Cheap SWL Antennas - Listening to Shortwave Radio With Scrap Wire

Shortwave listening is alive and well. From decoding digital tones, listening to broadcast stations or amateur transmissions - all can be a lot of fun. I have made a number of different dedicated receive antennas but these are the very simple versions I recommend that cost very littloe (even free with scrap wire) and can be built from scrap.
Callum.
Here are the links I discussed
▶️ • Installing a LARGE rec... - Big Loop
▶️ • Receive Antennas - Thi... - Small Loop On Ground
▶️ • Unlock Better Ham Radi... Comparison between the two
More Videos:
▶️ • Antenna Modelling Antenna Modelling
▶️ • Tips and Tricks Tips and Tricks
▶️ • Antennas Antennas
▶️ • Live Streams Live Streams
▶️ • Commander World My Stuff
▶️ • Foundation Training Ham Radio Training

[@DaveW6OOD]

These ideas are only increasing the constant activity in my head that won’t let me throw away assorted bit and bobs lying about in my shop drawers that I will certainly put to use some day, assuming I will find them. Carry on.

[@DominicMazoch]

About 20 years ago, somebody wanted to take a SWL rig to Israel. We were in a Radio Shack. Customers, I and staff put together a package of a spool of wire, 75to 300 ohm coax to TV lead balum, 75 ohm TV coax, coax to radio adapter. Heard from SWLer later. Got stuff into country, and did an in hotel room loop with the Shack parts! It worked I Mass RS. Only places in Houston like it are ACE Electronics on Antoine and 34th in the NW, and EPO on Hillcoft between Richmond and Westpark!

[@duanetrivett750]

Killer ideas! I have been into radio for a while and that loop on the ground is great . Thanks a lot.

[@rebeccamacgregor549]

I think it is great that people are still enjoying Shortwave Listening. I started around 1984, and still love it. Big changes, but still lots of great stuff to listen out for. It led to amateur radio for me and just last week I got my M0.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Top banana. Congratulations!!

[@Rubedo777]

Well done 👍… success 💥✨ 💙

[@novideostoday]

I love listening to the Chinese firedrake 🤭

[@Android-bd8ft]

Rarely i get the pleasure to listen someone and get so intrigued within a min.subbed.

[@shayne109]

QRM: { interference) man made. QRN: Static (naturally occurring noise) !!!!

[@N5WLF]

This is exactly what motivated me to schedule my general exam for this coming week and grab my first new (to me) HF radio. A long bit of speaker wire I had hanging around connected to an SDR dongle. I can hear so many HF QSOs that I want to get involved in the conversation too!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Fabulous! Enjoy :)

[@gregorydobson4307]

Great video and advise Callum. When I am on holiday in France I use an end fed copper wire attached to a tree and an atu. In England I upgraded to the mfj 1886 active loop as I am in a valley and works a treat. It's all about horses for courses as I have learnt over the years. Keep up the great content. I always love your live feed stuff.

[@jockmazza]

H Greg. I will be nicking the loop idea. I used to make half wave 11 dipoles from coax as an experimental teenager... as well as tuning my 5/8 wave by taking it down off the scaffold pole and adjusting it. 43 yeara ago.. where the hecj did I get the scaffold frpm?? Lol YIR (yours in radio) Jock

[@manofkentcatapultsgunsando5069]

Excellent video coupled with Great advise 👍👍

[@edwymer2226]

Another Quality Show Cal.

[@waylonk2453]

I learned a lot from this video, and enjoyed it mightily! Your camera angles, drawings, and video examples really hammered the point home. I'll always remember the square loop and dipole antennae

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Ah. Nice!

[@Wugawamp]

Really enjoyed this! Well done. Don't know what else your channel offers but liked this so much I subscribed. Thank you from NE US.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Welcome aboard! Basically, it's almost always something about antennas..!

[@nonobrochacho240]

Your studio looks amazing. Love those acoustic panels.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Thanks so much! It's a fun place!

[@simongray6452]

Great video - told me everything I wanted to know - thank you sir.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Great!

[@ottomueller4425]

I have used all these works great for me, I don't know what it is but I could listen to this guy all day he teaches the way I can understand.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

I appreciate that!

