[Lowfer] XRS3 reception in NC, RX antenna

[pbunn]

Dex,

I have not had any luck on 72 KHz except for your signal. That was with my active antenna. I am sure that trees and leaves are some of the problem. I may try my 50 foot transmitting vertical.

Pat
N4LTA

-----Original Message-----
From: lowfer-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:lowfer-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Dexter McIntyre W4DEX
Sent: Monday, August 26, 2013 9:18 AM
To: Discussion of the Lowfer (US, European, & UK) and MedFer bands
Subject: [Lowfer] XRS3 reception in NC, RX antenna

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


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