Shortwave radio antenna and ground demonstration

Рет қаралды 78,964

SDRplay Software Defined Radio Receiver

Күн бұрын

This video shows what can be achieved with a simple wire antenna for Shortwave Radio Listening. It also shows the practical impact of having a good "ground" or "counterpoise" when connecting a wire antenna to a radio.
This is one of many video guides 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 KZfaq Channel is: / sdrplayrsp

Пікірлер: 192

@railgap 3 жыл бұрын

The one best, most consistent advice I see from the "elmers" (the presumably wise and experienced hams who have seen what works and what hasn't) is this: "first and foremost, before you spend money or effort on anything else, put up the best possible antenna you can, working against the best possible ground you can. Once you've done that, if there is any money left over, you can buy a radio."

@panzerdivizzion 3 жыл бұрын

I can't wait untill my neighbors ask why I'm watering my antenna. I'm starting an antenna farm. Lol.

@parvezhusnoo8581 3 ай бұрын

One of the best demonstration on shortwave antenna I have seen so far. Thank you. You made my day.

@migalito1955 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks for having engineered the SDRPlay and having manufactured the unit in a manner that is nearly universally affordable! Your demo was a very nice primer too. I found the water experiment to be interesting and wondered what rock salt added to the mix might have produced. In closing, being a watercolorist I could not but help notice the two apparently original watercolor paintings to the right of the mag-loop with respect to the interior location of the loop in the video footage.

@SDRplayRSP 5 жыл бұрын

I think the water conductivity is already pretty good. And yes my other half is a watercolourist - not me!

@TruthVSLies Жыл бұрын

Best shortwave antenna video on KZfaq! Thank you 👍

@esuohdica 3 жыл бұрын

One of the most useful antenna comparison videos i've ever seen! Thanks for posting

@dannyshortwave 6 жыл бұрын

Very excellent demonstration of setting up a simple wire antenna and also your grounding technique. Thank you, Sir.

@user-ss6zt2mo1l 4 жыл бұрын

I have my RSP1a hooked up to my 34 foot Amateur Radio Vertical with 60 radials. I LOVE ❤️ this little receiver !! I also have the radio going through my Antenna transmatch so the signal is matched on every frequency. I do have to unhook it after every listening session. Amazing DX at night on all bands. I also built a small transmitting Loop that works portable :)

@F4LDT-Alain 11 ай бұрын

Commenting on an old video, but I've just discovered it when I was wondering what I could use beyond the long wire antennas that come bundled with some hand-held receivers. This video is very interesting and instructive and it shows how good results can be obtained using nothing but garage stuff. Thanks a lot.

@PierluigiChecchi 4 жыл бұрын

These are the videos you would never want to end! Thank you John!

@raymondl.3014 5 жыл бұрын

Thank you for showing that a receive antenna need not be complicated nor expensive, and yet will produce good results.

@TexasTimelapse 5 жыл бұрын

You answered all my questions in one video. Thanks!

@JeffHochberg 5 жыл бұрын

Wonderful video! Thanks for putting this together. Wherever you live is absolutely gorgeous! Such a wonderful backyard!

@Zone1242 6 жыл бұрын

Great video. I've got the Wellbroook hooked up to my RSP2pro and I'm very happy with the results.

@freeslave8824 3 жыл бұрын

Excellent video. Best coverage on this subject I've ever seen. Blessings!

@antonioliriololi 5 ай бұрын

Old radios used to have one plug for the aerial antenna and another plug for the ground antenna

@AmitSingh-zn1kz 3 жыл бұрын

I am impressed by your three demonstrations. I did not realize they will be so effective. Thank you.

@RichardDHerring 4 жыл бұрын

Wonderfully practical, informative, and clear. You pulled off the Trifecta .... as we say in the States. Thanks!

@warrencaldwell8753 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much! Your video enlightened me on ground plane and grounds. I’m new to this and your simple demonstration cleared up a lot of questions I have had. Sometimes the easy methods of explanation are so much better than detailed (or too much) information.

@KT-ut9zg 2 жыл бұрын

Great! Simplest explanation without any extra stuff to complicate it, like baluns etc. Gives a chance to absorb the basics first.

@Nash-jz4ym 6 жыл бұрын

Thank you! I didn't know that grounding is so importandt for a receiving antenna.

