Greetings Topbanders,
I installed a DX Engineering 4 SQ antenna system ( DXE-RFS-1)
and wanted to give you my opinion on
its performance. I'm spaced limited here in VA and have been
using an amplified,rotatable loop and some
short, loaded beverages. They all "hear" but leave much to be
desired. This 4 sq system has really met my
needs.The directional characteristics are really impressive.
With the array switched to the desirable receiving
direction, signals in the other 3 quadrants are attenuated to a
level such that, you can hear them in the back-
ground but they are not of an undesireable QRM level. If you
hear your call from another quadrant, just switch
direction and the signals come right up, the phase shift
networks really work great. This system was a great
improvement for me in the last 160 Test , Dec. 2-4. If I worked
50 to 55 sections (W/VE), i was doing well.
With this system I worked 76 sections, didn't hear AK,NT,NB,or
SDG. As far as DX goes, in the NE position,
DF2PY called, i worked him, no problem, also G3,OK1RF, ON4UN,
& LA, without a lot of struggle.Carribbean
signals were much more copyable cause the stateside QRM was
suppressed from the other quadrants.
My antenna system is made up of 4-24ft monopoles, toploaded
with 4-24 ft wire each and 4-16ft radials on
each monopole. The array dimensions are 70 ft on side, a bit
minimal for 160 but that was all the room I
had. This antenna has greatly improved my receiving situation
for 160. It's a system worth considering if
you don't have room for full size beverages. The directional
switching capabilites are great. I'll try to answer
question about the system--my e-mail is--margeal@ntelos.net.
73 to all , AL N3JB
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