The Amazing TECSUN AN-200 Indoor Loop Antenna - LW MW and 160m. Great performance.
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- Опубликовано: 2 дек 2020
- Here we demonstrate the amazing little Tecsun indoor loop antenna that will add stations and fun to your radio.
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I've been using one of these for 5 years. They really work. I live along the front range of the Colorado Rockies.
My ol' playground. Crowded as hell by now my guess. Hope you still can enjoy.
Thank you for this, Peter! I have an AN-200 that I have used quite a bit with my CCrane Skywave SSB receiver using the inductive coupling method. I recently bought a PL-990X and tried it once or twice, but -- DUH! -- never thought about plugging it in to the external antenna jack on the receiver. After watching this I gave it a try and it works great. Based on my brief initial tests I don't think it is much more sensitive than the PL-990X's internal loopstick, but it offers the great advantage of being able to rotate the antenna rather than having to rotate the entire receiver to check for nulls when trying to ID a station. The cable that came with mine has a 3.5 mm on one end and bare leads on the other, so for my next test I'm going to try hooking it up to my KX2.
Peter, I have had one of these Tecsun loops for a few years with my portable Sangean ATS-909 receiver. It works quite well as you have demonstrated for LW and MW. I have also used it with my SDR Play receiver. I haven't tried it yet with 160m, I never thought of trying it on 160m since it wasn't documented to work on that band. I will be trying out it 160m next time I use it. Your videos are great, I enjoy all the antenna videos the most. Keep up the good work! ... 73, de KY4ROD.
Hi Rod,
160m is on its upper limit but it certainly works. 73 Peter.
PK Antennas make and sell a similar unit here in Australia. It's pitched to remote country residents who need to listen to 774 ABC radio for bushfire information during our Summer fire seasons. I have one, with 2 ranges, 531 kHz to 1000 kHz, then 900 kHz and upwards. It works extremely well.
You bought back my memory, 35 years ago i DIY made one those loop antenna, so simple and so little cost, just like couple of dollars, but so useful and fun.
Thanks for sharing
😅Thanks for the video. I have been considering buying the AN-200 loop for a while. I will be placing an order with Tecsun Australia today as a result. Cheers, Ken Baird
Great video thank you. Look forward to trying this out.
Thanks for viewing 73 Peter
Really looking forward to trying this small indoor antenna out.
They really are a great little antenna, I’ve added extra switchable induction to mine making it resonant on long wave as well.
I’m interested on how you did this. It would be a great addition to this wonderful product.
Thanks for the info!
You never replied to this. This information could help others.
Thanks for the info on am antenna, will get one. [ new subscriber for Michigan, USA ]
Welcome aboard!
The loop works well for synchronization my Casio g-shock radio controlled watch, After dark In the USA, I simply place my watch on top of the black hoop or base of the antenna and push the "D" button on the watch until it shows that it's seeking the signal from wwvb, the antenna hears on the sides so I point the tuning knob north or south so the watch hears the signal from the west of my location. It usually takes one or two sessions to update the watch to wwvb in Colorado.
Great info. Thanks. Peter
Thank you!! Very helpful
Hi,good video, interesting to watch, thanks from Rotterdam.
Glad you enjoyed it
I own a few of those passive AM loop antennas. I thought about trying out of the band to see if I can receive any signal. I will have to try it. Maybe I will post a video on that soon. Thank you for sharing your finding with us. Have a good day Sir.
That's a great idea!
Very interesting sr I have one antenna loop like that excellent.
Blessings
Keep digging aroind in the warehouse, you might find more "Goodies". Thx for the continued vodeos, helps keep busy!
Thanks, will do!
Thanks for the Xmas tip I just order mine for Three Kings Day or Epiphany; that is a big holiday for is in Puerto Rico. For Xmas I grave myself a Tecsun R9700 Dx. I use to have a cheap Kaito and still have it but its speaker died that little thing gave me such wonderful nights when Hurracaine Maria left us without power for 4 months and that radio was our only connection to the only two am stations that were left standing and to the world. As you point out radio listening is fun and in some instances sanity.
