my 50 years experience with antennas has always been no matter how good or bad the antenna is always always seal if before you put it up. I use a high quality silicone or marine sealer. doing this just added 2/5 years or more extra time before the weather even gets to to factory seal. and always use rubber tape to seal the coax then put a zip tie on the tape to make sure the tape doesn't unwrap. then put a drip coil in the coax and zip tie it all to the mast. I had a HF beam up for 34 years with zero issues, well other than the hurricane that blew it down. :)..
The reason why I chose the MFJ-1886 antenna was the aluminum loop and it is much more durable especially the winters here in New York. The W6LVP loop looks like it will degrade over time with the UV and weather because of the plastics. Plus I wasn't going to pay extra for some filters on the W6LVP loop. He lost me on that deal. I would love to try the W6LVP loop however I'm not paying over $350. I may buy the MLA 30 for a travel antenna. It has everything you need, all I would need is thin PVC pipe and a tripod.
Gilles, use some heatshrink on those connectors after you have taped them (you can then also cover the tape with liquid electrical tape which you brush on)... On the cheaper loop you can make a canopy cover (plastic container etc..) to help channel rain and snow off... You might have to replace it after the sun gets to it. There's a lot of ways to avoid water issues !
There’s a product called coax seal that you can use over the connectors to weather proof. Of course the other reality is that by the time it degrades/falls apart you will likely want to try a new antenna anyway 😆
Cool video. Im looking for something to use with my SDR dongle for listening below 25MHZ. Would this antenna work indoors , or at least next to a window ? I live in an apartment so I do not have any outside property were to setup anything.
I will say this for the W6LVP loop. It withstood the bomb cyclone storm we had here in Colorado, and I had it up in a completely exposed location. We don’t get ice storms here, though. But two winters survived so far.
Good day! I just picked up my MLA-30 package from the post office. I opened it up and noticed that the short cable from the Biasing Tee to shortwave receiver, will not work with my Grundig Satellit 800 receiver. The fitting is way too small. Would you be able to tell me what type of adapter I will need for this to work with my receiver? Thank you for your time.
Hello, I have the MLA30 loop antenna and I am really amazed by the reception I have with this antenna. I compared it to an AOR LA400 and the MLA30 was much better ...
Another question I was wondering about, how well is the preamp protected against very strong electrical bursts from nearby lightning strikes? Say lightning strikes a block away? I've had the front end blown out of a radio from a nearby strike. Of course, nothing will survive a direct strike, but we get some pretty nasty electrical storms out here in Colorado. Guess we'll find out. :-)
Gerf you can get lightning arresters that goes in line with the coax, or you could earth the loop with a earth rod to get a good negative potential to earth
@@daveschwarz5279 Dave, I disconnect coaxes when there's a storm around. That's the best way to avoid static discharge problems. But with any kind of active antenna, like an active loop, there's no way to disconnect the antenna from the preamp, other than taking the loop completely off. Better preamps and receivers will have some static protection built in, usually using diodes and such in the front end.
It's worth getting a qualified electrician to put in an NEC standard grounding rod near where your antenna or antenna tower is - it can be very inexpensive if you can have it done with any other electrical work that you might have. I personally unplug and disconnect everything connected to household power and antennas, and use my HTs and vehicle mobiles (if I have to go out) during electrical storms. I would ask any more experienced hams or even radio pros (commercial guys, broadcast engineers, etc.) that might be in your social circles to see what they recommend in your area - they tend to have really good practical experience especially if they are also hams.
I DO THINK THAT THE 33 POUNDS ONE WILL LAST AS WELL AND WORK AS WELL IF NOT BETTER AND AFTER 2 OR 3 SEASONS ITS MAY WEAKEN WELL JUST GET ANOTHER BUT YOU WILL FIND IT WILL BE FINE I WOULD PROBABLY PUT A SQUIRT OF BATH SEALANT AROUND THE TOO JOINS ON THE CHEAPER ONE AND IT WILL DEFIANTLY LAST FOR MANY YEARS....HAPPY RADIO
even if it lasts you 1 year, you can replace it 10 times for the price of 1 W6LVP. That's 10 years. and I don't think the W6LVP will last 10 years by itself. That said, the expensive loop is stupidly expensive because of your usual average american gearhead ham "i want the very best" who invests $200 in the Diamond DIPOLE antenna, which is literally wire and a connector. But hey, it's a commercial antenna so "it must be better than homebrew".
