RadioBanter - Amplified Antennas

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Amplified Antennas

Has anybody tried out any of those amplified antennas for shortwave and
AM radios,are they any good? Any reccomendations? (except those cheapo
Tiny Tuners that use a 9 volt battery,I own one of those and I know it
isn't any good) I see that CCrane company sells a twin ferrite
antenna,are they any good?
cuhulin

wrote in message
...
Has anybody tried out any of those amplified antennas for shortwave
and
AM radios,are they any good? Any reccomendations? (except those
cheapo
Tiny Tuners that use a 9 volt battery,I own one of those and I know
it
isn't any good) I see that CCrane company sells a twin ferrite
antenna,are they any good?

I was wondering about that to an extent. The Passport
review for the MFJ-1020 says to use it as an amplified preselector
for an outside random wire if you want to use it well, but
that always had me wonder if the MFJ-1045c amplified
preselector is a better idea instead of the 1020. Passport
is rather silent about things like preselectors, unless they
are built into the antenna.

--Mike L.

- - - - -
ML,

Two Random Wire Antenna "Pre-Selectors"
The 'choice' is about Your Listening Habbits
and the Bands that you plan on listening to . . .

Concerning these two MFJ Products:

* MFJ-1020C Indoor Active [Whip] Antenna which covers 300 kHz
to 40 MHz (LW, AM/MW and SW Bands) in five bands; and when used
with an External (OutSide) Antenna; the MFJ-1020C functions as
a Pre-Selector for the LongWave Band; AM-Medium Wave Band and
the Shortwave Bands.
http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/sw_ant/1413.html
http://www.mfjenterprises.com/produc...odid=MFJ-1020C
IMAGE= http://www.mfjenterprises.com/pictures/MFJ-1020C.jpg
MANUAL= http://www.mfjenterprises.com/man/pdf/MFJ-1020C.pdf
TBL: If you want a Random Wire Antenna "Pre-Selector" that will
Tune your Antenna for the AM/Medium Wave Band, Shortwave Band,
and the LongWave Band then choose the MFJ-1020C.

* MFJ-1045C "SWL" Receiver Pre-Selector with built-in Amplifier
which covers the Shortwave Bands from 1.8 to 54 MHz.
http://www.universal-radio.com/catal...amps/0807.html
- Does NOT cover the AM/MW Band or LongWave Band.
- Does NOT include a built-in Active Antenna for InDoor Use.
http://www.mfjenterprises.com/produc...odid=MFJ-1045C
IMAGE= http://www.mfjenterprises.com/pictures/MFJ-1045C.jpg
MANUAL= http://www.mfjenterprises.com/man/pdf/MFJ-1045C.pdf
TBL: If you want a Random Wire Antenna "Pre-Selector" that will
Tune your Antenna for the Shortwave Bands [ONLY] then choose
the MFJ-1045C.

READ: The Age Old SWL'ers Question: Do I Need a Antenna Tuner ?
-or- a Pre-Selector ?
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortw...a/message/1449

iane ~ RHF
..
Some Say: On A Clear Day You Can See Forever.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortw...na/message/502
I BELIEVE: On A Clear Night . . .
You Can Hear Forever and Beyond, The BEYOND !
..
..

I personally used the MFJ-1024, for four years, when I lived in a townhome.
Rules of the Homeowners Association, left me with little choice back then. I
have to admit, it worked fairly well, and it was quieter than I expected. I
opened up the remote box, in order to solder a longer length of coax for my
installation. All the components in the remote box are coated, to protect them
from moisture. I would however recommend using Coax Seal on each section joint
of the telescopic whip antenna, because it will get a water build-up, inside
the sections. Good DXing to you, Gary

= = = (Kachina 78) wrote in message
= = = ...
I personally used the MFJ-1024, for four years, when I lived in a townhome.
Rules of the Homeowners Association, left me with little choice back then. I
have to admit, it worked fairly well, and it was quieter than I expected. I
opened up the remote box, in order to solder a longer length of coax for my
installation. All the components in the remote box are coated, to protect them
from moisture. I would however recommend using Coax Seal on each section joint
of the telescopic whip antenna, because it will get a water build-up, inside
the sections. Good DXing to you, Gary

KACHINA78,

Two Suggestions concerning Replacements for the Small
[Collapsable] Whip Antenna on most Out-Side Active Antennas.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortw...a/message/1752

1. For "Out-Side" Use.
I would suggest replacing the Collapsable "Whip" Antenna
with a short jumper to a 104" CB type Stainless Steel
{Solid-On-Piece] Whip Antenna if used OutSide.
TBL: The result will be a Larger Signal Capture Area due to
the 'longer' single Vertical Whip Antenna Element with NO
Mechanical (Telescoping) Joints.

2. For "In-the-Attic" Use,
I would suggest replacing the Collapsable "Whip" Antenna
with a Screw/Bolt and Washer -or- a Nut and Washer mounting.
- Use a Copper or Brass Washer.
- Cut Two #12-#20 AWG Insulated Stranded Copper Wires to
Twelve Foot {Equal} Lengths.
- Solder the End of the Two Wires to the Copper Washer.
- Attach and Secure the Washer to the Active Antenna Head
Unit where the Whip Antenna would be mounted.
- Spread the Two Copper Wires 'out-and-up' from the Active
Antenna Head Unit at 90 Degrees:
- - One N & S
- - The 'other' E & W.
- - They should form Diamonds (Squares standing on a Corner)
Three Feet Sides with a Height of Six to Four Feet; and a
Width of Four to Six Feet.
- - Suspend the Top-Point-Corner using a Nylon Mason String
from the Peak of the Roof; and use Nylon Mason String to
spread the Two-Side-Corners out to about Four Feet but NOT
more than Six Feet; the Weight of the Active Antenna Head
Unit will usually 'hold' the Bottom-Point-Corner in place.
TBL: The result will be a Larger Signal Capture Area and
lower Noise due to the Two Diamond 'shaped' Wire Antenna
Elements; vice the single thin Vertical Whip Antenna Element.

iane ~ RHF
..
Some Say: On A Clear Day You Can See Forever.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortw...na/message/502
I BELIEVE: On A Clear Night . . .
You Can Hear Forever and Beyond, The BEYOND !
..
..

I thank you all concerning the input about Amplified Antennas.Looks like
I have some reading up to do.By the way,MFJ Enterprises company is just
up the road from me,so to speak.(same state) Thanks again.This old sixty
three year old dummy (me) needs to learn some things about Shortwave
Radio.
cuhulin