GA-450 SW Radio Mini Loop Antenna. Well it surprised me !

[@danismagic2]

Great review Fred! Thanks ! I was hesitating about this antenna, but your review has convinced me. I would like to use it with my Yaesu FRG 7700. I am going to purchase it for sure. Keep on your great work. Cheers from just the other side of the Channel near Dunkerque ;-)

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

Glad I could help

[@vtechead1]

Hi could you let me/us know how you get on with your FRG7700 using the loop antenna. I have the same receiver and use long wires. 👍

[@danismagic2]

@@vtechead1 , sorry for my late answer. I have purchased this loop antenna. It works quite well with the FRG7700. As Fred mentionned it, it should be put near a window, or on a window sill to get the best of it. But according to me it will never be as good as a long wire antenna with a good ground. But it works well enough. I have not tryed it outside in the garden. The weather is so rainy actually in the north of France, but I can't wait to try. For its price it's a good investement, indeed. Hope this help. Cheers. François 🙂

[@vtechead1]

@@danismagic2 Hi and thanks for the reply. It may be adequate for general use with my receiver, as I sit at a bay window with unobstructed views of 180 degrees looking south and situated above a town. Think I will give it a go. Thanks again for your reply 👍

[@danismagic2]

@@vtechead1 You are very welcome Donny 😊

[@Greg-et2dp]

Frid in the shed I learn lot from you about bying quality cbs radios and antennas for cb radios my friend

[@irongron]

same, great review!

[@Greg-et2dp]

Frid in the shed your new G-450 shortwave radio mini loop antenna 📡 is awesome my friend

[@Greg-et2dp]

Frid in the shed your sdr defined portable receiver with ssb is awesome my friend

[@darrenwright496]

Hi Fred, I have gone the full hog after watching a lot of your videos, just bought a yaesu ftdx1200 and studying for the amateurs radio fundamental qualification

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

Nice one. Glad your progressing though the hobby.

[@AEZAEZEL-187]

Hey Fred on my DESHIBO GA-450 the knob is also a little stiff when you turn it halfway but after using it for a month it is loosening so don't worry! That knob stiffnes is a manufacturing issue after using it for a long time it will get better! 73's!

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

Thanks for the info. It has started to loosen up but it still goes a bit haywire around that point. Not sure if it is a fault or just an overload of gain.

[@longjohn526]

This antenna actually tunes backwards highest frequencies to the left, lowest frequencies to the right. The tuning range is approximately 4 - 16 MHz or the way they wired up the pot from 16 - 4 MHz. . It also has a poorly designed 12V switching boost regulator the that seems to run about 1.8 Mhz and around the 7:00 mark of the video you can see one of the harmonics to the right of the received signal and how it moves around and even upsets the front end of the SDR as you tune it. I'm going to try to modify mine and see if I can lower that spur, first by actually using shielded coax from the antenna to the amplifier/tuner board and from the Amp/tuner board to the output jack, then I'll twist the wires from the charger/converter board to the amp/tuner board and slip it through toroid ferrite choke (or use a clamp over) because that power line is acting like a transmitter antenna and inducing that converter frequency hash right into the antenna. Hopeful those two things will knock down some of that interference. I'm also thinking about adding another turn to the antenna element (currently 2 turns) and a SPDT mini toggle to switch it in and out which should allow it to tune down a couple more MHz. It's not bad as long if you stay away from those spurs but sometimes you can't and it swamps out the desired signal and even can overload the front end. It's strongest point is that it is portable and runs off a 3.7V Lipo battery but that's also it's weakest point because of a poorly implemented (and shielded) 3.7 to 12V switching boost regulator. I really expected better at this price point. If you were to disconnect the battery and run this off a 12V linear supply or a 12V battery it would be really good quiet antenna

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

Thank you for the detailed information. It makes sense. Also explains why i got nothing above 18 KHz. I will interested to know if your mods improve the performance.

[@MidlifeRenaissanceMan]

There was definitely some internal nasties going on and I was surprised it was tunable 2.5-30MHz I would be curious if it’s performance compared to one of your regular antennas.

