[TenTec] TenTec Digest, Vol 129, Issue 17
Rick - DJ0IP / NJ0IP
Rick at DJ0IP.de
Sun Sep 22 00:17:03 EDT 2013
$500 seems like a lot of money to pay for a Receive-ONLY antenna, unless it
will be beneficial most of the time.
There is nothing special about that loop antenna (itself).
The "special" is the low noise, high dynamic preamplifier.
You can build a similar antenna for peanuts.
The amplifier is a bit more difficult, but I've seen them for sale, usually
for about $100.
(One Example: DX-Engineering DXE-RPA-1
SEE:
http://www.dxengineering.com/search/part-type/hf-preamplifiers/product-line/
dx-engineering-receive-preamplifiers?autoview=SKU
Here in DL we can buy a kit for building a decent amplifier for 30 EURO
($38).
SEE: http://www.box73.de/product_info.php?products_id=2434 (and they ship
to the states)
So in my opinion you are paying $350 to $400 for "good professional looks" -
nothing more.
If you have money to burn, OK, but be careful about setting your expectation
level.
I have done a lot of tests with various magnet loops, some of them were
receive-only, others were also for transmitting. They certainly have their
niche in our hobby, especially if you must transmit on an indoor antenna,
but I can't justify spending that much money on a RX-only antenna. Instead,
if possible, I would install an outdoor RX-only antenna, like a K9AY loop.
Many of the members of our contesting team have RX-only antennas. Several
have tried magnetic loops. I know of no one who has kept it in action.
They have all progressed on to better, outdoor RX-antennas.
If in must be an indoor loop, I suppose the next BIG question is, how does
the Pixel compare to the Welbrook indoor loop, which is about $200 cheaper?
If I personally wanted a good indoor loop again, I would take a serious look
at the Grahn-Spezialantennen "GS5-SE".
This is a preselector/amplifier base unit, to which you can add various
loops or ferrite antennas . . . or home-brew your own. This is the successor
of the product I used for 20 years.
SEE BASE UNIT HERE:
http://www.grahn-spezialantennen.de/html/die_gs5-se.html
AND THE FULL ANTENNA IS HERE:
http://www.grahn-spezialantennen.de/html/ml3.html
Of course the price is about $600 plus shipping to the states.
So if I had money to burn, this is how I would spend it on an RX antenna.
73
Rick, DJ0IP
-----Original Message-----
From: TenTec [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Dave Garner
Sent: Saturday, September 21, 2013 6:43 PM
To: tentec at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TenTec] TenTec Digest, Vol 129, Issue 17
Pixel
Sent from my iPad
> On Sep 21, 2013, at 12:00 PM, tentec-request at contesting.com wrote:
>
I have an Orion II and a Pixel magnetic loop hooked in as a second antenna.
I have been very pleased with the Pixel as a receive only antenna. On very
weak signals it allows me to copy the weak signal that I was having problems
with on my regular antennas. The Pixel gives a very low noise floor that
allows the weak signal to be heard. My regular HF antennas consist of full
wave loop for 160, 80, and 40M and a 204ba 20m beam. It was worth the money
to me.
73
Dave
K4YRK
> Send TenTec mailing list submissions to
> tentec at contesting.com
>
> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
> tentec-request at contesting.com
>
> You can reach the person managing the list at
> tentec-owner at contesting.com
>
> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
> than "Re: Contents of TenTec digest..."
>
>
> Today's Topics:
>
> 1. Comment on Pixel RF PRO-1B with Orion II (W9OWO)
> 2. Re: Comment on Pixel RF PRO-1B with Orion II (jack)
> 3. Re: Corsair (Roy)
> 4. The memory keyer in my Orion still cuts off the first dash of
> the K at the front of my call. I've tried several suggestions but
> none work. I'm running the 3.0X software. Any other thoughts?
> (Haney Howell)
> 5. Re: Corsair (Lee WA3FIY)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Sat, 21 Sep 2013 08:30:39 -0400
> From: "W9OWO" <jack at w9owo.com>
> To: <tentec at contesting.com>
> Subject: [TenTec] Comment on Pixel RF PRO-1B with Orion II
> Message-ID: <55ADDB0AB09F4F8F8A08311528CA7231 at Hamshack>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> I'd be interested in comments, recommendations or reports from anyone
> using A Pixel Magnetic Loop Antenna with their Orion II. This antenna
> is now priced at $500 and in light of the receiver features of the
> Orion, in your opinion is the investment justifiable?
