Realistic DX-380 question.

[Sporty Mike]

Hey guys , I have one of these little SW recievers and was wondering how exactly to go about connecting a longwire antenna to it? It has a small jack like a headphone jack marked "ext. antenna" so I was a little curious as to the best way to hook a longwire to it.




Thanks,
Mike

[MDYoungblood]

SWL radios are really easy to setup an antenna, just about anything can be used as it is receive only, rain gutter, siding, metal window frames. A long wire is simple, you need 2 insulators, the wire, and a run of coax. put one end and insulator out in a tree, fence post. etc. high enough to be out of the way, bring the other end to the house, insulator at a high point and drop the wire to the ground. At the ground is where you want to connect the coax, center to the wire and shield to a ground rod, etc. run the coax to the radio, 50 or 75 ohm, doesn't matter it's just receiving, I used an F (TV) connector on the radio end so as not to get it confused with transmitting antennas and for that radio I would get one of these adapters,
.
Length of wire isn't critical but with most SWL the longer the better.

3's

Greg

[Sporty Mike]

Thanks Youngblood , can you get those adaptors with a SO 239 instead of the TV connector ? If so that would be perfect!! And where can I get them?




Mike

[MDYoungblood]

They may make them but I haven't seen one, they do make a female F connector to a SO239. You can make a jumper with a PL259, 3.5mm mono plug, and coax.

3's

Greg

[Sporty Mike]

The one like you showed in the pic will work , It's just that I already have a longwire made with a 239/259 connector.




Mike