Hi Lee
I remember it very well, but my comparison with the 8 circle is compatible with
the RDF, the WF has 11.5 db and the 8 circle can be close to 13 db RDF and it
is a winner, that 1.5 db EDF does make a difference, based on my measurements,
the improvement on signal to noise ratio could be 3 to 6 db improvement.
We slowly have more stations in land. Like K9CT( Illinois) and K9UWA (Indiana),
then we have Pennsylvania K3LR and WE3C, Wal in West Virginia W8LRL and John
W4UN in Georgia. The performance on 80m has being very solid on all of them, on
160m very similar as well. I agree with you, there are lots of things to learn
about horizontal propagation on top band, every year is somehow different.
Beverages have been around for almost a century but the WF for only a decade
and only one year and half on central states, nothing in West coast yet.
My experience following several WF installations, is that depends on the number
of vertical structures on the site, some stations have difficult to try to
detune all towers. One point is common, good ground system is a must and does
help to keep common mode noise low.
The last six month has been quite difficult for me, but things are getting back
to normal. Bod will get his antennas very soon. Family, Work and Radio but
health was been some complex with my vertigo problem. I am really way behind
schedule here.
73’s
JC
N4IS
From: Lee STRAHAN [mailto:k7tjr@msn.com]
Sent: Monday, August 28, 2017 12:46 PM
To: n6bk@yahoo.com; JC <n4is@comcast.net>; 'GaryK9GS' <garyk9gs@wi.rr.com>;
'Greg' <n4cc@windstream.net>; 'topband' <topband@contesting.com>
Subject: RE: Topband: 160 4 square
Good morning all,
What I can tell you about the two antennas for 160 meter receiving is
that as many have said before, you cannot have too many receiving antennas for
160 meters. Before Dale N4NN became ill and passed, Dale and I maintained near
daily contact. Dale had the Hi-Z 8 element with very little local noise. We
always quietly compared his station with what you were reporting JC. As near as
I could tell in the Florida area the two antennas were very close to each
other. Most often both antennas would hear the same signals.
There are a couple more contest stations that actually have both a horizontal
Waller flag and a Hi-Z 4-8pro or 8A 8 circle. In one case the verticals are the
preferred and in the other the word is you need both antennas. My opinion, I
think it depends quite a bit on station location. That is, I think on stations
near the ocean coasts the horizontal Waller flag hears very well. Again, my
opinion but I don’t think it works as well in the mid lands or receiving over
long stretches of land. Eventually we will have enough history to really know
for sure if one or the other is better. Again, there is likely advantages to
either one at different times or locations. Suffice to say there is lots left
to be learned
In that regard, some stations have reported the Hi-Z full sized 8 circle to
not quite have enough sensitivity in really quiet background noise areas. I
have developed a means to reduce the noise figure of that array very
significantly and the first beta test users are reporting a definite
improvement to the standard Hi-Z 200 foot 8 circle on 160 meters for those
fortunate enough to have a really quiet location.
Lee K7TJR
From: Bob Kupps [mailto:n6bk@yahoo.com]
Sent: Monday, August 28, 2017 5:58 AM
To: JC <n4is@comcast.net <mailto:n4is@comcast.net> >; 'Lee STRAHAN'
<k7tjr@msn.com <mailto:k7tjr@msn.com> >; 'GaryK9GS' <garyk9gs@wi.rr.com
<mailto:garyk9gs@wi.rr.com> >; 'Greg' <n4cc@windstream.net
<mailto:n4cc@windstream.net> >; 'topband' <topband@contesting.com
<mailto:topband@contesting.com> >
Subject: Re: Topband: 160 4 square
Well I ordered one about half a year ago so if it ever comes I will be able to
compare it directly with my HiZ 8 circle array and get a definitive answer. We
have no local noise here only propagated tropical QRN.
73 Bob HS0ZIA
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