>
>
>
> 73,
>
> Jack-W9OWO
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Sat, 21 Sep 2013 06:46:38 -0600
> From: "jack" <jfriend31 at comcast.net>
> To: "Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment" <tentec at contesting.com>
> Subject: Re: [TenTec] Comment on Pixel RF PRO-1B with Orion II
> Message-ID: <309DD70494EC4A48B6C5832C3E53C254 at jackPC>
> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
> reply-type=original
>
> receive only?
> jack
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: W9OWO
> Sent: Saturday, September 21, 2013 6:30 AM
> To: tentec at contesting.com
> Subject: [TenTec] Comment on Pixel RF PRO-1B with Orion II
>
> I'd be interested in comments, recommendations or reports from anyone
> using A Pixel Magnetic Loop Antenna with their Orion II. This antenna
> is now priced at $500 and in light of the receiver features of the
> Orion, in your opinion is the investment justifiable?
>
>
>
> 73,
>
> Jack-W9OWO
>
> _______________________________________________
> TenTec mailing list
> TenTec at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Sat, 21 Sep 2013 09:02:41 -0500
> From: "Roy" <royanjoy at ncn.net>
> To: <TenTec at contesting.com>
> Subject: Re: [TenTec] Corsair
> Message-ID: <DAC443CDEB1B484A85AB8DC2CFEDE9BB at RoyPC>
> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
> reply-type=original
>
> "I have a model 560 corsair that I will use for CW only. Can I adjust
> the power amp bias for lower idle current and not cause problems?"
>
> You bet. I run my amps at around 6 mA for CW. Efficiency is increased
> and things run nice and cool. You can just pull amp up into operate
> with a toggle switch and leave it during a QSO.
>
> 73, Roy K6XK
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Sat, 21 Sep 2013 10:18:38 -0400
> From: Haney Howell <haney.howell at gmail.com>
> To: TenTec at contesting.com
> Subject: [TenTec] The memory keyer in my Orion still cuts off the
> first dash of the K at the front of my call. I've tried several
> suggestions but none work. I'm running the 3.0X software. Any other
> thoughts?
> Message-ID:
>
> <CAGaZR1P7NApN-qCeFCqMs6w2X7sJHDRzv-SsQRRpUZuapv+QqA at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> --
> Haney Howell
> K2XN
> Rock Hill, SC
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Sat, 21 Sep 2013 11:30:14 -0400
> From: "Lee WA3FIY" <wa3fiy at radioadv.com>
> To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment <tentec at contesting.com>
> Subject: Re: [TenTec] Corsair
> Message-ID: <523DBB86.12875.8F6605A at wa3fiy.radioadv.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
>
> Just some thoughts on this.
>
> The Corsair shapes the CW keying envelope at low level. As long as
> the transmit path is linear (and it normally is) the shape is preserved to
the output. Nice clean transmit signal.
> Reducing the final bias puts the final into a nonlinear mode resulting
> in distortion of the keying envelope and most likely key clicks.
>
> I don't see any value in the suggestion of turning the final on with a
> toggle switch. The keying circuitry within the Corsair does that
> automatically with proper timing, resulting in the final drawing bias
> current only when transmitting. Key up.....no current in the final as
Rick, DJ0IP pointed out earlier.
>
> It seems to me the cleanest and very effective way to reduce current
> would be to turn the digital display and pilot lamps off when not
> needed. Interrupting the DC supply line to the display and lamps should
do the trick but I do not know that for sure. Once the outer ring of
> the tuning dial is calibrated to the digital dial, it is adequate for
general tuning around. I
> suspect this will save more current than reducing the final bias since
> the current is reduced in both transmit and receive modes instead of
transmit only.
>
> My thoughts. :-)
>
> BTW Anyone looking for a power efficient 100 watt rig, check out the
Triton (non digital)
> You will be amazed how little power that thing uses on receive.
> Switch off the panel lights and it goes even lower!
>
> 73,
>
> -Lee-
>
> WA3FIY
>
>
>
>
>
>> On 21 Sep 2013 at 9:02, Roy wrote:
>>
>> "I have a model 560 corsair that I will use for CW only. Can I adjust
>> the power amp bias for lower idle current and not cause problems?"
>>
>> You bet. I run my amps at around 6 mA for CW. Efficiency is increased
>> and things run nice and cool. You can just pull amp up into operate
>> with a toggle switch and leave it during a QSO.
>>
>> 73, Roy K6XK
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> TenTec mailing list
>> TenTec at contesting.com
>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Subject: Digest Footer
>
> _______________________________________________
> TenTec mailing list
> TenTec at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> End of TenTec Digest, Vol 129, Issue 17
> ***************************************
_______________________________________________
TenTec mailing list
TenTec at contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
More information about the TenTec
mailing list