Re: [IRCA] [NRC-AM] Building a "state of the art" MW DX station

[Russ Edmunds <wb2bjh@xxxxxxxxx>]

Les, you may want to consider a "stealth" antenna of another sort - a flag.

It can be mounted in a rectangular array on an outer wall or an interior wall or between trees if they're situated properly. Since the wire used can be fairly small, it hides well.

That also requires a matching transformer. Details can be found amongst some of Conelly's articles or Bruce Conti's.

I'm just not sold on a vertical in a high noise location. Most man-made electrical noise is vertically polarized, and the use of a vertical frequently increases the signal/noise ratio.


Russ Edmunds
15 mi NNW of Philadelphia  
Grid FN20id
<wb2bjh@xxxxxxxxx>
FM: Yamaha T-80 & Onkyo T-450RDS w/ APS9B @15'; Grundig G8
AM:  Modified Sony ICF 2010's barefoot


--- On Mon, 1/2/12, Mark Durenberger <Mark4@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> From: Mark Durenberger <Mark4@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: Re: [NRC-AM] [IRCA] Building a "state of the art" MW DX station
> To: am@xxxxxxxxxxx
> Cc: "Mailing list for the International Radio Club of America" <irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Date: Monday, January 2, 2012, 8:19 PM
> About 4:1 ratio should work. 
> Most folks like to roll their own but you can
> also try:
> 
> http://www.minicircuits.com/products/Transformers.shtml
> 
> Should work if you're not near any high RF fields
> 
> Regards,
> 
> Mark Durenberger
> 
> --------------------------------------------------
> From: "Les Rayburn" <les@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Monday, January 02, 2012 6:39 PM
> To: "Mark Durenberger" <Mark4@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Cc: "DX @NRC" <am@xxxxxxxxxxx>;
> "Mailing list for the International Radio 
> Club of America" <irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: Re: [NRC-AM] [IRCA] Building a "state of the art"
> MW DX station
> 
> > Mark,
> >
> > Excellent points regarding the change in "mindset"
> when using a SDR
> > receiver. Hadn't really thought it about it that way.
> >
> > I might be able to erect a "fold over" vertical
> antenna that I could
> > deploy only during listening sessions. Assuming
> something like 30 feet
> > in length, what would I need for a matching
> transformer?
> >
> >
> > Les Rayburn, Director
> > High Noon Film
> > 130 1st Avenue West
> > Alabaster, AL 35007-8536
> > (205) 621-7500
> > (205) 621-7505 FAX
> > (205) 253-4867 CELL
> > http://www.highnoonfilm.com
> >
> >
> > On 1/2/2012 6:23 PM, Mark Durenberger wrote:
> >> Hi Les...good for you!
> >>
> >> As a general comment addressing two of your
> questions:  The "real" SDR
> >> is a tool you'll fall in love with. 
> However...you'll have to make
> >> somewhat of a tradeoff from the original way of
> thinking.  We've all
> >> used loops to pinpoint and tune a specific
> frequency.  That's sort of
> >> counter-productive when you're using an SDR to
> capture the entire band
> >> because you usually don't want to favor a unique
> channel.
> >>
> >> So if you're doing wideband with SDR you're
> probably going to want to
> >> do a Beverage or a vertical.  Sounds like a
> Beverage is out for you.
> >> I've had tremendous luck with a 30-foot vertical
> and a Perseus SDR.
> >> No amplification needed; just a matching
> transformer.
> >>
> >> It also sounds like you expect a lot of local
> noise.  So you'll
> >> probably want to look at a real noise-cancelling
> antenna.
> >>
> >> Google Dallas Lankford's vertical antennas and
> some of Mark Connelly's
> >> work.
> >>
> >> Regards,
> >>
> >> Mark Durenberger
> >>
> >>
> --------------------------------------------------
> >> From: "Les Rayburn" <les@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> >> Sent: Monday, January 02, 2012 6:02 PM
> >> To: <am@xxxxxxxxxxx>;
> <irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>;
> <Tvfmdx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> >> Subject: [IRCA] Building a "state of the art" MW
> DX station
> >>
> >>> iAfter an absence from medium wave dxing due
> to a move to a new
> >>> deed-restricted QTH, I find myself itching to
> get serious again.
> >>> While my present home is far from idea (HOA,
> and high local noise
> >>> levels), I'm determined to make the best of
> it.
> >>>
> >>> Presently, I have the following equipment
> available for us:
> >>>
> >>> Icom 746 Pro transceiver
> >>> RF Space SDR-IQ receiver
> >>> Wellbrook AL-1530 Loop antenna
> >>> Radio Plus Quantum Phaser
> >>> LF Engineering M-601C Active Whip antenna
> >>> LF Engineering H-800 Active Whip antenna
> >>> LF Engineering N-300 Group loop isolator
> >>>
> >>> My questions are numerous, but here are the
> general ones:
> >>>
> >>> 1.) To build a state of the art system, would
> you recommend
> >>> up-grading the SDR-IQ to the Perseus or new
> WinRadio SDR?
> >>>
> >>> 2.) Are there active whip antennas that
> perform better than the LF
> >>> Engineering models? (I have mounted these to
> my roof vents, painted
> >>> them black--and so far, no complaints from the
> neighbors.
> >>>
> >>> 3.) I have a undeveloped drainage ditch next
> to my home that offers
> >>> the possibility of a beverage on the ground
> antenna that would run
> >>> N/S for 500-800 feet. What couplers would you
> recommend for this use?
> >>>
> >>> 4.) Anyone tried the LF Engineering M-607
> Active Loop antenna? Pricey
> >>> at $390 but perhaps worth it?
> >>>
> >>> 5.) Any other station accessories that would
> improve things for me?
> >>>
> >>> Primary interest is in domestic MW DXing,
> though I don't mind logging
> >>> TA signals when they "in" (rare here). Love to
> DX stations in the
> >>> Western part of the country most of all.
> >>>
> >>> Thanks for the advice, and 73,
> >>>
> >>> Les Rayburn, N1LF
> >>> Alabaster, AL (Near Birmingham)
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> -- 
> >>> Les Rayburn, Director
> >>> High Noon Film
> >>> 130 1st Avenue West
> >>> Alabaster, AL 35007-8536
> >>> (205) 621-7500
> >>> (205) 621-7505 FAX
> >>> (205) 253-4867 CELL
> >>> http://www.highnoonfilm.com
> >>>
> >>>
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> officers
> >>>
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> >>>
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> >>>
> >>>
> >>
> >>
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> 
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