[Lowfer] Re: antenna info

[Jay Rusgrove]

Mitch

Thanks for taking the time to send along all the info. I'm always interested in
what others have found with receiving antennas.

Yes, I know what you mean about signals and noise. There truly is no sense in
bringing them both up together once you are above the noise floor. I use a 17
turn 5.5 ft loop (a bigger one will be built this summer) with a one turn
coupling loop. That coupling loop feeds a 100' run of CAT5 100 ohm balanced
computer line to the shack. There I have an FT-114-77 core for the changeover
from balanced to unbalanced to get into the receivers. I do not need a
preamplifier as the "band noise" is about 8 - 10 dB above the receiver noise
floor. I have found the balanced line much more quiet than coax feed even with
my isolation transformers. With the balanced line no isolation transformers are
needed as the common mode stuff is balanced out. That is one reason why the
telephone has no hum even though it runs next to power lines for miles and
miles. Some of the telephone company guru's tell me that coax does not act like
coax down low in frequency and that is why they always use balanced lines.

I will make an octoloop with one turn inside the copper and build up a
preamplifier or two to try. I will make up a Burhans for comparison.

Again, thanks for all your captures and information. The internet sure works
well for all this stuff!

Jay