{"id":29665,"date":"2017-12-15T08:57:46","date_gmt":"2017-12-15T12:57:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=29665"},"modified":"2017-12-15T08:58:39","modified_gmt":"2017-12-15T12:58:39","slug":"off-the-shelf-affordable-swl-antennas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/12\/off-the-shelf-affordable-swl-antennas\/","title":{"rendered":"Off-the-shelf affordable SWL antennas"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

The Par EF-SWL antenna.<\/p><\/div>\n

One of our SWLing Post<\/em> contributors recently sent the following message with a request:<\/p>\n

I have a suggestion\/challenge for a post: what’s out there for low cost, off-the-shelf HF antennas?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I simply can’t drop $500 on a Wellbrook. The AirSpy HF+<\/a> and the new $100 RSP1A SDR<\/a> are super enticing, but then I look at the antenna connectors and think, “What do I have to connect to that…!?!”<\/p>\n

Googling takes you down the rabbit hole of home brew antennas. I’ll admit that I don’t have the skill or patience to dig through hundreds of DIY posts of antenna construction. For my first proper outdoor antenna, I’d like to purchase one that’s rugged, well-tested and optimized for HF and MW listening. Something easy to install.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

You know? I get it.<\/p>\n

Many listeners simply don’t have the free time or enthusiasm to explore home brew antenna options especially if they’re seeking one optimized antenna for their location and listening habits.<\/p>\n

Like it or not, antennas can become a barrier of entry to proper, low-noise radio listening and DXing.<\/p>\n

I have built almost all of the antennas I use so I’m not an expert in this area, therefore I asked Fred Osterman at Universal Radio for a couple of suggestions. He and I have talked about antennas in the past and he’s the most knowledgeable person I know on the topic. I’m willing to bet Universal Radio stocks more SWL antennas than any other radio retailer. Fred also has the added benefit of hearing customer feedback daily.<\/p>\n

I asked Fred specifically for wire antennas that are easy to install, require no soldering or tuning\/cutting and work well right out of the box. Something under $200.<\/p>\n

Fred replied with two recommendations–I include his comments in quotes:<\/p>\n

Alpha-Delta DX-SWL Sloper $129.95<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

“[The\u00a0Alpha-Delta DX-SWL Sloper] is very well built. Actually, over-built for listening. Easy to erect with the feed point being up high. And really works well on the SW bands (including Tropical) and MW too. Fully preassembled.\u00a0Down-side is it is kinda obtrusive with the heavy wire and large coils.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Click here to check it out at Universal Radio.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Par EF-SWL $72.95<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

“[The EF-SWL is very popular] these days. It does work best with a ground, but still usable without. It is interesting, as it can be configured many different ways. I suspect it is popular because it is very easy to erect, and very, very stealthy. (Increasingly important these days). And the wire is flexible, not too\u00a0thick and not obtrusive. Seems more immune to noise than others. Priced right.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Click here to check it out at Universal Radio.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Thank you, Fred!<\/p>\n

I have some experience with the Par EF-SWL antenna. It offers excellent performance and the antenna line has a durable black coating that makes it nearly impossible to spot from a distance. I’ve even taken the EF-SWL on travels and posted a review a few years ago<\/a>. I agree that it performs very well.<\/p>\n

I have a friend that’s relied on the\u00a0Alpha-Delta DX-SWL Sloper as his main SWL antenna for years. He lives in an urban area and I’ve been favorably impressed with its performance. I agree with Fred–it’s incredibly durable and beefy! Built like a tank.<\/p>\n

Of course, there are also incredibly low-profile antennas like the Bonito Mini Whip (check out some of Oxford Shortwave’s posts<\/a>) but note that some versions don’t handle a noise-rich environment very well.<\/p>\n

Post<\/em> readers:<\/strong> Please comment if you know of other off-the-shelf antenna options–especially those you have personal experience using and installing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

