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The 6.5 foot dutch made "RF Systems" model GMDSS Passive Vertical Antenna (without the optional AK-1 Mounting Bracket)
We tested it along side a "RF Systems" MLB - MK2 (55 foot long wire balun antenna, see insert and chart below)
(N9EWO Photo)

"RF Systems" model GMDSS
COUNTRY OF MANUFACTURE : Holland (the Netherlands)

Passive and Almost Elusive, Two “6.5 foot “ Versions

When one first has a look at this antenna, you would think at this length it would have to have some kind of an electronic preamplifier to have any chance at all for even fair operation?

Well it’s does not and is completely passive in nature. If that was not enough the tested "Magnetic Transfer Antenna" (GMDSS version) is supposed to operate down to 100 kHz and up to 25 MHz.

It’s close cousin, the MT version, (not tested) starts at 500 kHz and coverage up to 30 MHz.

Of course using no electronics, which can add a cluster of noises all by itself, inter-modulation products are totally out of the question with this antenna.

This antenna is touted to feature a totally grounded element and a “Magnetic Transfer Balun” that is supposed to provide a lower background noise level. It’s counts on the receiver sensitivity to make up for the short element used. Performance may be more variable than usual with the receiver it's connected to ? We used the very sensitive WJ-8711A in our tests here. Any add on preamps were not used.

But they do tell you in no few words that the signal provided will be less than with full sized antenna’s. This warning should be heeded with most importance, as we will cover in this report.

First Looks Out Of the Mailing Tube

It stands at only 6.5 feet tall. This measurement was checked in testing, so it does not quite make the 7-foot specifications as from the manufacture. For the SWBC parts of the spectrum, either model specification is marked with the same performance and size.

It arrives in a very thin cardboard tube with plastic caps at each end. This will not cut it for shipping from the dealer to the owner by itself. The lone north American dealer that the test sample came from provided proper support packaging around it including a piece of wood that ran the entire length of the tube. Otherwise it would have received damage (if not destroyed) for sure. The box the tube was in was received in very ruff condition and was only shipped 3 states away. This antenna can be shipped UPS with no problems.

Antenna's outer shell is made with a heavy UV-resistant plastic (not fiberglass) and an very heavy stainless steel bottom where the mounting bracket attaches.

Internal helical "foil" element - fiberglass tube is filled with yellow foam to make the antenna waterproof even in a tropical climate.

AK-1 Mounting Bracket, What’s that Red Stuff For ?

The proper mounting location is outdoors and must be properly attached to something as high as one can get it. But as you pull the GMDSS out of the box there is no mounting bracket which makes you think someone forgot to include one at the factory?

It turns out that the mounting bracket model “AK-1” is an extra cost item. At a pretty steep price for a pressed piece of steel and 4 U-bolts seems a bit stiff ? However this is a heavy bracket, way above average. The bracket also allows for either a vertical or horizontal mounting surface to be used (say a balcony railing) which is a huge plus.

A small bag of red grease was found in the AK-1’s box. This is for placing on the threads and nuts of the u-bolts after installation to help disassembly down the road. However this makes for an awful mess too. I passed on this grease myself.

High as You Can Safely Go, Can Be Camouflaged

The real idea of the GMDSS antenna (or any outdoor antenna for that matter) is to get the receiving element as far as one can get away from household noises to create a improved signal to noise ratio. But at the same time it’s still somewhat stealthy in nature to keep sensitive nabors from raising the roof to any ugly antennas around. Matter of fact the specification sheet claims one can paint this antenna (using non-metallic paint) to hide it even further.

No Coax Included, No BNC Connectors Used

After the bracket is obtained and mounted the owner can then connect the coax from the antenna to the receiver. This is also a user provided part of the antenna, as none is included. It accepts the more standard PL-259 plug (well standard for HF use anyway). So unlike the Wellbrook antennas there are no BNC connectors to be found. This will make life easier for those who care not to assemble the more difficult to work with BNC connectors on a cable or have a hunt for a pre-assembled cable.

Built Like A Tank

Properly mounted, this antenna should take just about anything mother nature can dish out (well almost as we cover later). There are no ground radials to break off either (either by trees, wind , birds or other varmits). This is totally opposite of the Wellbrook loop antenna’s that appear to be much less forgiving with extreme weather conditions.

Performance with Such a Short “Passive” Antenna

Here is where the men and the boys part ways. Signals are indeed at a lower level when compared with a long wire or a tuned dipole. Very weak signals are swept into nothing, where the long wire still produces a very useable signal (provided no local noises are present).

31 Meter Band Sometimes “Even Steven”

As the chart shows above (antenna's mounted outdoors of course), sometimes (more so at the top end of the band near 10 MHz) in the 31-meter band signals were almost equal between the MLB long wire and the GMDSS. This varies a bit depending with the station. Other than the 31-MB, LW and lower end of the MW band, it was always a weaker showing.

Cut off Starting Around 17 MHz

Specifications on the GMDSS version (and the graph with the included paperwork) indicate that that coverage should be at least OK to near 25 MHz?

Well in the testing period it did hold up through 19 meters quite well. But starting from about the 16-meter band, the performance starts to decrease a bit more than elsewhere. The antenna had a hard time reaching the 25 MHz specification.

