Travelling and DXing with the Bonito MegActive MA305 antenna

 

Ok, so officially it wasn’t a DXpedition; it was a well needed vacation in the sun after several hectic months of work, some of which involved travel to slightly more exotic locations. However, these days, I view any travel, whether it be for business or pleasure as a ‘DXpedition’ opportunity! Some of you might remember that I purchased a Bonito Boni Whip at the beginning of 2017 because (a) I needed another antenna and (b) a second Wellbrook loop felt like too much of an extravagance. They’re excellent antennas for sure, but at around £300, I couldn’t justify buying another. Thus, for about a third of the price I bought the Boni Whip. It proved to be an excellent choice – very compact and so perfect for my regular DXpeditions, quick to set up and capable of really excellent DX. There are many videos on the Oxford Shortwave Log YouTube channel that are testament to this. I wrote a couple of articles, published here on the SWLing Post which were seen by Dennis Walter of Bonito, who subsequently contacted me and offered to send over their MegActive MA305 E-field antenna for testing. Dennis made it crystal-clear that I was to ‘do my own thing’…test the antenna in any way I saw fit and publish my findings so DXers/radio enthusiasts could learn more about the capabilities of the antenna – from another DXer. I was happy to agree to this arrangement and the MegActive MA305 duly arrived, complete with two lengths of (bayonet BNC terminated) high quality H-155 coaxial cable.

 My portable Dxing kit with MA305 antenna                 The MA305 power inserter and USB power ‘brick’

The specifications of the MegActive MA305 are very similar to the Boni Whip; they both offer a Gain of +3 dBs, second and third order intercept points of greater than +30 and +50 dB respectively and both tune to 300 MHz. The MA305 is supplied with a longer radiating element and tunes down to 9 KHz (versus the 20 kHz lower limit for the Boni Whip). Obviously this isn’t a specification that is going to concern most radio enthusiasts; both offer fantastically wide operating bandwidths. The way in which these antennas do differ quite significantly however, is in how they are powered. The Boni Whip operates from 12 to 15 V, whilst the MA305 operates from 5 to 15 V. Bonito’s design philosophy regarding this feature is based on the increasing difficulty in procuring reasonably priced analogue external plug-in power supplies (they are no longer allowed to be produced due to power consumption restrictions).

Interestingly, when the power supply for my Wellbrook ALA1530 packed up, I called them to purchase a replacement and was told they only have limited stocks remaining. Thus, a solution for powering active antennas with a suitable low-noise supply is an issue that needs resolving. The guys at Bonito figured a USB power source was suitably quiet and with USB ‘power bricks’ almost ubiquitous these days for charging mobile phones and other portable electronic devices on-the-go, the idea could be applied to their active antennas. The result is the MegActive MA305, designed to operate at 5 Volts with no loss of performance. As a DXer who probably spends more time listening on DXpeditions than I do in my shack at home, the USB power solution was perfect. I myself often carry a cheap Chromebook laptop to use as an additional power source for my camera phone when I’m DXing, so Bonito’s design approach resonated with me completely.

 

Travelling with the MegActive MA305

Ok, so the MA305 is very compact and very light indeed – perfect for a trip to Crete! However, I know from many conversations with my YouTube friends and followers that some of us feel a slight sense of trepidation carrying shortwave radios and antenna systems on board flights, be they national or international. I myself wasn’t really concerned other than if my bag got pulled from the X-ray machine, there’s often quite a long wait whilst the security staff work through the queue of luggage requiring er…human intervention! Predictably, my rucksack did get pulled and I waited patiently until it was my turn to explain the contents! Looking back on this retrospectively, it’s hardly surprising. Other than the usual holiday paraphernalia, my rucksack contained:

  • A 10.0 metre length of H-155 coaxial cable
  • A 1.0 metre length of H-155 coaxial cable
  • Eton Satellit receiver
  • MA305 Coaxial Power Inserter
  • MA305 Antenna Amplifier
  • Bonito USB ‘Power Brick’
  • Bonito USB Power Cable
  • NooElec RTL-SDR dongle
  • NooElect ‘Ham It Up’ upconverter
  • Various screened cables and connectors
  • 10 metres of equipment wire

I explained to the (friendly) security chap that I was a shortwave radio hobbyist and identified the various pieces of equipment for him, as he removed them from my rucksack. He confirmed my X-ray had ‘lit up’ (in blue as it happens) with metallic/electronic items and was even kind enough to swivel his monitor to show me the mess of items strewn across the screen – just as I had thrown them all into my rucksack! However, after quickly swabbing some of the items, he said all was fine and hoped that I enjoyed my holiday and listening. Service with a smile at Gatwick Airport – and I was on my way. My outbound experience got me thinking whether it would be possible to pack my DXing kit in such a way that it wouldn’t alarm airport security. Thus, for the trip home, I packed all of my cables into my (checked-in) suitcase. I figured it would be obvious there was no security risk associated with cables alone. I then packed my RTL-SDR, upconverter and all of the MS305 components very neatly into a single box and put that in my carry-on rucksack. Now, some might argue that security measures at Heraklion International Airport in Crete differ a little from London Gatwick, but I observed staff at the X-ray machine very carefully monitoring every piece of luggage passing through it – including my own and I passed straight through without a problem. All I did was take my laptop out as usual, and put it in a separate tray. Job done.

