Hi Jaime The only way to really improve signal to noise ratio is with directivity. Better directivity better signal to noise ratio. Everything else is just less deterioration or more deterioration. The only thing that makes a difference is how narrow the front lobe really is.
Your 40m array plus the integration with your tower and inverted L is giving you a better directivity. Probably if you try another direction the results should be very different. Things that people believe but does not impact signal to noise ratio. 1- Front back. 2- Noise canceling devices , (only help with weak signal it its narrow the front lobe) 3- Vertical array, if you live downtown, or a city lot like mine, 150x 100 ft back yard. The manmade noise is only vertical polarized, vertical array may help you to hear more noise. If you want your vertical RX array to work, it is necessary to detune your TX antenna, and any other vertical structure above 1/8 wave high, even it is 300 ft away. 160m one wave length is 480ft long, don't full yourself. Get common mode out of your RX system input, good shield is a must, never use plastic box for any RX system part. Open frame relay is also a big problem, DC bringing noise to the amplifier, another thing. Choke and shield is your friend, but only works with a good ground. RDF measure directivity, more RDF better reception, but every single wire , cable, tower can deteriorate RDF, you need to control that. You can hear my webinar at WWW.WWROF.ORG >> https://wwrof.org/webinar-archive/n4is-waller-flag-construction/ >> https://wwrof.org/webinar-archive/high-performance-rx-antennas-for-a-small-l ot/ Just an update from that Webinar . NX4D using a Waller Flag from a 1/5 acre lot is now at #311, confirmed on 160m. My Horizontal Waller Flag, HWF, is working very well, I can hear 4K6FO , FR , VU almost every time they are on the band.. I Heard 316 countries on 160m since 2006, but the HWF was operational only after 2010. Now I am at #299 on 160m. This is a thing people only believe when they see it happening. Almost 100 people is using WHF and VWF around the world, all of them delivering excellent performance. However it is a huge project, not plug an play at all, and it works! 73's JC N4IS -----Original Message----- From: Topband <topband-boun...@contesting.com> On Behalf Of Jamie WW3S Sent: Wednesday, November 14, 2018 2:10 PM To: topband <topband@contesting.com> Subject: Topband: 40m array as RX antenna I'm plagued with local noise, I live in a sub division, and have a small loet (80x180), 2 yrs ago, I tried a reversible EWE and had pretty good sucess with it, last year I tried a HI-Z 3L, and wasnt really any better than the EWE. I put the EWE up again this season, and its so-so, but have discovered that my 2 ele 40m phased verticals work great as a RC antenna.....there is literraly no noise on this.....signal are weak, but as this noise is S0, I can hear just about everything (OK I couldnt hear the FR last night but I heard a bunch of EU calling him)......wondering why the noise is so lowoh this array compared to my other antennas, and if thats a clue as to what may be wrong (if anything) with the others.....my 160 inv l is S9 noise level, and my EWE is about S3..... _________________ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _________________ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector