Newbie needs help on antenna for a Comm Radio CR-1

[dizzyX]

Hello, I am quite new to the SW Receiver world.
I recently acquired a Comm Radio CR-1 and am trying to figure out a decent antenna setup.
I am looking at ...
  MW-HF Antenna Port 1:  High impedance input for random wire.
      3.5 mm (1/8”) female-mono-jack. 
     
  MW-HF   Antenna Port 2:  BNC Female – 50 Ohm.

  VHF-UHF Antenna Port 3:  BNC Female – 50 Ohm.
and
  External Chassis Ground Connection

I'm just not sure where to start. At the moment I don't want to be an antenna expert but am looking more for a simple external SW receiver antenna.

Thank you in advance..Richard

Even an affordable commercial pre-assembled setup would be fine.

[Matt285]

Hf- The usual suspects                                                                                                                    UHF/VHF
-Random wire (tuner optional)                                                                                                        Discone antennas- Many manufactures
-Par end fed SWL                                                                                                                            Vertical  antenna- Maybe even a 2m/440 model
-Tuned dipoles for specific areas                                                                                                     Small vertically polarized Yagi (TV/FM)
Alpha Delta Shortwave sloper                                                                                                         Wire dipoles vertical or horizontal
Alpha delta DX Ultra
Loops- Wire or manufactured such as Wellbrook, MFJ, MLA-30, DX Engineering, LZ1AQ
Among many more

[Matt285]

BTW a lot of people ask for help and advice for their new Radio shack, Tecsun, Sangean. You jumped right into a much higher quality tabletop unit!
You're already ahead of the game. Nothing wrong with that though.

[Matt285]

46 views. Nothing to add?

[dizzyX]

Hf- The usual suspects                                                                                                                    UHF/VHF
-Random wire (tuner optional)                                                                                                        Discone antennas- Many manufactures
-Par end fed SWL                                                                                                                            Vertical  antenna- Maybe even a 2m/440 model
-Tuned dipoles for specific areas                                                                                                     Small vertically polarized Yagi (TV/FM)
Alpha Delta Shortwave sloper                                                                                                         Wire dipoles vertical or horizontal
Alpha delta DX Ultra
Loops- Wire or manufactured such as Wellbrook, MFJ, MLA-30, DX Engineering, LZ1AQ
Among many more

Thanks, which would you suggest for an inexperienced dxer? Not for transmitting, mainly receiving SW.

[dizzyX]

BTW a lot of people ask for help and advice for their new Radio shack, Tecsun, Sangean. You jumped right into a much higher quality tabletop unit!
You're already ahead of the game. Nothing wrong with that though.

I read fast to get through the clutter and down to sound basics

[Matt285]

Well, I guess at first whatever gets you receiving. Whether its clipping a wire onto a gutter or a random wire. Any outside antenna is going to be a huge difference. I guess I would add that having the axis of the antenna pointing in the right NS EW direction based on where your located. East coast/West coast pick up slightly different stations on a regular basis. Not always though. As an East coast receiver I tend to concentrate on Europe/South America and the Islands. West coast ops have more success with Asia, Australia and various others that are geographically in a better propagation area. Put out any outside piece of metal and find whats to your liking. There are AM broadcast,Military, time stations, numbers stations, beacons, ham radio. Among many others. Just listen as much as possible whenever you can with whatever capabilities you have. I learn new things everyday. Especially from this website. There are so many great people on here that have much more information to offer than I ever could. Best of luck to you. Cruise the forum when your able to. That's what I do.

[Matt285]

I failed to answer your question directly. I guess I would say that a Par end fed SWl antenna would be a great start. I don't personally own one, but it seems like a go to antenna for many people. I hope other people respond as well with their opinions.

[dizzyX]

I failed to answer your question directly. I guess I would say that a Par end fed SWl antenna would be a great start. I don't personally own one, but it seems like a go to antenna for many people. I hope other people respond as well with their opinions.

Thanks much.

[dizzyX]

Well, I guess at first whatever gets you receiving. Whether its clipping a wire onto a gutter or a random wire. Any outside antenna is going to be a huge difference. I guess I would add that having the axis of the antenna pointing in the right NS EW direction based on where your located. East coast/West coast pick up slightly different stations on a regular basis. Not always though. As an East coast receiver I tend to concentrate on Europe/South America and the Islands. West coast ops have more success with Asia, Australia and various others that are geographically in a better propagation area. Put out any outside piece of metal and find whats to your liking. There are AM broadcast,Military, time stations, numbers stations, beacons, ham radio. Among many others. Just listen as much as possible whenever you can with whatever capabilities you have. I learn new things everyday. Especially from this website. There are so many great people on here that have much more information to offer than I ever could. Best of luck to you. Cruise the forum when your able to. That's what I do.

I take it the 'wire' would have an adapter to fit the MW-HF BNC Female – 50 Ohm port?

[pinto vortando]

PAR EF-SWL for MW-HF and discone for VHF-UHF would be my choices.
Go to Universal Radio site and look around, they have all you need,
antennas, coax, connectors, adapters, etc.
Be sure to take into consideration lightning protection and grounding.

[Matt285]

Great point Pinto. Since it's winter time, lightning wasn't on my mind. Not to mention good grounding cuts down on noise considerably in general. Good advice.

[East Troy Don]

46 views. Nothing to add?

I run an Alpha Delta Sloper  thru a splitter to both the Yaesu FRG7700 and the Icom R75 and am very satisfied.  The ICOM is better on SSB  but the FRG consistently outperforms the R75 on SWL.