I can't seem to find a good detailed review of the Sony AN-LP1. If anyone
owns one could you please comment on it's performance especially compared
to a random wire. Is it more of a noise amplifier or does it do a good job
of keeping the floor low? Also, if you know of reviews I cannot find I
would be happy for the links.

Thanks very much.
-Al A.
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I own one and use it with my Grundig YB-400PE. I think it does a good
job, but usually only on the signals that are somewhat strong to begin
with. I live in a very electrically noisy apartment building, and I
find it enhances the listenability of signals that are already coming
in somewhat decently. I don't think it does a good job on SSB or DX
signals. If I had the ability, I would run a wire outside. I think that
would give you a much more listenable signal, as the AN-LP1 tends to
amplify RF noise quite a bit. I'm not sure what receiver you have, so
your results could be different from mine.

I hope I don't sound like I'm bashing the Sony...I think it is superior
to a simple indoor reel antenna (the kind that comes with most
portables). But it does have its limitations. If you listen to
primarily programs being beamed to the US (or wherever you live), then
the Sony will probably do a good job.

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..

wrote:

From:

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

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

The AN-LP1 antenna

snipped very helpful review
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~

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..

Thanks for this! I feel better about the one I ordered now. grin

Best,
-Al
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~/.signature