[Elecraft] Diversity Receive

[Vic K2VCO]

On 9/30/2010 8:39 AM, Jim Cox wrote:
> What kind of antennas are most using for HF diversity receive?   I wonder how the small
> active antenna produced by Clifton Labs would work as a diversity antenna on the HF
> bands.   I have a K9AY loop that works well on 160 and 80 meters but its dead on other
> bands..

I have very little room for antennas, so I use polarization diversity. I have a short 
groundplane (originally intended for 17 meters) which I use for diversity together with 40 
and 80 meter dipoles. I use the K3's preamp with the groundplane, and normally use the 
attenuator on the 80m dipole. This is a big help with weak cw signals on 40m, less so (but 
still useful) on 80.

On 20m I have a beam, and since the signal is always much better on the beam, there's no 
advantage from diversity. Sometimes it is useful to check if I'm hearing a signal via long 
path without rotating the beam.

On 160m I have a small ferrite loop which I use for diversity together with my 
transmitting antenna, a vertical. I have an external preamp for the loop and I use the K3 
preamp too. I also use the attenuator on the vertical. It helps a little, but there are 
lots of better 160m receiving antennas like the K9AY and Beverage.
-- 
Vic, K2VCO
Fresno CA
http://www.qsl.net/k2vco/