Topband: RX Antenna advice

[ct1ilt at sapo.pt]

Hi everyone,

This past weekend I made a few CQs on 160m in the CQ 160 Contest and  
while talking to my friend Braco E77DX he told me that I was not  
hearing well, I had huge pile up coming from Europe but I could not  
hear a single soul calling. I tried all the antennas available (110m  
beverage to 10º, 130m beverage to 45º/225º not terminated) and even  
with the TX antennas (T Vertical and Dipole) I could not hear anyone,  
the maximum signal I got was with the W6 Beverage (170m).

I conclude that somehow my RX antennas are not working properly  
towards Europe, could it be that the beverages to europe doesnt work  
well running up the mountain? West Beverage work very well but the  
terrain is either sloping to USA or flat.


My question is weather should I give a try on another type of RX  
antenna just for Europe / ASIA? G3XGC Coaxial Loop ? pennant?

Any advice would be welcome.

Thanks
Filipe Lopes CT1ILT aka CR6K