Great to hear from you. Have fun and take care. 73 Peter.
@@watersstanton as a follow up, This antenna is magical!
I’ve found that the AN-200 loop antenna works better on some but not all radios. I’ve also found that it works really good on the Tecsun S-2000 receiver but only in passive mode.
Been thinking about getting one for RX of radio caroline on 648- good review thanks
Yes should be good.
Saw that loop around 2017, and wondered if it worked. Will have to try. Cheap way to listen to 160 until I can get my folded dipole doublet up toward spring.
many thanks for viewing.73 Peter
Thank you
I wonder if some capacitors could be added / replace in order to receive amateur bands. Digital modes like FT8 on VLF sounds exciting 😁
I have the exact same loop and it works great.
Great. 73 Peter
*_oOOscorpionOOo, is your loop connected to a Ham radio? I have an FT-450D and after watching the video I am not sure how to connect the antenna to my radio. Can you tell me what kind of adapter to buy? Thanks. Tommy in Los Angeles California._*
@@thomassutton3421 Hi Tommy, no I don't connect it to my IC-7300 or FT-891, I use it With my Tecsun PL-680 by just moving it around close to the radio like shown in the video and it still makes a massive difference. I live in Ireland so during the day there are some U.K stations I can get but sadly most of their high power MW stations are gone and getting less and less But the loop can actually make a station I can't hear without the loop completely audible.
I would say if you have a 450D and a Ham that your external antenna, wire antenna perhaps ? this will provide much better signal than even the loop as good as it is.
If you want to connect the loop to your radio it has a 3.5 mm headphone type jack so you could make up a lead with 3.5mm plug and PL-259 on the other but you'll need to experiment because I don't know which connectors on the socket on the loop connect to the centre pin on the pl-259 for example I never directly connect the loop to my radios because they don't have MW/LW connectivity to this external antenna jack.
If you would like a receiving only antenna I would highly recommend the Bonito MA-305 Whip, it's tiny but it's performance still blows me away each time I use it, I use H155 coax which I ground, the antenna is connected around 20 feet up in a tree. If you live in an apartment with lots of noise an amplified antenna might not provide such excellent results as I get with all that noise from electronics all over the place, it's also a great performer on LW and SW and you can even purchase a longer whip from Bonito to give it more gain and it does indeed provide more gain.
It's a great antenna for an SDR, sadly, most portable radios don't provide connectivity for LW/MW via the external antenna socket, the Sangean ATS-909x does however but I found that it works only if you have the antenna jack connected half way.
Sorry for the very long reply, :-)
Mark
@@o00scorpion00o *_Thank you so much for this information. I found it useful and interesting. I am in an apartment on the ground floor and can not put up any kind of antenna. I only operate mobile with the 450D. Very impressed with your knowledge of these antennas. Thank you for sharing it with me._*
@@thomassutton3421 you are welcome, in an apartment you might try the Bonito Megaloop FX but unfortunately in any apartment you will probably pick up noise.
I really like that 450D, love the way the front panel lights up, shame they stopped manufacturing the 450D recently due to lack of parts, I hope Yaesu make something similar. I have the 891 it's fantastic with amazing sound via headphones and it's DNR is fantastic too. Really compact 100w radio but not as easy to use as the 450D but once used to it it's fine.
In the US I found this on Amazon for $34 called the "Eton Corp. NGAN200 Grundig Indoor Antenna"
Sounds similar. 73 Peter
I bought the Grundig branded version over a decade ago. Works pretty well.
You can't buy those in Australia .... there's only 2 stations on AM
How many turns of wire were on that loop ? Would the tuning capacitor be in series or parallel...?
