Topband: Non-resonant receive antennas

[Lee K7TJR]

   Judging from my own observations and feedback that I get I would say that
using a low dipole or horizontal polarity antenna would also depend on what
Latitude/Longitude your station is located and how close you are to the sea.
Here above 45 degrees Latitude and 200 miles from the sea,  I seldom see
signals arriving that would benefit from a low horizontal antenna. It does
happen however and always early in the a.m.. When FT5XO was on the air I saw
their signal change from a very low angle signal received well with
verticals to a high angle signal where none of my vertical receiving
antennas exhibited any  directivity in a couple hours one morning. I have
only seen this in the morning when listening West into the Pacific. I have
not heard it listening to the East in the evening.
    So, I say ask around in your area to see what the guys are happy with. I
don't think you would hear as many DX signals in my location with a low
horizontal as you would with verticals. I am pushing 200 countries on 160
having only used vertical receiving arrays.
 Or put up both as one can never have enough low-band receiving antennas.
 Lee   K7TJR   OR

-----Original Message-----
From: Topband [mailto:topband-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of James
Wolf
Sent: Thursday, December 18, 2014 10:30 AM
To: 'JC'; 'Top Band Contesting'
Subject: Re: Topband: Non-resonant receive antennas

Thanks JC,

I agree that the RDF number is significant when evaluating a receive
antenna.  I agree that no one antenna system will work all of the time.
Consider we have two scenarios:  One RX antenna system that consists of two
parallel antennas (Broadside) , and the other is the same antenna configured
in-line, toward the desired signal (Delayed series fed).  

What I am asking is if anyone has any, on-the-air experience and would
recommend one antenna system over the other for *most conditions*.  In other
words, will an antenna that has a less lower elevation pattern  generally
outperform an antenna that has a narrower beam width, but a higher elevation
angle?

I think in this we need to consider the arrival angle of atmospheric noise
in a broadside array vs. atmospheric noise in a series fed array.    Since
atmospheric noise propagates and the arrival angle will change, which
scenario would provide the general overall better performance?

Jim - KR9U

_____________

Jim

RDF is  everything !   The RX antenna system is the only way to improve
signal to noise ratio. All electronic device is not perfect and introduce
noise and deteriorate the signal to noise ratio, including your radio too