Looking for an indoor antenna for my Satellit 800

[JazzyJeff]

MFJ's 1022 looks to be the least expensive and easiest to use, but is
it the right one for use with the Sat800? I've also looked at some
offerings from Palstar and Vectronics that look pretty nice. Universal
Radio wants $54.95 for the 1022, $79.95 for MFJ's 1020C, $99.95 for the
Palstar AA30 and $89.95 for the Vectronics AT-100. The MFJ 1020C and
the Vectronics AT-100 look almost alike. What makes the 1020C cost more?

[John S.]

Post by JazzyJeff
MFJ's 1022 looks to be the least expensive and easiest to use, but is
it the right one for use with the Sat800? I've also looked at some
offerings from Palstar and Vectronics that look pretty nice. Universal
Radio wants $54.95 for the 1022, $79.95 for MFJ's 1020C, $99.95 for the
Palstar AA30 and $89.95 for the Vectronics AT-100. The MFJ 1020C and
the Vectronics AT-100 look almost alike. What makes the 1020C cost more?

How about a comnparably performing wire antenna for about $3.00.

[b***@aol.com]

Post by John S.

Post by JazzyJeff
MFJ's 1022 looks to be the least expensive and easiest to use, but is
it the right one for use with the Sat800? I've also looked at some
offerings from Palstar and Vectronics that look pretty nice. Universal
Radio wants $54.95 for the 1022, $79.95 for MFJ's 1020C, $99.95 for the
Palstar AA30 and $89.95 for the Vectronics AT-100. The MFJ 1020C and
the Vectronics AT-100 look almost alike. What makes the 1020C cost more?

How about a comnparably performing wire antenna for about $3.00.

- Agree..

an external antenna Plus a co-ax feed will probably cost a magnitude
less and give better reception

http://www.hard-core-dx.com/nordicdx/antenna/wire/lantenna.html

[John S.]

Post by b***@aol.com

Post by John S.

Post by JazzyJeff
MFJ's 1022 looks to be the least expensive and easiest to use, but is
it the right one for use with the Sat800? I've also looked at some
offerings from Palstar and Vectronics that look pretty nice. Universal
Radio wants $54.95 for the 1022, $79.95 for MFJ's 1020C, $99.95 for the
Palstar AA30 and $89.95 for the Vectronics AT-100. The MFJ 1020C and
the Vectronics AT-100 look almost alike. What makes the 1020C cost more?

How about a comnparably performing wire antenna for about $3.00.

- Agree..
an external antenna Plus a co-ax feed will probably cost a magnitude
less and give better reception
http://www.hard-core-dx.com/nordicdx/antenna/wire/lantenna.html

Or 30 feet of wire run around the perimeter of a window or around the
floor. And in my experience most portables perform very will with the
built-in whip antenna. Raising the level of all signals with an
amplified antenna won't magically draw weak signals from the mud. An
amplified antenna with several knobs to twirl will provide
entertainment for the otherwise bored swl.

[Joe Analssandrini]

Hello.

The people who replied and suggested that you string 30 feet (or more)
of insulated wire around your room(s) are absolutely correct. This will
outperform any of the antennas you mention below IF your house/location
is relatively electrically noise-free. (You may want to turn off
computers, fluorescent bulbs, etc.) If you can hang such an antenna out
of a window (even on an as-used basis) without having the wire touch
the ground, this would be even better.

I have found, through experience, that inexpensive active antennas are
just no good (with the possible exception of the MFJ 1020C when it's
used as a preselector with a random length outdoor wire - NOT as an
active antenna, but that mode of operation evidently won't do for you).
I have read that the AOR LA-380 indoor active antenna is a fairly good
one; that costs about $400.00. The sadly-discontinued AOR WL500 Window
Loop Antenna ($200.00) is also a very good indoor antenna and works
exceptionally well with the Satellit 800. The very BEST indoor active
antenna is, of course, the Wellbrook ALA 330S (or the '1530 if you are
more interested in MW DXing). However, this is quite expensive and
complicated to install; it is, however, the easiest of all active
antennas to actually use. (All that is necessary is to have it mounted
on a TV rotator. Then you merely change the antenna's orientation
depending on the direction of the signal you want to hear. There is
nothing else to adjust.) I have two of them, both mounted in my attic.
One of my Wellbrooks is used with my Satellit 800 and the other is used
with my AOR AR7030 Plus. (You cannot mount one of these antennas in
your room unless you are a single person or have a VERY understanding
significant-other!)

Please remember that you cannot "cheap-out" on an antenna, even a
random-length outdoor wire. With that kind, the least expensive antenna
there is, you need a balun, a lightning/surge suppressor, and various
other items. With indoor antennas, the expense climbs. There is no way
around it.

