| VE4FX |
Rating:  |
2018-09-11 | |
| Regret the purchase |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
HI
I live in an apartment block that has given me trouble receiving . I tried the Quantum Loop v2.0 with the shortwave head and it has heard nothing other than WWV. I'm sure it works under other conditions. I get peaks in noise but no signals. I would be interested in trying the MW head but don't want the risk of putting out more cash to get the same result. It appears to be well built and it's a shame I can't use it |
|
| KJ6MC |
Rating: |
2015-10-04 | |
| An amazing bit of radio magic. |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
| The Quantum loop is like a vacuum cleaner for picking up tough signals. In this case (here, just south of Sacramento), my torture test for any AM radio is the ability to pick KOMO @ 1000khz out of the insane splatter of KATD blasting Mexican music at 990 about 6 miles to the east. The Panasonic 2200 and GE Super Radio does a fair job of it...but even at 5,000 watts, KATD is so close and so loud that I could never rid myself entirely of the bleeding 10khz down. With the loop and my Eton E1 carefully nulling the 990 signal, KOMO pops out 10khz up,no sweat. More amazingly, is that I am able to hear Gary Cunningham, on 990, KTMS (Santa Barbara) running 500 w nighttime. I am just floored. There should be no way on earth for me to hear that signal. It's not loud, but it's there. I ID'ed it. The fit and finish of the antenna is awesome, but the performance is nothing short of: wow! This turns just about any radio into a awesome radio! |
|
| KC0EKQ |
Rating: |
2015-06-16 | |
| Simply the best. |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
I will give this antenna a full 5/5 not just for performance but for the fine service and communication from owner/designer Gerry Thomas.
I am not sure what may (or may *not*) have happened with the reviewer who couldn't get a 'manual' (they don't exist as such) and thinks it's a flimsy or poorly built product. That review is baffling to me, because I've never had ANY issue with RadioPlus or Gerry -- I've purchased a number of products from him -- and I don't know anyone who has ! I know a LOT of radio fanatics.
The Quantum Loop v.2 is simply the best loop antenna I have ever used, (ferrite) bar none! I have owned Kiwa's excellent but big and heavy (and more than twice as costly and no longer made) MW loop, and antennas from Palomar and others, and I have long enjoyed being a loop antenna home-brewer for decades, having built a few air-core loops and one ferrite rod loop that come close in few respects to this antenna, but for size, portability, ease of use and total RF performance from rod to Q to amplifier to directivity, you cannot beat the Quantum v.2.
With a handful of methods to connect or couple this loop's signal to just about any radio you can find, it is easy to use and a pleasure to operate. Controls are smooth and simple, and feel rock solid to me.
The rotating loop head is solid and sturdy, as it has to be when constantly rotating, tilting and otherwise aiming it for maximum reception/lowest noise/deepest null... and the nulls this antenna exhibits are nearly perfect across the band, only having issues with the very strongest of local signals, which will take more finessing to find the right angle and point to get that last bit of signal gone.
The Q control is very useful as well, when I need it. I imagine I don't need to explain Q increasing to anyone reading this review; suffice to say, it works and works well. A Q spoiler switch is also on board for use with phased systems or other set-ups that may require such a feature; I have not had a need to use it yet.
It operates on A/C power or 9v battery, and the battery is the way to go -- the battery clip/holder is perfectly placed, the battery power cleaner than most wall-wart supplies (that *I* have at any rate) and it sips batteries! I am using only the second 9v I've installed... and I purchased the loop over four months ago, using it almost every day.
Like any other single antenna type and design, it won't be useful for *every* application you might require, but in MW reception for which it was created, it hits just about every mark, and improves every radio I have used with it, though I will say it will not seem like a huge improvement with some really high-end receivers. For example, on my Panasonic RF2600 it shines, but on my Panasonic RF2200 (the best MW receiver I've ever owned) it acts like my best homemade loops, because the receiver already has the directionality and low noise floor I can attain at my QTH. This isn't a fault in any way -- it's just the physics of coupling an excellent antenna to an already excellent receiver.
For the price, the v.2 is MORE than worth the purchase. It may find you signals you never thought you could hear at all. And dealing with Gerry Thomas (whom I'd never met before and with whom I have no commercial or financial affiliation) is another pure pleasure -- you can tell this guy is at least as nuts about radio as you are, and maybe more than most, and that he cares about his products working correctly and consistently. All of my correspondence with him was substantive and timely (he never left me hanging on an email question for days on end, instead replying usually within a few hours at most), and he's just a good guy.
I imagine it's not for every radio fanatic, but for the serious MW DXer it's the finest you can use without moving up (in real estate and price!) to K9AYs and other phased and multi-antenna systems.