[@thestonerguy5276]

Nice demo Fred. The loop is smaller than the one on the MLA-30 active loop antenna, but very sturdy compared to the thin wire that the MLA-30 uses. Before the video and seeing the loop along with your comment I quickly looked it up on Amazon ($89.95 USD from one brand and $107 USD from another) and left the page up until I watched your report. I have an indoor mag loop for transmitting and one box to tune is enough for me, but then, reading the info on the Amazon page the knob that turns is more of an RF Gain control for the amplifier vs. a tuner, so if tuned all the way up I imagine you'd get some distortion on the signal and adjust either the antenna or RF gain on the radio. So, it's basically a MLA-30 with a sturdier loop and no rf gain control for about $40 more. I run into distortion occasionally on strong stations and end up using the RF Gain control on the radio to get the same effect. I read a few reviews and ran across one where the buyer noted it was not as smooth turning the knob in a couple of places, but it cleared up after a couple weeks of use. Apparently, they have a GA-800 model that is a lot more money ($138), can be used outdoors and they say "No More Tuning" which contradicts what I read earlier (they may have added an AGC, or better AGC circuit to this model). The frequency coverage is better, and it has a bigger battery (2600mAh vs. 1000mAh in the 450). Maybe you can get them to send you a PAC-12 portable ham radio transmit antenna to try out next... 😉 While $89.95 isn't a high price with the better loop, but I'd rather see it about $20 less. Thanks again, keep those reviews coming, I really enjoy them!! 👍

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

Hi. Yes i agree with you on the price. Its not worth paying too much for these small loops. Banggood were selling the 450 for just over £50 when i started the review although the price goes up and down with exchange rates.

[@thestonerguy5276]

@@CB-RADIO-UK I've been reticent about making any purchases from their website. Is there anything I should be wary of (other than a website named "Banggood", which brings other, non-radio images to mind when first hearing of it....😉)

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

LOL. No its fine. Just an odd name.

[@AEZAEZEL-187]

Hey Fred thanks for sharing the GA-450 active loop antenna video. What you are receiving on 11.815Khz iis probably a turkiah station. Voice of Turkey TRT1. i can understand the language. I too have this antenna which i use on a XHDATA D808 shortwave radio mostly at night and yes it is tunable. 73's

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

Hi. Yes prob a Turkish station. I ve also found that the noise drops once the sun has set.

[@corpo33]

I was thinkn of getting on I have an mla 30+ and a x1 hf antenna out the bk garden but I like this one for indoors ..

[@Greg-et2dp]

Frid in the shed my hobbies are painting pictures 🖼 and listening to shortwave and ssb iam thinking about getting my grms license and mybe my ham license some time

[@miker8379]

I’m using that radio. It’s somewhat of a pain to use but it gets you a waterfall cheaply. I mainly use it to keep an eye on 10m am from signals around 29 megs. It’s very sensitive with my 10 meter 30 foot end fed. It is a non updateable clone. Great on the antenna, I’d like to find something like that, perhaps a little better.

[@gobstoppa1633]

i was laughing outloud when you interpreted the folks in the street i know exactley the folks you are intimating, great vid as usual cheers.

[@Greg-et2dp]

Frid in the shed February 13 is wold radio day my friend

[@SheffieldVince-2E0NZS]

On a "quality" loop, on the spectrum you would see a low flat line either side of the tuned frequency, with a raised hill on the actual tuned frequency. When you move the antenna tuning dial left or right, you would see a corresponding movement of the "hill" moving up or down the frequency on the spectrum. To be honest, this just looked messy, although it might be better than a bit of wire?? Appreciated and thanks for the video Fred.

[@dave10524]

Agree, I too saw no hill moving up or down in frequency like my magnetic loops, looked like a noisy gain pot

[@mikeyandwho]

Great video Fred impressive little aerial

[@Greg-et2dp]

Frid in the shed your utube videos are awesome my friend

[@Greg-et2dp]

Frid in the shed you should get the Mal 30+ loop antenna for shortwave receivers to view on your utube videos my friend

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

Thanks Greg i will check it out.

[@ruggugglan]

MLA30+

[@RoyGNH]

I use the GA-800 with my Malahit SD2 and Yaesu FTdx101D. I think these loop antenna’s work great. Thanks for the great video!

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

Thanks for the info!

[@MirlitronOne]

Contrary to popular belief, loop aerials are NOT strongly directional. However, they DO show pronounced nulls perpendicular to the plane of the loop. This means you can set them up to minimize local QRM and then usually receive signals without needing significant adjustment to the loop direction. Nice demo.

