{"id":66777,"date":"2026-08-11T07:29:15","date_gmt":"2026-08-11T11:29:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=66777"},"modified":"2026-08-11T07:29:15","modified_gmt":"2026-08-11T11:29:15","slug":"marks-first-impressions-of-the-pk-mw-loop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2026\/08\/marks-first-impressions-of-the-pk-mw-loop\/","title":{"rendered":"Mark’s First Impressions of the PK MW Loop"},"content":{"rendered":"

by<\/strong> Mark (M7MHY)<\/strong><\/p>\n

It was while travelling in the Greek islands a few weeks ago, I first spoke to Paul Karlstrand.<\/a><\/p>\n

I’d sent him an email, requesting a shipping quote from his home country in Australia to mine, Scotland, UK. I got a prompt reply, and he was only too happy to answer any questions I had, not only regarding shipping, but with any other queries I may have had concerning his loops. What a nice guy.<\/p>\n

Fast forward to present day and I’ve been using his 36cm MW passive loop (catalogue code ‘TAM’) for a few days now. From paying the invoice through PayPal, the loop being built and assembled, to arriving on my doorstep around 11,000 miles later – it took just 10 days.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The free pen is a nice touch!<\/p>\n

This is most certainly not a review of the antenna, it’s just a quick note on my observations and experience from the hours of enjoyment I’ve now had using it.<\/p>\n

My conclusion? It’s brilliant.<\/p>\n

I’ve caught several stations now generally not audible through the day with the Tecsun AN-200. The signal gain of the larger 36cm diameter PK loop compared with the 22cm Tecsun, improves reception quite drastically. Combined with a ‘split band?’ switch from 525 to 710kHz in the left position and from 710 to 1725kHz on the right, it does a great job of matching the radio’s tuned frequency to the loop without feeling finicky while turning the knob.<\/p>\n

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

MW band is split into two sections<\/p>\n

Of course, during grey line propagation or after dark, things just keep getting better. I have a few low power ‘test’ stations that I’ll use to check conditions and test radios and antennas with and am pleased to report, that the PK Loop 36cm performed remarkably in its job of funneling those weak signals into my receiver.<\/p>\n

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

Pulling in some weak signals during the twilight hours<\/p>\n

These products are very well made and are obviously manufactured with passion, care and attention. I think it would be very difficult to break or damage one, within the confines of normal use.<\/p>\n

As soon as I can think of an elaborate enough story to tell my other half, explaining why another large package has arrived from Australia – I can see myself ordering the larger 50cm version from Paul, too.<\/p>\n

Click here to check out PK’s Loop Antennas.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

