[Lowfer] Wet ground - low radiated output

Mon Nov 2 16:36:53 EST 2009

Hi Paul,

I made a cross out of 1 1/4 inch pvc pipe with a "T" at the end of each. I
drilled holes through the "T" so I could wind 20 turns of #18 insulated wire
spaced about 1/2 inch apart.

The loop stands up as a diamond (the cross legs are horizontal and vertical)
and the bottom of the loop as I have it now is about 3 feet off the ground.
I could make it higher but the wind resistance will be worse. I want to see
how it plays first.

Here's the link to the design. All the info you need is there. It looks like
the W1TAG loop is almost identical to mine except mine is only 5 feet on a
side.

http://www.w1tag.com/rxloop.htm

73, Zack W9SZ

On Mon, Nov 2, 2009 at 3:24 PM, Paul Daulton <k5wms at centurytel.net> wrote:

> Zack, I would like more info on your loop:
>
> How many turns?
>
> Shielded or not?
>
> How mounted, ground or elevated?
>
> I will check W1tag site for tuner info.
>
> Many thanks Paul
>
> Quoting Zack Widup :
>
>  I will have the W1TAG loop tuner with the relay-switched capacitors and
> the W1VD amp done in a week or so. Hopefully it performs well. I am using a
> 5-foot square loop.
>
> 73, Zack W9SZ
> On Mon, Nov 2, 2009 at 2:22 PM, Paul Daulton <k5wms at centurytel.net<http://webmail2.centurytel.net/hwebmail/services/go.php?url=mailto%3Ak5wms%40centurytel.net>
> > wrote:
>
>> Dave W5dsb and I both built the Lyle Kohler loop tuner/preamp. Niether
>> of us had much success with small, 3ft on the side, loops. But the
>> tuner did work well on whips. I have two ts50s and two identical
>> Gateway III compters. I also have the pa0rdt mini whip. 75 metre dipole
>> vs mini whip is a toss up some times one is better than the other, then
>> the reverse is true on another day.
>>
>> I note W5JGV is using the HP selective voltmeter. Dave compared those
>> two and the ts50 won out. But antenna matching may be a factor there
>> too.
>>
>> I may drag my loop tuner out and try a 10ft dia single turn shielded loop.
>>
>> My ts50 and random wire(75meter dipole) does a great job on 137. I have
>> captures of all 5 or 6 at once.
>>
>> Judging from the variometer setting my antenna has changed quite a bit
>> from dry weather.
>>
>> 73 Paul
>>
>> Quoting Garry and Linda Hess <k3siw at sbcglobal.net<http://webmail2.centurytel.net/hwebmail/services/go.php?url=mailto%3Ak3siw%40sbcglobal.net>
>> >:
>> > Hi Paul,
>> >
>> > It's been pretty wet up this way too, but not nearly as bad as what you
>> > report. We're having major renovations done to the house and it's going
>> > slowly because so many days no work can be done due to rain.
>> >
>> > Noted that W5JGV was acting as a watering hole grabber last night and
>> > hearing very well (MP, CV, and XR at various times). I was trying to
>> > copy CV with the loop and not doing much but then I switched to the
>> > e-probe/SDR-IQ set up and eventually saw CV, XR, and MP (the latter two
>> > fading in and out, MP solid). Will have to make more comparisons between
>> > my loop and the e-probe. I certainly think the former should be better
>> > but I'm seeing more noise than in the past so may be getting desensed by
>> > it. I have an MFJ tuner modified for LF use so perhaps I can null the
>> noise.
>> >
>> > Sorry I didn't get around to looking for WMS until sunrise was too
>> > close. Will tune for you sooner tonight, weather permitting.
>> >
>> > 73, Garry
>>  >
>> > Paul Daulton wrote:
>> > > Garry
>> > > We have had the wettest summer on record. Friday we had flash flooding
>> > > all over the state, roads were closed all around me. My yard is
>> > > saturated. Normally we have a burning ban in my county from July to
>> > > October. This year we have not had a single ban. I have noted when the
>> > > ground is saturated my signal reports diminish. I dont have an
>> > > accurate way to measure field strength. During the monsoon rains WEB
>> > > dissapears. He did come back in last night. Farmers say they need 10
>> > > days of dry weather to harvest, estimates of crop losses are 15% or
>> > > more for rice and soy beans.
>> > > My ground is clay down about 30- 36 inches then hard shale. Water has
>> > > to run off horizontally or evaporate. Bill (WEB) is setting on sandy
>> > > soil which may dispell water faster. I am getting day time copies on
>> > > WEB last few weeks when storms not present. No luck with CV.
>> > > I dont have much of a top hat, CV doesnt have a ground system, yet we
>> > > both seem to get out for DX. Yet we cant copy each other. I wonder if
>> > > that has to do with the angle of radiation. I used to copy MO at about
>> > > the same distance as CV.
>> > > Ive only had partial copies of CV,XR, and MP. Its time I got busy on a
>> > > loop for this winter. Paul
>> > >
>> > > Quoting Garry Hess <k3siw at sbcglobal.net<http://webmail2.centurytel.net/hwebmail/services/go.php?url=mailto%3Ak3siw%40sbcglobal.net>
>> >:
>> > >> Andy,
>> > >>
>> > >> I've only been listening to lowfers a bit over a year, but last year
>> XR,
>> > >> CV, and WMS were copied regularly by December. So far this winter
>> season
>> > >> the best I've been able to do is occasional traces. Only WEB has been
>> > >> copied regularly, but it seems relatively down in strength and
>> sometimes
>> > >> fades into the noise. MP and EAR are good daytime copy, but I used to
>> > >> see MP well at night listening to the watering hole and so far this
>> > >> season it hasn't been in there, or has been weak. As at your QTH,
>> > >> October has been a very rainy month here, but the lightning activity
>> has
>> > >> subsided nicely compared to the middle of summer.
>> > >> In contrast to lowfers, NDB reception has been fine. I picked up new
>> > >> stations this month at a rate of about 1 per night. Since about 1350
>> > >> have already been logged, those new ones aren't in the back yard.
>> > >> Stations in South America are coming in as well as last year.
>> > >> Hopefully by the end of December lowfers will be coming in like last
>> > >> year too. Time will tell.
>> > >> 73, Garry, K3SIW, EN52ta, Elgin, IL
>> > >> ______________________________________________________________
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>> > >>
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>> > >>
>> > >
>> > > Paul Daulton K5WMS
>> > > beacon WMS 187.492 khz qrss30/slow 24/7
>> > > Jacksonville,Ar 72076
>> > > em34wu
>> > >
>> > >
>> >
>>
>> Paul Daulton K5WMS
>> beacon WMS 187.492 khz qrss30/slow 24/7
>> Jacksonville,Ar 72076
>> em34wu
>>
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>
> Paul Daulton K5WMS
> beacon WMS 187.492 khz qrss30/slow 24/7
> Jacksonville,Ar 72076
> em34wu
>