[@michaelagner4355]

And generally speaking, the directionality will only go up to 2 or 3 Mhz. This is because skywave prop starts to take over as the main prop mode and a simple loop can't distinguish 2 or more signals coming in this way

[@ClickinChicken]

I'm like a 3M project manager HA. (Everything takes forever). When Spring comes I'm going to be on my roof new OTA TV antenna. I may put up 360 rotator for different stations. but you can buy two and join them with a switch. It's not Hamm blue waters, or CB, it's just FM radio, but related fun. Cheers!

[@dooronron69]

You could velcro or glue a bit of plastic to the aerial black plastic body and use the plastic to turn the a antenna so you hand doesn't go too near it

[@threeonamatchventura]

Hi Fred. Can you say the GA-800 does everything and more than the GA 450? New to all this .

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

I would say that the GA-800 picks up weaker stations better due to the bigger size. Its also easier to use as there is not man tuning needed. However both can be out performed by a simple long wire if you do not suffer from local noise.

[@ronleblanc9832]

attaching a small piece of lexan or plexiglass on the loop about 6 inches long as a handel to aim should deleat the the frequency change instead of touching it with your hand

[@leyland9999]

Hi Fred, I own this antenna and it does a great job, be it for eliminating qrm (as much as possible) or homing in a signal by rotating the loop. However, it DOES NOT cover medium and long wave.. Sure, strong local stations will come through but absolutely no dx-ing on Long- and Medium wave with the G-450. That’s where the G-800 comes in. The G-800 is not tunable and has continuous covering instead. That said, the G-450 is a great indoors antenna, certainly if you take the price into account.

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

Thanks for the information. I get so little MW and LW these days its hard to really tell. The G-800 does sound interesting.

[@leyland9999]

@@CB-RADIO-UK Interesting yes. However, I recently bought this one as well and my expectations were high. But it did not really perform I had hoped it would. It works, that’s all. On short wave it works fine and it really tries to lower the noise floor but there are interferences caused by the antenna itself be it a lot less than the G-450 generates. The G-800 is quite useless on long wave so those on the hunt for aeronautical beacons can better look elsewhere, deaf maybe is the right word, certainly if compared with the Wellbrooks loops. In short, the G-800 works but I had expected a lot more on MW and LW. Greetings, Willem, Hekelingen, The Netherlands.

[@aeron-mw7ofs]

cheers Fred👍👍

[@fotografm]

It looks like the tuning knob is shifting the frequency of the received signals which is not possible. I would expect a noise peak to move across the spectrum as the tuning knob is rotated, but the signals to stay where they are.

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

It could be my hand touching the unit. I was noticing a 10k shift when i brought my hand near it.

[@fotografm]

@@CB-RADIO-UK that seems very odd. In the old days we would think that the changing antenna impedance is "pulling" the receiver local oscillator but I don't think that is a thing any more in this SDR age !

[@dave10524]

Definitely doesn't correspond to my experience with tunable magnetic loops

[@rogerwoodland2587]

the ga-450 sw radio mini loop antenna is suffering from self oscillations which causes hand capacitance effects which makes the frequency change when your hand gets near the loop

[@SentinelOneLove]

Thanks Fred .. Very informative video .

[@clyth41]

Great video I think I'm gonna buy one of these, also Norway is 1,339 miles away😂😂

[@DonzLockz]

Great info that I needed. Thank you!

[@KeithParris-d8f]

Another great video from yourself, very informative. Does the rings on on your fingers, have an affect on the stainless loop antenna when hand on close proximity to loop, causing shift on reciever screen. If you are able to remove one ring, approach loop and see if shift percists or no shift??? May be some resonance between your ring and loop??? Worth a try.

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

Thanks. You know ive never really thought about the rings but is deffo worth trying.

[@daytona1212]

The newer version GA-800 doesn't have the tune button. It seems to tune itself.

[@francisharvey1811]

I got the same sw radio I'm going to get this antenna thank for showing it

[@alzeNL]

Nice review Fred ! A great way to get into SWL - mag loops are briliiant indoors in tuning out the urban ~ man made noise, was good to see some actual demos. Will put this little magloop on my 'wishlist' as can see it having multiple functions inside the shack ! Thanks again Fred your reviews and content do the radio hobby a great service !, 73 2E0FWE

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

Thank you for the kind words. Keep an eye on the prices from China as Banggood normally have a sale after their new year holidays in march.

[@freespeechmatters583]

@@CB-RADIO-UK And they also have sales on 11/11 but that's along way off.

[@notreallydaedalus]

I was just about to to ask if you had an MLA-30 to compare to. I've seen a few MLA/Youloop comparisons, and the MLA seems to perform better. I'd love to see how this one stacks up! Thanks for the great videos, Fred!

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

Hi. No not got a MLA-30 to compare. I do have a Youloop though. I think with a preamp the Youloop is better.

[@dyngbld]

F5PYI Has a killer signal. I can hear him 59 almost every day in the States on 20M.

[@alhearn3209]

I enjoyed your video. I am a bit confused that tuning the antenna seems to change the frequency being received, which makes no sense. The signals move up or down the band as you tune -- or place your hand near the unit. -- yet the radio is set to a particular frequency. It seems to me that turning it would simply change the amplitude or strength of the signals on the screen, not move them around. Any thoughts?

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

Get what your saying. Not really sure why. Just the way it worked out.

[@kelnewman1446]

Fred I'm all set like yourself but can't find a reason to use it due to bucket mouth it was better back in the late 70s better class of breaker then lol have a good day

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

Sorry to hear that. It does happen Iam afraid. Look further into the hobby and reach out on SSB. You should have very little problems on DX sideband.

[@kelnewman1446]

@@CB-RADIO-UK thanks for your reply 👍

[@PureAwareness76]

🎉 Lovely, thank you How is the 450 compared to the GA-800? Thnx 👍

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

I heard many more stations on the 800.

[@PureAwareness76]

@@CB-RADIO-UK Thnx 👍 Seen some reviews, and yes, the 800 is better. Do you have the MLA-30+? That must be even better.

[@MrKeys57]

I am using a Tecsun AN-48X Active Loop-antenna (LW / MW / SW) pretty good, and also cheap, only 50euro, 73 Levi

[@SimonBlandford]

Looks like a carrier moving up and down the SDR display when it is tuned. This probably means that the RF amp in the antenna is unstable and oscillating. This probably isn't what we want.

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

Thanks.

[@michaelagner4355]

I saw a report that this unit has a spur of some kind at 1100 Khz and multiples of that right into the HF spectrum. True?

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

Dont recall seeing it.

[@peteruk65]

How did you get ‘128khz’ on right side of screen, mines says ‘129khz’ no idea how to change it? Or do I need to?

[@Greg-et2dp]

Frid in the shed 73 my friend

[@Lostoldman]

Can I put the wip that came with the DSP2 radio onto this and take the loop off then try tuning it?

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

I guess you could. Part of the hobby is trying different ideas.

[@Lostoldman]

@@CB-RADIO-UK I was just a bit worried about the pull up antenna causing damage to the loop antenna electronics?

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

The loop connects via a standard BNC so any BNC antenna will fit. If it works and can be tuned effectively is another matter.

[@Lostoldman]

@@CB-RADIO-UKI’m testing it out now!!!

[@Lostoldman]

@@CB-RADIO-UKtried the wip it does tune a little but not as well. I received no audio signals on any of the bands at all. That said I don’t receive much at all using the loop. I usually only receive anything audible on one band depending on the conditions.

[@banginghats2]

Did you try it on top band?

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

I did try it on 10 and 11 meters but nothing heard.

[@banginghats2]

Ah yeah, I meant 160m, which is just a bit higher the MW.@@CB-RADIO-UK

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

Got you. It worked well om MW so should work well around 2 MHz

[@tonyoutdoors9369]

will this be ok for ats 25x2 fred

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

Yes should work fine.

[@tonyoutdoors9369]

@@CB-RADIO-UK cheers fred now going for the ga 800 lol seems better

[@michaelnoardo3315]

what SDR is this ? i liked it

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

Just over £70. Here kzbin.info/www/bejne/qpfWpqaAmJhkhsU

[@frooktik1]

ga-800 or ga-450? which antenna better?

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

I would say the 800. Its just easier to use and a lot larger.

[@stephenodonoghue464]

I JUST BOUGHT A MALAHIT SP2,WILL A CONECTOR COME WHITH THIS ANTENNA TO FIT THE ANTENNA CONECTOR ON MY DSP2 THANKS STEVE

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

I think it will as your radio should be SMA connector.