[@ianbutler1983]

The wire sold for fenceless dog things where you bury a wire around the perimeter of your property is very cheap. It works great and if it gets caught up you can just hack it off and make a new run.

[@Dale-qi9uy]

I was trying to listen 40 meters had 23 feet wire in tree barley' heard anything then I remember u said put it on ground man what a difference signals went way up amazing thanks

[@alanyoung261]

Fantastico, Im new to SW radio, but this was just what I was looking for. Your very down to earth thank you Grace and Peace, best alan

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Have fun Alan!

[@alanyoung261]

I got 25dB on my xhdata 808 on a straight line 15 Meter, will try your ground loop today, many thanks for your reply. Best alan

[@quentinrawlins4876]

Thank you for all you do for raidoheads 😊

[@MirlitronOne]

I grew up in a house with two-thirds of an acre of garden. Although I was interested in radio and electronics I knew nothing about aerials and made do with an end-fed length of wire in the loft. When I think now of the aerials I COULD have set up in those days, I could cry!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Ah!! Nooooo!

[@DD-pn3cb]

wonderful inf cal.... cant wait to try this,,, i have read swl for years?? and no one ever mentioned this i'm sure......?? please keep doing these informative videos 👍👍👍👍

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Ah! Great. Welcome too. Not seen you hear before..! G'luck.

[@Martin-kq9qt]

Cracking video Cal.. You got me in to Ham Radio & this video should get them one who are just thinking of putting his/her toe in to the water! 👍

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Ah. Nice!

[@jackK5FIT]

I've been playing around with an sdr dongle and a laptop. I haven't decided on a permanent receive antenna yet but it seems to work best with my EFHW 10-80 along my wood fence. I like the way you did this video from a beginner level. Always great stuff. Jack K5FIT

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Go for it!

[@nemonikUTube]

Thank you for this!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

My pleasure!

[@75ohmHAM]

Didn't need to watch, enjoyed the watch! Cheers

[@kmoecub]

My favorite antenna is still made with a steel Slinky. Wonderful reception, and easy to store when not in use.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Good choice!

[@zomday71]

Great video. Cheers from the States!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Awesome, thank you!

[@ronammologist16]

Nice! Thanks from Idaho USA

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Easy!

[@FrancoDX]

Nice video Callum 👍🏼 Another cheap one I tried is the coaxial ‘snake’ antenna lay on the ground. You can use some old TV coax or Satellite cable, works surprisingly well and easy to make. Quite good performance on MW and LW as well.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

I shall look that up!

[@gamlemann53]

Very nice video Calum. The best from LB1NH 🙂

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Many thanks!

[@Baseloiter]

Thank you this has been very helpfull

[@DXCommanderHQ]

You're very welcome!

[@lindamorgan2678]

Thanks very interesting. I just had a long wire attached to a tree and wrapped it around the antennae when I used it. I thought the higher the better for some silly reason. Thanks again !

[@DXCommanderHQ]

CAN be good.. But for shortwave it would need to be VERY high to be substantially different.

[@mewrongway]

I use my rain gutter. Thanks Callum!

[@Roddy1965]

That C Crane SW radio also comes with a long wire on a nice reel, which clips to the telescopic antenna.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Thanks for the info!

[@me-cq7wv]

Thanks very helpfull info. I stay on the east cost of Oz and have earth cable 100meters running round the top of a 6 feet hight wooden fence. Using a ATS25 with a MFJ 902b atu. Still not happy with the performace of it on HF. Could be that their is not many hams around my area. Thinking it getting rid of it all and buying a good deadicated communication rx like icom or kenwood and doing away with the earth wire that I have on the fence and doing something else. Not the same rx as I used to get back in the old country Scotland. But I think with a lot more hams in the UK close by and Oz hams not being many compaired to the UK might have something to do with it. But thanks for posting and very helpfull regards from Oz.

[@maj.d.sasterhikes9884]

Some years ago, I made a couple of Half-Wave, Inverted V Dipole antennas for CB Radio for myself and a friend. We each had a base station antenna and radio already but the dipoles served as secondary for an extra radio. He was amazed at how well these antennas worked considering that they probably cost us less than $5.00 each.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Everything really stems from a dipole.. Good experiment.

