how can i in-hanse my long wire performance

[radioreddz]

i have a 200' long wire and was wondering what i could do to get better performance from my receiver's. i'm using a RS dx394,RS dx302 and a icom R71a

[Fansome]

Years ago I used to use an MFJ-16010 random-wire tuner to connect a 40' long wire to my DX-440. I think it made a significant improvement to just connecting the long wire directly to the radio. It might be worth a try; the tuner is not that expensive. http://www.mfjenterprises.com/Categories.php?sec=220

Another possibility is to put a pre-amplifier at the antenna feedpoint; this might help if the feedpoint is at a significant distance from your radios.

[cmradio]

Yes, an antenna tuner can help, especially with anything Realistic (I've owned pretty much them all fro DX-60 to DX302).

Peace!

[Newfoundland DXer]

Thanks Fansome and cmradio.  I had a MFJ-948 sitting in front of me these past 3 years, and didn't realize it could help for rx.  It is hooked up now and helping somewhat (more on some bands than others.)

Another possibility is to put a pre-amplifier at the antenna feedpoint; this might help if the feedpoint is at a significant distance from your radios.

Does anyone know where might one obtain such a thing?  I have looked around and found several preamps for use at the radio, but not at the feedpoint. (I don't guess the cheap TV signal booster that I noticed at the local ex-rat shack would work?)

Radioreddz:  Placing the antenna as far as possible from your house and a well shielded/grounded feed can eliminate most household electrical noise.  This design http://www.iw5edi.com/ham-radio/?low-noise-antenna-connection,45 has worked well for me.  It is a low-noise design, so don't expect strong signals.  But the signal/noise ratio is good.  (I have heard IDs from stations without seeing the needle move.)

[ChrisSmolinski]

I'd be a little leery of using a pre-amp, only because most modern HF radios, even portables, are fairly sensitive, and usually noise levels dominate at HF. A pre-amp will just amplify everything signals and noise, and add some more noise of it's own. Plus possibly some images and mixing products.

If you can get a sky loop type antenna up, I think you will see a dramatic improvement in reception. Since you have a 200' longwire now, I imagine you should have room for one that is a few hundred feet in perimeter? Another good choice would be a T2FD, although I think the sky loop would end up being easier to build, and probably work better.

[thechoat]

Ill back chris up 100% i had a long wire up and i switched to a loop huge difference mines only around 400ft  but it still amazes me.And a tuner helps to i got around 4 s-units more signal on the loop and also my wire was directional out the sides the loop is almost omni.

[Newfoundland DXer]

Thanks guys.  I'll have to try that one.

Cheers, Terry

[Fansome]

I see that Universal Radio sells antenna pre-amps, but I am not familiar with any of the brands they stock.

Wellbrook sells an antenna pre-amp that is specifically for the feedpoint. I have not used it myself, but I did own a Wellbrook active loop antenna for a while, and it worked pretty well. It had a pre-amp at the feedpoint.

[radioreddz]

thanks for the info, i just may have to try a sky loop i'm blessed to have enough room for any type of antenna. i may just go rent a lift and hang a loop. great info from all

[Newfoundland DXer]

Thanks Fansome.  But, upon reflection, I think bringing a power source close to my antenna would be counter-productive.

[jFarley]

If you really like to DIY, Clifton Labs has some interesting and well documented components and assemblies for feed-point amps.  An example of a very nice high level Norton amp is here:    http://cliftonlaboratories.com/z10042a_norton_amplifier.htm

IIRC, Clifton makes components and assemblies for some antenna manufacturers.  I think I remember reading that Clifton supplies amps for the Pixel Technologies loops.  They also make gain and phased matched short amplified verticals which from all appearances seem to be the ones used in the DX Engineering receiving arrays.

[ChrisSmolinski]

I wrote up another blog post about sky loop antennas, this time with an emphasis on construction tips: http://www.hfunderpants.com/?p=1097

[Newfoundland DXer]

Thanks Chris.  A very well written article.  (I have to get one of those EZ Hangs!)

Cheers, Terry

 

[ChrisSmolinski]

Thanks Chris.  A very well written article.  (I have to get one of those EZ Hangs!)

Cheers, Terry

The EZ Hangs are not cheap (I think around $100) but they work very well. I have had one for 10 or 15 years, I forget how long. The rubber bands do seem to fail every few years, possibly because I leave it out in the shed in the winter and it gets cold. But they're cheap. And of course you need to stock up on fishing weights and line, due to antenna eating trees. I recently switched to steel sinkers, and they work just as well as the lead ones, without the lead. I feel better about losing them in the woods.

I've seen the pneumatic launchers, and while they look cool, they also look scary to me. I'm not a huge fan of lots of psi of compressed air, and PVC pipe.

[Taliaferro G.]

Try a 9:1 balun at the feedpoint. It's the traditional solution to improving longwire performance. Several vendors sell them,or if you're handy,you could wind one,it's fairly straight forward and easy to do.