Upgrade Version Loop Antenna MLA-30+ Plus 0.5-30MHz Rainproof Ring Active Receive Antenna Low Noise Medium Short Wave

I bought this antenna specifically for the annual AMRRON T-REX exercise to receive messages on HF. I'm so happy with it that I bought another a week later as a backup. The suburbs are known to be RF-noisy environments, but this antenna performed excellent in my suburban backyard, attached to a shortwave radio. I received more messages during this year's exercise than in the past with a long-wire antenna. This antenna could be easily hidden in plain sight if you live in a HOA. Note: This antenna is receive-only! However, pairing this antenna with a shortwave radio WITH SSB! (single sideband), and a computer running Fldigi software, will get you valuable information when you need it most, even if voice communications can't be made. Google "Fldigi" and "JS8call" to learn how to receive digital text messages without the Internet!

I have been using this antenna for a few weeks now so here is a review. My receiver is an SDRPLAY RSP with multiple antenna inputs so it is easy to compare the MLA-30+ with my other HF antenna, a ~40 foot (not carefully measured) length of wire strung over a tree branch in a sort of distorted inverted V pattern. It has a ground. I first tried the MLA-30+ indoors. Compared to the wire outdoors, the MLA-30+ was much worse, so plan to mount the MLA-30+ outdoors for good reception. I first tried the MLA-30+ outdoors on some PVC stuck into a flower pot about 6 feet from the ground. That worked pretty well, but I moved the antenna to the side of my house about 15 feet up. This is a little better still.In this configuration, the MLA-30+ often outperforms the wire but usually by a relatively small margin. The signal from the MLA-30+ is usually weaker than the signal from the wire but also has less noise. Occasionally, the MLA-30+ is significantly better than the wire, making a large difference in listening experience. It is rare for the reverse to be true.I detect no systematic performance difference between the wire and the MLA-30+ for digital modes such as WSPR and FT8. Both easily receive signals from across the continental USA (I am in Texas) and occasionally receive signals from around the world as far as Antarctica, Africa, Japan, and Australia.The MLA-30+ requires power. Normally, I use the unit that comes with the MLA-30+ powered from a Raspberry Pi USB. I also tested the MLA-30+ powered via the BIAS-T from the SDRPLAY which supplies only 5V rather than the 12V intended for the MLA-30+. The 5V supply works pretty well based on limited testing. The signal is lower than with 12V but so is the noise.The MLA-30+ is an MW/HF antenna and (no surprise) does not work well outside those frequency ranges. The wire is also best for MW/HF, but it works better than the MLA-30+ at lower and somewhat higher frequencies. For example, the wire receives the VHF air band (~121 MHz) and WWVB (60 KHz) usefully. The MLA-30+ does not.In summary, the MLA-30+ works better for me than my ~40 foot piece of wire strung over a tree, but not hugely so. It's fun to play with and sometimes is better, so I do not regret the purchase. Antennas are finicky things so your experience will likely vary.

Great signals and can rotate to null out unwanted signals. Also low noise and a awesome bargain.

I live using this antenna. It’s situated on a 10’ piece of 3/4” electrical conduit mounted on an existing 4x4 post at ~13 feet , about 12’ from the foundation. It rivals my 70’ longwire terminated in a 9:1 balun with an adequate ground. Looking to use a cold water pipe for my signal ground. Antenna is grounded thru a gas discharge tube. Not the radio. So i use three radio to play and this antenna makes them all perform well. Including a 35 year old radio shack DX-390. The most important area to work is your antenna system. I started with a piece of 18 guage wire out my up stairs window. I’ve progressed., if your into radio you will too. So get a radio, use this antenna and have fun. First night i picked up Eastern Europe at over 7,400 km. 500 Kw station. Its rated for .5-30 Mhz and it dont seem to be able to grab any LW signals but im in the suburbs and there is a elevated noise floor but its on my bucket list. Ill get there.The antenna needs height so get it as high as you can. Note electrical storms. I unplug mine and its spring here in Central New York and we had a tornado warning yesterday. Lightning for sure. Use common sense.,Its easy to set up. Antenna in, to radio out & a charging port because it feeds on a USB charger. ( 5 Vdc) thats all there is. And there is a single line from the antenna to your radio area so convenient to supply power. I assembled my antenna and got it up and runyin a few hours after a trip to Home Depot. Note it will terminate in small coax, SMA so youll need a female sma connector to connect to the feed output. I purchased on amazon for under $10. True.If the occasion arises and i need to ill get this one again.

Good antenna for the price. Works well for me, quiet, good reception and doesn't take a lot of space. Cat beat it for the money, I've been a ham operator for decades and have experimented with many antenna designs and though there is no "magic" with antennas, this one does the job very well and for little cash.

As instructed by several SW enthusiasts, I mounted the loop antenna on a 6' length of PVC. I couldn't be happier with the reception and have been routinely pulling in signals from transmitters 100s of miles away. This low-cost antenna can aid in strengthening your MW signals as well. I would enthusiastically recommend this product!

I originally purchased this small loop out of curiosity and as a backup receive antenna for 630 meters (474kHz). It actually did OK, being just 3-4dB below my I/S 53" box loop and an outdoor 290-foot LoG antenna. Granted, it is only rated down to 500kHz. THEN: today I decided to monitor 10-meter FT-8 and was amazed; hearing Japan, Australia, and South Africa, all in a 2-hour period from inside my brick home in Colorado! See the two photos I've included.