Finally, you must consider this fact: the ANTENNA is FAR more important
to good reception than is the RECEIVER! The best radio in the world is
of no use whatsoever if coupled to an inferior antenna. Indoor
antennas, working in a relatively hostile radio environment, must have
exceptionally good design and manufacture in order to fuinction in a
manner satisfactory to DXers. That costs money.

Other than an outdoor random-length wire (or a wire hung about your
room), you CANNOT buy an antenna that's any good at the prices you
mention.

If you cannot afford better at this time, and the 30 feet or so of wire
strung around your house is unsatisfactory, do NOT waste your money on
one of the cheap-type antennas you mention (or some other "miracle"
antenna you see on eBay or other dealer), but use your Grundig's whip
and SAVE your money until you can afford a proper indoor active
antenna.

Best of luck.

Joe

Post by JazzyJeff
MFJ's 1022 looks to be the least expensive and easiest to use, but is
it the right one for use with the Sat800? I've also looked at some
offerings from Palstar and Vectronics that look pretty nice. Universal
Radio wants $54.95 for the 1022, $79.95 for MFJ's 1020C, $99.95 for the
Palstar AA30 and $89.95 for the Vectronics AT-100. The MFJ 1020C and
the Vectronics AT-100 look almost alike. What makes the 1020C cost more?

[RHF]

JJ,

The Grundig Satellit 800 already has a built-in Pre-Amplifier
that is used with the built-in "Mega Size" Whip Antenna.
{ The Built-in Whip Antenna is an Active Antenna. ]

The Grundig Satellit 800's Whip Antenna is a design for an
earlier age of radio when Whip Antennas were Designed and
Engineered to be real Signal Gatherers: Large and Long and
Thick at the base and tapering to the tip. The majority of
today's 'portable' AM / FM Shortwave Radios have short and thin
Whip Antennas; which provide minimum Signal Gathering. The
Grundig Satellit 800's Whip Antenna is "Mega Sized" when
compared to the average much smaller Whip Antennas on most
of today's smaller 'portable' AM / FM Shortwave Radios. Plus
with the Grundig Satellit 800's you have the built-in Whip Antenna
Pre-Amplifier for add Signal Strength.

IMHO: The Size and Shape of the Grundig Satellit 800's built-in
Whip Antenna is about the Signal Gathering equivalent of one of
those 23 Feet Reel {Role-Up} Antennas that are required by most
other 'portable' AM / FM Shortwave Radios to get the same Signals
that the Grundig Satellit 800's provides with the "Mega Size" Whip
Antenna and built-in Pre-Amplifier.


QUESTION - So Why Use 'another' In-Door Active Antenna ?
When your already have "Mega Size" Whip Antenna and a
Pre-Ampliers built-in to the Grundig Satellit 800 Radio ?

First - Check-Out the Grundig Satellit 800 Millennium Group on YAHOO !
SATELLIT 800 => http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Satellit800/

Second - Read any and all of these Messages about
using Antennas with the Grundig Satellit 800 Millennium.

* Concerning the Grundig Satellit 800 Millennium's
"Mega Size" Whip Antenna with Pre-Amplifier for
Shortwave Listening. READ "GS800M's Whip Antenna"
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Satellit800/message/4176

* One of the Grundig Satellit 800M's - Secrets for Top Perfromance
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Satellit800/message/6093
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.radio.shortwave/msg/5c6c0eca10bc3f17


* Grundig Satellit 800 Millennium Radio -
Do I Need an External Antenna ?
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortwave-SWL-Antenna/message/508

* Antenna Options for the Grundig Satellit 800 Millennium Radio
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortwave-SWL-Antenna/message/486
{ And the Parts that are required Cost Under $5 }

* Improving the Grundig Satellit 800 M's AM/MW Reception for DXing
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortwave-SWL-Antenna/message/865

* Pair of Active "InDoor" Antennas for AM/MW and SW Reception
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortwave-SWL-Antenna/message/87
Both work well with the Grundig Satellit 800 Millennium Radio.
One for AM/MW and the other for Shortwave.
.
.
hope this helps - iane ~ RHF
.
Shortwave Listener Antennas => http://tinyurl.com/ogvcf
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortwave-SWL-Antenna/
SWL Antenna Group => http://tinyurl.com/ogvcf
.
The Shortwave Listener's Blessing :
SWL BLESSING => http://tinyurl.com/s2bjm
May You Never Tire of Listening to the Radio and Always
have Strong Signals and Noise Free Reception ~ RHF {ibid}
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortwave-SWL-Antenna/message/9233
.
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Post by JazzyJeff
MFJ's 1022 looks to be the least expensive and easiest to use, but is
it the right one for use with the Sat800? I've also looked at some
offerings from Palstar and Vectronics that look pretty nice. Universal
Radio wants $54.95 for the 1022, $79.95 for MFJ's 1020C, $99.95 for the
Palstar AA30 and $89.95 for the Vectronics AT-100. The MFJ 1020C and
the Vectronics AT-100 look almost alike. What makes the 1020C cost more?

