SDRplay compares two indoor antennas for HF and below

[@KarlWitsman]

I am always impressed with all the care and all the work that you put into your videos.

[@mikeh2909]

Thanks, that's great to hear.

[@nxu5107]

Thanks ever so much for this. Very few tech videos that are so spot on and give enough useful details to make up one's mind. This one certainly does.

[@Mike-H_UK]

Thanks, that's great to hear!

[@DonnyHooterHoot]

I've used my SDRplay rsp1 and an MLA30+ for almost a year now. For my uses it's perfect.

[@DonnyHooterHoot]

@@sidneycavalcant Sorry, don't speaky gobbldegook.

[@DonnyHooterHoot]

@@sidneycavalcant Still no understand. Keep learning!

[@DonnyHooterHoot]

@@sidneycavalcant Scrucnhy foam boards of card?

[@DonnyHooterHoot]

@@sidneycavalcant Read my original comment again, with comprehension this time. Bye!

[@Desert-edDave]

I use an RSP1-a and the bias-t power from it to power an MLA-30+ and it's worked wonderfully for the last couple years and I receive SW broadcasts from thousands of miles away in Japan and Madagascar, whilst in a city, indoors, with tons of emi. The directionality of the loop, sensitivity, and price definitely makes it the best indoor receiving antenna for the price currently.

[@saxon12qa]

I made a noise cancelling passive loop antenna using 15mm copper pipe and wound a 1:1 transformer at a cost of around £10. I’m really impressed with its performance given It hasn’t a preamp installed. The one main reason for a loop was to try and eradicate the horrendous qrm I experience from a neighbour. I can now regain my pleasure being able to listen to hf on my rspdx whilst transmitting on my secondary wire dipole antenna.

[@BillAlpert]

Could you share some simple plans and instructions? Sounds very interesting. Thx!

[@bmh67wa]

Thank you for this comparison video. I live in an apartment on an upper floor and have no balcony or even a window sill to mount an antenna on so I've been contemplating getting one of these two antennas. It's unfortunate that there's an oscillator issue with the GA-450. I had been leaning to getting that one until I saw this video. I don't have a lot of space for the MLA-30+ but I'll make it work.

[@madmax2069]

You can get one of those adjustable tube curtain rods to affix the MLA-30 onto, that's what I did. That way I can either lock it in place using the twist adjustment and lock function of the curtain rod itself, or use a few zip ties to affix it to something like a shelf, or to a cheap adjustable tripod (that way it's easily moveable). The curtain rod at minimum is around 4 feet (122cm/1.2 meters) tall and at its max extension is 8 feet (244cm/2.4 meters) tall The way I have the MLA-30 affixed to the curtain rod is at the very top of the loop I have it affixed to the side of the plastic tip of the curtain rod with tape Velcro, and I have the body of the MLA-30+ affixed to the curtain rod with zip ties.

[@bobsoldrecords1503]

I've had very good luck with a GA 450. No additional noise with my Tecsun PL 330. Your mileage may very on an SDR

[@Desert-edDave]

@@bobsoldrecords1503 Environment rather than type of receiver (dedicated portable multi-band like the PL-330) vs. all-band SDR is what would play the most substantial role in noise.

[@madmax2069]

I have my MLA-30+ affixed to one of those adjustable tube curtain rods that have spinnable pads on the tips. The tips are plastic so they isolate the loop from the metal tube. I have the top most portion of the loop affixed to the plastic tip with Velcro, and the body of the MLA-30+ affixed to the curtain rod using zip ties. This way I can have it pretty much anywhere I want and still be able to rotate it to get the signal better, or to null out noise. I also have one of those passive YouLoop antennas.

[@mikeh2909]

Sounds a good idea.

[@sammiller6631]

Which is better: MLA-30+ or YouLoop?

[@madmax2069]

@@sammiller6631 depends, both have their strengths and weaknesses, there really isn't any best as it will depend on what you're trying to do, and your location (due to RF interference). the ground floor noise with a YouLoop is lower/quieter, but that's because it's passive (it doesn't require any power as it doesn't have a preamp) and if you're in a very RF noisy area it can be hard to pull in signals as the interference can often overpower the broadcast, but it does do well when you're away from RF interference, but also being that it doesn't have a preamp it can actually receive signals higher than 30MHz, it is a pretty fragile Antenna, and often not put together all that good, it can't be permanently used outside as it's not weather proof, but you can temporarily put it up outside if you're out in about. The MLA-30+ has a higher noise floor as it uses a preamp, and due to it using a preamp it requires power (it won't work without power to supply to the preamp), it has a easier time pulling in signals especially in RF noisy areas and even better when away from a lot of RF interference, it's overall better built, and made to be permanently outside (it's weather proof) but it can also be set up indoors, it will do a better job indoors vs the YouLoop. The only issues with the MLA-30+ is that it has a permanently attached coax (but you can modify it and add a connector and a separate coax), and if you use a noisy power source the ground floor can be higher than normal and can cause interference throughout the band (spikes and birdies). If using a cheap SDR like an RTL-SDR.com v3, the MLA-30 will do a lot better than the YouLoop.

