Topband: Waller Flag construction and performance

[Ken K6MR]

Let’s start here and see how it goes. If someone complains we’ll take it off line. Nothing like a public discussion to bring out the best ideas.  I changed the subject line so the discussion will make sense.

The 160 transmit vertical is about 800’ away. There is an 80’ tower with various higher band yagis on it about 150’ away.

My loop size is 12’ high, 10’ wide. 4’ between loops.  Vertical loops. The boom is 50’ high. The tower is near the house, but single story house so the boom is 35’ above the roof.

The EZNec model looks great (of course). The gain models a bit low, but the RDF and gain test are in the right ranges. Right now the big problem is no directivity and it is actually noisier than the vertical. I have the adjustable gain pre-amp from DXE (KD9SV design) in the shack.

So that’s the background. Common mode problems would indeed be my first suspect.  Interested in how you handled it.

Ken K6MR

From: Bob K6UJ<mailto:k6uj at pacbell.net>
Sent: Saturday, April 23, 2016 11:00
To: topband at contesting.com<mailto:topband at contesting.com>
Subject: Re: Topband: The band sans noise

rue" Name="index 1"/> <w
Hi Ken,

Be glad to.  It took me a while to get mine working, found some basic
things I needed
to do and it now works very well.
First a question.  How far is your flag from the house and also
an antenna tower or other metal structures ?  I had to detune my tower
it is only 40 feet away from
the Flag.  After this we can go over the construction of the Flag and
its feed system issues like eliminating
common mode interference.  Maybe it would be best to discuss this
directly rather than the reflector ?
I can be long winded.  hihi

Bob
K6UJ

On 4/23/16 10:42 AM, Ken K6MR wrote:
> Interesting comments about the WF. I recently built one and so far it has been a complete failure.
>
> Care to share the details?
>
> Ken K6MR
>
>
>
> From: Bob K6UJ<mailto:k6uj at pacbell.net>
> Sent: Saturday, April 23, 2016 10:30
> To: topband at contesting.com<mailto:topband at contesting.com>
> Subject: Re: Topband: The band sans noise
>
> Bill,
>
> Sounds great !  hihihi  A lot cheaper than a Pixel too !
>
> Until now I have kept my comments to myself about the Pixel.
> I had a Pixel for a short time and sold it.
> At the time I had electrical hash from one direction due to loose
> hardware on a power pole.
> It took forever for our utility company to fix it.  I have a Waller Flag
> for receive on 160 and it
> was very effective at nulling out the power pole noise.  I read all the
> rave reviews on the Pixel and
> thought it would outperform the Flag for nulling out the noise and was
> also curious how it compared
> to the flag on picking up 160 DX signals.  The Pixel did provide a nice
> null from the power pole noise
> but not nearly as deep of a null as the Waller Flag.  On discriminating
> 160 DX from the band noise level
> it was very poor indeed.  The Waller Flag way out performed the Pixel.
> I could hear DX stations with the
> flag and could not hear them at all on the pixel when receiving stations
> close to the noise level.
> The Pixel would be suited for someone in an apartment or with a small
> lot and doesn't have the room
> for a larger receiving antenna like the Waller Flag.  It is a compromise
> receiving antenna but we have
> to work with what we have as far as room for antennas.
>
> 73,
> Bob
> K6UJ
>
>
>
> On 4/23/16 9:45 AM, william radice wrote:
>> :::: I have an antenna of very similar design and performance. It is an
>> all aluminum lawn chair on a pole.
>> BILL
>>
>> On 4/22/2016 1:42 PM, Rob Atkinson wrote:
>>> Throw bricks all you want to the end of time but you'll never change
>>> the fact that we tested that antenna and saw its performance first
>>> hand; The preamp was designed by Jack Smith at CliftonLabs..I'm sure
>>> he'll enjoy reading your comments and get a good laugh.
>>>
>>> 73
>>>
>>> Rob
>>> K5UJ
>>>
>>> On Fri, Apr 22, 2016 at 11:26 AM, JC <n4is at comcast.net> wrote:
>>>> SORRY am not getting into this PR..   PIXEL loop is a low RDF and LOW
>>>> performance receiving antenna, it is really snake oil.
>>>>
>>>> I'm out of this discussion.
>>>>
>>>> Regards
>>>>
>>>> JC
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> In tests, the Pixel magnetic loop provided at least 20 dB null off the
>>>> sides.  From my experience, that is much better "filtering" than what
>>>> would be had with a horizontal loop.   Of course it isn't all in the
>>>> antenna itself--a great deal of the success comes from the special preamp
>>>> designed for use with the antenna.
>>>> <<<
>>>> _________________
>>>> Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
>>>>
>>> _________________
>>> Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
>> _________________
>> Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
>>
> _________________
> Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
> _________________
> Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
>

_________________
Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband