Short-wave listeners who like to travel a lot have a particular need for an aerial that provides a bit more gain than a standard whip aerial. A second major requirement for a portable aerial is that it ideally should be ascompact as possible. This active whip aerial is only 50 cm long, and it completely meets all the demands placed on an ideal travelling companion.In the January 2000 issue, we already offered short-wave listeners with limited space an alternative to a long-wire aerial, in the form of a simple active loop aerial. This is a very compact aerial, but we fully understand that it is not ideal for use while travelling. You can hardly expect to be able to hammer a few nails into every window frame that you encounter on your journey, just so you can wind a few loops of wire around it. The loop aerial is thus better for stationary use.