[@steves7973]

Good comparison of the 2 loops.

[@mikeh2909]

Thanks!

[@FrancoDX]

Thanks for the comparison. Not tried the GA-450 but I couldn’t get along with the MLA 30+, the raised noise was irritating and even powering by battery it was noisy. The YouLoop I found more useful indoors if I don’t use outdoor antennas. 👍🏼

[@trevornixon3992]

GA-450 only get lw and 40 m thats it

[@dave10524]

Been using a MLA30 pre plus version for several years now indoors, very happy with the performance and BTW it seems to be adequately powered by the bias T of my RSP2pro so I don't use the bias T box that came with it plugging the antenna directly into the SDRPlay

[@mikeh2909]

Yes. I have heard mixed reports about using the RSP's 4.7V bias-T output to power the MLA30+. My understanding is that the MLA30+ uses the Texas Instruments TL592B differential video amplifier chip. This is specified as requiring a power supply voltage from +/-3V (=6V) to +/-8V (=16V). So, I can see the situation where some MLA30+ devices work at 4.7V minus losses and some don't depending on the silicon process corner. Others may not be as lucky as you!

[@dave10524]

@@mikeh2909 Yes mine is old so it is not the plus version, also use a K180WLA and using the SDRPlay Bias T there is some loss in performance so I use it with the battery/bias T box

[@louissicajr]

Thanks for the video! Wondering if you might review the K180WLA? Some people say it's the "same as the MLA30" but since the K180WLA claims frequency coverage to 200 MHz and newer versions have a switchable FMBC filter you'd think there has to be *something* different about them. Thanks again

[@joellintz]

Merci pour ce comparatif ! 73's

[@RADIOBUNKER73]

Thank you for the video ! why you dont develop a nice wideband loop antenna for the RSP Family ? thank you

[@mikeh2909]

That's a good idea. I could then review it myself ;-)

[@sammiller6631]

Because their job is receivers not antennas. Just like car builders don't make tires or refine petrol for it.

[@olivierconet7995]

Very well done, thanks !

[@whothefoxcares]

Q: would a 24" - 27" bicycle rim be usable as antenna, or have I mis-spoke?

[@mikeh2909]

You'd probably get tyred removing all of the spokes.

[@phungyi4947]

Wheely now.... 🙄

[@ominkan3129]

A super comparison. Thank you.

[@Desert-edDave]

Regarding the "power supply noise" for the MLA-30+, if you use the bias-T power output from the RSP, that is a non-issue, and if is an issue, you can blame SDRplay for the bias-t supply emi. ;)

[@TheGmr140]

great video, thanks for comparison .

[@sidneycavalcant]

Qual site comprar o modelo MLA30+ original ou no Aliexpress já seria os originais ?

[@panplayer]

Great vid!

[@brianwilliams8620]

Where can you purchase the MLA30+ in UK.

[@mikeh2909]

Mla30+ loops are sold on eBay and Amazon & also at many radio retailers - try Google.. Make sure that you buy the "plus" version. Also, review the seller feedback because there are a number of low-quality clones being sold.

[@sidkradd]

Bonjour, j'aimerai réaliser l'antenne cadre 40, 80 et 160m 7F5HD mais il me faudrait un condensateur variable de 500 pf pas très encombrant, si vous en avez un à me vendre de suis preneur, merci de votre attention

[@Nostrildomus]

C00L

[@hikingmando]

Tried an MLA30+ got unacceptable noise when connected to ANY USB power supply to power it. Promptly returned it.

[@sammiller6631]

Then you tried the wrong USB power supply.

[@hikingmando]

Tried several USB power supplies that I know don't cause RFI. The antenna is just cheap Chinese junk.

[@sammiller6631]

@@hikingmando How do explain other people not having the same problems as you?

[@hikingmando]

@@sammiller6631 Either I got a faulty uniit or other people aren't as concerned about any RFI it causes.

[@sammiller6631]

@@hikingmando faulty unit is likely. low price doesn't get much QC no matter where its made

[@Desert-edDave]

Regarding the "power supply noise" for the MLA-30+, if you use the bias-T power output from the RSP, that is a non-issue, and if is an issue, you can blame SDRplay for the bias-t supply emi. ;)

[@Desert-edDave]

Regarding the "power supply noise" for the MLA-30+, if you use the bias-T power output from the RSP, that is a non-issue, and if is an issue, you can blame SDRplay for the bias-t supply emi. ;)

[@Desert-edDave]

Regarding the "power supply noise" for the MLA-30+, if you use the bias-T power output from the RSP, that is a non-issue, and if is an issue, you can blame SDRplay for the bias-t supply emi. ;)