Tag Archives: Dennis Walter

Test the Bonito MegaLoop FX and MegaDipol live on the air

Many thanks to Dennis Walter with Bonito, who shares the following for anyone interested in the Megaloop FX or MegaDipol::

If anyone like to test the MegaLoop FX live on the air, you can do it here:

http://emeraldsdr.ddns.net:8073/

The MegaDipol can be tested on the same location here:

http://emeraldsdr.ddns.net:8074/

The location of both KiwiSDR receivers is Carlow, Ireland. Both receivers exhibit excellent low noise characteristics.

Indeed, as I publish this post I’m listening to near perfect copy of Radio France International–using the MegaDipol–on 17850 kHz as they report the results of the FIFA Women’s World Cup. (Congratulations team USA!)

Thanks for sharing these links, Dennis!

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Bonito tests the SDRplay RSPduo paired with two high-performance antennas

New antenna from Bonito: The MegaDipole MD300DX wideband active dipole

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Many thanks to Dennis Walter at Bonito for sharing the following product announcement:

MegaDipole MD300DX wideband active dipole

The MegaDipole 300DX is a broadband active dipole with a maximum upper working frequency of 300 MHz. The dipole reacts to the electrical component (E-Field) of the electromagnetic field and will deliver best results regarding signal strength and SNR (signal -to-noise-ratio) at locations with little or no locally generated interference. Nonetheless, the receiver to be coupled to this antenna should have a high enough dynamic range so that it can effectively process the received signals.

In contrast to simple E-field antennas with only one radiating element, the symmetrical construction of the MegaDipole 300DX, will result in almost no negative resonance effects or reflections caused by the coaxial cable.

First choice for DXer

The MegaDipol MD300DX is the ideal antenna for DXers. Particularly in electrically quiet environments, it can really play to its strength in efficiently amplifying weak signals. In practical operations, a maximum signal-to-noise ratio of 110dB was achieved! (see image )

Wideband

With prodigious broadband capability and constant receive characteristics the MegaDipol MD300DX is ideal for wideband receivers, SDR’s and WEB-SDR such as KiwiSDR etc. The MegaDipol MD300DX can of course also be operated on all other receivers, including lower-end SDRs and portable world receivers.

Dual Power Power Supply

The MegaDipol is nominally supplied with 10 – 15V DC (max 40mA), however, it can be operated across a wide variety of supply voltages. The antenna can even be operated with slightly reduced IP values at the same gain with only 5 volts via USB. This offers a significant advantage in that you can supply the MegaDipol on trips away from the radio shack or DX expeditions autonomously, using a low-noise USB power-bank.

The MegaDipol has already attracted a lot of attention with its receive performance at various events such as DX-Camps, field days and in-house exhibitions. In these tests, the MD300DX surpassed the existing antennas usually by 10-15dB in the SNR.

Technical data

Frequency range: 9kHz – 300MHz
IP3: typ. +30dBm (@7.00 & 7.20MHz)
IP2: typ. +78dBm (@7.00 & 7.20MHz)
Size/weight: 98 x 90 x 38mm / 0.12kg

Whats in th Box?

MegaDipol MD300DX
Power Inserter CPI 1000DP
2x 2.5m long radiating elements (PVC-coated, salt-water resistant stainless steel ropes)
2 insulators for installation (weatherproof plastic material with 4.5mm fixing hole)

Available Soon. Price 336,-€ without VAT. Click here to view at Bonito.

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Elad FDM-DUO: now available in camouflage!

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The Elad FDM-DUO (Photo: Dennis Walter)

Many thanks to Dennis Walter who shares the photo above from the 2017 Ham Radio Friedrichshafen convention.

I’ve always thought the FDM-DUO was a cool transceiver, but I must admit it looks even better in camouflage.

I did warn our buddy Clint (Oxford Shortwave) that he should stick with his stock black FDM-DUO. You see, he takes his FDM-DUO to the field…literally. Can you imagine how he’d feel losing his top-notch camouflaged DX rig in the rough? 🙂

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Why good antennas need to be fed with good coax

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Dennis Walter, of Bonito Radio in Germany, has just posted an excellent article on his blog regarding the importance of quality coaxial cable to fight local radio interference.

Click here to read his post, “Why even good antennas need good Coax cable.”

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Bonito’s new catalog in English

Bonito’s new high and low pass filters

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Dennis Walter at Bonito has just informed me about two new product’s they’re offering: high and low pass filters. From the Bonito blog:

LP060 Low Pass Filter

The elliptically-formed low pass filter LP060 from NTi suppresses all frequencies above 60 MHz. Highly effective antennas combined with near-by strong FM stations often overburden the input of the radio and cause interference and phantom signals.

The LP060 was developed aiming at the highest possible suppression in the 88MHz – 108 MHz FM band, whereas as the 6m amateur radio band at 50MHz is still totally within the pass band. For the greatest possible effectiveness, the low pass filter should be inserted directly before the receiver input.

Attenuation values (typ.):
52MHz: -1dB
60MHz: -3dB
80 MHz: -55dB
88-110 MHz: -90dB
110-150MHz: -75dB
150-200MHz: -70dB
200-400MHz: -65 dB

Dimension: 88mm x 31mm x 25mm (3,46 x 1,22 x 0,98 inch)

Input and output are DC-blocked (max. 50V DC)

Attention: Only suitable for reception, high HF (>10dbm) will cause permanent damage! When using end-fed active antennas: Because the filter is DC-blocked, it has to be inserted between the receiver input and the power inserter.

Successfully tested with: Elad FDM-S1 and FDM-S2, FiFi-SDR1.0 and 2.0, PM-SDR, Winradio Excalibur, RFSpace SDR-IQ

HP0020 High Pass Filter

The elliptically-formed high pass filter HP0020 suppresses all frequencies below 2 MHz. Strong or near-by transmitters in the long- or medium wave range can cause interferences and intermodulation in the shortwave range, which can effectively be suppressed with this filter. The HP0020 filter is very steep, so that signals in the upper medium wave range are already suppressed effectively. For the greatest possible effectiveness, the low pass filter should be inserted directly before the receiver input.

Attenuation values (typ.):
<0.50 MHz:-55dB
1.0MHz: -45dB
1.6 MHz:-35dB
2.0MHz: -3dB
>2.5 MHz: -1dB

Input and output are DC-blocked (max. 50V DC)

Dimensons: 88mmx31mmx25mm (3,46 x 1,22 x 0,98 inch)

Attention: Only suitable for reception, high HF (>10dbm) will cause permanent damage!
Because the filter is DC-blocked, it has to be inserted between the receiver input and the power inserter.