On Aug 4, 6:19*am, Brian Anasta wrote:
On Aug 4, 4:39 am, "~ RHF" wrote:



BA - Most 'portable' AM/FM Shortwave Radios
can't take to big {long} of an Antenna or Active
{Amplified} Antennas.
Versus the MFJ-1020B Active Antenna -consider-http://universal-radio.com/catalog/sw_ant/1131.html
LF Engineering H800 Skymatch Active Antenna
-why- An "Outside/Outdoor" Active Antenna is
generally preferred to an 'Indoor' Active Antenna
because in most locations most of the time it
will provide clearer strong signals with less noise.
-result- Better Signal-to-Noise (S/N) Ratio from
the Antenna Output to the Radio's Antenna Input.

Dear RHF, SC Dxing and Bushcraftgregg,
Now, after checking on several of the
links provided, AS well as grabbing myself a couple of books from the
local library (the superb Shortwave Listening Guide Book, authored by
Harry Helms is a must have for beginners I believe)

That's the way to do it Brian, that is exactly what
I did when I started. I went to the Barnes & Noble
store and picked up the "Passport to World Band
Radio" and a issue of Popular Communication
and Monitoring Times and read like a mad man
and started reading this newsgroup.


I
have several queries. Firstly, I am concerned that if I settle on the
active antenna, AM I at risk of picking up much more noise and
interference?

You have to tell us a little more to help. What is your
setup like? By that, I mean - do you have a home
or apartment? Do you have access to any tall trees
etc. etc.

Secondly, if *I instead choose the external wire type of
antenna, isn't there a much greater chance of problems and issues due
to extensive overhead high voltage powerlines in my area? The more I
read, the more confused I become....arghhhh heh.

Read - read- read. The best part of the hobby IMO
(other than getting a new receiver) is maintaining
my antennas or putting up a new one.

Just start with throwing twenty feet of wire outside
and go from there. I don't have any experience with
the Kaito that you referenced too before, so I don't
know if a long length of wire will overload your receiver or not, but
you'll easily be able to tell if it
does.


Thanks so much guys and sorry for being a painful newbie at all this,

We were all newbies at one time. :-)