The handheld radio shown in the picture above is used for demonstration only and is NOT included with the antenna. We also want to mention that the antenna housing may vary with either black or white depending upon what is supplied to us from the maker.
If you have a handheld wideband radio receiver, you will typically notice that the unit will work well on the upper bands (30 MHz and upward) in the FM, VHF, and UHF frequencies. However, while most handhelds can receive the medium wave and shortwave frequencies, reception is less than optimum and can be outright very poor when using the supplied manufacturer antenna. If you are like us, you have replaced the original Rubber Duck or telescopic whip antenna with other variations trying to improve HF performance in the amateur and SW bands. We have even traveled with more than one antenna to swap in for such purposes. However, despite this, you will find reception to be suboptimal or even very poor.
This active ferrite antenna was designed to offer an alternative for HF reception from 3.5 - 18.0 MHz to enable you to grab those signals from your favorite shortwave or amateur 80 - 20 meter bands. Reception with this antenna is much better and you can typically copy many more signals that would otherwise be unavailable using the antenna supplied by the radio's manufacturer. During our testing, we discovered a large difference between the stock antenna and what this active ferrite antenna could deliver. Receive signals were stronger, and signals missed with standard antennas, were heard and copyable.
The antenna uses a BNC connector that is common on handheld scanning radios. If your handheld does not have a BNC connector, you may be required to purchase a SMA to BNC adapter to use this antenna and such an adapter is available elsewhere here on Ebay. The active ferrite uses a 23A alkaline battery which will provide approximately 65 hours of operation and which is supplied with the antenna. Extra batteries are available from our Ebay store or elsewhere here on Ebay.
To operate the antenna, you press the button on the top to power it on. An LED illuminates to indicate the power status and then you merely turn the knob to peak the signal.
Please note that this is a "RECEIVE ONLY" antenna and cannot be used with a handheld unit that transmits a signal. You will be required to retain your original receive antenna for use on the lower bands such as 500 KHz - 3.5 MHz or from 18.0 MHz HF plus FM / VHF / UHF.
Here is a list of features for this active antenna:
- Frequency range 3.5 - 18.0 MHz
- Very high gain & very high sensitivity
- Sharp tuning also acts as front end filter
- Low noise 200mm ferrite
- Low power consumption draws ONLY 0.7 mA
- Operates 65 hours before battery replacement
- On / Off switch
- LED power indicator
- BNC connector
- Low noise circuit includes FM broadcast rejection (great performance in high signal areas such as cities)
- SMD design
- Directional to peak and null signals
Because this is an active antenna, it is subject to much RF noise found in the household such as lighting, computers, TV's etc. While it can be used in many households, we have found it works much better outside for that daily stroll, walking the dog, trip to the park, or hike in the mountains. During testing, we noticed a nice signal improvement and the meter on the handheld displayed a stronger signal than any other factory we attempted to use. Your results may vary depending upon the brand and model of handheld and what antenna you had previously utilized.
Some examples of handheld radios that may use this antenna:
- Icom IC-R10
- Icom IC-R20
- Icom IC-R30 (with SMA to BNC adapter installed)
- AOR AR8200
- Alinco DJX-2000
- Kenwood TH-D74
- Yaesu VR-500
- Yupiteru MVT-9000
- any other wideband handheld that receives HF signals
Here is a video demonstrating the active ferrite in operation, but on a different receiving band:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOsmrc297Kg (please copy and paste link into your browser)
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