There are several remote KiwiSDR receivers that uses this MLA-30 antenna. E.g. several in Japan like: radiotake.asuscomm.com:8073/ Connect with your browser and have a listen (connect to 'sdr.hu' to see them all).
@@matambale You can have a look here meanwhile... that guy did it... www.m0lmk.co.uk/2019/09/12/inside-the-mla-30-active-loop-antenna/?fbclid=IwAR2G_OcFcLf5uAq8UqiTlXrw5NSpLQKrU-tWwGc_SUBFIcHj5PsSWeB5UKU
I DO THINK THAT THE 33 POUNDS ONE WILL LAST AS WELL AND WORK AS WELL IF NOT BETTER AND AFTER 2 OR 3 SEASONS ITS MAY WEAKEN WELL JUST GET ANOTHER BUT YOU WILL FIND IT WILL BE FINE I WOULD PROBABLY PUT A SQUIRT OF BATH SEALANT AROUND THE TOO JOINS ON THE CHEAPER ONE AND IT WILL DEFIANTLY LAST FOR MANY YEARS....HAPPY RADIO
Наука
my 50 years experience with antennas has always been no matter how good or bad the antenna is always always seal if before you put it up. I use a high quality silicone or marine sealer. doing this just added 2/5 years or more extra time before the weather even gets to to factory seal. and always use rubber tape to seal the coax then put a zip tie on the tape to make sure the tape doesn't unwrap. then put a drip coil in the coax and zip tie it all to the mast. I had a HF beam up for 34 years with zero issues, well other than the hurricane that blew it down. :)..
Yes use "rubber" tape - its called self amalgamating tape but may not be always rubber depending on the brand !!
The reason why I chose the MFJ-1886 antenna was the aluminum loop and it is much more durable especially the winters here in New York. The W6LVP loop looks like it will degrade over time with the UV and weather because of the plastics. Plus I wasn't going to pay extra for some filters on the W6LVP loop. He lost me on that deal. I would love to try the W6LVP loop however I'm not paying over $350. I may buy the MLA 30 for a travel antenna. It has everything you need, all I would need is thin PVC pipe and a tripod.
Infelizmente o valor da MFJ1886 é muito alto
Which of the two antennas has better reception?
Which direction is the antenna pointed
North South or East West
Gilles, use some heatshrink on those connectors after you have taped them (you can then also cover the tape with liquid electrical tape which you brush on)... On the cheaper loop you can make a canopy cover (plastic container etc..) to help channel rain and snow off... You might have to replace it after the sun gets to it. There's a lot of ways to avoid water issues !
What's better on receive or no difference?
There’s a product called coax seal that you can use over the connectors to weather proof. Of course the other reality is that by the time it degrades/falls apart you will likely want to try a new antenna anyway 😆
Cool video. Im looking for something to use with my SDR dongle for listening below 25MHZ. Would this antenna work indoors , or at least next to a window ? I live in an apartment so I do not have any outside property were to setup anything.
Conseguiu a informação ?
The loop on this antenna is very thin. Can I use a thick (14 or 12 gauge) bare copper wire instead?
Thanks!!
I will say this for the W6LVP loop. It withstood the bomb cyclone storm we had here in Colorado, and I had it up in a completely exposed location. We don’t get ice storms here, though. But two winters survived so far.
My W6LVP loop has now survived 2 Michigan winters. Plenty wind, snow and ice buildup can be the death of many antennas.
Good day! I just picked up my MLA-30 package from the post office. I opened it up and noticed that the short cable from the Biasing Tee to shortwave receiver, will not work with my Grundig Satellit 800 receiver. The fitting is way too small. Would you be able to tell me what type of adapter I will need for this to work with my receiver? Thank you for your time.
You need SMA female to PL-259 adapter I purchased some on ebay for a couple of $ each
Hello, I have the MLA30 loop antenna and I am really amazed by the reception I have with this antenna. I compared it to an AOR LA400 and the MLA30 was much better ...