@robertl.fallin7062 6 жыл бұрын

Nash102030 ... not sure the ground he has is good. I am on heavy soil with a clay substrata 36 inches down. I have a serious 72 inch cooper rod with only a couple of inches left above ground level and a heavy duty clamp. The difference was a s5 noise reduction .

@stevenpucci1 4 жыл бұрын

@@robertl.fallin7062 Well dude prolly got tired.. Give'm a break. ;)

@michaeladams372 3 жыл бұрын

You sir are brilliant. I love your products!

@ericvaneupen9986 4 ай бұрын

Top notch video, crystal clear explanation by a professional. Many thanks!

@maryrafuse3851 Жыл бұрын

Absolutely fascinating, especially the role water can play in making your ground rod more effective. I live in Nova Scotia Canada, a place where the soil is wetter than in many other locations, especially in Spring & Fall. By the Atlantic Ocean we are one of the best places in the world for AM and SW listening. I really appreciate your tutorial on the importance of a good ground or counterpoise. You are a great teacher, thankyou.

@mukeshvig174 Жыл бұрын

Simply amazing. Thank you for explaining it so passionately. 👍👍

@tommycheshire5508 4 жыл бұрын

A very kind offering that you have given us. I learn a valuable information, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. N4KBM.

@sreekumarUSA 5 жыл бұрын

Sir, Greetings from California. Thank you for the demonstration.

@AghaKhan9 3 жыл бұрын

I love you man... Many things are clear about the radios to me now.

@LarryMassey 5 жыл бұрын

Very good job, explanation are easy to understand & informative.

@lamina666 4 жыл бұрын

This video helped me out a lot. Thanks for making it.

@ibgeorgeb Жыл бұрын

Excellent video. You answered a question I had about grounding a long wire antenna. 👍🏾

@lawrencethompson465 6 жыл бұрын

Excellent and should be very helpful for many.

@dalesworld1308 5 жыл бұрын

Great demonstration. Much better than a plain long wire.

@bigkamran 3 жыл бұрын

Very good demonstration of the ground wire contribution to noise reduction. Not many KZfaq discuss this fact and they just say just hang long wire on a tree and attach it to the radio ( no mention of either ground or poise wires)

@michaellogue2254 2 жыл бұрын

Excellent demonstration, Thank you!

@ZonaEA 10 ай бұрын

Thank you for sharing this experiment. Bravo!❤

@toma60641 5 жыл бұрын

Excellent video! Thank you!

@tomclarke1848 Жыл бұрын

A brilliant demo, thank you very much!

@ronanmurphy4342 Жыл бұрын

Great video, very informative and helpful. Thanks Ronan

@andrewgardner7104 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for all your time and effort.

@johngooch6612 6 жыл бұрын

This demonstration would be a very useful tool when teaching an amateur radio class for beginners through advanced operators. Very well done sir. John AA8YE

@seasparrow7427 2 ай бұрын

Absolutely great video!

@1000left 5 жыл бұрын

Very well done!!! Thank you!!!!

@MagicRoosterBluesBand Жыл бұрын

Thank you for all this information! Cheers.

@MAGNETAR-187 5 ай бұрын

I never knew Shortwave listening could be this fun!

@4nradio782 6 жыл бұрын

Excellent demo! Thank you for sharing the various approaches. I enjoy my Wellbrook antennas at home and on DXpeditions but for hiking with a portable setup, a quick and easy ground plane would be a good way to help reception with a random wire.

@ralphwilmot6351 4 жыл бұрын

Helpful demo as I have just bought a rsp1a and a good earth helped a lot. So many WiFi signals close by does not help but the software helped attenuate these levels after tweaking. Tnx 73

@mxcollin95 8 ай бұрын

Great video! Thanks for posting. 👍

@GG-vx7gi 2 жыл бұрын

Very informative video. While I understand the theory of ground or counterpoise, it really is helpful to see a real world demonstration.

@SCzxjk 4 жыл бұрын

Very good practical advice👍

@beachz101 6 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much! This was very helpful!

@seamusjames9390 3 жыл бұрын

Excellent, thank you for the demo !

@manixware 6 ай бұрын

Excellent video without using expensive options for the sdrplay. My dx is enroute. Look forward

@lendavidhart9710 5 жыл бұрын

Thank you for posting, i really appreciate it, i am very interested in radio, this is very informative.