.
.
. .

[Reloader]

I have had good luck on a couple of them. The AOR 320 (limits out at 1
MHZ) with replaceable loops. Still available from used places. Th
newer AOR's are better and more expensive. What I am using now is
Metal Slinkys@ strung as a dipole fed in to a 1:1 Spiro Balun. Thi
works very well and no need to re-tune going band to band. Have use
one for over 20 years. the AOR I maily use on MW and tropical bands.












The Grundig Satellit 800 already has a built-in Pre-Amplifier
that is used with the built-in "Mega Size" Whip Antenna.
{ The Built-in Whip Antenna is an Active Antenna. ]

The Grundig Satellit 800's Whip Antenna is a design for an
earlier age of radio when Whip Antennas were Designed and
Engineered to be real Signal Gatherers: Large and Long and
Thick at the base and tapering to the tip. The majority of
today's 'portable' AM / FM Shortwave Radios have short and thin
Whip Antennas; which provide minimum Signal Gathering. The
Grundig Satellit 800's Whip Antenna is "Mega Sized" when
compared to the average much smaller Whip Antennas on most
of today's smaller 'portable' AM / FM Shortwave Radios. Plus
with the Grundig Satellit 800's you have the built-in Whip Antenna
Pre-Amplifier for add Signal Strength.

IMHO: The Size and Shape of the Grundig Satellit 800's built-in
Whip Antenna is about the Signal Gathering equivalent of one of
those 23 Feet Reel {Role-Up} Antennas that are required by most
other 'portable' AM / FM Shortwave Radios to get the same Signals
that the Grundig Satellit 800's provides with the "Mega Size" Whip
Antenna and built-in Pre-Amplifier.


QUESTION - So Why Use 'another' In-Door Active Antenna ?
When your already have "Mega Size" Whip Antenna and a
Pre-Ampliers built-in to the Grundig Satellit 800 Radio ?

First - Check-Out the Grundig Satellit 800 Millennium Group on YAHOO !
SATELLIT 800 = http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Satellit800/

Second - Read any and all of these Messages about
using Antennas with the Grundig Satellit 800 Millennium.

* Concerning the Grundig Satellit 800 Millennium's
"Mega Size" Whip Antenna with Pre-Amplifier for
Shortwave Listening. READ "GS800M's Whip Antenna"
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Satellit800/message/4176

* One of the Grundig Satellit 800M's - Secrets for Top Perfromance
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Satellit800/message/6093
http://tinyurl.com/h5fn2


* Grundig Satellit 800 Millennium Radio -
Do I Need an External Antenna ?
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortwave-SWL-Antenna/message/508

* Antenna Options for the Grundig Satellit 800 Millennium Radio
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortwave-SWL-Antenna/message/486
{ And the Parts that are required Cost Under $5 }

* Improving the Grundig Satellit 800 M's AM/MW Reception for DXing
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortwave-SWL-Antenna/message/865

* Pair of Active "InDoor" Antennas for AM/MW and SW Reception
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortwave-SWL-Antenna/message/87
Both work well with the Grundig Satellit 800 Millennium Radio.
One for AM/MW and the other for Shortwave.
.
.
hope this helps - iane ~ RH

--
Reloader

[Will]

Post by RHF
The Grundig Satellit 800 already has a built-in Pre-Amplifier
that is used with the built-in "Mega Size" Whip Antenna.
{ The Built-in Whip Antenna is an Active Antenna. ]

I have a Sat 800 and an outdoor 20-meter random wire. I keep
the whip extended and disconnect the outdoor wire when there
are storms, etc. So I am often comparing the performance of the
radio on the whip vs. the wire.

The 800 is the best-performing radio off the whip of any of the
dozens of SW radios I have. While using the outdoor wire will
usually get me an S-unit or 2 better signal strength, and a bit
less noise (there's a little hum when using the whip), for the
vast majority of the program listening I do, the whip is quite
adequate. I wouldn't expect any other indoor antenna to give
me anything better.

Now, I am in an old brick-and-wood house. If you are in a
steel-frame building or an apartment with many different
noise sources next door, your experience may differ.

73, Will