[IRCA] Antenna Shootout in Puyallup

[Guy Atkins <dx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

What better way for DXers to enjoy a sunny Sunday afternoon than to compare
antennas and swap DX stories? My crosstown pal and Ultralight radio "guru"
Gary DeBock (N7EKX), along with visiting Arizona DXer Dave Aichelman (N7NZH),
joined me at my home to put a variety of antennas through some casual tests.

Radios and antennas present included:


   - Eton E1XM
   - Tecsun PL-380
   - Tecsun PL-660


   - Sony AN-1 active omnidirectional whip antenna
   - Radio Plus+ Quantum Loop V.3
   - Kiwa High Performance MW Loop
   - Tent-Pole Loop (part of a clever, compact loop array that Dave uses
   for transportable DXing)
   - 12-inch diameter FSL antenna, 10mm X 200mm rods (a DeBock exclusive!)
   - broadband setup/FLG100LN
   - Another 12-inch diameter FSL antenna built by Gary, tuned in the
   standard fashion with an air variable capacitor
   - 7-inch diameter FSL antenna (also a DeBock creation)

A photo of the afternoon's experiments can be seen here:
https://www.box.com/s/fw6lh2fpmngnatn6lfgo  In the photo, Dave is on the
left and Gary is on the right. We were all surrounded by the stars of the
show-- radios and antennas!

Top performers in our weak daytime signals sensitivity tests were the
12-inch monster FSLs brought by Gary, and Dave's compact Flag antenna that
he has dubbed the Tent-Pole Loop. This terminated loop includes a variable
resistor termination and uses a Wellbrook FLG100LN module as the amplifier;
two of them with a Wellbrook phasing unit make for a compact loop array.
Alternatively, ALA100 modules can be used. Each loop is self-supporting
(and free-standing) with an "X" of fiberglass tent poles and tensioned with
the loop element itself. Full details and photos of the Tent-Pole Loop
array can be found in the Perseus SDR Yahoo Group, in the Files section
under "Example Antenna Models".

Dave's Kiwa MW Loop was also impressive, especially when using its tilt
control to help null local noise into oblivion. It's simply a beautiful
piece of equipment, too; Kiwa doesn't make 'em like this any more  :^(

We tried the 7 and 12-inch FSL models in both broadband (direct hookup)
modes, using Wellbrook FLG100LN modules connected to the Litz wire coils
(as described previously in IRCA reflector and Ultralight Radio Yahoo Group
postings). The 12-inch biggie FSL consistently outperformed the smaller
model by four S-units (using just the E1XM's bargraph S-meter...I said this
was *casual* afternoon testing :^)  This was eyebrow-raising performance,
as the 7-inch FSL antenna is already a high performing antenna.  I plan to
compare both FSL antenna models more accurately this weekend at the
Washington coast using the Perseus SDR's highly accurate signal meter.
We'll see if the gain difference actually results in easier to hear DU DX!
Stay tuned next week for a report on the results.

I don't recall that we actually fired up the Quantum Loop or not; I think
we overlooked it in the excitement of trying the larger antennas. I doubt,
however, that it would have been in the same league as the "big iron" FSLs.
Likewise, the Sony AN-1 was a sub-par antenna on the weak daytime MW
signals. It was mainly used as an omnidirectional antenna for comparison.

A big thank-you goes out to Gary for the use of his FSL antenna
creations... they are truly works of art. Without his involvement and
generosity I know that the ULR hobby niche wouldn't be growing as rapidly
as it is. Also, not only is Gary adept at trying various design approaches
for compact loops, he constantly documents his successes (and rare
failures) with DXing results and "A-B" audio recordings. Not every radio or
antenna experimenter backs up their claims like Gary does.

I also learned a thing or two about clever construction techniques from
Dave Aichelman. Thanks, Dave, for bringing your antenna setup along on your
family trip to the Northwest and stopping by with your Tent-Pole Loop
array. It's easily the most interesting use of a Wellbrook
ALA100LN/FLG100LN setup that I've ever seen.

Guy Atkins
Puyallup, WA
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