Well, that's a fine review as far as it goes, Peter, but why didn't you show us how the antenna works on the MW band during the NIGHT when MW DXing is mostly done, since reception at that time is vastly better than during the daytime? I know from having lived in Seattle for many years that using a good amplified Dymek antenna, or a tunable loop, it was often possible to hear the primary, 50KW stations broadcasting in NYC, 2400 miles to the east! I would be curious to know whether such a small loop as the one you tested could provide similar results. Frankly, I doubt it. There was a period in my life when I decided to test all the high end MW antennas on the market, with the exception of the big KIWA tunable ulltra-loop which I couldn't get my hands on. I found that the huge multiwire diamond loop Sunseri antenna on a rotatable was the best overall receiver, but it was way too finicky for my taste. Several rotatable ferrite bar antennas also worked fairly well, as did the big round plastic clad "Alaska" antenna tunable loop, about 12 inches in diameter. I also thought the amplified ferrite double bar Justice antenna sold by CCrane was very good and easy to use. The big CCrane portable radio is also very good, perhaps a tad better than the more standard and cheaper GE Superadio I. [Don't even consider buying a GE Superadio II or III!] My Sony ICF-2010 SW set also has a very sensitive MW section, -- but one absolutely MUST switch out the stock Wide AM filter on it and replace it with the steeper skirts of the Kiwa wide replacement filter in order to cut out all the adjacent channel slop. [Why they put such a terrible stock filter on it is beyond me. Sony usually designs high quality equipment.] The SW region on the ICF-2010, with its sideband selectable synchronous detector was actually a better receiver than anything short of the Drake 8b, the Drake S8, or the little Palstar with both mechanical filters and, in my case, a custom, hand-built sideband selectable synchronous detector that I got from the late Dallas Langford, who was one of the finest MW band DX-ers in the world. His detector also beat the pants off the one in the Drake R8b, which is the only feature that made it better than the regular R8 or the R8a models that came before it without sideband selectable synchronous detectors! I also tested many other high end MW/SW receivers at the time, including the much ballyhooed AOR 7030 which I hated as it was so damn hard to use! I found the NRDs, [I had only the 525 model to test, the 535 may well be superior to it] also to be good across the entire MW/SW range; good, but hardly exceptional. The same goes for my old Kenwood R-1000, a very good value receiver when it first came out in 1980, when I bought mine, but which is hardly still anywhere near the front of the pack. ..... Well I hadn't meant to write all this, but perhaps you, or someone reading these comments will find my opinions interesting and worth considering. But please retest the little loop antenna you have, the one having only one OEM, but sold by many different companies, during a night when the reception is exceptionally good due to temporary salubrious ionospheric conditions. And please keep your reviews coming!!
It's probably similar in performance to my terk am1000 though you can't beat a wellbrook loop if you want real mw and lw dx. I notice you left out 252 khz RTE 1 in your quick scan of LW !
Like the look of the loop from Tensun. I use the Tensun Pl 310. Sangean ATS 909 X. Icom R70 and NRD 525. Plus a Mini whip antenna from Ukraine. Plus long wire antenna. Luckily I live in a building on the third floor. Not much qrm. But would like to purchase a loop like this in the future.
I am a radio listener of many years now. I am on the island of Cyprus. But come from South Africa Jhb.
Cordial greetings for 2023. Good health and dxing always.
Best wishes and 73 Costa Constantinides limassol Cyprus.
Very interesting Peter. I must dig out some of my homebrew MW loops from a few years ago. The output to the receiver is usually done with 1-2 turns of a separate coupling loop. Also remember that these loops also have a sharp null that can be useful to eliminate another station or QRM.
You are pribably right as later I measured a DC short across the output terminals. 73 Peter
Mine arrived yesterday. If you look very carefully, you can see a single turn coupling loop on the inside of the coil former. It is surprisingly effective on top band and has a very sharp null to almost eliminate local QRM. However, it does not actually resonate above about 1.5MHz. I can see a homebrew copy with a few less turns coming soon!
@@j3xk72r9 I have the AN100 loop which is very similar. On mine there is a 3-turn winding which connects to the 3.5mm jack. I think there are 27 or 28 turns on the main winding. Connecting a radio with external aerial socket tends to dampen the loop's response and gives very broad tuning. Most modern portable radios with external antenna sockets can use these only on short-wave or possibly FM.
