{"id":49845,"date":"2021-07-29T08:11:29","date_gmt":"2021-07-29T12:11:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=49845"},"modified":"2021-07-29T08:11:29","modified_gmt":"2021-07-29T12:11:29","slug":"recommendations-for-an-hf-vhf-uhf-station-in-an-apartment-or-flat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/07\/recommendations-for-an-hf-vhf-uhf-station-in-an-apartment-or-flat\/","title":{"rendered":"Recommendations for an HF\/VHF\/UHF station in an apartment or flat"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Photo<\/a><\/strong>Many thanks to SWLing Post<\/em> contributor, Jamie, who writes:<\/p>\n

Hi,<\/strong><\/p>\n

I would like to ask a few questions about what would be a good set up for my situation.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I am in a 2 storey property, which is not owned by me (renting via community\/public housing), located in a large city in Australia. I currently have an SDRPlay RSP2, along with standalone AM\/FM tuners \u2013 Sony XDR-F1HD and Onkyo T4970. The computer and all radios are upstairs at the back in a room that is not attached.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Given renting would limit what I can do, what would be best for me to get. For MW and SW frequencies, I am trying to decide between the MLA30+ or the AOR LA400. For above 30MHz (6m, 2m, broadcast FM etc) I am deciding between the AOR SA7000 or a Discone.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I have been told that putting antennas in the roof space is not recommended. Would they work fine in the room near a window? I should mention, I do have a 50ft end fed longwire with 9:1 balun, that has been in storage and never used.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I am also looking at upgrading my receiver. Trying to choose between the WinRadio WR-G305e or the Icom IC-R8600 (would also get the RS-R8600 CD software for computer controlling the receiver). How do the specs compare between these two?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Thanks for your time, and hope that wasn’t too many questions.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Regards,<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jamie<\/strong><\/p>\n

Thank you for your inquiry, Jamie, and I hope you don’t mind, but I’m sharing this message as a post as we have readers who are in the same type of living situation and listening environment. In addition, I believe owners of the gear you’ve mentioned might be able to offer some helpful advice!<\/p>\n

I can tell you that you’re correct: in general, antennas want to be near windows or, better yet, outdoors. Even placing an antenna on a balcony can make a big difference in terms of lowering the noise floor. This is less an issue with VHF\/UHF, but those antennas also benefit from being outside since there’ll be less attenuation from obstructions.<\/p>\n

For HF, I would personally suggest you check out the MLA-30 loop first since it’s such a modest investment and is fairly flexible in terms of how you can configure it. I’m sure our regular contributor, Grayhat, will have some helpful advice as he’s a bit of an expert with urban HF antennas.<\/p>\n

Also, the IC-R8600 is a brilliant wideband receiver. Depending on what you wish to have for frequency coverage, I would also suggest you check out the Icom IC-705 transceiver<\/a> (noting that its RX coverage is not as comprehensive as that of the IC-R-8600).<\/p>\n

