SDRplay comparison of 4 popular magnetic loop antennas

In this video Mike Harwood compares 4 different active mag loop antenna at various frequencies up to 52MHz using two SDRplay RSPduos which allowed simultaneous spectrum snapshots of the 4 loops in action with real signals.
These are loops from Bonito, Cross Country Wireless, LZ1AQ and Wellbrook.
This is the second of Mike's antenna comparison videos.
Here's a link to the introduction to the series: • SDRplay testing active...
All 4 antennas shown here are recommended for use with the SDRplay RSP family of SDR receivers.
We are prioritising this activity around popular loop designers/companies who recommend our SDRs - that way both suppliers are on the same page when it comes to providing follow-up support to anyone following our recommendations for an SDR receiver plus antenna combination. We list our recommendations on the SDRplay "Antenna Suggestions" page on our website: www.sdrplay.com/antennasugges...
Please add your comments - we are reading them all and they will help shape future videos.
The RSPduo is ideal for real time comparisons of two antennas as demonstrated in this video (fast forward to 5 minutes in): • Setting up SDRuno to v...
This is one of many videos from SDRplay - makers of the RSP family of SDR radios. See the full list of SDRplay videos and applications documents on: www.sdrplay.com/apps-catalogue/
The RSP family of SDRs from SDRplay cover 1kHz to 2 GHz with no gaps and give up to 10MHz spectrum visibility.
SDRplay is a UK company. The RSP SDR receivers are made in the UK and can be purchased for worldwide delivery directly from www.sdrplay.com/ (click on purchase and select your country to view shipping costs) or you can buy from any of our worldwide resellers listed here: www.sdrplay.com/distributors/ Many of the resellers offer local free shipping and/or local language technical support.
The SDRplay KZbin Channel is: / sdrplayrsp

[@Northern-Rambler]

Thanks John and Mike for this comprehensive test. There is indeed little to choose from in all of them. The main factor in choosing may well come down to shipping if you happen to live in a different country than the manufacturer/supplier. That said I have several Wellbrook loops including the Large Aperture ALA100LN which is my favourite. Thanks again!

[@alainbroekema5000]

Thank you very much for this comparison !

[@4X6GP]

One interesting test that wasn't done would be to compare the performance of the antennas in rejecting unwanted noise/signals by the use of the nulls in the loop pattern. Also, I had hoped to see the DX Engineering/Pixel loop as part of the comparison.

[@catalinalb1722]

Would be interesting to see the MLA-30+ antenna in this test

[@Mike-H_UK]

The MLA+ is next on the list!

[@juliocesarpereira4325]

It would, though I have one and it is very disappointing.

[@Mike-H_UK]

@@juliocesarpereira4325 In what way do you find it disappointing? I aim to fire mine up for testing over the next week.

[@tonymagnier9846]

@@juliocesarpereira4325 agreed. Its poor on MW/LW with much higher noise level and IMD compared to the W6LVP which I eventually had to buy paid more of course but what a difference, SNR is way better now on all bands. The MLA30 is really only good for a beginner but they could end up buying a better loop down the line as I did.

[@TheGmr140]

just great. i really enjoy these talks and info

[@Swede4Trump]

Greetings from Sweden 🇸🇪 You, Sir, just got yourself a new subscriber 🎉

[@mickjohnson6042]

Great review, thanks.

[@donaldhoot7741]

I would love to see an MLA30+ also. I just installed one for my SDR play RSP1a but I have nothing to compare it to. All I can say is that, at night, I am pulling in dozens of MW stations! Thanks!

[@Mike-H_UK]

The MLA30+ will be coming soon!

[@donaldhoot7741]

@@Mike-H_UK Awesome!

[@davidverheyen6635]

Hi, I have a srtDuo for a few weeks now and am new to all this. Can such a loop-antenna be placed horizontally or is that a bad idea?

[@johntyler4222]

A very interesting test, thank you. Just a query about the LZ1AQ loop. You say that all the loops were fed by a similar length of coax but I thought that the LZ1AQ was normally connected via a screened twisted pair network cable and thus the amplifier supply was independent of the RF signal. That would mean that it doesn’t use a bias T as we would normally understand it. Best regards, John.

[@VE4NSA]

Go to: 29:47 minutes for the summary, saves you time!