Someone on the net found that by connecting a 4.5:1 step-down transformer (20:1 impedance step-down) between the external socket and the radio, tuning was sharper, so I taped a single turn to the inside of the winding on my AN100 and connected to my Lowe Rx. This also had a step-down action and made the tuning sharper. If you were constructing your own loop, you would probably use a single-turn coupling winding.
Hello, does it work for long wave listening in a basement? Thanks!
I am using it with my Tecsun 660...as usual,the result is very satisfactory...but I didn't know it also works for longwave.
Lots of longwave in your area eh? 😂
Another interesting video. Does the 705 waterall and padapter display work outside of the HAM bands, a big pity if not. Also how does the 705 with a length or wire compare on MW?
Yes soectrum display works across the entire range.
He just probably has pressed the HOLD button that freezes the waterfall.
Great loop and I also purchased one from you.It really is amazing BUT it only works between about 490 KHz to 1940 KHz.For longwave and NDB beacons I use a dedicated loop for those frequencies . 73.G7HFS/PA3IKH.
Thanks for viewing. 73 Peter
Yes I use mine to listen to Dutch low power medium wave stations in Zeeland."Happy AM" on 1395Khz in Middelberg and "Vintage Music Radio" on 1485KHz in Vlissingen.They really are amazing loops for the medium waveband.👍
No beacons?? Crud!
This loop works exceptionally well with a direct connection with a mono audio cable to the Tecsun PL-330 on AM. It actually gets a much cleaner signal than my CCrane EP PRO and Sangean PR-D4W at night on target stations. It turns the PL-330 into a DX monster! I can`t wait to move to try some AM external antenna experiments with the 330. I made a 4 ft loop from a solar panel box to get the lower AM band so I can get a strong signal on 870 WWL New Orleans. I plan to modify some larger loops for a direct connection. I think the 330 can be used with external longwave antennas too. Not sure but it would be useful in Europe.
Hi Peter,
This loop sounds much quieter on MF than a wire antenna....for those who play around on MF (I do Navtex DXing) on 518khz do you think it would outperform a shortish random wire, antenna due to small garden syndrome. ie does it pick up less electrical noise?
Many thanks. 73 Peter
These loops can often be used to cancel out electrical noise. Sometimes you can lay the loop over on its side and place a small AM radio inside it and cancel out strong interference from nearby electronics like a satellite box.
Would it work with a crystal radio.?
Hi there,I’m going to get one just to listen on my Technics Se CA1060 midi system,30+ years.
Also you said Southend airport the planes come right over my flat,WESTCLIFF HERE
Thanks for viewing. 73 Peter
Thank you for answering my message. Is the icom iC 750 good at receiving short waves?
Yes it is. 73 Peter
Good day Peter! So I thought this video was great. I have an Icom 705 and I do really like it, and I am considering buying an Alexloop Hampack. Curious though, could I receive MW, LW with an Alexloop attached to my 705? Thank you in advance!
The Alex loop only covers 40m tp 10m. But tge small loop I tested will certainly give you very good MW and LW reception as well as 160m. 73 Peter
Ideal twin for an old roberts radio.
yes. 73 Peter
Does that spectrum scope NOT work on the IC-705, with these various stations? Your scope doesn't seem to be working, or is it something you just turn on and off. I have a KX2 and I just wish it had a scope within its small package. I would think a scope would be somewhat helpful in finding these remote stations with these little loops. I have been thinking about picking up the 705, but if the scope doesn't work here too on the LW/MW then it makes me think twice. Seems to do will enough on HF (160m) though. Can you speak to the spectrum scope in this specific instance? ...by the way, I picked up one of these loop antennas -- thanks for the video(s).
The rope certainly works on all bands. I can't remember what I had switched on at the time, but rest assured it does work! 73 Peter.
He had the HOLD button on.
absolutely blowing my mind that the antenna doesn't have to be plugged in to the radio... I had no Idea this was possible!