Post readers: Please feel free to comment with some suggestions for Jamie, especially if you have experience with urban radio listening.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Jamie, who writes: Hi, I would like to ask a few questions about what would be a good set up for my situation. I am in a 2 storey property, which is not owned by me (renting via community\/public housing), located in a large city in Australia. I currently […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","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":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[373,3607,3781,3,43],"tags":[9106,7281,6500,5773],"class_list":["post-49845","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-am","category-antennas","category-fm","category-news","category-shortwave-radio","tag-antennas-for-condo","tag-shortwave-antennas-apartments","tag-suburban-dxing","tag-urban-shortwave-antennas"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-cXX","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":48145,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/03\/michael-pairs-the-tecsun-pl-990-and-the-aor-la400\/","url_meta":{"origin":49845,"position":0},"title":"Michael pairs the Tecsun PL-990 and the AOR LA400","author":"Thomas","date":"March 10, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Michael Ye (BD4AAQ), for the following guest post: In the Loop:\u00a0PL-990 and LA400, a Perfect Match by Michael Ye (BD4AAQ) I have been a happy owner of Tecsun\u2019s PL-880 world band receivers for years. In fact I have two PL-880 radios, one sitting at\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/PL-990-and-PL-880-scaled-e1615376264103.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/PL-990-and-PL-880-scaled-e1615376264103.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/PL-990-and-PL-880-scaled-e1615376264103.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/PL-990-and-PL-880-scaled-e1615376264103.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/PL-990-and-PL-880-scaled-e1615376264103.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":50184,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/09\/giuseppes-homebrew-tferrite-2-mediumwave-shortwave-antenna\/","url_meta":{"origin":49845,"position":1},"title":"Giuseppe’s Homebrew “TFerrite 2” Mediumwave & Shortwave Antenna","author":"Thomas","date":"September 10, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Giuseppe Morl\u00e8 (IZ0GZW), who shares the following: Dear Thomas my friend, I built another Tferrite, (TFERRITE 2), for medium waves--this time also with the shortwave option. A single variable capacitor, 800 pf, and a primary winding on the 2 ferrites of about 46 turns,\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\/09\/Giuseppe-TFerrite-2-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Giuseppe-TFerrite-2-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Giuseppe-TFerrite-2-1.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Giuseppe-TFerrite-2-1.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":17652,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/03\/godar-antennas\/","url_meta":{"origin":49845,"position":2},"title":"GODAR antennas","author":"Thomas","date":"March 25, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mario Filippi (N2HUN), who writes: [Check out]\u00a0this site I came by accidentally, small company, USA made antennas, most are OTA TV but he has a few shortwave antennas, quite reasonable. [...]\u00a0Also has old vintage pics. A little of this and that on the website,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Accessories"","block_context":{"text":"Accessories","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/accessories\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"GodarAntennas","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/GodarAntennas.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/GodarAntennas.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/GodarAntennas.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5493,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2013\/01\/mikes-home-brewed-amplified-antenna\/","url_meta":{"origin":49845,"position":3},"title":"Mike’s home brewed amplified antenna","author":"Thomas","date":"January 31, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"In my recent post,\u00a0The truth about portable amplified shortwave antennas, I argue that small, portable amplified antennas are, by and large, ineffective. The post comments are interesting, however; many readers agree, and some tout the Sony ANT-LP1 as worthy, but Mike made the following comment about his amplified antenna: The\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Active Ferrite Rod Antenna (Photo: ON2NLT)","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/FerriteAntenna-300x225.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":54852,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2022\/11\/giuseppe-upcycles-and-improves-a-homebrew-mw-antenna\/","url_meta":{"origin":49845,"position":4},"title":"Giuseppe upcycles and improves a homebrew MW antenna","author":"Thomas","date":"November 30, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to\u00a0SWLing Post\u00a0contributor, Giuseppe Morl\u00e8 (IZ0GZW), who shares the following: Dear Thomas and Friends of SWLing Post ... This is Giuseppe Morl\u00e8. As always, I try recycling what I have and improving upon antennas I've built in the past. This is one way we radio lovers can experiment. Many\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Screenshot-2022-11-28-at-06.51.05.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Screenshot-2022-11-28-at-06.51.05.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Screenshot-2022-11-28-at-06.51.05.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Screenshot-2022-11-28-at-06.51.05.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Screenshot-2022-11-28-at-06.51.05.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":38451,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/07\/using-amplified-loop-antennas-with-portable-radios\/","url_meta":{"origin":49845,"position":5},"title":"Using amplified loop antennas with portable radios?","author":"Thomas","date":"July 11, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Marty, who writes: I have a question about loop antennas; specifically which type is \"better,\" passive magnetic loops or active electric loops? I know, \"It depends.\"--? I live in a ground-floor apartment, with a small porch, lots of RFI and restrictions against visible antennas.\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\/01\/Klaus-Mag-Loop-Antenna.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Klaus-Mag-Loop-Antenna.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Klaus-Mag-Loop-Antenna.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Klaus-Mag-Loop-Antenna.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49845","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=49845"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49845\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=49845"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=49845"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=49845"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}