[@airbornelarkin]

You are a hero sir. Thank you.

[@Perseid]

If the Cross Country Bias-T doesn't come with a case, what do you do for one?

[@johntyler4222]

Hi Mike. Any chance of reviewing the new V4 loop from CrossCountryWireless? 73, John.

[@richardcoward7234]

It will be interesting to view the MLA-30+ results and comparing the figures and experience with the comments made in this video of the loops used, especially comparing the Wellbrook with the MLA-30+ as they are at the two extremes of cost and complexity. Great video and thanks for putting so much effort into doing all those comparisons. That must have taken quite some time… 👍🏻👏🏻

[@RedLine_Renesis]

The MLA-30+ is the very low end and way too cheap to make a significant comparison.

[@dave10524]

Some of these are 10X the price of the MLA30, are they 10X better ? I am quite satisfied with the performance of my MLA30 and K180WLA which also includes the UHF area , they sit on top of a bookcase indoors and powered by the biasT of my SDRPlay RSP2pro

[@4nradio782]

@@dave10524 The more expensive designs like the Wellbrook excel at low noise performance in challenging RF environments-- nearby powerful transmitters in an urban area as an example. With the Bonito and Wellbrook loops, any spurious images or overloading will more likely be from limitations in your receiver than the antenna. These higher quality, higher cost loops are also the choice for DXers seeking the very best signal-to-noise ratio on the weakest, and most challenging signals. I'm referring to true threshold level stations *barely* above the noise floor. These better loops will give you a fighting chance to pick out an ID or identifiable words because of their extremely low internal circuit noise (Wellbrook in particular). Lastly, the better loops typically have even, stable impedance and even sensitivity-- they will not vary much across a wide frequency range. Even the best brands of loops have differences between models. Here's an article and video of mine that demonstrates signal-to-noise differences between loop models on a weak DX signal: swling.com/blog/2015/11/guest-post-wellbrook-1530lnpro-vs-ala1530s-imperium-loop-antennas/ The MLA30 and K180WLA are great values however, for the bulk of SWLing and program listening needs; they're hard to beat for the cost. The "hard core" DXer however will choose an antenna that gives an edge to the weakest of signals, even with strong AM and FM transmitters in their local area.

[@tonymagnier9846]

I have both the MLA30+ and the W6LVP (comparable to a Wellbrook) and for the lower freqs below the 160m band the MLA just doesn't compare for MW and LW signals, the W6LVP is streets ahead. For SWL the MLA30+ has a higher noise floor and gets overloaded, with it's default gain, much more easily than W6LVP which is overall a much better magnetic loop.

[@donaldhoot7741]

@@RedLine_Renesis No, not really! I have one it is very good!

[@wolfgangHB9RYZ]

Hello - I was trying to use it not as loop with two 1m long rod left and right - but I had to much noise (intermodulation) - so I'm going to make now the loop with 2.5m long wire. 73 de HB9RYZ, Wolfgang

[@christher69]

Nice test! I know this could be hard since those are no longer available but it would be intresting to see a test between Datong AD370 vs Megadipole vs Bluewave //73

[@tommycheshire5508]

What a through review. Great science. Thank you so very much.

[@georgedietz6767]

Mike have you or anyone else used the w6lvp with the rspdx?

[@jopeirson7950]

Thanks for very helpful video. I have an SDRplay and also a magnetic loop antenna the MFJ 1886, also a MLA-30+. I see that there will be a test coming for the MLA 30, will there be a test for the MFJ 1886 as well sometime.

[@SDRplayRSP]

The MFJ loop was featured in an earlier video on using the RSPduo for antenna comparisons. It is a very good antenna for HF.

[@jopeirson7950]

@@SDRplayRSP Thank you.

[@tlebryk]

Why not test at night more? Lacking any kind of stress test to push/reveal limitations of the electronics. Ease of setup was good but so is a loop-on-ground wire antenna with appropriate balun and antenna Amp. I use a 9 foot diameter 3-conductor wire (wires connected in series, 84 feet total length) with the Welbrook Medium Aperture Amp and I can pick up faint signals from Thailand to Midwest USA and it fits in a small backpack if needed. What about DX capability of these loops??? Individual faint-signal audio of truly long distance broadcasts would have been helpful.

