Topband: Low frequency RX antenna

[Tim Duffy]

There are great low band antenna suggestions and options explained over the
years by Frank, W3LPL during Contest University.
You can access Frank's excellent presentations here:

https://www.contestuniversity.com/files/

73
Tim K3LR

-----Original Message-----
From: Topband [mailto:topband-bounces+k3lr=k3lr.com at contesting.com] On
Behalf Of Tim Duffy
Sent: Friday, October 4, 2024 10:26 AM
To: john at kk9a.com; topband at contesting.com
Subject: Re: Topband: Low frequency RX antenna

Hello John;

The short verticals (I use 23 feet) used for RX only - are not resonant, so
they are not nearly as affected as full size (1/4 wavelength) verticals.
There is some concern with "active" verticals - those that use a high
impedance buffer amplifier and how close to buildings, towers and trees they
can be and still work well.

"Passive" antennas like Beverages and the VE3DO loop appear to work ok -
close to other objects - like being in the middle of a tree forest.

73
Tim K3LR

-----Original Message-----
From: Topband [mailto:topband-bounces+k3lr=k3lr.com at contesting.com] On
Behalf Of john at kk9a.com
Sent: Thursday, October 3, 2024 11:59 PM
To: topband at contesting.com
Subject: Re: Topband: Low frequency RX antenna

Wow, I had no idea that K3LR is not using Beverages!  Don't verticals need
to also be away from towers to keep from having their pattern skewed?

I had a small lot at my P40A station and I used a K6SE Pennant.  I liked
that it was ground independent. The Pennant was definitely better on RX than
my transmitting vertical however stations with Beverages heard much better.


John KK9A



Tim Duffy k3lr wrote;

Hello Lee;



Great to hear from you.



Yes - I have a pair of VE3DO loops - spaced 5/8 wave length - aimed at
Europe (also can be switched to 225). Then a single VE3DO loop for 135/315
degrees. It is all about more choices. I have a HI-Z 8 circle and a HI-Z 4
square - also spaced 500 feet apart - broadside on Europe.

There is a 5 element parasitic vertical Yagi for 160 that we use for TX and
RX - that has tremendous F/B (for 15 KHz of the band). This was published in
the Yagi chapter of the last three editions of the Low Band DXing book.

So 3 main sets of RX antennas. Any two of these RX antenna arrays can be fed
to the DX Engineering NCC-2 for antenna combining to develop incredible
directive patterns.

 

Beverages need to be away from towers and other antennas to work well. I
just cannot get them far enough away on this property to work - so they are
gone. The short vertical arrays work great. Twice we have worked over 100
countries in a weekend on 160 meters with this setup.

 

I am 1 mile from Ohio J

 

73

Tim K3LR


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