[@reaganl.5113]

Anyone other than me ever use a short piece of enameled magnet wire wrapped around the telescopic antenna (8-10 turns) and clip it to a long wire ? It couple's nicely to the receiver!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Oh yes!

[@pc4ad]

I will have to revisit this one. Probably now with a proper log-transformer.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

That little one is genuinely amazing.. Tried it last weekend on 160m. I was amazed.

[@Axesent77]

Lovely! Aussie in Tokyo (but ground level) and a lot of noise. Will try! Did used to mess with CB radio in Australia, but the "CB" 27MHz band in Japan is pretty strict. ( 8 channels in 27MHz and fixed antennas only) so now a SWL :( . *****Must Get Licence! haha! Cheers!!!!!!!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Do it :)

[@LaLaLand.Germany]

Thanks Mate, I very much liked sw (am&lw, too) as a kid in the 70´s, it was marvellous how many stations there were. I recently found a 1953 loewe Opta radio (working) for 20€- I´d love to go fishing with that. I need to get it ready, change out some caps but when done I´ll try Your tips.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Very cool!

[@LaLaLand.Germany]

Thanks, very much appreciated@@DXCommanderHQ

[@BryanTorok]

As a teenager in the early 1970s, had a five-tube Heathkit shortwave receiver. I lived in Ohio in the USA in a ranch style (one-story) house. My first antenna was about a six feet piece of wire up to the curtain rod in my bedroom. I regularly listened to the Voice of America station from Rome, Italy, along with other European and South American stations. Later, I ran a wire inside the wall up to the attic and across the roof. I expected that with many times the length and much higher that it would work much better, but I was very disappointed that there wasn't much difference.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Ah.. Maybe something more "balanced" may have assisted.

[@InflatedDolphin]

I had a random wire run around my fence for SWL, it worked OK, but was kind of deaf on many bands. I made a 60 foot LOG and it's UNDER the grass now and I can hear more on it than ever before. I can hear 160m and below now, and 80m is S6 or above most of the time, and very little QRN. I cannot fault the idea or the design I have mine connected via a 9:1 that I bought on ebay for about $5, it seems to work flawlessly. I can even hear UHF on it, but I wouldn't try to transmit.....works GREAT with a USB SDR dongle.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Great feedback!

[@BryanTorok]

The 4th style of connector is the RCA. They are most commonly used for audio and video connections these days, but have been used for quite a lot for RF. You showed the plug connected to a piece of coax at 2:01 in the video.

[@suprlite]

Dont forget SMA

[@jockmazza]

Watching again Cal. I got back into my hobby as a stressed out IT during lockdown. I was at my local asda and saw practical wireless. I' I'd not done radio since I'd left the military in the 90s. I bought it and read an article about Pop Blundell and emailed in. Next thing Don Field very graciuosly published it in the next mag. Hooked again. I recently read radcom and realised a family whose grandad had literally walked in my footsteps at the RSS station nearr forfar could get a picture of said station from a few yeears ago. RSGB said the would "ZOV" it on (Life's not just Q codes) I wonder if any watchers know what ZBM2 is? lol. Take care Cal

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Beautiful!

[@cockneyb2k]

Brilliant well put together. Thank you 👍

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Many thanks!

[@Dont_stay_long_k077]

Great tips there cal . I'd forgotten the Vaseline from my CB days in the late 70s, it was an old G2 /Ham police types :-😊😅, but he knew the o;d ways m8 ,,

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Classic

[@briankimmell7960]

Thank you

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Welcome!

[@JCO2002]

Very good, thanks. The problem I'm having with my RTL-SDR V4 here in Jamaica is big spikes across the entire HF band, about 120 KHz apart, from my desktop, presumably the switching power supply. Figured it out by also putting SDR++ on my laptop (both machines run Linux Mint), and then turning off the desktop. Spikes were gone. Turned it back on, and they were back. Also found the noise floor on the laptop drops dramatically when I run it on battery rather than the charger. The antenna is just an end-fed long wire, but the coax shield isn't grounded. Going to try that and see if it helps. Also going to get a 6m USB cable to get the dongle up on the concrete roof, further from the desktop. I've checked to see if the RFI is coming from the coax connecting the dongle to the desktop by disconnecting the SMA connector - the spikes disappear. So it's the antenna side it seems. I'd really rather use my desktop for this. The monitor is a 50" Samsung UHD, and I have very large, good speakers. Laptop has a tiny screen and tiny speakers.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

OK.. Good analysis!