[@SoCalFreelance]

Mike's neighbors must think he's a deep cover facility for GCHQ 😂

[@Mike-H_UK]

My wife told them that I was trying to communicate with aliens. I'm not sure whether that clarified anything!

[@SoCalFreelance]

@@Mike-H_UK 👽👍

[@simonwright4710]

I notice you didn't use the rsp bias-t to power the ccw head unit without the preamplifier. The preamplifier is not required with an rsp units that have bias-t. Also using bias-t on a rsp with laa+ doesn't allow for vlf reception. This is also stated on the website.

[@Mike-H_UK]

Correct. Chris Moulding from CCW recommended a 12V supply from an unamplified Bias-T for the best results, so that is what we did for this test. That's not to say that the internal RSP Bias-T shouldn't be used, just I wanted to show each loop at its best for this comparison.

[@tonymagnier9846]

@@Mike-H_UK the Bias-t on the RSPdx supplies only 5v and not 12v is that correct?

[@Mike-H_UK]

@@tonymagnier9846 The RSPs provide 4.7V but after voltage drops across two inductors it is closer to 4.5V at the LNA’s transistors. The CCW loop still works at this voltage but performance is impaired.

[@user-ve3of9vx2u]

In my view, the Wellbrook loop was the gold standard and perhaps still is. However, it's no longer in production. Might I suggest you expand your fine testing to include some other broadband loops that you've yet to test, but where are plug-and-play available: Chameleon RXL Pro W6LVP W6LVP MFJ MFJ-1886 DX Engineering DXE-RF-PRO-1B Thanks.

[@chrissuddell7940]

Do you want to try one of my 12v antenna rotators for one of your loops?

[@neilcoley9464]

More info on these please mate

[@chrissuddell7940]

@@neilcoley9464 www.radio-stuff.com/product-page/Radio-Stuff-12v-antenna-rotator

[@braddarnell736]

What about the W6LVP loop ?

[@Mike-H_UK]

A Wellbrook vs W6LVP shootout would be very interesting and, I think, informative.

[@braddarnell736]

@@Mike-H_UK agreed.

[@hamandshortwaveradioirelan4773]

Is it just me waiting for the sdruno to be developed for m1 Mac users? watching this excellent video I'm keen to get my rspdx back in action

[@SDRplayRSP]

It’s on the roadmap. Meanwhile CubicSDR runs well on the M1.

[@Mike-H_UK]

I ran all tests in this video on all four receivers simultaneously using my MacBook Pro with parallels.

[@hamandshortwaveradioirelan4773]

@@Mike-H_UK thanks for the info mike

[@mauricewilkes826]

I doubt if rule #3 at 5:05 is really true, I think it is wrong

[@dazedandconfused698]

A big thank you for all the work producing this, but I'm afraid it demonstrates very little for the following reasons and probably why not much difference between antennas has been found - 1. Why do the test during the day, when there are virtually no signals to hear- this has given very little basis for comparison. Surely what most people want to know is which antenna picks up those weak and distant signals the best and needs to be done at night. 2. Comparing visible spectrum displays is not an entirely reliable method of comparison of what can be heard, especially when looking at weak signals. I frequently find readable signals with no obvious sign of them in the spectrum e.g. NDBs Surely what we hear counts more than what we see on the spectrum.

[@Mike-H_UK]

I think that the reason for there being very little difference between all four configurations is that in every case, the loop areas are the same and the electronic noise is low in comparison to the combination of atmospheric noise and local interference. So, the limiting SNR (identical signal / (atmos. noise & interference)) is very similar for all four set-ups. I agree that there is much value to doing night measurements, but I received good signals on fourteen of the bands tested during the day, and I argued that since all four antennas were being equally advantaged/disadvantaged with the signals that were available, a comparison was still valid. Certainly, visible spectrum displays have their pros and cons in comparisons like these. The difficulty that I had using audio quality for a 4-way comparison on the amateur bands was that the signal normally didn't last long enough to grade all four antennas, whereas I could see all of the spectrums simultaneously and show the results. An alternative would have been to pick a reference antenna, and compare the other three antennas individually with the reference.

[@dazedandconfused698]

Understood. @@Mike-H_UK

[@africantwin173]

Wellbrook products cannot be ordered shipped to EU. Too much vat paperwork.

[@SDRplayRSP]

That’s true… part of the reason for comparing other contenders…