Additionally signals received with the GMDSS in the 13-meter band appeared with more background noise where the MLB long wire was quieter.

On the plus side long wave and mid-lower end of the medium wave band were a real treat with this GMDSS version. Almost equal signal strength to the long wire again.

The standard MT version (not tested) is supposed to reach a bit higher with frequency coverage (30 MHz). But of course the lower frequencies should suffer with this model.

Did it help With the Signal to Noise Ratio?

I very much liked the “no noise” factor being this is a passive antenna.

For most of the undesired interference at the test location that was being picked up by the lower mounted (MLB) long wire antenna (TV set buzz, light dimmers etc), the answer is yes with help taming the local noise. The amount of improvement varied with the frequency, and many times it is only a modest decrease or none at all in some cases.

When a buzz is irking from a nearby TV set can be reduced, while allowing you to still catch a signal is a huge treat for the ears and ones patience.

But as indicated above, very weak signals on the long wire will be a no go with the GMDSS. On the 31-meter band (9 MHz) you might have a better chance as for some reason at the test location it worked almost equal with a good number of signals (but not all).

Works For the Right People, MUST Be Outside and High to Be Worth It

This antenna was a huge surprise, providing very useful signals with a decrease in noise picked up by local sources. But that’s only if the owner can mount this antenna a distance away from the house or noise sources. Otherwise it makes little sense.

Testing was done closer to the structure and house buzzes and did NOT provide any benefit for noise reduction. One can get the same or better performance say using just a length of wire across the room, with the household noise just as bad of course.

This is not a DX antenna, so for any real weak signal work this is not a good choice.

A prospective owner should choose the version with care. If you need the higher or complete SWBC coverage, it’s best to go with the MT version. If MW and the middle and lower parts of the SW spectrum (19 meters and below) are the main bands of choice, then the tested GMDSS version is the one to go with.

Dollars Aplenty

“Expensive” is the word here. The antenna with the AK-1 bracket (which is a required accessory) makes the already high price into the gray unreasonable area. This is a very pricey “stick” for the performance given.

A third shorter version available

If this antenna is not short enough for you, RF Systems also offers a 4-foot model called the GMDSS-2 (not tested). Coverage is more limited from 500 kHz to 18 MHz. Cannot say here if the performance would be even less? But cutting off almost 3 feet is certainly not going to help the cause. Uses the same AK-1 mounting bracket.

Availability with all RF Systems antennas in the USA is only from one dealer, that being Universal Radio in Ohio. This is the case in general with RF Systems products worldwide, having very limited distribution.

For a passive design, the pricey 6.5 foot RF Systems GMDSS is almost the smallest “pole” antenna around and is very useful for noisy listening posts that also have covenant restrictions. If you have room and location for a good outdoor passive long wire or dipole, this is NOT the antenna for you. But for what it is, it can be a very useful alternative in many limited situations provided your bank account will not hiccup AND you are able to mount it up in the air at some height outdoors.

Final Word : Mother Nature and the GMDSS

In June of 2008 we had a very nasty thunderstorm with excessive lightning. The GMDSS took a semi-direct hit that blew it to pieces, in fact no part of it was left in the AK-1 mount. Pieces of the antenna were found as far as 4 backyards away. KA-BOOM was right. As you can see in the picture of some of the remains below, the antenna uses a coil made out of FOIL wrapped on a fiberglass form (it's not a wire coil as you might think). A very small balun was found at the base at the coax connector. The foam they inject in the tube to help keep water out, was fried so badly to think it was never included in construction (all was all chared black). The foil antenna element was just about entirely vaporized. This should tell you to ground metal antenna mounting masts with a proper thick ground wire and one or two 8 foot ground rods into the earth , and even then it may not matter with direct or semi-direct lightning hit ? Note: I did not replace the antenna due to the high cost involved. Thank goodness the lightning did not touch the horizonal MLB long wire antenna at all.

Dave N9EWO
© N9EWO
Ver 2.4

In June 2008 a NASTY lightning strike turned this expensive GMDSS antenna into a pile of garbage.
(Not all of it is shown here, but was a good part of what was left. Never recovered all of the pieces from nabors.)
(N9EWO Photo)

As covered in the above review we used a "RF Systems" MLB (Magnetic Long Wire Balun) antenna for comparasion and still use as our main HF antenna here at HQ. 20 years with no problems even if the outer plastic looks a bit ruff. However another owner has not had quite the same luck with his 17 year old weather beaten RF Systems MLB. It pretty much died and the reason was that the TOP of the Balun (where the longwire connects to) , allowed water to enter and ruined the device.

Check out the pictures below for the details. Our thanks to Joel T. for the information and pictures. But not too bad for 17 years.....

A "Dead" RF Systems MLB (Magnetic Long Wire Balun) in the elements for 17 years.
(Photo : Joel T.)

Time to see why this Balun died ?? Using a "Dremel Tool" to cut it open.
(Photo : Joel T.)

As being cut open (in a vise) a nice puddle of water poured out.
(Photo : Joel T.)

As you can see it's a corroded disaster inside. No wonder it stopped working.
Water had been in this one for some time (entered on the top where the long wire connects on the right half in the picture).
(Photo : Joel T.)

Universal Radio's GMDSS Antenna Page (the only USA Dealer for "RF Systems" Antennas)

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