View Single Post
  #3   Report Post  
Old February 22nd 05, 07:27 PM
 
Posts: n/a
Default

From:

http://stephan.win31.de/sony7600.htm#an-lp1

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The AN-LP1 antenna

In January of 2004, I finally obtained a (used) AN-LP1 antenna, a
project that had once been terminated after the decision to get an
AR7030. Now the AOR isn't exactly a portable, so... My AN-LP1 (JFTR:
S/N 15243) had been modified quite strongly by the previous owner who,
among other things, removed the cloth (for better handling, I suppose),
wrapping something around the wire and frame - well, a "naked" AN-LP1
doesn't look exactly pretty, but reception is unaltered. So, what about
a little review?

Handling: I got the folding twist right virtually on the first try
(after use, the antenna has to be folded together again, which had been
reported as being a bit tricky until you get the hang of it), though
it's quite possible that it would be more difficult with a stock
antenna frame. Operation is quite simple: Unfold antenna module and
attach it somewhere (that's a bit of an unsolved problem on this
antenna, you can clip it somewhere and attach it to windows and such,
but that's about it), connect antenna controller to both antenna and
receiver (if you were wondering what the somewhat strange-looking
longish part is, that's a filter into which you plug in the cable from
the antenna controller on one end and connect the thing to the antenna
frame with the other end), put in two AA batteries into the antenna
controller (I used rechargeables, since I didn't have anything else at
hand, and these work pretty well, with the switchoff voltage being
roughly 2.3 V) if not already present, and off you go. At least if you
have a receiver with a "hot" EXT ANT socket, like the ICF-SW7600G(R),
ICF-SW100 or ICF-SW1000T. On others, it's necessary to explicitly turn
the antenna controller on with the respective slider switch. While
receiving, it's necessary to select the correct frequency range for
best reception.

Reception: That's what we bought this thing for, right? And so far, the
AN-LP1 has not disappointed me. One must know, of course, that it's
only good for the frequency range from about 80 meters to 13 meters,
with a preference for the lower frequencies. There the antenna really
shines, with signals that are a lot stronger - say, 20 dB - than just
with the whip (even when using an antenna tuner, [ADDX-PRE-1]), and
usually cleaner than the signals of a tuned whip + AN-71 combo. Also,
the preselection helps a lot to minimise IM (like on 80 and 22 meters,
where at the time of testing the wire overloaded the receiver on the
respective frequencies), and with the apparently rather sharp 5 MHz
range, images from 49m on 60m (a nuisance of the 7600G) are
considerably attenuated. (19m images on 20m are strong as ever, but you
can't have everything.) Minimising interference by rotating the loop is
also nice. Performance, while still good on 16m, is no longer stellar
on 13m, where the difference to the whip + tuner is no longer that
huge.

All in all: Recommended. If you need better reception "on the go", the
AN-LP1 makes a good travel companion. (And not only that - it'll also
deliver good performance at home and with the receiver used on a wall
wart. I've retired the AN-71 for now.) Unfortunately, its availability
has never been too great (apparently it's only being made once in a
while, in small batches), and the price may also seem a bit deterring,
given it costs about half as much as an ICF-SW7600G(R) when new.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~

P.S. : I own one, very worthwhile purchase..

NOT a noise amplifier; has a noise filter & several other pre selector
features.

Goes with me & my Sangean 606A everywhere

Pick up passport to worldband radio,
theres a detailed review in there..