[Elecraft] Receiving Antennas

[Don Wilhelm]

Jason,
There is no one answer to your antenna question.
Some important parameters are:
-- How much space do you have available?
-- Must you conform to CCRs or town/county zoning requirements?
-- How high can you get supports for your antenna?

The best antenna for receiving is usually the best one for transmitting too
(except for specialty antennas like direction finding or low noise antennas
like the beverage).  The ideal horizontal antenna would be a half wavelength
high, and the best vertical antenna would be over a perfectly conducting
ground (like salt water).  For all other conditions, compromises must be
made.

Horizontal loop antennas are reported to work FB by many - just get a full
wavelength loop of wire at the lowest frequency of interest up as high as
possible - feed it direct with coax and enjoy on harmonically related bands,
or feed it with ladder line or open wire feeders and an antenna tuner for
use on most bands.

Most of the low frequency antennas are capable of being built by anyone able
to wield a tape measure and physically get the antenna hung from the
supports.  All it takes is wire and most any type of  wire will do the job
as long as it has sufficient mechanical strength to keep itself (and
possibly the feedline) supported - copper is preferred since it is a good
conductor - steel fencing wire is not a good choice, but can be used in a
pinch and aluminum wire does not have sufficient srength.  NEC requires
antennas of a wire guage sufficient to stay up (mostly safety
considerations), and #14 or #12 hard drawn copper meets their requirements
in the lengths that we usually encounter for the ham bands.

I'm not certain I have helped, but I did want to plug in a few items for you
to ponder as you make a decision about the 'best' antenna for your purposes.

73,
Don Wilhelm  - Wake Forest, NC   W3FPR home page: http://www.qsl.net/w3fpr/
  QRP-L # 485   K2  SN 0020   mailto: w3fpr@arrl.net

*** Life is what happens when you're making other plans -- Mike Cross  ***

----- Original Message -----
>
> Anyway, the real reason for this email is to find some good information on
a
> receiving antenna.  I have been wanting to build one (I think there was
some
> loop based antennas out there you can build pretty cheap).  The main
reason
> is for 160/80 Meters.  However, if I can get other bands to work will be
> fine as well.  I want to make use of that nifty receive antenna connector
on
> the back :)  Plus, to get better reception on the low bands.
>