Topband: 160 receive antennas

[John Harden, D.M.D.]

Dear all,

 

I've been confined (but not incarcerated) to a 1 acre city lot in Atlanta
since 1985. I have rotateable antennas from 80 - 10 meters and have no
problems on those bands. However, 160 has always been a problem for me in
terms of being able to hear due to poorly performing receive antennas. 

 

I have tried Ewes, pennants, flat-top dipoles, etc. with marginal results.
Early this year I put up two DX Engineering reversible beverages that are
not the optimal lengths. The NW/SE beverage is about 240 feet long and the
NW/SE beverage is only about 180 feet long. Of course I hear extremely well
on 80 and many times I hear better than the M2 rotary at 100 feet. 

 

On 160 I can hear stations that I never could hear before. This antenna
(designed by W8JI) is the best out there from my experience for individuals
who are real estate challenged as I am. I hear chatter on the reflector
daily from other people who have the same problems that I had. Try these
antennas and you will really be surprised in their performance.

 

I use only the preamplifier in the Orion I and have found that this is all I
need as I have multiple preamps (both homebrew and commercial). I use RG-6/U
quad shield from Home Depot and also the feedline RF choke from DX
Engineering as well as their 4-way switching matrix.

 

73,

 

John, W4NU

Atlanta

K4JAG (1959 to 1998)