[Premium-Rx] Looking for recommendations on high performance VLF receiver.

[Peter Gottlieb]

I have about 150 feet at a max height of about 25 feet. What would be my best choice for a VLF monitoring antenna?


Peter

> On Apr 9, 2018, at 10:45 AM, Bruce Gentry <ka2ivy at verizon.net> wrote:
> 
> In addition to having a good receiver, a good (quiet) location and antenna are also needed.  How many people go on "RXpeditions" for VLF?  As for receivers, how would a classic TRF/regen receiver like an RBA or RAK work for you?  The detector bandwidth narrows as you approach oscillation, and the RAK has sharp audio filters. The reason I ask about these receivers is their simplicity, "purity", and lack of conversion noise along with good sensitivity. The Collins R-389 and many others have a lot of internal noise.
> 
>> On 4/9/18 2:06 AM, Tom wrote:
>> Hi Folks!
>> 
>> 
>>   I've been having a blast pulling in VLF aircraft beacons in the 200-525 K/c range.
>> 
>>   I am looking for recommendations for a premium receiver that will cover VLF. If it can cover say VLF to HF (maybe 10k/c - 30 Mc, that would be even better!)
>> 
>>   Due to the nature and spacing of the signals, selectivity is an absolute must!  Signals can typically be 2 K/c apart from each other, creating all sorts of heterodyne issues.
>> 
>>   My best receiver is the CEI-357 (R-1401): Sensitivity is good, selectivity is also quite good, but the noise blanker doesn't seem to work, and this a real performance killer (especially since we're getting into the noisy time of year!).
>> 
>>   The CEI-357 has 6 K/c, 3 K/c, 1 K/c, and 100 Hz filters. For VLF work, the 3 and 1 K/c filters are what I primarily use. The 1 K/c filter gets used the most. Being able to use a .5 K/c filter would be a huge asset for pulling in the Canadian beacons that have the 400 Hz modulation.
>> 
>>   Having the ability to go from AM to USB and LSB is also a huge plus: I bagged a beacon in the Caribbean (a 3900 mile path!) because I was able to switch to SSB and use a narrow filter.
>> 
>>   Thanks in advance for your suggestions.
>> 
>> 
>> -Tom
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Premium-Rx mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/premium-rx
>> Help Page: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:Premium-Rx at mailman.qth.net
>> Help Contact eMail:  radio at 8zo.com
>> Home Page:  http://www.premium-rx.org/
>> 
> 
> ______________________________________________________________
> Premium-Rx mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/premium-rx
> Help Page: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:Premium-Rx at mailman.qth.net
> Help Contact eMail:  radio at 8zo.com
> Home Page:  http://www.premium-rx.org/