Bill’s simple Sony SRF-59 passive loop antenna modification

In reference to our previous posts about the Sony SRF-59 ultralight receiver, SWLing Post reader, Bill Mead, writes:

“As someone who doesn’t normally open the backs of radios, this is my mod on my ultralight. All it takes is a bit of electrical tape to hold the belt clip on the loop.”

That is, indeed, a brilliant and simple mod. The SRF-59 inductively couples to the loop antenna, so no soldering is needed; simply tape the belt clip to the loop, making sure the position is convenient for tuning the SRF-59 and the loop’s capacitor.

You can find passive loop antennas ranging from $19 to $50 US. The Grundig AN-200 and the Terk AM Advantage are two models currently on the market. Here are a few places you can check prices:

Grundig AN-200:

• Universal Radio ($19.99 at time of posting!)
• Amazon.com (who also sells the same antenna branded as the Kaito AN-200)
• eBay.com

Terk AM Advantage:

• C.Crane
• Universal Radio
• Amazon.com
• eBay.com