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Re: [HCDX] Advice Please
John --
I am an active DXer living in the close-in suburbs of Washington, D.C., another place where the electronic noise is pretty high. I use a pennant antenna and a Wellbrook 1530 loop with a reasonable degree of success -- although when I get to DX from a rural location, there certainly is a difference, especially on the tropical bands!
There's a web page devoted to flag and pennant antennas at http://www.angelfire.com/md/k3ky/page37.html . It has complete information on how to build them and variations that people have tried in search of better DX. I have put a Radioworks line isolator on mine, followed by a DX Engineering broadband amplifier, and it works great.
The Wellbrook loop is more expensive, but it can be well worth it. I've found that it many situations it gives the pennant a run for the money, and it doesn't require any trees or ladder climbing, just a sturdy support. It's also plug-and-play, which is important for those who aren't technically inclined. It's also more flexible, in that you can readily rotate it to see if you can null out some particularly obnoxious local noise. If you mount it on a rotor, you can even do that from the comfort of your own shack.
Regards,
Art Delibert
KB3FJO
> Date: Wed, 5 Aug 2015 08:32:32 -0500
> From: john445@xxxxxxxxx
> To: hard-core-dx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [HCDX] Advice Please
>
> Hello:
> I was an active SWL starting in 1960 with my first QSL from Radio Habana
> Cuba and ending in the mid 90’s. I still own my first receiver, a National
> NC-60 that was refurbished. I also own a working Sony ICF 2010 and an ICOM
> R-75 that worked the last time I turned it on.
>
> My home is located in a northwest suburbs of Chicago in a typical
> neighborhood of dense housing. A power line of some sort and cable line run
> across at the back edge of the property about 75 feet from the house. Our
> home has four cable boxes along with assorted electronic devices from TV’s
> to computers to tablets to smart phones. As you can guess the electronic
> noise is high. I did erect a short single wire out the upstairs window
> which is about 40 feet long ending on the roof of the detached garage.
>
> I have been reading Jerry Berg’s book about shortwave and my interest is
> rekindled. My question is, is it possible to enjoy the hobby again in this
> high RF environment? I know I could search all the posts and emails about
> and glean bits and pieces but am writing for overall advice as things stand
> today.
>
> I am not technically astute in wiring and such having simply put up single
> wire antennas in the various places I have lived, not even using a ground.
> So I am asking for basic stuff or leads for info I could use. If this
> breaks any protocols here, I do apologize…thanks for any assistance..
>
> John
>
>
> *- - - - - - -*
> *John Mosman*
> Be Kind, Be Good, Be Happy
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_______________________________________________
THE INFORMATION IN THIS ARTICLE IS FREE. It may be copied, distributed
and/or modified under the conditions set down in the Design Science License
published by Michael Stutz at
http://www.gnu.org/licenses/dsl.html