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Separate Receiving Antenna

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Paul Barlow-2

Separate Receiving Antenna

Dear Elecrafters,

I have a very small and odd shaped garden in which to play Ham Radio. I have
a K3 (and a K2 and... ), I run QRP CW and I was wondering if anyone had
experience of using active loop antennas as receiving antennas to lower the
noise floor. I was looking at Wellbrook's Website this afternoon, and I see
that their loops get good reviews on EHam. I was wondering what experience
you guys might have with these and similar antennas.

73, Paul EI5KI

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Mike K2MK

Re: Separate Receiving Antenna

Hi Paul,

A lot of K3 owners are using the Pixel Technologies loop antenna. I'm pleased with mine in comparison to my SteppIR vertical antenna on 80 and 40 meters. On 160 meters I have a relatively quiet dipole but I find the loop beneficial when used with the K3 sub receiver as a diversity antenna.

The company has changed names and the old links for the antenna don't seem to work anymore. This link seems ok.

https://inlogisinc.com/products/amateurham-radio-antennas/ham-amateur-radio-antennas

73,
Mike K2MK

Paul Barlow-2 wrote

Dear Elecrafters,

I have a very small and odd shaped garden in which to play Ham Radio. I have
a K3 (and a K2 and... ), I run QRP CW and I was wondering if anyone had
experience of using active loop antennas as receiving antennas to lower the
noise floor. I was looking at Wellbrook's Website this afternoon, and I see
that their loops get good reviews on EHam. I was wondering what experience
you guys might have with these and similar antennas.

73, Paul EI5KI

Doug Turnbull

Re: Separate Receiving Antenna

In reply to this post by Paul Barlow-2

Paul,
Try a K9AY for 40/80/160 or maybe a 5' x 5' passive magnetic loop for
160M. Array solutions also make another variant on the K9AY which may be
superior - I do not know. For the low band receive antennas can be a
considerable help and for 160M are a must if you want to hear on this band.

73 Doug EI2CN
PS I can not find you on QRZ.COM. Where are you located? I am in County
Louth four miles north of Drogheda. Drop I for an eyeball if in the area.

-----Original Message-----
From: Elecraft [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Paul
Barlow
Sent: 30 January 2015 19:16
To: [hidden email]
Subject: [Elecraft] Separate Receiving Antenna

Dear Elecrafters,

I have a very small and odd shaped garden in which to play Ham Radio. I have
a K3 (and a K2 and... ), I run QRP CW and I was wondering if anyone had
experience of using active loop antennas as receiving antennas to lower the
noise floor. I was looking at Wellbrook's Website this afternoon, and I see
that their loops get good reviews on EHam. I was wondering what experience
you guys might have with these and similar antennas.

73, Paul EI5KI

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Vic Rosenthal

Re: Separate Receiving Antenna

In reply to this post by Paul Barlow-2

I'm using a Pixel Loop as a receiving antenna to supplement my main t/r antenna, which is an R8 vertical. The only 'garden' I have is a rooftop about 35 m above ground. The antenna is about 6 m from the vertical and definitely has a better s/n ratio. I use it on HF bands, sometimes by itself and sometimes for diversity reception with the K3's subreceiver.
It isn't a panacea for noise problems but definitely helps. The diversity mode is also a big help despite the small separation between antennas. The Pixel Loop comes with a device that makes it possible to 'key' it along with the transmitter in order to protect the receiver. I am using this successfully with QSK at 1.2 kW output. The relay is noisy but fast enough at reasonable speeds.

Vic K2VCO /4X6GP

> On Jan 30, 2015, at 9:15 PM, Paul Barlow <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Dear Elecrafters,
>
> I have a very small and odd shaped garden in which to play Ham Radio. I have
> a K3 (and a K2 and... ), I run QRP CW and I was wondering if anyone had
> experience of using active loop antennas as receiving antennas to lower the
> noise floor. I was looking at Wellbrook's Website this afternoon, and I see
> that their loops get good reviews on EHam. I was wondering what experience
> you guys might have with these and similar antennas.
>
> 73, Paul EI5KI
>
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]

Russ-2

Re: Separate Receiving Antenna

In reply to this post by Paul Barlow-2

I have used Andy's (Wellbrooks) antennas commercially for receiving MW and they are excellent! You will see one of the installations on the web site.
Russ KD4JO

Sent from my T-Mobile 4G LTE Device

-------- Original message --------
From: Vic Rosenthal <[hidden email]>
Date:01/30/2015 6:01 PM (GMT-05:00)
To: Paul Barlow <[hidden email]>
Cc: "<[hidden email]>" <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Separate Receiving Antenna

I'm using a Pixel Loop as a receiving antenna to supplement my main t/r antenna, which is an R8 vertical. The only 'garden' I have is a rooftop about 35 m above ground. The antenna is about 6 m from the vertical and definitely has a better s/n ratio. I use it on HF bands, sometimes by itself and sometimes for diversity reception with the K3's subreceiver.
It isn't a panacea for noise problems but definitely helps. The diversity mode is also a big help despite the small separation between antennas. The Pixel Loop comes with a device that makes it possible to 'key' it along with the transmitter in order to protect the receiver. I am using this successfully with QSK at 1.2 kW output. The relay is noisy but fast enough at reasonable speeds.