This loop works exceptionally well with a direct connection to the Tecsun PL-330 on AM. It actually gets a much cleaner signal than my CCrane EP PRO and Sangean PR-D4W at night on target stations. It turns the PL-330 into a DX monster! I can`t wait to move to try some AM external antenna experiments with the 330. I made a 4 ft loop from a solar panel box to get the lower AM band so I can get a strong signal on 870 WWL New Orleans. I plan to modify some larger loops for a direct connection.
You can make a loop of 80-100 turns of 24 AWG magnet wire side by side turns on a paper towel tube and connect it to a grounded very long wire antenna and place it next to a portable radio for extreme daytime reception on AM.
@@baneverything5580 Insulated wire?
@@Bryt25 For the loop it`s enamel coated magnet wire. Outdoor antenna wire needs to have insulation. If an inductive loop is made with spacing between the turns and they don`t touch each other insulation wouldn`t be necessary.
Wow 😊👌
😊
I think RG-58 coax wire would be desirable for the 3.5mm connection lead? Some careful trimming of the sheathing and soldering to a couple 3.5mm plugs would put you in business, unless you need to tretminate to a BNC on the one end.
At this frequency and length there is no advantage.
Nice antenna! 73
Many thanks!
What is your transceiver? expensive thing immediately visible!
I made a 40" box loop from the BBC drawing. Reception was best when the "transistor" radio was inside the loop and at right angles to the loop.
Can I use the Icom model iC 750 receiver and transmitter only shortwave receiver...Is it a good idea
Yes you can use the IC-705 as a receiver. It is not illegal to own a transceiver as long as you do not transmit. 73 Peter.
For effective reception, it is best to place this antenna perpendicular to the radio.
Not all radios have the ferrite rod going the same direction. And if it’s connected with a cable it doesn’t matter at all.
What was "not going on" with the band scope on the 705? At first it appeared static.
Ther are various settings that may have changed with different video clips.
@@watersstanton was the HOLD button pressed. LOL, you might want to watch these before posting them.
Looks ok for £40, would have been nice to see the tecsun receiver working on top band, many moons ago I used to build frame antennas to play with on the lower bands when I was a SWL. Cheers Peter
Adam G7CRQ
Thanks Adam
@@watersstanton Can i used the loop for 80m and 40m?
Thanks Peter. It would be better if you tuned any of those signals properly. BBC Radio 4 is on 198kHz, and LW and MW bands in most of the world use 9 kHz channel spacing. It's easy to work out where you need to be, because all digits need to add up to a multiple of 9, so 162kHz, 648kHz, 774kHz, 1224kHz, 1593kHz, etc are all valid frequencies. In the USA, they have to be out of step with everybody else, so 10 kHz spacing is used in the Medium Wave Band. Serendipitously, that discrepancy makes it possible to tune US stations between some of the European signals, at night, especially if you rotate a loop aerial to null out some of he local stations..
Well since we saved your ass numerous times over from Nazis and Commies, tuning your radio dial shouldn't be too much to ask 🙄😜🤣
🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸
That would makfe a very good twilight zone episode.
Using it with my Sony portable makes a difference. Not much, but stations are more audible.
How come your band scope was not moving during your LW and MW presentation with the IC705?
Because I had selected fixed on some video clips.
@@watersstanton i just tried this on my 705, I found a cable and adapter in my parts box. This antenna is extremely directional. It is quite amazing how sensitive it is to a few degrees of rotation. Thanks for sharing!
Antennas often are limited to a particular power range. Do you know if this antenna could be used on a 'legal limit' radio (e.g. 100 watts)?
Michael VA6XMB
I explained in the video that this is NOT a Tx antenna. It’s receive only.
…so would having two of these near your receiver work even better?
No
Can these style antennas be made for hf use
Yes. Search on "Magnetic Loops."
I have a Grundig AN200, and it seems to be exactly the same. Yes, same model number. I wonder if they've licensed it from someone or if it's got a common manufacturer. Really, it's such a simply design based on older loops but with 1970's styling (if I remember correctly), there's no way to patent the design, I should think. And, it's an accessory. ... ... Just checked the box: it's Eton Corp., if anybody knows what that is.