@glenngoodale1709 6 жыл бұрын

As always, awesome video .... 😍

@techtinkerin Жыл бұрын

Great demo exactly what I needed to know! Subbed❤️👍😎

@AlexandreAlvesNeto Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the excellent video

@spib65 5 жыл бұрын

superb demo, many thanks

@timcollingwood6158 4 жыл бұрын

Hi well done really enjoyed this Regards Tim

@ashishnanta6575 Ай бұрын

I did it, it's really doing amazing work 😊

@DennyJMcFerr 5 жыл бұрын

Great video, thanks for sharing.

@TheOpenAirGarage 6 жыл бұрын

Excellent information!!

@void_00000 4 жыл бұрын

Fantastic video

@haythamchannel3553 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the amazing video sw frequency antenna

@ut4646 4 жыл бұрын

fantastic video.

@christianredhat 5 жыл бұрын

Excellent video thankyou

@8151noname 2 жыл бұрын

Great video, thanks very much.

@Emanemoston Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the video.

@Ray-VK3CEO 6 жыл бұрын

Good info for beginners, It doesn't take much effort to receive a good signal, also magnetic loops are bi-directional, the signal can be peaked by turning the loop.

@rushyashringa 3 жыл бұрын

Simple but very efficient technique Sir

@sarahjrandomnumbers 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for this, I've been looking for a video that shows the difference in signal before and after using a ground rod. Too many videos just show them putting a rod in but don't compare before and after. Going to CEF later so I'll grab a rod while I'm there :).

@moggridge1 5 жыл бұрын

Fascinating!

@robertl.fallin7062 5 жыл бұрын

Well worth watching ! I will say the sdrplay is a very fine swl receiver no matter what antenna and ground you can muster. I would pay BIG for a version with scanning function.

@SDRplayRSP 5 жыл бұрын

We hope to release scanning software in the next few weeks (next release of SDRuno)

@Dr_Thamminana_KR 5 жыл бұрын

Excellent

@DE-iv8if 5 жыл бұрын

Interesting Video!

@medo123345 3 жыл бұрын

👍very good work.

@gleep83 2 жыл бұрын

A great, practical video explaining this at last! Why does the grounding improve the signal?

@SDR-DXobserver 6 жыл бұрын

High noise floor when using a wire, even if it is connected to a (real) earth or a counterpoise. The loop is the best all round antenna and as you call it "an option" it is far better compared to a simple wire. Also the loop in this version is a wideband antenna. It is the Signal to Noise ratio that gives good radio reception and the loop is always better compared to a wire antenna. As you can see in the video the noise floor of the loop is almost 30 dB lower compared to te wire so it will hear even the small signals on the air. Yes, there is the simplicity and low cost of a wire, but that is its only quality. The loop only uses ample space and is producing superiour signals, but it is more expensive. Nice video Jon but we can barely see the noise floor but lucky for us the S/N ratio indication of SDRuno shows us the quality of the received signals.

@02vLxcZF 2 жыл бұрын

How do discones compare to loops? For reception only, they seem to cover larger bandwidth and they also are cheaper

@SDRplayRSP 2 жыл бұрын

@@02vLxcZF Active mag loops are superb for HF and (depending on the design) below - see kzfaq.info/get/bejne/l9GpbNaHuJbWhIk.html Discones can work well above 10MHz (depending on the design) and are excellent wideband non-directional antennas for VHF and above. More about antennas here: www.sdrplay.com/antennasuggestions/

@MicheIIePucca Жыл бұрын

Oh.. interesting. We bought some 10ft ground rods for our upcoming antenna system (not sure what we'll use), but will definitely have a good grounding system (and bond it to our home ground).

@Ei2iP Жыл бұрын

Excellent, folk really don't understand the importance of ground the outer coax of an antenna, it makes a huge difference in signal to noise.

@rjinnh3933 4 жыл бұрын

Illuminating!

@Kamakzie1976 6 жыл бұрын

Hello thank you for the video first off. I'm setting this up tomorrow hopefully and I'm using a 9 to 1 balun from an eBay seller named lowbander. He uses a separate built-in ground connection and I am going to use 125 feet approximately of wire running down my neighbors 7 foot tall stockade fence. I got his permission of course LOL. I'm looking forward to this. I also bought a ground rod and some 8 gauge wire to ground it once the authorities mark the natural gas line. I'm starting out with a RTL-SDR v3 but I am either getting a RSP1A or and RSP2 soon.