DXing with the MegActive MA305

                                      My listening post in Crete, with the brilliant Eton Satellit receiver

My apartment in Crete was on the second floor and a large balcony provided a decent outdoor location for DXing. As regards electrical noise, the location was much quieter than my shack at home, but it certainly wasn’t perfect, thus a good test of the MA305 in a real-world pseudo-urban environment. in an attempt to improve SNR, I bought a cheap ‘Selfie Stick’ and some tape and managed to construct a mount for the amplifier, increasing the overall height above ground by about 1.5 metres and displacing the radiating element an additional 2 metres thereabouts from the building. I’m not sure whether it made much difference, but it seemed like the sensible thing to do for less than 10 Euros.

During my week-long stay, I managed to fit in several listening sessions and copied some really excellent DX from this ultra-compact, USB-powered set up. In fact, the MA305 coupled to the Eton Satellit performed so well, I managed to copy a number of personal firsts, including CRI on 7295 kHz, via their relay in Bamako, Mali, The Voice of Beibu Radio on 5050 kHz, Nanning, XSL ‘Slot Machine’ on 6251 kHz USB, Ichihara, Japan, S32 ‘The Squeaky Wheel’ on 3828 kHz and NHK World Radio Japan, 11910 kHz. I also copied RTM Wai/Limbang FM on 11665 kHz from Kajang, Myanmar Radio on 5985 kHz and AIR Bhopal on 4810 kHz, amongst others – all of which I would certainly consider to be difficult catches in Europe. To hear them with an 18 cm antenna felt pretty special. African shortwave stations were also very well represented and I managed to copy a number of them including Radio Hargeysa on 7120 kHz, Voice of Tigray Revolution on 59150 kHz, Radio Oromiya on 6030 kHz, Radio Fana on 6110 kHz, Radio Ethiopia on 7235 kHz, Radio Sonder Grense on 3320 kHz and Radio Guinée on 9650 kHz. I expected to hear all of these stations, except for Radio Guinée, which is farther away from Crete than the UK. So, all-in-all an excellent result.

Despite hearing a lot of excellent DX whilst in Crete, there is one signal I copied, which more than any other, demonstrates the DXing credentials of the MA305 – and Eton Satellit for that matter. In the early hours of the morning (00:59 hrs UTC) I copied and recorded Radio Tarma from Peru on 4775 kHz. With a TX power of 1 kW, this is a very difficult station to hear in Western Europe, even with a longwire. To catch this station in Crete, at all, was incredible on an ultra-compact set-up. It was at this point during the trip that I realised E-field antennas really do work superbly well for hard-core DXers on the move. It inspired me to conduct further tests back home in the Oxfordshire countryside, where electrical noise is absent. This I did a few days ago, with some quite amazing results on the Tropical Band. More on that to come in my next post. In the meantime, please find text links and embedded videos for selected reception recordings, below. Many more recordings are available on the Oxford Shortwave Log YouTube channel and please don’t hesitate to contact me if you require further information on the MA305 or the Eton Satellit. Thanks for reading/watching/listening and I wish you all excellent DX.


Personal firsts

Click here to view on Oxford Shortwave Log

 

Click here to view on Oxford Shortwave Log

 

Click here to view on Oxford Shortwave Log

 

Click here to view on Oxford Shortwave Log

 

Click here to view on Oxford Shortwave Log

 

Radio Tarma, Peru, 4775 kHz

Click here to view on Oxford Shortwave Log

 

Other notable catches

Click here to watch on Oxford Shortwave Log

Click here to watch on Oxford Shortwave Log

Click here to watch on Oxford Shortwave Log

Click here to watch on Oxford Shortwave Log

 

Clint Gouveia is the author of this post and a regular contributor to the SWLing Post. Clint actively publishes videos of his shortwave radio excursions on his YouTube channel: Oxford Shortwave Log. Clint is based in Oxfordshire, England.

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21 thoughts on “Travelling and DXing with the Bonito MegActive MA305 antenna

  1. Mark

    I bought the MA 305 a while back and I have to say that I’m truly amazed, I got the optional 40 Cm antenna which is supposed to gain I think 2db and power it from a usb battery.

