Tips for beginners: How to use Tecsun AN-200 loop antenna for better MW reception

[@calypso22]

Love your videos. I have been using the Tecsun for a number of years on my analog radios. Nice to see It is also effective on digital ones too. I played around and found that placing a small radio .UNDER the Tecsun loop seemed to work best.

[@swlistening]

Thank you so much for your kind comment! I have also found that if I hold a small radio inside the loop, it works very well, probably more or less the same effect as placing them under the loop. I think it's all about experimenting with different radios to find what works best. This loop is really great for MW DXing!

[@w8aq]

Thanks for the nice video. After many years of SWL and ham radio, I’m playing around with MW dx again and this was a good reminder. I enjoy all of your videos, primarily because you focus on very affordable radios and tools. Keep it up. 73 from the USA

[@swlistening]

Thank you so much, glad you enjoyed it!

[@F4LDT-Alain]

Thanks a lot André, I just received my AN-200 and this tutorial is extremely useful to me.

[@swlistening]

Sure Alain! Have fun with the AN-200! I really enjoy mine.

[@johanleroux179]

Hi Andre. Thank you for an interesting post & comparison. I finally received my AN200 antenna on Friday (AliExpress) and tried it out over the weekend with my XHDATA D-808. I was aware of warnings that the difference in performance might not be significant, but I was pleasantly surprised at the improved reception and the additional fine tuning capabilities! I would also recommend this addition to anyone interested. Keep up the posts!

[@swlistening]

Thanks Johan, I am glad that the AN-200 works for you on the XHDATA D-808! It does still make a difference on that radio, even though the difference is not as great as with smaller radios. As you say, I think the fine tuning capabilities are very useful, I have found, specifically on the XHDATA D-808, that I can sometimes pick up two different signals on the same frequency by just fine tuning the AN-200.

[@Dan40049]

I have a similar MW loop antenna. They really are so useful, esp for overseas DX catches.

[@swlistening]

I agree! They work very well to bring in very distant MW signals. With mine I have even picked up Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain and România, right here in South Africa!

[@Mesa_Mike]

One of the useful features of a loop antenna is to null out a pest station so you can hear a different station coming from a different direction. To do this you need to make sure the axis of the internal loopstick antenna is pointing in the same direction as the axis of the external loop. Usually the internal ferrite loopstick goes horizontally across the top of the radio, so that would mean placing the radio perpendicular to the plane of the loop. Then rotate the loop and radio together as shown in the video using a book or lazy susan.

[@swlistening]

Thanks Mike!

[@nordmende73]

Thank you very much!

[@swlistening]

You're welcome!

[@oconnormcgee2549]

Thank you

[@swlistening]

It's my pleasure! Thanks for watching.

[@FamtechVideos]

Thanks for the video!

[@swlistening]

Sure!

[@FamtechVideos]

@@swlistening I can see your book you used. I have identified it. It is: Cartographia Mapping Civilizations by Vincent Virga and the Library of Congress. I am not sure if it is the standard or special edition.

[@swlistening]

@@FamtechVideos You have a very good eye for detail! I think I have the standard edition.

[@FamtechVideos]

@@swlistening I like to inspect unknown objects to me, so I start from the tiny parts of it, then I saw the author and I found the book by having a look with the list of books the author wrote with the US Library of Congress. Then, I saw the front cover, and it had a perfect match. That is pretty much it. I try doing this with random objects in videos, and mostly I find it. It is a fun process.

[@JohnGreen-SWL]

An alternative inexpensive boost to your MW signal level is to use about five turns of wire about 50 to 60 mm in diameter connect one end to an endfed or whatever external antenna you have and place the coil close to the ends of the internal ferrite rod antenna In most cases runs at top of the radio horizontally. This is called inductive coupling to the ferrite rod antenna. The other end of the five turn coil can be connected to an earth wire.

[@swlistening]

Thanks John, this is a helpful tip for anyone who wants an inexpensive MW antenna!

[@ArnieDXer]

When I DX MW on a portable, I do something similar, i.e. I have a coil of enameled wire wound on a ferrite rod. If you have a coaxial cable to bring the signal from an external antenna to your shack, you can strip the enamel off both ends of the coil, connect one end to the center conductor od the coax, and another end to the braid, and place the coil right on your radio, as close to its on ferrite rod as possible. Works even better than the AN-200 🤠

[@swlistening]

@@ArnieDXer Sounds like an interesting idea!