Usa ela sem alterações ?
I opened mine.
Excellent design, the P.C. board is sealed with epoxy.
thanks
It seems this is fully waterproof ? Just can't get the wire loop symmetrical / straight with mine though
does not matter... it does not need to be perfect and yes it is waterproof
BTW that cable on the MLA is both for power and the feedline that attaches to your receiver’s antenna input? Is that right?
It goes to a Bias tee that supplies 5 volt DC to the antenna amp and isolates the RF
Another question I was wondering about, how well is the preamp protected against very strong electrical bursts from nearby lightning strikes? Say lightning strikes a block away? I've had the front end blown out of a radio from a nearby strike. Of course, nothing will survive a direct strike, but we get some pretty nasty electrical storms out here in Colorado. Guess we'll find out. :-)
Gerf you can get lightning arresters that goes in line with the coax, or you could earth the loop with a earth rod to get a good negative potential to earth
@@daveschwarz5279 Dave, I disconnect coaxes when there's a storm around. That's the best way to avoid static discharge problems. But with any kind of active antenna, like an active loop, there's no way to disconnect the antenna from the preamp, other than taking the loop completely off. Better preamps and receivers will have some static protection built in, usually using diodes and such in the front end.
mine was installed with a lightening arrestor and grounding rod. so if Gilles does that grounding he will be safe.
plus i found that by grounding the system it decreased the noise even to a lower level
It's worth getting a qualified electrician to put in an NEC standard grounding rod near where your antenna or antenna tower is - it can be very inexpensive if you can have it done with any other electrical work that you might have. I personally unplug and disconnect everything connected to household power and antennas, and use my HTs and vehicle mobiles (if I have to go out) during electrical storms. I would ask any more experienced hams or even radio pros (commercial guys, broadcast engineers, etc.) that might be in your social circles to see what they recommend in your area - they tend to have really good practical experience especially if they are also hams.
Do you have more problems beside Canadian winter ? Do you wanna talk about it ?
I DO THINK THAT THE 33 POUNDS ONE WILL LAST AS WELL AND WORK AS WELL IF NOT BETTER AND AFTER 2 OR 3 SEASONS ITS MAY WEAKEN WELL JUST GET ANOTHER BUT YOU WILL FIND IT WILL BE FINE I WOULD PROBABLY PUT A SQUIRT OF BATH SEALANT AROUND THE TOO JOINS ON THE CHEAPER ONE AND IT WILL DEFIANTLY LAST FOR MANY YEARS....HAPPY RADIO
even if it lasts you 1 year, you can replace it 10 times for the price of 1 W6LVP. That's 10 years. and I don't think the W6LVP will last 10 years by itself. That said, the expensive loop is stupidly expensive because of your usual average american gearhead ham "i want the very best" who invests $200 in the Diamond DIPOLE antenna, which is literally wire and a connector. But hey, it's a commercial antenna so "it must be better than homebrew".
Hello do you have a good web site that you search for freq for swl if so can you share a link please 73 de w2mgf
There are several remote KiwiSDR receivers that uses this MLA-30 antenna. E.g. several in Japan like: radiotake.asuscomm.com:8073/
Connect with your browser and have a listen (connect to 'sdr.hu' to see them all).
I can open mine and show you...
@@matambale You can have a look here meanwhile... that guy did it...
www.m0lmk.co.uk/2019/09/12/inside-the-mla-30-active-loop-antenna/?fbclid=IwAR2G_OcFcLf5uAq8UqiTlXrw5NSpLQKrU-tWwGc_SUBFIcHj5PsSWeB5UKU
I DO THINK THAT THE 33 POUNDS ONE WILL LAST AS WELL AND WORK AS WELL IF NOT BETTER AND AFTER 2 OR 3 SEASONS ITS MAY WEAKEN WELL JUST GET ANOTHER BUT YOU WILL FIND IT WILL BE FINE I WOULD PROBABLY PUT A SQUIRT OF BATH SEALANT AROUND THE TOO JOINS ON THE CHEAPER ONE AND IT WILL DEFIANTLY LAST FOR MANY YEARS....HAPPY RADIO