[@tangobayus]

If you have an SO239 on the back of the radio you could just use a banana plug on a piece of wire and put it in the center. Then ground the radio. You can also plug an SO239/SO239 into the end of a ready made coax for the same type of antenna. No soldering. Maybe not for transmitting but OK for listening. Back in the 70's I had a Sony portable and a 20 foot wire running EW in my apartment. Conditions were good and I listened to the whole world.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Perfect!

[@dojohns]

perfect

[@user-fw8tm3px8t]

I use an SO-239 connector for SWL. The radio I have has a SO-239 connector on it which comes handy for connecting the radio to a shortwave antenna. Using a Panasonic DR-49/RF-4900 radio.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Perfect!

[@kcstafford2784]

i made my first SW antenna out of a bicycle wheel and a ten ft pole some flat wire i was addicted and a cb was my next goal...1968...

[@n0vty873]

My 1st radio and diy antenna was an old 23 channel mobile cb radio (covered in chicken crap) was given to me. I threw a pc of scrap copper wire out the window of my 2nd story bedroom window and chatted away with some locals. Mind you, no coax, just the wire stuck in the back of the radio connector and out the window 2 ft away. And an old worn out car battery. Chatted on that crappy radio for months while I started grabbing everything about radios I could learn. That was over 45 years ago. Still fond of that crappy long gone cb radio. Have to start somewhere!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Great story!

[@acestudioscouk-Ace-G0ACE]

Nicely done! I might try this with my SDR. If I place it far enough away, my transmitter may not kill the SDR. I hope. 🤔

[@stargazer7644]

Mfj makes a switch that will switch out the sdr when you transmit to protect it.

[@acestudioscouk-Ace-G0ACE]

@@stargazer7644 Thanks for that.

[@kevlarnegative]

Hello Callum, thank you for this video. I will definitely try it when I recieve my rtl sdr. Btw i think you ment QRM, QRN is interference from natural sources. 73!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

That's another view QRM vs QRN because when the Q code was invented, man made interference didn't exist! :)

[@kevlarnegative]

Oh I see, thank you! I'm studying for my exam next month and I had to double check 😅 anyway, thank you again for what you do and 73

[@spicajames]

Thanks very informative. I Remember listening to worldwide radio stations on my father's Sony 12 band radio. I bought a tecsun pl380 it's supposed to have sw, lw, mw. For my surprise I couldn't get any international stations. Too much wireless noise nowadays? Fewer stations transmitting? I will try this and see if there's any improvement. Thanks again

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yes OK.. Good luck.. They are still out there..!

[@medo123345]

Tks

[@m7trsradio]

Great video Callum. The bnc looked like a a Mexican on a bike. 😉

[@DXCommanderHQ]

It is!

[@theodoresears4369]

My love is to get knowage about shortwave portable. Rf frontend.

[@gabrielv.4358]

Great video! Bue what about the radios that have only the antenna as a receiver, without any options for other inputs of antenna (Like some portable radios)

[@DXCommanderHQ]

If you have zero connection points then you need to either a) go fishing, b) buy a different radio or c) hire an aircraft and go up 5 miles! :)

[@klingonbaronessprincesskar5519]

Hi Great channel thanks I’m using vintage radios like r 390 or ar88 or Rak 7 types plus others I have a 300 foot antenea long wire mounted in trees should I put a second long wire s my ground iam not useing coaxial thanks

[@DXCommanderHQ]

I would certainly do some ground tests. You might be amazed.

[@klingonbaronessprincesskar5519]

@@DXCommanderHQ thank you 🙏

[@adrielrowley]

Thank you for the encouragement and information. 😃 So what if limited on outside space and signal is still weak? I would think be a way to increase gain using an amplifier before the receiver, though so far found nothing out there (no objection building it, in fact, prefer it). Cheers, Adriel

[@DXCommanderHQ]

If you can hear the signal but it is weak, then EITHER look at a pre-amp or perhaps change the radio because most modern radios have quite a lot of gain with Pre-Amp switched on.

[@billienomates1606]

Nice one, like n sub.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Appreciated!