[@FamtechVideos]

I thought it would have been much thinner wire used. I am trying to make my own one, what is the wire gauge? BWG or AWG is ok.

[@FamtechVideos]

@@ArnieDXer Interesting.

[@georgeg.5488]

Can you suggest a decent antenna to pair w/ a ats25max-decoderll for shortwave? For apartment use indoors.

[@swlistening]

Hi George, I don't own an ATS 25 Max, so I cannot speak from experience. But for use indoor use, the MLA30+ is hard to beat, it works really well if you can place it near a window. I think it might be a good option for you.

[@georgeg.5488]

@@swlistening fantastic I will definitely be looking into. Thank you for your time and all your help

[@swlistening]

@@georgeg.5488 Sure!

[@georgeg.5488]

What will happen to either the radio or the antenna if you accidentally hook it up to FM briefly

[@swlistening]

Hi George, nothing will happen. But you will not hear your FM stations clearly, as this antenna only receives MW frequencies.

[@georgeg.5488]

@@swlistening thanks for the info. My fm button was depressed by accident while I had a passive loop connected. Thanks for the info , like your ch.

[@swlistening]

@@georgeg.5488 Sure George, and thanks!

[@CSIS-Spy]

Does this work well with SW?

[@swlistening]

Hi Jason. No, it does not work for shortwave at all, it is only for MW. The MLA30+ loop antenna is a very good option for shortwave. Or a random wire!

[@jacek222245]

is it also for better FM reception?

[@swlistening]

Hi Jacek, no, this antenna only improves MW reception, it works from 520 kHz to 1710 kHz.

[@tomweickmann6414]

Very nice. Now hook up both to a motorized 360° turret tied into a universal remote, with LEDs flashing on top corresponding to signal strength. Bluetooth feedback for audio, if you wish. G'Day.

[@swlistening]

Thanks Tom, this sounds like a very nice, high-tech plan to turn my MW listening into an art form 😁

[@bobhomer5008]

I use a lazy susan, makes rotating much quicker.

[@swlistening]

Hi Bob, a Lazy Susan is a very good idea indeed!

[@lonnieclemens8028]

How does it connect to the radio?

[@swlistening]

Hi Lonnie, it connects inductively, you can just place it close to the radio and then it connects. Here is a video where I show how: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q52caHZ9Yr11qsk

[@RalphCZ]

i tried it, but it gived me worse signal than on normal built-in reciver antena.

[@swlistening]

Thank you for your comment Ralph. It might be that your loop picks up too much electrical noise. From electrical equipment like computers or TVs. Perhaps you can try to switch off as many as possible electrical appliances while you are listening. I also suggest that you keep trying different positions for the loop as you pair it with your radio. Also, there are just a few radios where the loop does not seems to make a very big difference, like on my XHDATA D-808 the difference is quite small. Last tip, tuning the loop takes some practice, the tuning is very sensitive, so you should tune very slowly, as precisely as possible. I have really had very good catches with this loop.

[@RalphCZ]

@@swlistening i tried to move it around on 2X VEF 206, Rossia 303, and Tesla Eminent (minimally improved signal on this radio), and on Tomson walkman too. i tried it connect using cable to Selena B211 (doed nothing) and the old Tesla Máj (not working too). It helped me only outside when radio was on max volume, with antena was everything louder.

[@RalphCZ]

​@@swlistening https:/youtu .be/8ON3DXCasjw , https:/youtu .be/Wd8iS_A1QA4, on first video i tried it in house, in second on balcony.

[@swlistening]

@@RalphCZ I am wondering whether there might be a problem with your loop, maybe some problems with the capacitor inside... I tried to follow your video links that you sent me, but they don't seem to open, I don't know why.

[@RalphCZ]

@@swlistening on video links you must add one / to https:/ and remove space before .be because youtube sometimes remove comments with links. I buyed antenna before one week, my antenna that i build haved same result.

[@juliocesartorresvaldez3158]

it doesn't work it's a fraud

[@swlistening]

Hi Julio, maybe you got a fake version, because it works really well. I pull in stations with this one that I cannot hear with the regular internal ferrite antennas.