Some time while your indoors in front of your receivers, plug your outdoor long wire antenna or even a outdoor loop antenna into your small indoor loop antenna and see all your radios come to life. I saw a UA-cam video of someone doing this a few years ago. Wow, totally crazy how well it works. There is a name for that process that I can't seem to remember. Anyhow, love your videos.
I have the AN-100 and it makes a remarkable difference with my ccradio 2e. It can also sometimes be paired with a homemade wire loop antenna that's about 120' long. Sometimes this causes more problems though, it depends on the station.
I missed your field test of the Tecsun loop antenna and found it on UA-cam. The field test is good even in the daytime even though the MW stations run higher power levels. Another station can be on the same frequency a long distance away, and the loop can pull that weak station out. The loop can null out the stronger station which is a plus for the loop antenna because of it's directional characteristics even though there is s compromise in the size. Thanks Tom for the field test of the antenna.
Tom, The long dimension of the loop should be pointed at the station, not perpendicular to the station. Pointing the long dimension of the loop at the station maximizes the signal. Pointing it perpendicular to the station (90 degree rotation) nulls the signal. With a radio that has a ferrite bar antenna, a small passive loop like this one works better when inductively coupled rather than hardwired. Putting the radio and loop antenna on a lazy susan allows rotating both the radio and antenna together to maximize the signal.
+Gary K Interesting as the limited testing I have done has shown perpendicular is best. Maybe there is some wrong with my antenna. I guess I need to do more testing. Thanks for your comments.
+hamrad88 I have the same loop, as well as a Terk loop of similar size and function. They definitely work best when the long dimension is pointed at the station. For a ferrite bar antenna, the signal is strongest when the ferrite bar is pointed perpendicular to the station. But keep in mind that the windings on the ferrite bar are pointed at the station to maximize the signal. All loops work this way, whether they are ferrite loops like those inside portable radios, or air core loops like the AN-200. Also, the windings on the ferrite bar in the portable radio should be pointed in the same direction as those on the loop to get the maximum inductive coupling. So, with your PL-360 clone, I assume the internal ferrite bar runs horizontally along the top of the radio. The best inductive coupling would be with the long dimension of the PL-360 pointing in the same direction as the loop antenna. Sometimes it will work better with the loop to the side, as you've done, but other times it will work better with the loop above the top end of the radio (with radio on its back).
+Gary K Here's another good article that describes how to use a loop antenna, as well as comparing two particular designs: radiojayallen.com/select-a-tenna-vs-terk-am-advantage/
An interesting thing I discovered about the Tecsun loop is how to null out interference inside my house. I had posted here under another account but lost it. During the day there`s a weak station on 970 AM that I like to listen to but the noise from our satellite box is so bad that it makes it impossible to hear. I tried laying my pocket radio inside the loop with it laying down FLAT instead of standing up. I turned the tuner on the loop clockwise until it reached resonance and right past that point the static interference vanished almost completely. At night I get similar results on 1200 AM buy placing the loop beside the radio, between it and the source of interference, facing the SIDE of the loop towards the interference. This time the null effect occurred when I turned the tuner knob on the loop counterclockwise past to point of resonance. At night the loop helps keep stations understandable longer when they fade in and out. I tried the loop outside with results similar to this video. The loop has been a blessing to me by making my two FAVORITE stations listenable again after we got a new satellite receiver box that caused horrible interference.
I have a Teck loop and using it with good success. I use it indoors at night near a window with a Grundig Mini 300. I live in Atlanta and can pull in stations as far as East Texas, and as far North as Upper New York State. It's a lot of fun DX'ing on a winters night.
Wrong again, the direction of the antenna’s loop should be done as follows: put the radio and antenna together, in this case parallel to each other. Then, turn BOTH (!!!) until you get the strongest possible signal. This is where a very convenient turntable comes in......First tune the radio to the frequency the station is on, then roughly tune the antenna until you hear the wanted station, rotate both the antenna and the radio keeping them in the same position until the strongest possible signal is obtained. And then fine tune the antenna. Even the slightest turn of the knob might make a difference, no will make the difference.