@saxmusicmail Ай бұрын

The counterpoise is the missing half of a half wavelength dipole. Quarter wave in the air, the other side, counterpoise, quarter wave on the ground.

@AnirudhSharma1976 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you sir for this fantastic suggestion,can you please help what to do for portable telescopic counterpoise ànd ground.

@TheGmr140 3 жыл бұрын

that would of been a great test to compare the wire and ground , with a loop antenna. from my trials, the loop always wins, cause i can lower noise.

@mikepeirson1150 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the video very helpful as a newbie to SDR. I have just had my RSP 1A delivered yesterday. I am always mucking around with random wire antennas into my Tecsun S2000. I am looking forward to using this piece of apparatus, looks really interesting. Just wondering whether the use of a 9:1 Unun would be needed here, or my homemade ATU both which I use for my receiver, sorry for my ignorance on this. Thanks again.

@chuckyzzz 6 жыл бұрын

Very good, I am off to experiment.

@mhappy01 6 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the demo. What about on a plastic/fibreglass/carbon boat? is the size of the magnetic loop a factor?

@catalinalb1722 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you for this informative video, still I have some questions: 1 with the longwire antenna by using a 9:1 balun will increase the reception or this js mainly used for transit purposes? 2 using the grounding connector from the outlet will induce any risks? 3 using a tuner unit like the Yaesu FRG 7700 will help or isn't needed for RSP1A? 4 I have a DIY magloop from a 2m copper (18mm in diameter) pipe and a 1000pF variable capacitor connected to the RSP1A. Is there the risk of burning the RSP1A (front-end)? Thank you Catalin

@bigkamran 3 жыл бұрын

Is 100 feet an optimal length for majority of SW bands? And if so what should be the size of the counter poise? Btw a great video and thanks for sharing ( I have more space if needed to add to the length +100 +? )

@EastAngliaUK 4 жыл бұрын

would you like a station playing music on short wave and would it go far?

@harrystevens3885 4 жыл бұрын

You can get 20m washing line strong plastic coated steel core for £1.50p.from ASDA at the time of writing. It's whats going on my 4 band valve radio for SW listening.

@mattm5941 4 жыл бұрын

if you live in appartment you can also use copper water pipes as a ground

@deenunya7735 4 жыл бұрын

Just what ive been looking for as not licenced yet , My cave is Box room on 1st Floor , throwing the Wire up n over the Rooof be ok?, Also coukd it be Earthed to a Radiater or Water Pipe to the Rad?

@Soupie62 Жыл бұрын

Loved this! The only thing missing was a Balun / Unun.

@SDRplayRSP Жыл бұрын

You are right... although it is of secondary benefit. :-)

@Soupie62 Жыл бұрын

@@SDRplayRSP True, it only becomes important when you have a transmitter, and start to worry about SWR.

@jeanphi0078 Жыл бұрын

Thank you very much for this very interesting video and the need of ground connection. It is simple and obvious. By the way, I am seen some people using balun 9/1 or 49/1. Why you do not propose such balun ?

@SDRplayRSP Жыл бұрын

Baluns do add additional benefits with matching but the improvements are secondary to what you get by having a good ground when using wire antennas.

@lomgshorts3 4 жыл бұрын

A more efficient and easier ground stake would be: A 3/4" copper pipe hydrodrilled into the ground 6', the hole around the pipe filled with bentonite clay (cat litter, usually), and several teaspoons of copper sulfate mixed with the clay. This really works with bad ground conductivity (sandy, or limestone type ground surfaces) as the copper sulfate improves contact with the earth ground as it slowly leaches into the dirt. Add water to the clay copper sulfate mixture to get it working. Shortwave radio stations that do not place a metal ground mesh 1' under the ground use this, but multiplied 36 times in a 360 degree fan around their antenna, one stake every 10 degrees. It works, cause I've used it around vertically polarized antennas for decades.

@anulearntech 5 ай бұрын

Thanks, is there anything i can do if my radio doesn't have an antenna socket? It has AC in, 12 volt dc in, headphone jack, audio in and battery compartment.

@modellerdesign 4 ай бұрын

If you will connect any antenna just with center conductor, you will get attenuation of a signal....

@andylinton2798 5 жыл бұрын

Good demo. Of course, while you say a 'good ground', the initial 20cm of earth rod in the ground isn't a 'good' ground. Better would be to drive that rod in further, or use several rods and link them.