[@itsonlyme9938]

There is a preamp circuit on the net which has 20db of gain and works from MW to 6M it has 50 ohm input and 50 ohms output its is the W7IUV which I use with my RX loop with a balun. The preamp is place at the feed point of the loop a voltage is fed down the coax to the preamp using a bias T. if the preamp if used at the shack end of the coax will amplify the common mode from the coax.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

I have used one.. The problem I had was LOTS of broadcast station harmonics all through the ham bands..

[@itsonlyme9938]

@@DXCommanderHQ Not me no problem some preamps have protection diodes on the input these diode's will generate harmonics on to the HF bands The W7 IUV preamp does not have protection diodes and I have transmitted 400 watts with the loop very close by with no issue. It is a very simple circuit using one transistor, info on the net.

[@angelost1001]

Wery best 👍

[@richardmillican7733]

Callum, I use a Kenwood TS 450 to a 5/8 CB vertical for swl I do tx on CB (11 metres) not done foundation yet 😮 Stalk M0MCX M0XXT occasionally when he does his live streaming 😂

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Lovely..!

[@tommiehinman1349]

My friend and fellow ham when he first became a ham listened to scanners 25-7. He had tried several scanner antennas. We were having coffe one day before i had to fly to work and we got on the subject of better scanner antennas. He was dumbfounded when i said all you nedd is a long wire. He didn't believe it. As i was leaving we wereat my car and still debating the wire. I poped my trunk and pulled out my 94ft with 17ft counterpose and an old mfj travel tuner. I still to this day czrry in my trunk. I took the 94ft wire loose and handed it to him. Told him to run it ghrougb the trees. He took it shaking his head. I got to work for a few days and he text me. Said he had to tske that wire down. I asked why, he said tbe D scanner never shut up it was pulling in stations from all over some were 500mi away. I had to laugh

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Haha great!!

[@migi5374]

I have basically 2 random wires that are 21ft. Long. 1 has a 3.5mm plug & the 2nd one has an alligator clip for other radios. Most all my radios are mid to high quality portable multi-band radios. I do have the Eton Field bt tabletop which actually has the F type connection. What can I expect band-wise out of these? Most likely attached at some angle degree to a tree or something likewise.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

OK, so everything works.. But it's at what efficiency - only you will be able to judge.

[@tikicowboy]

Any reason I couldn't run the loop ends directly to the +/_ screws/lugs on the radio without the coax run? I have a few old military receivers with just wire connection lugs I'd like to try these long ground loops with.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yep.. I THINK I mentioned that near the end. Sorry - I forget. But sure, run with that.

[@richardtwyning]

Hi Cal, I was thinking about putting a loop on the ground around the perimeter of my garden. I'm looking to terminate it in a weatherproof PVC box I can mount in the corner attached to my fence. That way I can temporarily connect to it when I want to use it. Can you recommend anything?

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Just go for it! Make a loop-on-ground transformer....? FInd a cheap waterproof box. Happy days.

[@nickrolfe367]

Hi great video thanks, I'm new to this and am wondering how I could connect the coax to an SMA connector on my SDR please? Thanks

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Fit a "big" plug and then buy an adaptor?

[@nickrolfe367]

@@DXCommanderHQ Hi it sorted thanks I found a coax to SMA connector getting it delivered tomorrow, thanks. I never thought there would be such a thing.

[@ranbirbhattacharyaranbir]

Open circuit... Sir,Can I use a Variable capacitor like AM broadcast... If yes value of the capacitor..

[@caveatemp]

Can I use galvanized fence wire to string around the yard? It's made to conduct electricity. Or does it need to be shielded wire?

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Try it.

[@WX4CB]

another thing you can do and what I used to do is if you only have the telescopic antenna, just take a crocodile clip and clip it to the end of the built in antenna and run your wire that way...

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Good idea!

[@nickrolfe367]

Hi thanks for this, great video have learnt a lot. I am a beginner and my radio starts on SW with 4.75 up to 22.0 I see some SW radio frequencies for example 3467 (random example), how would I find that frequency on my radio please? Thanks in advance.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

OK, so to pick your random number 3467, that's just under 3.5MHz.

[@nickrolfe367]

@@DXCommanderHQ Ah great thanks that makes perfect sense.

[@ManuelPinner]

This Works good with the SDR Play RSP Duo, it's have a High Z connector,

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Ah. Nice!!

