Re: [IRCA] Western Superloop--Initial Trials

[Chuck Hutton <charlesh3@xxxxxxx>]

Depends on how good your coax is. If there's a lot of pickup in the coax, it's best to amplify at the antenna so you are just amplifying the desired signal. If the amp is inside the house, it amplifies both desired signal and coax pickup.
I've not had a problem with indoor preamps but I went to the trouble to verify there is very little signal in the coax when the antenna is disconnected. 
Chuck

> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2015 06:36:33 -0400
> From: wb2bjh@xxxxxxxxx
> To: irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: Re: [IRCA] Western Superloop--Initial Trials
> 
> I don't see any real benefit to mounting the preamp at the antenna. We've
> had good success running them just inside
> the building on the LBI DXpeditions from a variety of broadband loops.
> 
> Tuning is done by varying the resistance, either via substitution or a
> variable resistor. Mostly that's by ear and signal meter.
> 
> Russ Edmunds
> 15 mi NW Phila
> Grid FN20id
> <wb2bjh@xxxxxxxxx>
> 
> AM: Modified Sony ICF2010's (2) barefoot w/whip
> FM: Yamaha T-80 & T-85, each w/ Conrad RDS Decoder;
> Onkyo T-450RDS; Tecsun PL-310 ( 2);
> modified Sony ICF2010 w/APS9B @ 15';
> Grundig G8 w/whip; modified Sony ICF2010 w/whip
> 
> 
> On Thu, Jul 2, 2015 at 1:51 AM, Les Rayburn <les@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> 
> > Finally found time to erect a Western facing Superloop. It's 24 X 7'. I'm
> > using a fixed 900 ohm termination, and feeding it with quad-shield RG-6
> > coax. I installed three snap-on ferrite cores near on the feedline near the
> > antenna, and then again at about 40 feet down the coax, three more just
> > before it enters the shack. Total coax run is about 90 feet.
> >
> > The antenna is quiet, very quiet--but signals levels are too low. I plan
> > to add a DX Engineering Receive Preamplifier DXE-RPA-1 when my budget will
> > allow. I'm going to send 12 VDC down the cable, and mount the pre-amp in a
> > weatherprooof box near the antenna.
> >
> > http://www.dxengineering.com/parts/dxe-rpa-1
> >
> > In terms of performance, I'm not sure what to expect. I tried a few
> > stations that were due East of me, such as WSB 750 in Atlanta. It was
> > weaker than on my other antennas, but not remarkably so. Listened for a few
> > of the Western powerhouse like KOA 850 in Denver, but nothing heard. Not
> > surprising, since KOA only appears a few times each winter.
> >
> > I have a variable resistance unit as well that I can substitute for the
> > fixed termination. It's range is 900 to 1400 ohms. But then I'll have to
> > figure out how to adjust the null from across the back yard. I thought
> > about feeding the receiver audio into an FM transmitter and listening
> > outside on a portable. That might be my best option.
> >
> > Can't seem to find much online about how to tune these things or gauge
> > performance. How does one know if it's working correctly?
> >
> > Advice or suggestions most welcome!
> >
> >
> > --
> > 73,
> >
> >
> > Les Rayburn, N1LF
> > Maylene, AL
> > EM63
> >
> > Member WTFDA, NRC, IRCA, & Medium Wave DX Circle
> > Former CPC Chairman for NRC/IRCA
> >
> > ============================== FM DX
> >
> > Sony XDR-F1HD, Sangean HDT-1, Elad FDM-S2, AirSpy.
> > Denon TU-1500RD w/Ray Dees RDS Decoder,
> > FM6 Antenna with CM7777 Mast Pre-Amp, RG-11.
> >
> > "Nothing but blues and Elvis and somebody else's
> > favorite song..."
> >
> > AM DX
> > Elad FDM-S2, Wellbrook ALA1530+ Loop, Clifton Labs Active
> > Whip, Superloop. Quantum Phaser, Kiwa Loop, Palstar MW Pre-Selector
> >
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