Re: [IRCA] Twin Coil Ferrite AM Antenna

["WWWR" <wwwr@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Tom,

 

Some time ago when looking for a way to improve reception of a local but poorly received station, I went through a couple active antenna choices.  The first was the C.Crane Twin Coil Ferrite AM Antenna -- at the time called the Justice AM Antenna after it's designer who has since left that company.  Later, for about the same price, I added the LF Engineering H-800 active vertical to my collection.  It was from playing around with these antennas that I got re-interested in DXing, this time specifically the AM band.

 

The C.Crane works well.  It performs best if located outside, like any antenna.  To do so would take a modest amount of weather proofing of the connectors since as it is shipped it is intended for indoors use.  It has a tuning box for optimizing the received frequency, which could help avoid local pests if using a receiver prone to images from stations not immediately adjacent to the one desired.  The antenna head is directional to a degree, so it could function somewhat like a loop antenna.  It comes with a ferrite coupler for use with radios that have no external antenna connection or that insert a high pass filter in the antenna path to suppress AM for SW use.  Optionally there is an extension cable for locating the antenna element up to 50 feet from the control and tuning box.  This would probably be required for most external installations of the antenna element.

 

For my purposes I prefer the H-800.  It produces stronger signals, requires no tuning or positioning, and is designed for outside mounting, including a weather proofed 50 foot coax.  Price performance wise, the H-800 is superior, but there are always trade-offs, such as internal versus external installation.

 

I still use the C.Crane as an auxiliary antenna when the H-800 is being used for other purposes.

 

If you have any questions, please let me know.

 

W. Curt Deegan
Boca Raton, (Southeast) Florida

-------Original Message-------

 

From: Tom Dimeo

Date: 09/20/05 14:10:09

To: irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Subject: [IRCA] Twin Coil Ferrite AM Antenna

 

Has anyone had any experience using the Twin Coil Ferrite AM

Antenna from the C. Crane company?

 

Thanks,

 

Tom

 

 

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