Unfortunately a lot of loop ant descriptions & videos do not explain impedance matching & balanced vs unbalanced -- nor the different types of AM radios (ferrule, car, AV Center Amp/Receiver with dual clamp inputs)
Back in WW2 our country the Netherlands was occupied by Nazi- Germany. Some radio amateurs helped local underground résistance groups to communicate with the free world (in the UK) . All the time the German occupied forces would try to hunt down those amateur radio transmitters. The Germans used radio equiped cars with similar loop antenna's on the roof because they are very directional. By determining the direction of the signal from a few different locations the Germans could eventually pinpoint where the transmitter had to be. Then the Gestapo would do a raid and many radio amateurs and underground résistance fighters got arrested that way. Sadly for most of them it meant a death sentence.
Спасибо большое за интересный тест и обзор антенны, я из Украины и собираюсь купить такую антенну для tecsan pl880 и telefunken cr100,Вы мне очень помогли в выборе,спасибо..73!
Why are some HAM operators such terrible boring people? I have a HAM license, I must be an exception, but than, I hardly use my license as it is always the same boring nonsense. If I want to talk to someone, I use my cellphone.
Some time while your indoors in front of your receivers, plug your outdoor long wire antenna or even a outdoor loop antenna into your small indoor loop antenna and see all your radios come to life. I saw a UA-cam video of someone doing this a few years ago. Wow, totally crazy how well it works. There is a name for that process that I can't seem to remember. Anyhow, love your videos.
Yes, I tried this with a grounded 200 ft long wire with great results to get clean AM signals into my static filled camper.
Found this video useful , because I have a Tecsun AN - 200 loop antenna and never made such field tests. Thanks Tom
+1205juergen You're welcome.
Your video was helpful. Thanks.
You are very welcome.
Yo are one of the best.Thank you for your radio and antennas shows,too.Best Wishes.
Thanks and have a great day.
I have the AN-100 and it makes a remarkable difference with my ccradio 2e. It can also sometimes be paired with a homemade wire loop antenna that's about 120' long. Sometimes this causes more problems though, it depends on the station.
Thanks for the report. Have a great day.
I missed your field test of the Tecsun loop antenna and found it on UA-cam. The field test is good even in the daytime even
though the MW stations run higher power levels. Another station can be on the same frequency a long distance away, and
the loop can pull that weak station out. The loop can null out the stronger station which is a plus for the loop antenna because of it's directional characteristics even though there is s compromise in the size. Thanks Tom for the field test of the antenna.
Thank you for a nice demo and review of the AN 200.
You are very welcome and I hope the review helps.
Check my indoor testing where I did just that.
Tom,
The long dimension of the loop should be pointed at the station, not perpendicular to the station. Pointing the long dimension of the loop at the station maximizes the signal. Pointing it perpendicular to the station (90 degree rotation) nulls the signal.
With a radio that has a ferrite bar antenna, a small passive loop like this one works better when inductively coupled rather than hardwired. Putting the radio and loop antenna on a lazy susan allows rotating both the radio and antenna together to maximize the signal.
+Gary K Interesting as the limited testing I have done has shown perpendicular is best. Maybe there is some wrong with my antenna. I guess I need to do more testing. Thanks for your comments.
+hamrad88 I have the same loop, as well as a Terk loop of similar size and function. They definitely work best when the long dimension is pointed at the station.
For a ferrite bar antenna, the signal is strongest when the ferrite bar is pointed perpendicular to the station. But keep in mind that the windings on the ferrite bar are pointed at the station to maximize the signal. All loops work this way, whether they are ferrite loops like those inside portable radios, or air core loops like the AN-200.
Also, the windings on the ferrite bar in the portable radio should be pointed in the same direction as those on the loop to get the maximum inductive coupling. So, with your PL-360 clone, I assume the internal ferrite bar runs horizontally along the top of the radio. The best inductive coupling would be with the long dimension of the PL-360 pointing in the same direction as the loop antenna. Sometimes it will work better with the loop to the side, as you've done, but other times it will work better with the loop above the top end of the radio (with radio on its back).
+hamrad88 This excellent article explains it better and in more detail than I have:
www.am-dx.com/passiveloops.pdf
+Gary K Here's another good article that describes how to use a loop antenna, as well as comparing two particular designs:
radiojayallen.com/select-a-tenna-vs-terk-am-advantage/
+Gary K Thank you very much for providing these links.
