Re: Topband: Recommended Antennas for 160M/80M Receiving
Joel, Thank you very much for your kind reply. Do you have a preferred model of 8 element array that will perform well on 160M and 80M? Yes, I'd love to read the article. Of course, I belong to the ARRL. Vy 73, Mack W4AX Mack On Sun, Dec 21, 2014 at 4:27 PM, Joel Harrison wrote: > Mack, > > My actual on-the-air test and experience at my QTH in Arkansas has > revealed the 8 vertical array systems outperform beverages. I wrote an > article with graphs showing the signal performance difference over one low > band season that I can direct you to if you are interested and also > provide some additional info on my experience. > > I still have nine Beverages operational but this will most likely be the > last year I have them, retiring them in favor of the two vertical arrays > that I run. > > Beverages are great low band RX antennas and I have been very successful > with them, as well as learning a heck of a lot about them over the years, > so do not take my response as being negative toward Bev's. At my QTH the > vertical arrays are better performers. > > 73 Joel W5ZN > > > > Friends, > > > > I need to really increase my country count on 160M so I've decided to > > installed dedicated receiving antennas. My home is on a 6 acre > rectangular > > lot so I have room for a couple of 800 ft beverages at 90 degree angles > or > > an 8 element circular array. > > > > I've been carefully following the discussion about the merits of various > 8 > > element arrays and beverages. > > > > *I "believe" the consensus is that a set of bi-directional beverages will > > generally perform better than any 8 element circular array. Am I correct? > > I'm specifically speaking about working countries on 160M and 80M.* > > > > I also "believe" the bi-directional antenna choices come down to two > > flavors. > > > > The DXEngineering ladder line version or the BevFlex-4 that uses RG-6. > > *I'm > > leaning toward the BevFlex-4.* > > > > I would REALLY appreciate your views on the recommended receive antenna > > system if space and money are not big concerns. I'd like to do it > > correctly > > one time and the first time. > > > > Vy 73, > > > > Mack > > W4AX > > _ > > Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband > > > > > www.w5zn.org > > _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Recommended Antennas for 160M/80M Receiving
Jim, Tim, and Tim, Thank you all for some really great advice. Perhaps I should look more closely at the 8 element receiving arrays. Are most of the 160M contest stations now using receiving array's vs. beverages? Since I'm moving to a new QTH I'd really like to have a best practice installation and not have to experiment a lot. Vy 73, Mack W4AX Mack On Sun, Dec 21, 2014 at 9:58 AM, Jim Garland <4cx2...@miamioh.edu> wrote: > Mack, I use two DXE bi-directional beverages, each 720 ft long, fed with a > single 300 ft length of direct burial quad shield RG6. The DXE transformers > and relay switching boxes use high quality weather-proof construction. That > said, the ladder line caused me nothing but continuing maintenace > headaches. > Furthermore, the little DXE plastic ladder line clamps are very flimsy and > broke within a few months. I finally gave up and replaced the ladder line > with parallel lengths of WD-1a field telephone wire (the twisted pair > version), supported on 4x4 posts with ceramic insulators. The electrical > performance appears to be the same as with ladder line, but it makes for a > much more robust installation and the field wire is much cheaper than > ladder > line. > 73, > Jim W8ZR > > > -Original Message----- > > From: Topband [mailto:topband-boun...@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Mack > McCormick > > Sent: Sunday, December 21, 2014 7:12 AM > > To: topband@contesting.com > > Subject: Topband: Recommended Antennas for 160M/80M Receiving > > > > Friends, > > > > I need to really increase my country count on 160M so I've decided to > > installed dedicated receiving antennas. My home is on a 6 acre > rectangular > > lot so I have room for a couple of 800 ft beverages at 90 degree angles > or > > an 8 element circular array. > > > > I've been carefully following the discussion about the merits of various > 8 > > element arrays and beverages. > > > > *I "believe" the consensus is that a set of bi-directional beverages will > > generally perform better than any 8 element circular array. Am I correct? > > I'm specifically speaking about working countries on 160M and 80M.* > > > > I also "believe" the bi-directional antenna choices come down to two > > flavors. > > > > The DXEngineering ladder line version or the BevFlex-4 that uses RG-6. > *I'm > > leaning toward the BevFlex-4.* > > > > I would REALLY appreciate your views on the recommended receive antenna > > system if space and money are not big concerns. I'd like to do it > correctly > > one time and the first time. > > > > Vy 73, > > > > Mack > > W4AX > > _ > > Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband > > _ > Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband > _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Topband: Recommended Antennas for 160M/80M Receiving
Friends, I need to really increase my country count on 160M so I've decided to installed dedicated receiving antennas. My home is on a 6 acre rectangular lot so I have room for a couple of 800 ft beverages at 90 degree angles or an 8 element circular array. I've been carefully following the discussion about the merits of various 8 element arrays and beverages. *I "believe" the consensus is that a set of bi-directional beverages will generally perform better than any 8 element circular array. Am I correct? I'm specifically speaking about working countries on 160M and 80M.* I also "believe" the bi-directional antenna choices come down to two flavors. The DXEngineering ladder line version or the BevFlex-4 that uses RG-6. *I'm leaning toward the BevFlex-4.* I would REALLY appreciate your views on the recommended receive antenna system if space and money are not big concerns. I'd like to do it correctly one time and the first time. Vy 73, Mack W4AX _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Remote SDR Receive only setup
Bryan, Thank you for your kind comments. I'm pleased you enjoy the site. Mahalo, Mack W4AX On Wed, Nov 28, 2012 at 1:38 PM, Bryan Buck wrote: > Nice job Mack. The W4AX is very simple and easy to use. > > > > Just wanted to drop you a note of appreciation. > > > > For me in Hawaii it's interesting to hear what's happening on 160m and 80M. > I can use your site to give me an idea of who's out there and to see if I > can pick them up from 2000-4500 miles away. > > > > Bryan > > WH7DX > > > > > > ___ > Topband reflector - topband@contesting.com > -- 73, Mack de W4AX http://w4ax.com ___ Topband reflector - topband@contesting.com
Re: Topband: Remote SDR Receive only setup
Frank, I do a great deal of remote work including exposing 160M, 80M, and 40M, and 20M receivers to dozens of users simultaneously that they can tune independently. Take a look at http://w4ax.com and if this is something you're interested in pursuing then drop me a note. You must have Java loaded to use this site. 73, Mack W4AX On Sun, Nov 25, 2012 at 9:31 PM, Frank Davis wrote: > I would be interested in talking to anyone who has successfully > implemented remote receive only capability for 160m ?I have been > thinking of an available seaside location that offers some relief from > noise but deciding on the most effective approach is challenging. Is an > SDR/PC/remote server a good way to do it or is the PC-less approach using > remote hardware more effective? > > If there is someone willing to share ideas with me I would appreciate it. > > Frank VO1HP > > Sent from an iPad2 > ___ > Topband reflector - topband@contesting.com > -- 73, Mack de W4AX http://w4ax.com ___ Topband reflector - topband@contesting.com
