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Technical Topics => Equipment => Topic started by: Es0teric on August 28, 2019, 0240 UTC

Title: Question about Antenna for PL-880
Post by: Es0teric on August 28, 2019, 0240 UTC
Hi there guys.  If I wanted to hook this antenna to my Tecsun PL-880, where could I find a cord/adapter to do so?  I can't seem to find any information on where to find one, but I did see a guy who had one of these hooked up to his PL-880 in a youtube video. 

Here is the link to the antenna:  https://www.ebay.com/itm/MLA-30-Active-Loop-Active-Receiving-Antenna-100KHz-30MHz-for-Shortwave-Radio-tUS/174010257281?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

Here is a link to the youtube video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkr3LEPZkv8

Thank you in advance for your time.
Title: Re: Question about Antenna for PL-880
Post by: Ray Lalleu on September 02, 2019, 1037 UTC
Seems you need a patch cord from SMA socket to 3.5 mm mono jack
(or maybe to RCA plug, then using RCA to jack).
Look for it on Internet? Maybe a combined order ?
Title: Re: Question about Antenna for PL-880
Post by: ThaDood on September 02, 2019, 1803 UTC
I used to roll my own. In the very early 1980's, I had a Realistic DX-40 that used a 3/32" jack for an EXT Antenna, so I would solder a cable to that, and at the time, Radio Shack sold the 3/32" jacks at the store to buy and do that. There's a lot of portables today that use either the 1/8" (3.5mm), jack, or an RCA Phono connector, as an EXT Antenna option, so I know that adapters are out there for that. One thing to consider, does the PL-880 portable have a +3VDC voltage on the EXT Antenna connection to power a custom EXT Active Antenna, like my Sony ICF-SW100S portable did? If so, just add a .1uF capacitor as a DC block on the center conductor of the cable to the 3.5mm jack.
Title: Re: Question about Antenna for PL-880
Post by: Pigmeat on September 02, 2019, 1932 UTC
Universal Radio should have an adapter for the PL-880 that would fit the bill. You don't have to deal with the hassle of buying overseas, and the Cat Lady will get it out to you PDQ.
Title: Re: Question about Antenna for PL-880
Post by: RST111 on September 05, 2019, 0800 UTC
For my Eton/Grundig Executive I bought a bag of mono jacks off amazon for like $9 and wired one to a BNC connector.  I have BNC on all my inside HF rx runs because it's easier to deal with than PL-259.  If need to go to PL-259, I just use a BNC to PL-259 adapter.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DKDWHRR

Note that these are really, really cheap quality.  They work, but the metal connectors are thin and flimsy.  I expect it will wear out sooner rather than later.   But I have a bagful of repair parts  8)