[TowerTalk] K9AY receiving loop antenna

[kk9a at arrl.net]

The K9AY outdoor box has a manual switch for changing the termination
resistance.  There are three settings, one for 160m - 80m and compromise.
I'm not sure how critical these values are and there is no way to remotely
change these values.  Mine is set to the compromise setting and it does
offer improved receive over my 1/4wl vertical on 160m.  On 80m I received
better using my transmit antenna - a rotatable dipole at 160'.

John KK9A

----- Original Message -----
From: <Jepilot at aol.com>
To: <towertalk at contesting.com>
Sent: Monday, August 04, 2003 19:41
Subject: [TowerTalk] K9AY receiving loop antenna


A Google search has resulted in two sources for the indoor control box and
the outdoor direction-switching relay box used for the K9AY four direction
receiving loop antenna system.

WX0B offers the indoor control box and outdoor switching box and a
separately
purchased termination resistor (fixed value). This system allows four
directions to be selected.

Wellbrook Communications in England offers the same two boxes but with some
interesting improvements (I presume these changes are in fact improvements).
The Wellbrook units incorporate a remote controlled variable termination
feature which apparently allows adjustment of the value of the outdoor
termination
resistor to obtain the best result for the soil conditions at your location
and
allows adjustment as your local soil conditions change as a result of rain,
or whatever.

Also the Wellbrook system incorporates what is described as a rotary beam
direction control which allows you to fine tune the favored direction for
the
best result instead of having only 4 fixed directions for selection as used
in
the original article by K9AY and used for the WX0B system.

So, has anyone used the Wellbrook system?  Is the variable termination
feature worthwhile?  Is the rotary direction control feature worthwhile or
needed?

The cost of the Wellbrook including shipping is about 300 British pounds
which is about $500 US depending on the pound/dollar exchange rate.  This
cost is
quite a bit more than the price for the WX0B system.

All comments are welcomed.  Thanks es 73

Jan Rehler, W5KNZ, Corpus Christi, Texas
_______________________________________________

See: http://www.mscomputer.com  for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless
Weather Stations", and lot's more.  Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any
questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.

_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
TowerTalk at contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk