Bonito MegaLoop ML052 | The SWLing Post

CPI1000 mit Powerbank

Many thanks to Dennis at Bonito for sharing a link to an article he recently published on the Bonito blog:

Autonomous power supply of our active antennas via USB and power bank

It is getting to be more and more difficult to procure reasonably priced analogue external plug-in power supplies because just like old light bulbs they are no longer allowed to be produced due to power consumption restrictions. We are spending a lot of time to find and buy remaining stock so that we can offer our customers noise-free external power supplies. But for years, there has been an alternative.

Our MegaLoop ML200, ML052, the MegActiv MA305 as well as the GigActiv GA3005 can be operated internally with as little as 5V and so can be powered by the supplied CPI1000DP / CPI3000DP bias tee via a USB cable. In light of the annoying switching power supplies, PowerLAN and heightened mobility of listeners, this is a very practical alternative and offers much more flexibility for the customer. Unfortunately, this fact is not well known and that is why I would like to shed some light on this subject.[…]

Continue reading at the Bonito website.

Thanks, Dennis!

I should note that there are a multitude of 5 VDC powerblocks on the market. I have two made by Eton Corp (see above) that even have hand-crank power generation. I recently used one to power my Raspberry Pi (Raspberry Pirate!) for several hours.

As Dennis states, using a DC source certainly cuts down on interference from noisy power supplies.

Spread the radio love

(Source: Bonito Press Release)

At the beginning of the model year 2016, there is good news in the range of our MegaLoop Active Loop Antennas:

New Model: MegaLoop ML052

The new Active Loop MegaLoop ML052, which is available end of February, is the successor to our MegaLoop 060. Based on the proven technology of theMegaLoop 200 platform, an additional low pass filter with an extra FM-band-stop was integrated. Thus, the ML052 is especially suitable for operation near strong FM-stations and higher frequencies , where, because of its broadband capacity, the ML200 could be overloaded by strong signals.

Frequency range:
Low Gain: 9kHz – 52 MHz
High Gain: 9 kHz – 36 MHz
Suppression on FM (88 – 108 MHz): max. 40 dB

Intercept Point
IP:3: typ. +40dBm
IP2: typ. +84 dBm

The effect of the integrated filter can be seen very good on these two images:

ML052 in High Gain Mode

ML052 in Low Gain Mode

Like the ML 200, the amplification of the ML052 can be changed internally with a jumper:
a) High Gain: 0-36MHz
b) Low Gain: 0-52 MHz (-7dB)
Suppression of the FM band: (88-108MHz): max. 40dB

Outstanding intermodulation surpression, with only 5 volts!

CPI1000 with a standard Powerbank

The MegaLoop ML052 achieved outstanding values regarding intermodulation suppression even at a low supply voltage from only 5V. It can be powered either by a conventional plug power supply or even via USB. Powering via USB has the advantage that no external power supply is needed and that the antenna can be used autonomously and noise-free with a separate USB power bank. A appropriate dual power input adapter (CPI1000) is already included in the standard package.