Page 1 of 1
Portable MW antenna?
Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 11:06 am
by AmRadiant
Hello all, it can be a silly question, but I'll try...
What do you think about "portable" antenna for MW? Of course with a tiny fraction of power irradiated (with a tx about 500 mW- 1W out) and 200-300 meters (at best) of rx radius...
With a car, is better a (very) short vertical antenna (1.5 - 2 meters) with a big inductor, or a magnetic loop with diameter circa 1 mt (and a lot of coil)?
I'm curious about your opinion..
Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 12:24 pm
by pcs
Not feasible, can't bend the laws of physics.
Posted: Thu May 11, 2006 8:32 am
by AmRadiant
maybe I've defeated the law... but my tx 0.8W whit a dummy load in very open space make about 100-120 meters.
Coaxial cable was only 2 meters.
Posted: Thu May 11, 2006 11:46 am
by pcs
Sorry, did not read carefully and did not see what range you wanted. As a general rule of thumb you need a big antenna to have good range on MW band. A couple hundred meters might work with a smaller type. Antenna tuner might be useful.
https://www.pcs-electronics.com/shop/am ... ansmitter/
With this balun you only need to add wire to make a half wave dipole.
It covers well below 1.8MHz no problem.
Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 8:41 am
by AmRadiant
many thanks for suggests, I've see some interesting objects, too

Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 8:48 am
by AmRadiant
MFJ 945E 1.6-60MHz 300W antenna tuner can work in the upper region of MW (1593 and up)?
Do you import Autek antenna analyzer?
Thanks!
Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 10:50 am
by pcs
Its usable under 1500 as well. We have what's there for now.
Can't bend the laws of physics, but maybe squish them :-)
Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 4:25 am
by Low Power Radio Guy
One approach to reducing the physical length of the antenna is to play with the electrical length through the use of tuned loading coils. There are losses, of course (damn physics!) but you might find a trade off you'll accept.
Commercial units from Carl the AM Antenna Guy:
http://antenna18431.tripod.com/antenna.htm
and Texas Bugcatcher:
http://www.texasbugcatcher.com/cata/tbcspec.htm
and some arguing about it here:
http://part15.us/node/1583
and here:
http://part15.us/node/876
and here:
http://part15.us/node/1605
and here:
http://part15.us/node/1535
More info on my blog:
http://lowpowerradio.blogspot.com/2008/ ... tenna.html
Which has links to this site as well