Vic K2VCO /4X6GP

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Benny Aumala-2

Re: Separate Receiving Antenna

In reply to this post by Paul Barlow-2

Small large band RX loops are commercially available, but freight
costs makes them prohibitive expensive.
You may approach it with kits, too.
Look for VNorton here:

http://www.qrp-shop.biz/epages/qrp-shop.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/qrp-shop/Categories/%22DL-QRP-AG%20Baus%C3%A4tze%22/Aktiv-Antenne

and another interesting:

http://active-antenna.eu/

Both let you to make loop yourself.

This is good for RX as it is broadband.
TX antenna for limited space is Small Magnetic Loop.
Big disadvanage is tunable small bandwidh. Even this can be made
automatic to follow VFO:
https://sites.google.com/site/lofturj/

Benny OH9NB

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NS0R

Re: Separate Receiving Antenna

Depending on the size of your lot you could also try a very short beverage
antenna. I use a 160 foot unterminated wire through a 6:1 binocular core
transformer and feed it with 75 ohm coax. It is up about 4 feet off the
ground. It works surprisingly well on 20 through 10 meters. It's
performance is marginal on 30 and 40 but sometimes it helps with band
noise. It may as well be a dead short on 80. It is not ideal in any case,
but it was cheap and has helped with my horrible power line RFI problem.

On Sat, Jan 31, 2015 at 1:36 PM, Benny Aumala <[hidden email]>
wrote:

> Small large band RX loops are commercially available, but freight
> costs makes them prohibitive expensive.
> You may approach it with kits, too.
> Look for VNorton here:
>
> http://www.qrp-shop.biz/epages/qrp-shop.sf/en_GB/?
> ObjectPath=/Shops/qrp-shop/Categories/%22DL-QRP-AG%
> 20Baus%C3%A4tze%22/Aktiv-Antenne
>
> and another interesting:
>
> http://active-antenna.eu/
>
> Both let you to make loop yourself.
>
> This is good for RX as it is broadband.
> TX antenna for limited space is Small Magnetic Loop.
> Big disadvanage is tunable small bandwidh. Even this can be made
> automatic to follow VFO:
> https://sites.google.com/site/lofturj/
>
> Benny OH9NB
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>

Jim Bolit

Re: Separate Receiving Antenna

The link http://active-antenna.eu/ is to the LZ1AQ loop amplifier.

The LZ1AQ amplifier is NOT a differential input amp, rather the input is
referenced to ground.

This can have significant issues as it relates to common mode noise.

As a result of my research, I ended up with a Pixel loop. The amp has great
characteristics, differential input, uses an A.C. wallwart for low noise,
and the install instructions isolate the amp from any ground.

The loop interface also has a control line input from your rig, that
controls an internal relay, so the amp is protected when you transmit. The
loop was designed by hams.

The mechanical design of the loop is excellent, using welds at the aluminum
joints.

I have no interest in the Pixel company, just a very satisfied customer. So
satisfied, I bought two of them and phase them with a DX Engineering NCC-1
phaser.

Jim
W6AIM

-----Original Message-----
From: Elecraft [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Morgan
Bailey
Sent: Saturday, January 31, 2015 11:43 AM
To: Benny Aumala
Cc: Elecraft Reflector
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Separate Receiving Antenna

Depending on the size of your lot you could also try a very short beverage
antenna. I use a 160 foot unterminated wire through a 6:1 binocular core
transformer and feed it with 75 ohm coax. It is up about 4 feet off the
ground. It works surprisingly well on 20 through 10 meters. It's
performance is marginal on 30 and 40 but sometimes it helps with band noise.
It may as well be a dead short on 80. It is not ideal in any case, but it
was cheap and has helped with my horrible power line RFI problem.

On Sat, Jan 31, 2015 at 1:36 PM, Benny Aumala <[hidden email]>
wrote:

> Small large band RX loops are commercially available, but freight
> costs makes them prohibitive expensive.
> You may approach it with kits, too.
> Look for VNorton here:
>
> http://www.qrp-shop.biz/epages/qrp-shop.sf/en_GB/?
> ObjectPath=/Shops/qrp-shop/Categories/%22DL-QRP-AG%
> 20Baus%C3%A4tze%22/Aktiv-Antenne
>
> and another interesting:
>
> http://active-antenna.eu/
>
> Both let you to make loop yourself.
>
> This is good for RX as it is broadband.
> TX antenna for limited space is Small Magnetic Loop.
> Big disadvanage is tunable small bandwidh. Even this can be made
> automatic to follow VFO:
> https://sites.google.com/site/lofturj/
>
> Benny OH9NB
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email
> list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to
> [hidden email]
>

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