[@jmeaj1777]

What about if my radio doesn’t have an external antenna input? I have a 10 meter 1/2 wave vertical and I’m using a jumper wire with one end clipped to the the center conductor of the coax and the other clipped to the end of the telescopic antenna on the radio. This works better than nothing, but it’s still not great. Would it be better to just run a single wire on the ground?

[@DXCommanderHQ]

OK, so I would just try it..

[@Paul-qo1hb]

Running a scrap wire antenna from my Kenwood R-1000 to a tall Apricot tree.

[@a2phil]

I have about 100 feet of insulated telephone wire (22 AWG I think) and wonder if I could tie wrap it onto the top of my chain link fence, that way I wouldn't have to worry about getting it up into any trees,etc. Just trying to avoid climbing a ladder or tree. I have an Icom IC R70 receiver that has a coax connection and 1 "spring loaded" connector (as seen on stereo speakers, but just one), so if I was to use the coax connector, how would I hook it up to the wire, (taking into consideration my non existent soldering skills) or would I be better off using the other connector? Thanks; KE8NFK

[@DXCommanderHQ]

You can try both.. The fence is probably grounded - even by accident. Just clip it with a few cable ties, assuming insulated wire. Easy.

[@DerekWitt]

3:40 when I was 13 years old (late 1980s), I tried connecting my TV coax cable to my stereo’s 2-screw terminals (using a regular 75-300 ohm adapter normally used to connect a coax to older TVs). I was able to pick up channel 2’s audio at around 97.3 FM on my old Electrolux stereo! Oddly enough, I could pick up MTV (normally on channel 36) at both 88.5 FM and at 107.7 FM). As a kid, I didn’t expect to be able to listen to TV audio that way. Of course, I didn’t know at that time that VHF TV overlapped parts of the Broadcast FM band (least in the US).

[@saxpert]

What about using the ground wire of the plug socket in case it has no measurable potential? I used AM antennas of old radios in the past with slightly success.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

I wouldn't around here because we have PME wiring..

[@tincanblower]

One tiny correction Cal. QRM = man made QRN = natural The last letter is the key. "QRM?" technically means "Are you being interfered with?"

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Regardless of what Wikipedia might tell you, there is no Q code for man made transformer noise. QRN is the closest with the official word being "Static". QRM on the other hand is another station right next to you. That is the generally accepted vocabulary. Have a lovely day!

[@tincanblower]

@@DXCommanderHQ I'll stand corrected then - my apologies. My G3 and G4 instructors/mentors always explained it that way, but I've no idea who told them.

[@stargazer7644]

I would never call electrical interference from a manmade device QRN. QRN comes from natural sources. Noise from a thunderstorm is QRN. Noise from a lawn mower is QRM, even though both are spark noise. That’s how I’ve always heard it used. M=manmade, N=natural

[@TheHsan22]

@@stargazer7644Correct. I have been a ham for far too long and QRM is man made interference, QRN is natural, eg lightning static.

[@samuelkeystone]

Some places refer to that as "impulse noise". Spark plugs, lightning, etc.

[@jahndoow7666]

Nice, thank you. I have a few meters of 300ohm twin lead cable lying around. Would it be an option to use it like a dipole without cutting it in two?

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yes, absolutely

[@TheLaughingOtter]

So, question...I came across an old shortwave 5 band receiver and it has 3 screws....labeled, A-1, A-2 and GND (ground) What's the proper hook up for that? (radio is the Realistic DX-160)

[@DXCommanderHQ]

At 14-minutes in this video, the chap shows antenna connected to the far left screw. It also looks like the next two are shorted out. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zn2YaKd3oJaEfcU

[@jnmessa3777]

I have a "Invisible Fence" that was for the dog we had, the wire is buried about 4-6" underground. Would this work similar to your on top of the ground wire antenna ?

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Actually.. It might!!

[@forfengeligfaen]

I did this with about 100 meters of old electrical cable and it worked great. I received stations from the Far East and Africa here in Norway using a Lime Mini SDR. The loop is a short circuit and does not have the correct impedance. Now I'm a bit worried I might have damaged the SDR without a balun.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

You won't damage it.