[@stephenodonoghue464]

FRED CAN YOU PICK UP CB RADIO ON THE SP2

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

Yes it should cover 27 MHz no problem.

[@stephenodonoghue464]

@@CB-RADIO-UK THANKS FRED

[@dave10524]

I think it is just a gain , didn't see any broad wave peak just spurious narrow rfi signals moving across the display

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

No its deffo tuning. If it was just gain you would have seen the spectrum scope increase up the range.

[@irongron]

@@CB-RADIO-UK yeap, I'm a radio rookie and even I knew that! Definitely tuning not amplifying, as the scope showed.

[@leyland9999]

Hi. Willem from The Netherlands here. I have this one as well. Maybe I’m expecting too much but I find this thing thing disappointing. Sure, it brings in stations but it adds noise too. And that’s something we just want to get rid of, certainly if you are indoors and have no ways to install a proper antenna other than indoors solutions. As you clearly showed, tuning this thing is a challenge being the thing gets nervous if you get near to it to rotate the loop. On medium wave, which it is not designed for by the way, results are terrible. Weaker stations won’t listenable at all if picked up at all. In short, if no outside space is available or one is not allowed to install a proper antenna there, go for the more expensive G-800 that will do a much better job and includes medium wave as well. Now I don’t say it is a rubbish device but spend the extra costs on the G-800. Greetings, Willem.

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

Hi. Funny you say that. Keep an eye on the channel later today.

[@MM0IMC]

Dirty tuning pot? 🤔

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

Yes might be. Its actually loosened up now.

[@donepearce]

That isn't doing what I expect a tunable antenna to do. It appears to be some sort of superhet that is actually moving signals around.

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

Yes it was slightly weird.

[@dooronron69]

Would the 800 be better than the 450

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

Yes i found it picked up more stations.

[@Lostoldman]

Can you use it while is charging?

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

Sorry i did not test that.

[@Lostoldman]

@@CB-RADIO-UK I did just now lol 😂. It does work when on charge trifik

[@DinsDale-tx4br]

14:40 ...Maybe wear marigold gloves whilst touching it? Might make your Mrs wonder what the hell is going on though? Best try and antistatic wrist strap? 15:08 There is a cusp for any frequency and you are hitting it. It is normal. A bit like Doppler: whoosh and then away again. You sound awfully stinky as a frontman for bangood though.

[@JOHN_COSMO]

Hello Fred I started listening to you when I started CB about a couple years ago. I have progressed to ham radio you would love it come join us my friend!!!

[@CB-RADIO-UK]

Hi. Yes one day I am sure i will. Prob when i retire and have more time. Cheers

[@bazzaar1869]

Did a better job as a Theremin musical instrument, hold your hand near the loop, twiddle the knob play a tune. What a ridiculous pile of rubbish!

[@dave10524]

❤ exactly

[@RWBHere]

Thanks Fred. Stainless steel is a pretty poor choice of metal for the loop. Aluminium would have been a much better budget choice. Hand capacitance is clearly a problem with the tuning. And why would the tuning require a battery? Normally a variable capacitor would be the proper choice. I'm not convinced by that 'tuning' at all. Something odd is going on, or I'm not understanding it properly. This reviewed antenna is most probably not a magnetic loop, because of one fundamental feature: As a rule of thumb, a magnetic loop is only very efficient over slightly more an octave, such as about 11 to 30 MHz, or around 5 to 14.5 MHz. I use home made magnetic loop antennas for both receiving and transmitting QRP between 60 metres and 10 metres, and also on 70 MHz and 144 MHz. I also use ferrite ring transformer coupling on HF to eliminate the need for a gamma match or a secondary loop.To cover the 70 and 144 MHz bands, my Copper magnetic loop is slightly bigger in perimeter (my 3 loops are roughly square) than the reviewed loop. To receive signals down to about 5 MHz and up to around 14 MHz with reasonable efficiency, and using Copper tubing for construction, a *magnetic* loop will need a diameter of around 2 metres; roughly ten times the diameter of the reviewed loop. To tune the entire MW Broadcast Band, it would need to be about 20 metres in diameter. For clarity, I'm not denigrating that little loop, but trying to figure out how it's working. It is clearly surprisingly capable for its diminutive size! Did you take the opportunity to dismantle that base, to try to find out what's going on? It would be interesting.