Re: [IRCA] Slinky EWEs vs Regular Wire (WAS: is this a good deal for BOG Wire)

["Kevin S" <satya@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi all:

As a follow-up to what Guy mentioned below, I tried a couple more things:
 - I tried to stretch a standard Slinky out far enough to get the "turns
per foot" ratio down far enough, but standard Slinkys don't stretch that
far - they just permanently deform (every child's nightmare...)
 - I wrapped a 2" PVC frame with a gradual wire spiral that achieved the
"magic" 2:1 conductor-to-antenna length ratio.  This simulated a Slinky
that was actually stretched out far enough.  There was absolutely NO
difference between this and a standard straight-wire loop.

So, I have delegated my Slinkys, deformed or not, to the dust bin!

Kevin S
Bainbridge Island, WA



> Good report !! 73 KAZ who uses slinkys only as a kid's toy
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
>>From: Guy Atkins <dx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>>Sent: Dec 22, 2009 12:17 PM
>>To: irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>Subject: Re: [IRCA] Slinky EWEs vs Regular Wire (WAS: is this a good
>> deal	for BOG Wire)
>>
>>>
>>> Hi Dave,
>>>
>>
>>Kevin Schanilec on Bainbridge Island, WA recently did some careful tests
>>between his Slinky EWE and an identical one made with normal wire. The
>>results really surprised him...here's what he said:
>>
>>-----------
>>
>>I am drinking a strong cup of decaf to steady my nerves because, as
>>amazing as it might sounds, the wire loop won!
>>
>>For bare signal, the Slinky version never trailed and was perhaps 3-4 dB
>>stronger on various frequencies.  This is not surprising, since the two
>>Slinkys used comprise about 110 feet of wire, while the wire version only
>>has 38 feet of wire; theory says that it should be a few dB better.
>>
>>However, the signal was always at least as good on the wire version, and
>>often noticeably better, especially on marginal signals.  My ears time
>> and
>>time again told me that the difference is that the wire version picks up
>>much less local electromagnetic noise - it simply gives a better signal.
>>For example, there was a weak station on 1270 that was struggling to stay
>>above the neighborhood QRM on the Slinky, but had readable audio on the
>>wire.  Unless a station was doing fairly well, the wire gave the better
>>signal.
>>
>>This is no fluke.  A couple weeks ago, when I first started this Super
>>Loop nonsense, I wound two identical 16:1 matching baluns, and did the
>>same testing when weak TA's were coming in.  The hets and signals on the
>>wire were often stronger than on the Slinky, again attesting to the fact
>>that the SNR on the wire is better.  I decided to wait to get the FLG-100
>>to make sure my kludged baluns weren't influencing the results, and sure
>>enough the wire won again.
>>
>>What's going on here? Gil steered me to the following site:
>>http://www.w8ji.com/slinky_and_loaded_beverages.htm
>>which includes a discussion of the fact that a Slinky, unless stretched
>>VERY long, will have at least 4-6 times more conductor length than actual
>>physical length - too many "turns per foot".  Too much coiled-up
>> conductor
>>means that signal wants to fire backwards, towards the feed point.  I'm
>> no
>>physics guru like the web site's author appears to be, but it seems like
>> a
>>possible explanation.  This could mean that my PVC version could be
>>hand-wound with 76 feet of wire in a gradual spiral to get 2-3 more dB,
>>which I may just try.
>>
>>----------------------
>>
>>Dave, I hope this is helpful before you go to the trouble to build a
>> Slinky
>>EWE!
>>
>>73,
>>
>>Guy Atkins
>>Puyallup, WA
>>fivebelow.squarespace.com
>>
>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: HASCALL, DAVID CIV DFAS [mailto:DAVID.HASCALL@xxxxxxxx]
>>> Sent: Tuesday, December 22, 2009 11:35 AM
>>> To: Bill Nollman; amdx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx; irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>> Subject: RE: [Amdx] Is this a good deal (and good wire) for BOG wire?
>>>
>>> Likewise I'm really fascinated with EWE's to include David Hamilton's
>>> Slinky version.  Unfortunately they may be too quiet for use here and
>>> may need an amp.  Wonder if one could put a EWE on the ground?
>>>
>>> Dave
>>>
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