    I have the antenna up in a tree 🙂 but it works !

    I also got the grounding spike and h155 coax and the grounding clamp from the Bonito site.

    Definitely a shockingly good performing antenna with excellent SNR.

    I live in the country too in a noise free area which probably helps a lot

    The question I want to know is how the hell is this little antenna so good ?

    Reply
  2. Hedgehog

    Hi Everyone…Does anyone know if the Bonito MegActive MA305 USB powered antenna can be purchased in the USA? Thanks…

    Reply
  3. Ron Ellwood

    OMG, I am so disappointed with the Bonito Ma30 that has just arrived. I saw the unboxing video by Clint Gouveia and he got so much stuff in his box, so I thought that looks good value and bought it from ‘Moonraker’ UK, All I got was the antenna itself, the ‘t’ box that sends the 12v up to the preamp, and a piece of USB cable.. Nothing else, not even an instruction sheet. It looks like I shall have to buy all those extras that we saw in the unboxing video. I feel cheated and am tempted to send the whole thing bac.
    So please be aware you will not get a proper setup you can use straight away.k.

    Reply
    1. Clint Gouveia

      Hi Ron, sorry you were disappointed with the contents of the kit. I perhaps should have explained more clearly that the standard product requires the user to supply their own coax (because everyone will have slightly different length requirements) and the USB power brick (cheaply available on-line). I’m very happy to help you source these. In the meantime, here is a link to the German/English Boni Whip manual, which is identical in set-up to the MA305:
      https://hamradioshop.net/out/media/Manual_German.pdf

      Bonito are producing a specific manual for the MA305 and it will be available shortly.

      Message me on YouTube or Facebook. Best, Clint

      Reply
      1. Ron Ellwood

        Hello Clint, Thank you for your quick reply. I have recovered from my childish tantrum, and have sorted the missing item easily. I found some cable with the correct connectors and was able to buy a USB power bank from ebay that gives 10,000 mAh at 5 volts. The reason being I live in a block of flats and tend to go mobile mostly, hence the need for an external power block. I rested the Antenna here in the flat and it seems very lively, so I am looking forward to using it outside.
        Apologies to all for the tantrum, but now a happy bunny.
        Regards.
        Ron

        Reply
        1. Clint Gouveia

          Hello Ron, no apology necessary and great to hear you’ve sorted the other parts! If you need any assistance setting up etc. don’t hesitate – you know where I am on FB etc. 73! Clint

          Reply
      1. Mark O'Byrnes

        Hi Thomas,

        Apologies I had two windows open this for the Bonito MegActive MA305 and another with a review of the Eton Satellit , it’s the Eaton Satellit I’m looking for, can’t find it from the E.U anywhere, I can’t order into Ireland any more from outside the E.U because Government will charge me an extortionate amount of tax these days on imports. I can’t even find it under the Grundig brand.

        Regards,
        Mark

        Reply
  4. Claude

    Excellent article!
    I was worndering how the MegActive MA305 compare to the Boni-Whip, if you had the opportunity to compare.
    I have the Boni-Whip attached to a aluminium mast but it’s very noisy almost unsuable. I likely have the wrong setup.
    You have very good results with the MA305, I may have a try.
    Continue to share your experiment!

    Reply
    1. Clint Gouveia Post author

      Thank you for your comments Claude! I haven’t compared both Bonito antennas yet, but plan to do so soon. On paper, the specifications are similar, but let’s see. The big advantage of the MA305 is how it can be powered by USB – perfect for use when travelling/DXpeditions etc. Best, Clint

      Reply
  5. Ron Ellwood

    Excellent report Clint, made good reading, Could not find the retail price which ia always an important caveat when looking to buy new stuff.
    But again many thanks for the article, will copy a keep on file until I find the price.
    Best 73s.
    Ron

    Reply
  6. Thomas

    Excellent write-up, Clint! There are few things better in life than combining travel with DXing. I’m most impressed with all that you could capture using such a modest setup. What I love best–as a one-bag traveler–is that you were able to fit the entire kit in your carry on (even if it meant extra time in security).

    And the selfie stick as a telescoping mast? That’s a brilliant idea and, no doubt, works because the MA305 is so small and lightweight.

    Golly. I may have to set aside some budget for the MA305. Thanks again, Clint!

    Reply
    1. Clint Gouveia Post author

      Hi Thomas, thank you very much and yes, I couldn’t agree more. These days, travel for business and pleasure essentially means DXing from a new location which nearly always brings interesting catches! This Bonito USB-powered set-up is brilliant for travelling; small and light and with excellent DXing credentials. As for the selfie stick, perhaps not exactly a moment of genius lol, but as you say, it worked perfectly as a mount for this very light antenna. Thanks again. CG

      Reply

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