[Elecraft] low-noise 40m RX antenna?

[Charles Greene]

Wayne and All,

I have two horizontal antennas and one vertical antenna.  The vertical 
antenna has 1 to 2 S units less noise on 40 and 80 meters, but of course 
you have to consider what is in proximity.  The power main lines are 
located about 75 feet from and parallel to one of my horizontal 
antennas.  The other horizontal antenna is perpendicular to the power line, 
but is closer to it and is parallel to the feed to my house.  The vertical 
antenna is about 75 ft from the power main but of course is not in the same 
plane.  I'm not sure how you get away from this problem with horizontal 
antennas, except maybe at field day if you are in an isolated field miles 
away from power lines and are using battery or solar power.

Why don't you try a 1/4 or 1/2 vertical, Wayne, and see if it makes any 
difference.  A tuned loop for receiving only also comes to mind.  You 
presumably could rotate it for minimum noise pick up.  If you use a 
beverage along the electric company right away, it may pick up a lot of 
noise from the power mains.

At 11:48 PM 9/16/2002 -0700, Wayne Burdick wrote:
>I recently had to erect a temporary random-wire antenna, thanks to the
>less-than-skilled tree trimming that brought down my real one. The
>stand-in is shorter and much closer to noise sources on my property. The
>result is 1 to 2 more S-units of noise on 40 meters and some other bands.
>
>Since the K2 has a separate RX antenna jack (on the K160RX module), I'm
>thinking about putting up a low-noise receiving antenna for the low
>bands. Unfortunately, to get enough wire for a Beverage antenna, I'd
>have to sneak something along the fences in the power company easement
>behind my house. This leads me to wonder about other possible low-noise
>antenna solutions that might take less room (tuned loops, etc.). 40
>meters is the band I'm most interested in.
>
>Any suggestions? I think this topic might be of general interest for
>weak-signal DX and QRP work on 40, but you seldom hear any discussion
>about low-noise antennas outside of their application to 160 meters.
>
>tnx
>Wayne
>N6KR


73, Chas, W1CG
K2 #462