]
 
* [http://www.rys.nl/rfsystems2.html RF Systems]
 
* [http://ac3l.com/antenna.htm The Antenna Elmer]
 
* [http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/sw_ant.html Universal Radio SW/MW Antennas]
 
* [http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/hamwire.html Universal Radio Amateur Antennas]
 
* [http://www.cebik.com/radio.html W4RNL Antenna Notes]
 
* [http://www.wellbrook.uk.com/index.html Wellbrook Communications]
 
===Magnetic Longwire Baluns (MLBs)===
 
* [http://www.geocities.com/qrp_baluns/LM.html Erickson Engineering]
 
* [http://www.iceradioproducts.com/reconly.html#Beverage%20Matching  Industrial Communications Engineers - ICE Model 180 LMB]
 
* [http://anarc.org/naswa/badx/antennas/ice_matching_xfrmr.html Review of the ICD 180 LMB (courtesy BADX website)]
 
* [http://www.palomar-engineers.com/MLB-1/mlb-1.html Palomar MLB-1]
 
* [http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/antsup/1484.html RF Systems Magnetic Longwire Balun (from the Universal website)]
 
* [http://www.wellbrook.uk.com/UMB.html Wellbrook Universal Magnetic Balun]
 
* [http://www.winradio.com/home/lwa.htm Winradio WR-LWA-0130 Long Wire Antenna Adapter]
 
* [http://www.wellbrook.uk.com/longwire.html Wellbrook - How to install a Long Wire Balun]
 
* The following articles are courtesy of Hard Core DX:
 
* [http://www.hard-core-dx.com/nordicdx/antenna/feed/magbal2.html Magnetic Longwire Balun - Not Really a Balun]
 
* [http://www.hard-core-dx.com/nordicdx/antenna/feed/magbal1.html Magnetic Longwire Balun - A Con or Not?]
 
  
==Scanner Antennas and Topics==
 
  
Choosing the right antenna is important. But it might be even '''more''' important to use the right type of coax to connect your chosen antenna to your scanner.
 
  
I'd been hearing this advice for years, but never really understood the impact of using the correct coaxial cable until I took the time to ''actually try'' different cables with one of my antennas designed for 800Mhz.  I had been trying to monitor a particular local (digital) public safety frequency in the 800Mhz range for years without luck, and I had even gone to the length of getting a 7-element Yagi just for this frequency. When even the high-gain antenna didn't work, I just assumed that I was just in a bad location.  Then I got up in my attic with that 800Mhz Yagi and a short length of good cable.  Presto!  90% successful packet decoding.  The same antenna connected to just 25 feet of what was advertised as "micro loss" RG58 good through 900Mhz... 5% successful packet decoding.  Same antenna connected to 50 feet of LMR600 (see [http://www.timesmicrowave.com/ Time Microwave, manufacturer of LMR series cable]), 90% successful packet decoding!
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[[Category:Antennas]]
 
 
The moral of the story is: Even the best antenna is no good without the right coax.
 
 
 
See similar comments on the [[VHF/UHF Military Monitoring]] page. 
 
 
 
Now, about those scanner antennas.  Here are some references:
 
 
 
* [http://www.antenex.com Antenex Antennas]
 
* [http://www.b-squareengineering.com/ B Squared Engineering]
 
* [http://www.eham.net/reviews/products/37 EHam review of V/UHF Omni antennas (includes some HT antennas)]
 
* [http://www.grove-ent.com/scannerantennas.html Grove Scanner Antennas page]
 
* [http://www.grove-ent.com/handheldscannerantennas.html Grove Handheld Scanner Antennas page]
 
* [http://www.strongsignals.net/access/image/antennas/bearwires.gif Modifying the RS MagMount antenna]
 
* [http://www.northwestradio.com/interceptnw/antennas.htm Northwest Radio's review on mobile antennas]
 
* [http://www.niljon.com NilJon Antennas]
 
* [http://www.parelectronics.com/ant_scanner.htm Par Electronics MON-3]
 
* [http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103641&cp=2032052.2032075.2032078.2032098&pg=2&parentPage=family Radio Shack 20-176 G-P Antenna]
 
* [http://www.tessco.com/products/displayProducts.do?groupId=360&subgroupId=45 TESSCO Mobile Antennas]
 
* [http://www.qsl.net/na4it/dbgp.html The NA4IT Cheap Dual Band Ground Plane]
 
* [http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/scanants.html Universal Radio Scanner Antennas page]
 
* [http://shop.waltel.com/catalog/prod...products_id/478 Waltel online ordering]
 
 
 
===Strong Signals Pages===
 
* [http://www.strongsignals.net/access/content/antenna.html Antennas page]
 
* [http://www.strongsignals.net/access/content/co-ax.html Coax Cable]
 
* [http://strongsignals.net/access/content/opi_ant.html#p0001 User Antenna Opinions]
 
* '''NOTE:''' Mixed Scanner and HF/MW Loop antennas mentioned here
 
* [http://www.strongsignals.net/access/reviews/reviews.cgi?type=display&rtype=rev&class=ant&num=004  NilJon Super M Mobile Review]
 
* [http://www.strongsignals.net/access/reviews/reviews.cgi?type=display&rtype=rev&class=ant&num=001  SkyScan 1300 Desktop Antenna Review]
 
 
 
==Yahoo Groups==
 
* [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/loopantennas/ Loop Antennas]
 
* [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortwave-SWL-Antenna/ Shortwave SWL Antenna]
 
* [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SkyWires/ SkyWires]
 

Latest revision as of 15:17, 17 January 2016

Welcome to the Antennas Wiki. Here we've gathered numerous links on this popular topic and placed them in 3 distinct categories;

  • Loops - Long time favorite of MW DXers, many now cover HF as well. Their low noise characteristics, and in some cases portability, make them an ideal temporary antenna or one for the apartment or condo
  • HF Antennas - Longwires, dipoles, end-feds, commercial or homebrew - you're likely to find something in here to spark your interest
  • Scanner Antennas - Mobiles, rubber ducks, base stations - all are covered in here.

User Antenna Projects

  • Tilt-Over Mast - Details and pictures of a 35 foot Tilt-Over mast for all to read and hopefully for people to build for their scanner antennas!.