[@forfengeligfaen]

@@DXCommanderHQgreat! thanks for the content and the reply

[@jimharmon3404]

I want to set up an antenna to get WWV 10.Mhz to use as a reference frequency standard for my instrumentation. Do you have any thoughts about a simple directional antenna peaked at 10 Mhz?

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Huge topic.. Depends on how much signal you need.. "Directional" AND 10Mhz can be difficult.. Start with a dipole and see if you can hear it I guess else you are into something crazy like phased verticals.

[@Chriswoodworker]

When you make these antennas, what are the waterproof boxes called that you link to the coax cable? The box with the binocular looking fitting in. Can you tell I’m a newbie lol.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

I'm so sorry.. I don't quite understand your question.. Feel free to email me. Email address on channel about page and website and we can throw it around..

[@Chriswoodworker]

@@DXCommanderHQ Ive just emailed. I think what I'm talking about is a loop on the ground transformer box.

[@richlevenson6605]

You just continue to be one of the best - if not the best at what you present. Been an SWLer since 1953. Keep up your great work. Best to you and be well - Rich, W2FKN

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Wow, thank you!

[@AlBex-dc6yq]

Hi. Does it make a big difference if I need to put some part of my loop below ground because of the female part of my family? Guess I could make it 15x10 meters but with a 7m “no way here” area. How you would do it? Or should I use a dipole?

[@DXCommanderHQ]

You should be fine...

[@26TM034]

I find, usually reels and reels of odd lengths at car boots... From 10p up to a whole £..... 😎

[@donaldatkinson7937]

I need a antenna for a sw60 patrolman for external Jack. Heard some people say mabe Motorola style?

[@DXCommanderHQ]

I'm sorry - I don't know that one. Well done for asking though.

[@ericb.4358]

Conecting Co-Ax Cables: Put dielectric grease on th connection THENskide a heat shrink tube over the entire connection and heat shrink with a hot hair dryer.

[@jockmazza]

Obviously you mean QRM. Man made. QRN is natural radiation etc. But love the fact you do so much for me, the community and like my posts. It seems EMC is getting tighter. BZ Cal 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@DaveW6OOD]

..and of course QRMnMs are a delicious chocolate treat and NOT naturally occurring.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

I'm gonna make a video about this because as we all know, QRM is when Fritz is 1kHz away on a 4kHz wide transmitter, splatter all over you..

[@Ezzell_]

Could I make a loop around the edge of my metal roof...raised about up about a foot up? Would the massive metal roof hender or help...or be neutral?

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Erm.. I think you would get away with it..

[@Ezzell_]

@@DXCommanderHQ dang what a quick reply on a year old video. Thanks

[@sun622]

Does it matter what type of wire can be used? I have an old clothesline in the back yard we don't use anymore. How about using egg insulators at each end and hooking that up? It's about 2.5M off the ground. Galv steel wire.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Nope :)

[@theodoresears4369]

How do i get old whip antenna impeadance. Without antenna analyzer?

[@DXCommanderHQ]

I don't think you can sorry.

[@ElectricityTaster]

I'm in Africa. I connected a long telephone wire I found in the dump directly to the SMA connector on my SDR receiver. I snaked it on the top of my flat roof. Yesterday I heard North Korea's radio and Radio Marti in the USA. I already ordered an MLA-30+ loop on aliexpress. We'll see what's better.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Ah! Good luck!!

[@MAGNETAR-187]

Hey DX Commander you have some shortwave knowledge. I have bought an XHDATA D808 shortwave radio and also a DESHIBO GA-450 Active loop antenna to listen to shortwave. Now there is someone who has advised me a mini whip antenna to listen to shortwave station. My question is this, will it make a difference between a miniwhip antenna and a GA-450 active loop antenna when listening to shortwave? Any reply would be very appreciated. Thanks in advance DXCOMMANDER!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

OK, so active loops and these super small antennas have very low output. However, that's not a problem if the noise is also low.. It's called signal-to-noise ratio. A "mini whip" will also have very low signal too. Another way of doing this is with a "Loop On Ground" but you would need some coax to the back yard.

[@jimzeirke9320]

Can I bury the wire an inch or two below the ground and still get good reception? I don’t want it caught up in the lawn mower.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Pin the wire down. The lawn mower won't catch. Too deep, and you will lose the signal.