Best 7 Shortwave Radio Antennas To Buy in the UK

Shortwave radios are helpful tools for communicating and listening to utility radio content over great distances.

To use one, you’ll need a good radio antenna.

A well-designed radio antenna can refine reception and improve your listening experience with a stronger connection and good transmission capabilities.

The best shortwave radio antenna to buy in the UK is the MLA-30 Loop Active Receiving Antenna from HAON. This antenna has excellent directionality and external noise reduction and can access medium-wave and short-wave signals.

This article examines the seven best radio antennas you can buy.

Let’s get to it!

Best Overall: HAON MLA-30 Loop Active Receiving Antenna

My top recommendation for a shortwave radio antenna is the MLA-30 Loop Active Receiving Antenna from HAON.

This antenna has excellent directivity, which reduces noise and static and improves the overall listening experience.

You can use this antenna with amateur and shortwave radios, so it is versatile and worth the extra money it costs.

Finally, I appreciate how easy it is to install, so you won’t have to spend too much time setting up the antenna with your radio.

Pros

• Excellent directionality
• Receives medium-wave and short-wave signals
• Easy installation
• Durable
• High-quality construction
• Good for indoor and outdoor use

Cons

• More expensive than other options
• Doesn’t fit all radios
• Not as effective for accessing weak signals

The MLA-30 Loop Active Receiving Antenna from HAON is one of the best shortwave antennas in the UK market. You can check it out on Amazon here.

Best for Beginners: AllAboutFun Loop Antenna

If you have little experience using shortwave antennas or radios, choose this affordable option from AllAboutFun.

This antenna has a frequency range of 500 to 30 Mhz, which makes it suitable for shortwave listeners and amateur radio enthusiasts.

This antenna improves the overall performance of your shortwave radio. It’s a great choice for beginners because it is extremely easy to set up and install.

Pros

• Improves overall radio performance and reception
• Good for use indoors and outdoors
• Proficient at picking up weaker signals
• Easy to maintain

Cons

• Picks up too much noise, even signals you might not want
• Included USB cable isn’t very durable

You can check this product out to potentially purchase here at Amazon.

Best Signal Reception: XHDATA AN-80 Shortwave Reel Antenna

This antenna is specifically designed to improve the reception of many shortwave radios, so I highly recommend trying it with this antenna if you’re struggling with your reception.

The antenna works with FM and SW radios, even those that don’t have antenna jacks.

Additionally, its portability makes it a great choice for those on the go.

Pros

• Affordable price
• Lightweight
• Comes with spring-loaded clip for radios without antenna jacks
• One-year warranty included
• Easy to install

Cons

• Not very durable
• Wires are cheaply made and break easily
• Doesn’t block out external noise or static
• Seven meters (23 feet) in length might not be long enough for some users

For upgrading your shortwave radio’s reception, you can view the XHDATA AN-80’s product page through this link.

Best Durability: AMONIDA Shortwave Active Antenna

If you want your antenna to last a long time, I recommend this option from AMONIDA.

This antenna has high frequency and low resistance, which increases overall stability.

I also appreciate the quality of the construction.

Pros

• Affordable price
• Increased stability
• Durable
• Built-in protection
• High-quality electronics
• Free air convection cooling
• Reduces output ripple

Cons

• Limited working frequency range
• Difficult to install

The AMONIDA Shortwave Active Antenna is your best bet for stability and long-lasting connections! Add it to your cart here.

Best Frequency Coverage: Tecsun AN-48X Indoor Active Loop Radio Antenna

I highly recommend this option from Tecsun because it can enhance radio reception in all amplitude modulation bands, including shortwave, mediumwave, and longwave.

Here are the impressive frequency ranges covered by this antenna.

• AM: 520-1700 KHz
• SW: 3.50-20.00 MHz
• LW: 120-400 KHz

I also appreciate that this antenna is compatible with virtually all kinds of radios. In most cases, you won’t have to worry about the antenna not working with your radio.

Pros

• Wide frequency coverage
• Enhances receptions in all AM bands
• Easy to install and operate

Cons

• Expensive
• Only good for indoor use
• Requires two AAA batteries that are not included with the purchase
• Doesn’t work as well when obstructed; it needs to be mounted to a window
• Provided cables are not very long

Its compatibility with all radios is a win for us! You can add it to your Amazon cart using this link.

Best Longevity: BUQE Shortwave Radio Antenna

Suppose you want a shortwave radio antenna that will last a long time. In that case, I recommend this option from BUQE because the antenna has a long service life due to high-quality materials, including durable stainless steel.

Additionally, I appreciate that this shortwave antenna has 3-30 MHZ frequency coverage, with excellent performance throughout.

Because this antenna will last long, it is worth the financial investment.

Pros

• Excellent integrated circuit
• Made with high-quality stainless steel
• Aesthetically pleasing
• Comes with a receiving circle, antenna box, feeder lines, connector, data cable, and user manual

Cons

• Expensive
• Doesn’t enhance the signal as much as other options on this list

For something worth every penny, the BUQE is the winner! It’s the long-lasting option for buyers looking for one-time purchases. You can get it here on Amazon!

Best Extension Antenna: C. Crane Shortwave Reel Antenna

If you want to use your radio to listen to lower frequencies, I recommend purchasing an extension antenna built to enhance those frequencies.

This C. Crane Shortwave antenna capacitor is loaded, performing better with lower frequencies.

I also appreciate that the antenna has a spring-loaded clip, which can attach to any retractable antenna.

It also comes with a carrying case, and you can easily wind up the antenna for portability.

Pros

• One-year warranty included
• Easy to install
• Extends the range of a shortwave radio

Cons

• Expensive
• Doesn’t get the best reception
• Cord is thin and not that durable
• Clamp doesn’t fit well on the antenna, so you may have to re-clamp it frequently

For an extended range well into the lower frequencies, the C. Crane Shortwave antenna is the one you’ll surely add to your Amazon cart!

Final Thoughts

The best shortwave radio antenna in the UK is the MLA-30 Loop Active Receiving Antenna from HAON.

It increases signal reception and overall performance and blocks out external noise and static, creating a great listening experience.

However, there are many great options for shortwave antennas in the UK, and you’d probably be just as happy with one of the other antennas in this article.

Since you’ve got a great signal now, we recommend heading on to our Ultimate Shortwave Radio Station List (Worldwide)!

We also have an article answering the Smart Phones And Shortwave Radios FAQs.

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