Tom
Hello Tom. It could be a demonstration of a particular antenna: Terk Indoor AM Antenna ADVANTAGE. I would be very grateful
I will see if I can get one.
An interesting thing I discovered about the Tecsun loop is how to null out interference inside my house. I had posted here under another account but lost it. During the day there`s a weak station on 970 AM that I like to listen to but the noise from our satellite box is so bad that it makes it impossible to hear. I tried laying my pocket radio inside the loop with it laying down FLAT instead of standing up. I turned the tuner on the loop clockwise until it reached resonance and right past that point the static interference vanished almost completely.
At night I get similar results on 1200 AM buy placing the loop beside the radio, between it and the source of interference, facing the SIDE of the loop towards the interference. This time the null effect occurred when I turned the tuner knob on the loop counterclockwise past to point of resonance. At night the loop helps keep stations understandable longer when they fade in and out. I tried the loop outside with results similar to this video. The loop has been a blessing to me by making my two FAVORITE stations listenable again after we got a new satellite receiver box that caused horrible interference.
I have a Teck loop and using it with good success. I use it indoors at night near a window with a Grundig Mini 300. I live in Atlanta and can pull in stations as far as East Texas, and as far North as Upper New York State. It's a lot of fun DX'ing on a winters night.
Thanks
Wrong again, the direction of the antenna’s loop should be done as follows: put the radio and antenna together, in this case parallel to each other. Then, turn BOTH (!!!) until you get the strongest possible signal. This is where a very convenient turntable comes in......First tune the radio to the frequency the station is on, then roughly tune the antenna until you hear the wanted station, rotate both the antenna and the radio keeping them in the same position until the strongest possible signal is obtained. And then fine tune the antenna. Even the slightest turn of the knob might make a difference, no will make the difference.
Thanks
Toms radio room I like your utube videos
good show Tom !!
+Nick Calderon Thank you. Kinda wacky. :)
A good demonstration. Thank you.
It doesn't help much with radios with strong internal antennae, such as the C Crane radios etc.
Unfortunately a lot of loop ant descriptions & videos do not explain impedance matching & balanced vs unbalanced -- nor the different types of AM radios (ferrule, car, AV Center Amp/Receiver with dual clamp inputs)
Back in WW2 our country the Netherlands was occupied by Nazi- Germany. Some radio amateurs helped local underground résistance groups to communicate with the free world (in the UK) . All the time the German occupied forces would try to hunt down those amateur radio transmitters.
The Germans used radio equiped cars with similar loop antenna's on the roof because they are very directional.
By determining the direction of the signal from a few different locations the Germans could eventually pinpoint where the transmitter had to be. Then the Gestapo would do a raid and many radio amateurs and underground résistance fighters got arrested that way. Sadly for most of them it meant a death sentence.
Thanks for sharing that and have a nice day.
Toms radio room your Tecsun AN 2000 indoor loop antenna mw lw 160m is cool
Thank you tom nice video to understand this loop to buy or not. 73s from istanbul
Glad it was helpful!
Tom, when the wind blows and you have a pile of papers, use a clipboard. It should be able to keep your papers together and not fly everywhere.
Some DX'ers bought all remaining stock of these antenna's and flipping them for 4x original price now
Interesting. Thanks
I wanted u to tune in a moderate station w/ the wired connection; then unplug it and see if the station diappeared.
In line with the loop, not perpendicular.
Спасибо большое за интересный тест и обзор антенны, я из Украины и собираюсь купить такую антенну для tecsan pl880 и telefunken cr100,Вы мне очень помогли в выборе,спасибо..73!
Ну як,антена покращила приймання ? Я сьогодні також замовив похожу антену Grundig AN-200 на свій Tecsun PL-600
73 likes ....that's a good number in amateur radio terms. 73 de Bob. M0BOB.
Yes. I Like it.
Soon SWL contest 2023 will start
Thanks
Your bad luck must be due to the video number!
+TomCat4680 I was thinking the same thing. At least it is over. ??
Why are some HAM operators such terrible boring people? I have a HAM license, I must be an exception, but than, I hardly use my license as it is always the same boring nonsense. If I want to talk to someone, I use my cellphone.