73<\/p>\n

Mark (M7MHY)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

by Mark (M7MHY) It was while travelling in the Greek islands a few weeks ago, I first spoke to Paul Karlstrand. I’d sent him an email, requesting a shipping quote from his home country in Australia to mine, Scotland, UK. I got a prompt reply, and he was only too happy to answer any questions […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_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},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[373,3607,433,3],"tags":[3417,11152,5657,6771],"class_list":["post-66777","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-am","category-antennas","category-mediumwave","category-news","tag-magnetic-loop-antennas","tag-mark-m7mhy","tag-pk-loop","tag-pks-loops"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-hn3","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":30383,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/01\/a-follow-up-review-of-the-pk-loop-c-loop-hdsw6-18-antenna\/","url_meta":{"origin":66777,"position":0},"title":"A follow-up review of the PK Loop C-LOOP-HDSW6-18 antenna","author":"Thomas","date":"January 20, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"In 2016, I purchased portable shortwave magnetic loop antenna designed and built by\u00a0Paul Karlstrand in Australia. I posted a \"preliminary\" review of this antenna in 2016 and since then have taken this loop on many travels. SWling Post contributor, Ron, recently noted that Jay Allen reviewed one of Paul's inductively-coupled\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\/2018\/01\/Elecraft-KX2-PK-Loop-balcony.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":30672,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/02\/indoor-shortwave-antenna-options-to-pair-with-a-new-sdr\/","url_meta":{"origin":66777,"position":1},"title":"Indoor shortwave antenna options to pair with a new SDR","author":"Thomas","date":"February 9, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Chris Freitas, who writes: \"I am thinking of the new RSP1A SDR. Would you know of a good indoor antenna that would work well with it?\" Your antenna question is simple, but the answer is complex! First off, I think the RSP1A is 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\/2017\/11\/RSP1A1-1024x708.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/RSP1A1-1024x708.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/RSP1A1-1024x708.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/RSP1A1-1024x708.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":39252,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/ron-is-impressed-with-the-pk-loop-mini-a-loop-mtam\/","url_meta":{"origin":66777,"position":2},"title":"Ron is impressed with the PK Loop Mini (A-LOOP-MTAM)","author":"Thomas","date":"August 22, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ron, who shares the following review of the PK Loop Mini (A-LOOP-MTAM): Standard PK Loose-Coupled Loops (the \"A\" series) are 14 inches in diameter...they are for use with a receiver having a built-in ferrite bar antenna. Don't think they're not capable of serious DX...a\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\/2019\/08\/PK-Loop-Mini-cropped.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/PK-Loop-Mini-cropped.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/PK-Loop-Mini-cropped.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":22446,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/11\/a-preliminary-review-of-the-pk-loop-c-loop-hdsw6-18\/","url_meta":{"origin":66777,"position":3},"title":"A preliminary review of the PK Loop C-LOOP-HDSW6-18","author":"Thomas","date":"November 30, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Over the past year, a number of SWLing Post readers have asked me to review the PK Loop portable magnetic loop antenna produced by\u00a0Paul Karlstrand in Australia. I finally caved in and purchased one. I ordered the shortwave version of the loop, the\u00a0 C-LOOP-HDSW6-18 in early November and received it\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Accessories"","block_context":{"text":"Accessories","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/accessories\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"eecraft-kx3-pk-loop","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Eecraft-KX3-PK-Loop-e1480359088711.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Eecraft-KX3-PK-Loop-e1480359088711.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Eecraft-KX3-PK-Loop-e1480359088711.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":31920,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/05\/bill-scores-a-homebrew-lw-mw-magnetic-loop-antenna\/","url_meta":{"origin":66777,"position":4},"title":"Bill scores a homebrew LW\/MW magnetic loop antenna","author":"Thomas","date":"May 7, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Bill Hemphill (WD9EQD) who shares the following: I went to the Warminster Amateur Radio Club (WARC) hamfest [yesterday] in Bucks County, PA. For some time, I have been thinking about making a loop antenna for AM DXing. It was my lucky day. When I\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\/2018\/05\/Mag-Loop-Antenna-Homebrew-1-777x1024.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Mag-Loop-Antenna-Homebrew-1-777x1024.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Mag-Loop-Antenna-Homebrew-1-777x1024.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15377,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2015\/11\/guest-post-wellbrook-1530lnpro-vs-ala1530s-imperium-loop-antennas\/","url_meta":{"origin":66777,"position":5},"title":"Guest Post: Wellbrook 1530LNPro vs ALA1530S+ Imperium Loop Antennas","author":"Thomas","date":"November 1, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor and noted DXer, Guy Atkins, for the following guest post: Wellbrook 1530LNPro vs ALA1530S+ Imperium Loop Antennas -Guy Atkins This past weekend I found some interesting results from medium wave DXing with both models of Wellbrook Imperium loop antennas at the \"fabled\" Rockworks cliffs\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Antennas"","block_context":{"text":"Antennas","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/antennas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Two-Wellbrook-Loops-001","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Two-Wellbrook-Loops-001.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Two-Wellbrook-Loops-001.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Two-Wellbrook-Loops-001.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66777","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=66777"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66777\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":66781,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66777\/revisions\/66781"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=66777"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=66777"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=66777"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}