[Boatanchors] RAK question

[David Stinson]

re: Using the LF RAK.
A random wire as on HF won't do unless you are listening to strong BCB signals.  You'll find a great deal of common-mode and switching supply noise, often to the exclusion of every other signal.  For a beginning, I recommend a tuned loop you can use to null-out noise sources. Not as hard to make as it looks.  I often use just the little Palomar Ferrite Rod Loop with its little loop amplifier. Used to copy the 630 Mtr experimentals with just that on my night stand. Last night, I had the little loop on top of the receiver in the barn and was able to copy the 486 KC carrier on a fade-up with no trouble.  The barn has a tin roof and tin on three sides.  I could hear because the loop nulls local noise.  

Others love E-Field probes.  I wouldn't own one.  IMHO, those who praise E-Field probes, do so because they've never been in an RF-Quiet location with anything else, like a ground-running beverage or a tuned loop.  Moreover, E-probes do nothing to reject local noise.  Others opinions will, of course, vary, but I'd bet coffee and donuts if I could take them out on an "LF Dx-pedition" with different antennas, they might throw rocks at the E-Field on LF ;-)

Best of luck with your LF adventures and Merry Christmas,
Dave S.