Excellent product. |
|
| N9RH |
Rating: |
2015-05-18 | |
| Very good quality |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| I got the v3 model with the MW and LW loops. My qth is plagued with noise, so the loops are of limited use in the shack. The MW loop is usable at my qth for 1000 khz or greater, and it does a great job. There is too much noise to use at lower freqs. The LW loop is not usable at all for me inside the shack. Outside, the loops perform very well. I bought the loops to have adjustable nulls for MW and LW dxing in the shack, but they are of little use to me in my location. This is no fault of the loops, but just the high noise level at my qth. |
|
| WE4U |
Rating: |
2013-01-21 | |
| HIGHLY RECOMENDED! |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I ordered the newer version v3.0 with all three loop heads, along with the Quantum Phaser.
Gerry gave me very quick and good service, and was very responsive to my questions after purchase.
I tested these units extensively and they worked as advertized. For example, I compared both Quantum tools on the BCB to my 160 Meter loop 560 feet of wire at 50 feet, and a ground mounted gap vertical 45 feet tall with a capacitance hat. the signals were very close, amazing for a 7.5 inch bar on the inside of my house.
The workmanship of this equipment was very good as you would expect.
This is good equipment, especially if you are limited to an inside antenna, or just don't won't to go to the trouble of installing outside antennas. The nulling effect is quit good also!
73,
TIM (WE4U)
|
|
| K2VI |
Rating: |
2011-12-05 | |
| Superb quality |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I have owned the wellbrook 1530s and palomar LA-1
Both preformed well however my quantum V 2+ will bring in signals noticably stronger than the above mentioned. For instance the wellbrook would pull in WBAP 820 in fort worth TX on my R-30A S-4-6 WITH NOISE.The quantum would pull it in s-9 with very little noise. I just ordered another.Im afraid gerry will retire and i will never be able to aquire one of theese gems again.Thanks gerry for such a fine DX tool.
Anthony Costa |
|
| K4FMH |
Rating: |
2011-10-25 | |
| Excellent! |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I've had the 2.0+ model for several years. I've been building and using loops for MW DXing for over 45 years now. This is the best loop fir MW DXing that I've ever used...bar none. I marvel at Gerry's craftsmanship. I also bought his Phaser product and used it in conjunction with a random wire to enhance the 2.0+ loop. Gerry gives good instructions on how to use the phaser with the loop but he's also available to work out any kinks. Couldn't ask for any better!
I've used this loop with both a JRC NRD-545 and a Perseus SDR for MW DXing. I'm not sure that I could do better with the Perseus and Gerry's 2.0+ Loop. |
|
| N4EES |
Rating: |
2011-09-10 | |
| Average |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
| I bought this one used on Ebay. Maybe the components are of good quality, I don't know. But, the feel of the knobs and switches seems cheap and rather flimsy. Performance is OK, but not to the same standards as the old KIWA loop. I tried three times to purchase a manual from the company, but the owner refused to sell me one. My overall experience with the company and their loop antenna is one of disappointment. |
|
| W7IH |
Rating: |
2011-01-04 | |
| A must for the MW DXer |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
While I consider myself a casual mediumwave DXer at best, I love my Quantum Loop. The loop has all of the nulling capabilities you'd expect, and can easily get rid of the local pests here in Baltimore and hear what's behind them. The controls are all simple and straight forward, and the build quality is very good. In case there is a problem though, Gerry Thomas will stand behind his products. Best of all, the 9v battery power gives you complete portability. Between this and my Yaesu 817 I can set up a very capable and portable mediumwave listening post in no time at all. Believe me, there's nothing like taking this little combo to the beach for a little transatlantic DXing.
I highly recommend this antenna for anyone interested in mediumwave. |
|
| K6HOM |
Rating: |
2009-09-28 | |
| One of the best MW antennas! |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I have been very pleased with this antenna. Use it with my Drake R8A for MW DXing in conjunction with a 100' sloper antenna and an outdoor-mounted Wellbrook loop.
This is an excellent AM MW performer. It consistently delivers stronger signals with quieter backgrounds than my wire. The Wellbrook is also quiet, but its signals are of relatively low strength compared to the QL 2.0+. The QL 2.0+ signals have significantly higher "intelligibility" than my other two antennas...can't think of a better quality for a SWL product to have! Easy to operate, right on your desktop! Do NOT underestimate the value of the QX control in separating stations that are very close together, this is a deal-breaker over the Wellbrook or any wire. Probably the best MW active antenna out there for the money.
Gerry at DX Tools is a gem, he hand-tunes every one of these. You won't get a bad one. |
|
