HFU HF Underground
Technical Topics => Equipment => Topic started by: VK3BVW on August 22, 2017, 1012 UTC
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Manmade noise levels have increased dramatically at my place in the past six months. It has suddenly become much harder to hear weaker shortwave signals. Even the stronger stations are getting covered in all types of hash from all manner of electrical appliances.
So, I have been looking at ways to reduce the noise problem. I'm currently researching several possible solutions, including trying a different antenna. The HF horizontal loop has been around for many years now, but it's a new antenna for me. I've never had a need to try one.....until now! There is documentation out there praising this antenna's low noise capabilities. So, it's time to find out for myself and get to building an experimental version. The results have been quite pleasing, so far!
In a YouTube video I have prepared, I discuss the reasons for looking at this antenna, its design, and its installation. I also do some on-air comparisons of my rectangular (!) version of the horizontal loop against my three regular double bazooka (coax) dipoles and the Par SWL End-Fed antenna. Oh, and Chris Smolinski gets a mention, too! I hope you find this video of interest. Here's the link:
https://youtu.be/OLq3nBQppqg (https://youtu.be/OLq3nBQppqg)
73, Rob VK3BVW
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Congrats on the new antenna! My sky loop is still the best overall performing antenna I have, or have ever built. Hopefully it will give you many years of lower noise listening.
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Thanks, Chris. There's still some fiddling (err....I mean "experimenting") to do on this new one. The initial tests have been quite positive, so it looks like I'll be sticking with it and doing some further research. So, thanks for the inspiration from your initial blog post of 2012. Google is a wonderful resource!! Cheers, mate!