[Lowfer] XRS3 reception in NC, RX antenna

[Dexter McIntyre W4DEX]

Over several years of receiving weak signals on 500 and 137 kHz I have 
observed the difference between using either my tuned transmit antennas, 
active antennas or the simple vertical wire supported by a tree some 
distance from the house.  All comparisons have significantly favored the 
vertical wire.  I know active antennas can work well but I have never 
had one mounted in an open area or high enough to clear the trees to 
work well.  On yesterday's reception of John's 72.399 kHz the tuned 
transmit antenna produced good copy, much better than with the vertical 
wire in the woods.  With the vertical wire connected to the R75 the bar 
graph S meter was averaging about S5 with static noise.  With the 
transmit antenna the S meter was full scale.  Adding two 20 dB 50 ohm 
attenuators reduce the static level to about the same S5.  40 dB is a 
big difference!

The transmit antenna is located less than ten feet from the house with 
the shack just inside.   I know it picks up noise from the house that 
the vertical wire in the woods does not.  So I was a bit surprised to 
find it received XRS3 much better.  Was the static level so high that it 
masked all local noise?  Even so there seemed to be plenty of signal 
level from the woods antenna so why the big difference in XRS3 
reception?  Maybe this will motivate me to rebuild the old tuned 
balanced loop the I used to receive 73 kHz back when G3AQC was active, 
alive and well.

Dex