Comparison of our Active RX Antennas
Active RX Antennas — Practical Guide & Lineup
Active designs deliver strong SNR where space is tight or noise is high. This guide compares the RF.Guru receive-only antennas now available or in late-stage development, focusing on real-world noise behavior, overload resilience, and the installation patterns that actually work.
Listen first — compare live on our SDRs. Hear band sound and noise floors before you choose: rf.guru/sdr. Perfect for A/B checks between E-field probes and shielded loops.
Overview of the Antennas
| Antenna | Type | Practical Range | Optimal Range / Notes | Polarization | Coupling | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OctaLoop2 | Shielded active loop | ~1–30 MHz | Best: 160–40 m (low bands, quiet urban RX) | Horizontal | Magnetic (H-field) | 1.2 m shielded loop with high CMRR, very low urban noise pickup. |
| OctaLoop2 Mini | Shielded active loop | ~1–30 MHz | Best: 40–10 m (higher HF, compact footprint) | Horizontal | Magnetic (H-field) | 0.6 m shielded loop; uniform HF response, strong RFI rejection. |
| EchoTracer2 | Active E-probe | ~10 kHz–200 MHz | Height dependent: low for 160–80 m NVIS; mid for 40–20 m; high for 20–10 m + VHF | Vertical | Electric (E-field) | Wideband, robust front end, height-tunable take-off behavior. |
| VerticalVortex2 | Ground-mounted active E-probe | ~0.64–30 MHz | Best: 160–40 m (low-band DX & NVIS) | Vertical | Electric (E-field) | 6 m probe, layered TX protection, LF/MW notch. |
| SkyTracer2 — Standard | Active differential dipole (capacitive hats) | ~50 kHz–30 MHz | Best: 80–10 m (compact cardioid RX, nulling local noise) | Horizontal | Electric (E-field) | 0.5 m legs + Ø14 cm hats; compact, deep null capability. |
| SkyTracer2 — Maxi | Active differential dipole | ~50 kHz–30 MHz | Best: 160–10 m (adds LF sensitivity; same HF as Standard) | Horizontal | Electric (E-field) | 1 m legs; more LF capture vs Standard, identical above ~10 MHz. |
| TerraBooster2 — Xtreme | Shielded H-field current sensor | 160 m focus | Best: 160 m (exceptionally quiet top-band reception) | Horizontal | Magnetic (H-field) | Longest variant; storm-proof low-noise capture on 160 m. |
| TerraBooster2 — Maxi | Shielded H-field current sensor | 160–80 m | Best: 160–80 m (NVIS and DX) | Horizontal | Magnetic (H-field) | Low-noise low-band workhorse with DC-grounded shield. |
| TerraBooster2 — Medi | Shielded H-field current sensor | 80–40 m | Best: 80–40 m | Horizontal | Magnetic (H-field) | Optimized for mid-low HF; quiet NVIS and regional DX. |
| TerraBooster2 — Mini | Shielded H-field current sensor | 40–20 m | Best: 40–20 m | Horizontal | Magnetic (H-field) | Compact H-field option where full loops are impractical. |
| PulseRoot2 | Active Beverage-on-Ground (terminated) | 160–10 m (by length) | Best: 160–40 m (effectiveness drops above ~7–10 MHz) | Horizontal (traveling-wave) | Predominantly E-field along wire | Highly directional, long-baseline DX SNR if you have the space. |
Technical Comparison — Noise, Overload & Placement
Shielded H-field loops (OctaLoop2 family & TerraBooster2) reject local E-field trash and excel in urban RFI. E-probes (EchoTracer2, VerticalVortex2) are wonderfully broadband and height-tunable but need good common-mode hygiene (solid ground reference + shack-end choke). SkyTracer2 provides a cardioid with a deep null to “aim” at noise sources. PulseRoot2 is the DX scalpel: very directional with stunning SNR when you can run a long wire.
Low-RFI Performance
- Best in harsh RFI: OctaLoop2 / OctaLoop2 Mini, TerraBooster2 variants.
- Quiet suburban sites: EchoTracer2 (add ground peg + RX CMR choke), SkyTracer2 (use the null), VerticalVortex2 (firm ground reference).
- Rural wide-open: PulseRoot2 (terminated run) or VerticalVortex2 for low bands.
Applications
- Low HF (160–80 m): TerraBooster2 Xtreme/Maxi, OctaLoop2, VerticalVortex2, EchoTracer2 (mounted low–mid), PulseRoot2 (longer wire for DX).
- Mid HF (80–40 m): TerraBooster2 Medi, OctaLoop2, SkyTracer2 (Standard/Maxi), EchoTracer2 (mid height), PulseRoot2.
- Upper HF (40–10 m): TerraBooster2 Mini, OctaLoop2 Mini, SkyTracer2 (both), EchoTracer2 (higher mounting).
- Wideband / VHF monitoring: EchoTracer2 (up to ~200 MHz usable response).
OctaLoop2 — When Quiet Matters Most
The 1.2 m shielded loop is the safe pick for urban noise. High CMRR plus magnetic-only pickup keeps household E-field hash off the receiver. Typical install height is 1.2–5 m AGL with ≥2 m clearance from metal. Add a strong CM choke at the shack end for best results.
EchoTracer2 — Height-Tunable Wideband E-Probe
Stable from ~10 kHz to 200 MHz with layered surge/ESD protection and an FM notch. Tune the “apparent take-off” by height: low for NVIS emphasis on 160/80 m, ~4–5 m for all-band HF, higher for 20–10 m and VHF monitoring. Use an RVS ground peg (optionally with integrated RX line isolator) for a clean reference.
VerticalVortex2 — Low-Band Specialist
Ground-mounted 6 m E-probe engineered for 160/80/60/40 m. AC-coupled front end, LF/MW notch (~1.46 MHz window), FM notch, and a fast TX-sense hard-short relay for QRO-safe operation near strong transmitters.
SkyTracer2 — Point the Null at the Noise
Active differential dipole with a broad cardioid and deep null. The Standard (0.5 m + hats) is compact and strong for 80–10 m; the Maxi (1 m legs) adds LF capture for 160/80 m while keeping the same HF behavior above ~10 MHz.
TerraBooster2 — Quiet H-Field Current Sensors
Four sizes cover 160–20 m in practical slices. All versions keep the shield DC-grounded for noise control and pair well with common-mode chokes at the shack end.
PulseRoot2 — Long-Baseline Directional DX
A terminated Beverage-on-Ground concept for those with space. Strong directivity, low pickup of local clutter, and top-tier SNR for weak DX from 160–40 m; above ~7–10 MHz effectiveness rapidly declines.
Mini-FAQ
- Loops or probes in a city? — Loops (OctaLoop2 family, TerraBooster2) are usually quieter than E-probes in high RFI.
- Most versatile single box? — EchoTracer2 if you can mount it cleanly and add a shack-end CM choke.
- Low-band DX focus? — VerticalVortex2 (compact) or PulseRoot2 (space required). TerraBooster2 excels for quiet NVIS and DX on 160/80 m.
- Steer away a specific noise source? — SkyTracer2: rotate so the cardioid null faces the noise. Many deploy two units at complementary angles.
- Chokes & grounding? — Reference at the antenna, choke at the shack end; this pairing typically yields the largest SNR win.
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