One of our SWLing Post contributors recently sent the following message with a request: I have a suggestion\/challenge for a post: what’s out there for low cost, off-the-shelf HF antennas? I simply can’t drop $500 on a Wellbrook. The AirSpy HF+ and the new $100 RSP1A SDR are super enticing, but then I look at […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[4199,3607,8,3,43],"tags":[6700,1643,3264,4175,58,2840],"class_list":["post-29665","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-accessories","category-antennas","category-articles","category-news","category-shortwave-radio","tag-affordable-swl-antennas","tag-antennas","tag-fred-osterman","tag-low-profile-swl-antenna","tag-universal-radio","tag-wire-antenna"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-7It","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":49295,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/06\/jock-designs-a-horizontal-room-loop-to-cope-with-reception-issues\/","url_meta":{"origin":29665,"position":0},"title":"Jock designs a Horizontal Room Loop to cope with reception issues","author":"Thomas","date":"June 17, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Jock Elliott, who shares the following guest post: Got reception issues? An idea worth considering: the \u201cHorizontal Room Loop.\u201d by Jock Elliott (KB2GOM) When my radio room was in the front of the house (on the east side), it was easy to run a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Antennas"","block_context":{"text":"Antennas","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/antennas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Jock-Elliott-Horizontal-Room-Loop-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Jock-Elliott-Horizontal-Room-Loop-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Jock-Elliott-Horizontal-Room-Loop-1.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Jock-Elliott-Horizontal-Room-Loop-1.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Jock-Elliott-Horizontal-Room-Loop-1.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10696,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2015\/04\/portable-antennas-par-electronics-ef-swl\/","url_meta":{"origin":29665,"position":1},"title":"Portable antennas: a review of the Par Electronics EF-SWL","author":"Thomas","date":"April 3, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Last August and part of September,\u00a0I traveled\u00a0through the US with the CommRadio CR-1 and a couple of portable antennas: the\u00a0Par Electronics EF-SWL and \u00a0NASA PA-30. I had the opportunity to try both in the field, and took notes as I used them. Following is a short review of the\u00a0Par Electronics\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Antennas"","block_context":{"text":"Antennas","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/antennas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"The EF-SWL ready to deploy.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/ParElectronics_EFSWL.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/ParElectronics_EFSWL.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/ParElectronics_EFSWL.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14569,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2015\/09\/kens-low-profile-low-cost-vertical-antenna\/","url_meta":{"origin":29665,"position":2},"title":"Ken’s low-profile, low-cost vertical antenna","author":"Thomas","date":"September 5, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"SWLing Post reader, Ken Hansen (N2VIP), writes: A few months ago I purchased a couple S9V18 18' vertical antennas for $65 at cheapham.com, with the intention of deploying a quick HF aerial at my HOA-laden home for ham radio use. I found they work great for SWL. The S9V18 antenna\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Antennas"","block_context":{"text":"Antennas","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/antennas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Vertical1","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Vertical1.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":27341,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/07\/video-pauls-large-aperture-volleyball-net-magnetic-loop-antenna\/","url_meta":{"origin":29665,"position":3},"title":"Video: Paul’s large aperture “Volleyball Net” loop antenna","author":"Thomas","date":"July 27, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Paul Walker, who shares the following video and notes: Here is a 10 minute narrated, detailed video on my 25 foot long by 10 foot tall \"Volleyball Net\" Loop antenna using a Wellbrook ALA100LN amp control head and antenna interface. https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ICHNlcLhAKE Click here to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Antennas"","block_context":{"text":"Antennas","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/antennas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Volleyball-Loop-Antenna-e1501154690277.jpeg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Volleyball-Loop-Antenna-e1501154690277.jpeg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Volleyball-Loop-Antenna-e1501154690277.jpeg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Volleyball-Loop-Antenna-e1501154690277.jpeg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":41879,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/02\/guest-post-radiofreunde-nrws-dxpedition-grade-signal-distribution-system\/","url_meta":{"origin":29665,"position":4},"title":"Guest Post: Radiofreunde NRW’s DXpedition-grade signal distribution system","author":"Thomas","date":"February 6, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Joachim von Geisau (DH4JG), for the following guest post: Signal distribution at SWL camps: The new JK-1000 HF distributor by Joachim von Geisau (DH4JG) The Friends of Radio NRW - an independent group of shortwave listeners and radio amateurs in Germany - have been\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Accessories"","block_context":{"text":"Accessories","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/accessories\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Amplified-Antenna-Distribution-panel.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Amplified-Antenna-Distribution-panel.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Amplified-Antenna-Distribution-panel.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Amplified-Antenna-Distribution-panel.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":33941,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/09\/shortwave-antenna-options-for-apartments-flats-and-condos\/","url_meta":{"origin":29665,"position":5},"title":"Shortwave antenna options for apartments, flats and condos","author":"Thomas","date":"September 4, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Tim, who writes: I am a regular subscriber here, but until now have not formally commented. I've been an avid SWL since 1977. I am intrigued by your in-depth article on understanding and setting up SDR's. But, what about an antenna? How well will\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Antennas"","block_context":{"text":"Antennas","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/antennas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Photo by jay blacks on Unsplash","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/apartment-urban-hotel.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/apartment-urban-hotel.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/apartment-urban-hotel.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/apartment-urban-hotel.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29665","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29665"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29665\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29665"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29665"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29665"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}