It is not a long wave loop. It cuts off sharply below 520kHz and above 1720kHz.
If I add wire to the AN-200 would this improve my AM radio reception?
There is no easy way to extend the coverage. Adding wire won’t do the job I am afraid. 73 Peter
Does the loop work for SW radio?
I have the same hungry
The results of your MW testing would have been tremendously better if you have set the receiver in such a way that it takes 9kHz steps (in the Americas 10kHz of course). The right frequency for Absolute Radio was 1215kHz, not 1217. Maybe not that important for a strong signal like 1215 used to be in your area, very important if on the hunt for a barely receivable signal that otherwise could be brought in clearly. While listening and turning the loop, adjust the loop tuning capacitor in very small turns as the loop is easily off set otherwise. This can make all the difference, that good this loop is. It can, and will as a matter of fact, make the difference between receiving a station faintly or not at all or receiving that same station very clear. The loop is extremely directional. So in order to take full advantage of what the antenna has to offer, I placed the loop on a lazy susan so it can be easily turned for optimal performance. If your receiver is small enough and has no dedicated MW antenna socket (very few portables have that) both the loop and the radio can be placed on the lazy suzan. And it will also make a huge difference what the position of the loop placed against the back of the radio is. The most important thing to do however, is acurate tuning of the loop. As said, it will make a difference between receiving a station and receiving nothing at all.
Does this work with shortwave? Thank you 🙏
Sorry no. Only medium wave.It should
Just a suggestion. It would bet better to set 9 kHz steps instead of 1kHz when tuning the Medium Wave band. The channels are 9 khz starting at 531. Some of the stations were not on frequency e.g. 1085 instead of 1089. I enjoy all the videos.
Thanks for your comments. 73 Peter
👍
Thanks
LOL! I saw this video and remembered that some time in the past few years I thought I bought a similar, Terk brand, loop. But I couldn't find it. I searched high and low. So I went off and ordered one of these because, one has to have a loop antenna of this type. The new one will arrive in a couple of days. ...last night I happened to glance at a shelf in my computer/radio room and what do I see popping up from behind an old Satellite 700? The curved top of the missing Terk antenna. So now I'll have two. It's not a complete loss because the base of the Terk uses some of that #&)*@_@_) soft touch plastic that turns stick after a while. Eww.
Has Has. Thanks for sharing. 73 Peter.
The telescopic antenna on the PL-880 does a better job I think (?)
Nit durung our tests
The 880 doesn't use the telescopic antenna for MW band it uses the internal ferrite antenna.
I have exactly the same loop and it makes a big difference.
It is obvious u are there to make ur products need more tech
C00L
Perhaps next time extend the radio's in-built antenna first before you put the additional antenna behind it for a more accurate comparison. Obviously if the in-built antenna is not extended, the reception would be shit! How do we know that this round antenna works better than the radio's own extendable antenna?? Pretty pointless comparison don't you think, since most people would have their radio antennas extended when listening to them in the first place!
The antenna was switched off via the side panel switch.
All radio is fun unless you are an operator hiding in a trench and getting shot at while playing Radio. Not very much fun then.
Welcome to Fantasy Island 🤡
It would couple better at right angles to radio
It does not always work that way as you can get over coupling - exactly as I demonstrated in my previius video on the AL705.
@@watersstanton That's interesting. I only ever tried mine with a small Sony portable. It worked so well that I made my own version optimised for long wave using a length of computer ribbon cable to form a continuous coil with a tap every ten turns. I connected a 500pf air variable capacitor and it could peak any signal between about 150 khz to 1.9 MHz. Mw DX on dark winter nights can be very interesting.
Am going to have to stop watching your videos . You sale me on every thing you talk about . Just kidding but you do show things I need or want . 73 de KI4TOH
Oh dear! You know, any hobby is all about what you can afford and then making the best of what you have. 73 Peter.