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Reviews For: Realistic Amplified Shortwave Antenna 20-280

Category: Antenna Tuners/Matching Networks

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Review Summary For : Realistic Amplified Shortwave Antenna 20-280
Reviews: 2MSRP: $39.95
Description:
Performance rivalling outdoor antennas, yet sits on your
table. Pulls in distant and weak stations! Precision
engineered to rival the performance of an outdoor antenna.
Product is not in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0024
N2MDV Rating: 2019-04-29
OK for portables, but high end receivers will hear its limits. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I had one of these given to me, so the price was right. It does indeed help out portables, like the Sony ICF-SW100S, but put it to a sensitive Icom, or Kenwood, receiver and you'll hear its limitations in added noise and MW AM IMD. Even on a CB for receive, it will bring in more noise on AM than signal, but better on SSB. If you use the telescopic whip indoors, it just amplifies the indoor produced noises more. Still, for a portable outside on a picnic table, it's good for that.
RAHOBIT Rating: 2018-04-03
Can connect outdoor antennas and attenuate or amplify Time Owned: more than 12 months.
These were made by a 3rd party and sold by Tandy in the 70's onwards. The device is made as an "active antenna" having a built-in rather short telescopic. With all the indoor hash from other electronic devices these days that's not much use, but there is an RCA plug input from an outdoor antenna. I've found the capability to tune, attenuate and amplify the antenna signal before feeding into your radio (I use the revered Sony ICF-2010) to be extremely helpful.

They say if you amplify a weak signal you're also just amplifying the noise but this device seems to have a way of helpfully positively tuning the signal and making it better. There has to be some reasonable signal to begin with, but for instance it can make a badly fading signal more readable and sometimes reduces the static and noise as well. S2 signals can become sometimes nearly S4.

In summary this gadget is well worth a try, for $20 on auction sites and the cost of a 9v battery which lasts ages. It is a gem in my shack.