Use a 6 yr old SAL30 and it outperforms my 2 el 40m phased array by
quite a bit in its favored directions. Its my primary rx antenna for
160-80-40m.
The SAL took me up to 178/164 on 160m and was a big improvement over
the INV-L. but about the time COVID hit, my DXCC efforts plateaued.
Maybe due to the lack of DXpeditions, but things wee already slowing
down likely due to attrition ( most of the easy ones were already
confirmed)
Two years ago I tried a 300 ft BOG looking NE/SW, but the BOG didnt
come close to the SAL so its retired. Dont have quite enough ground
for a 500 ft Beverage pointing towards EU.
I have some real laughs during the 160m contests with the SAL. At
times it seems every other station I work is coming from the NE or SW,
or the SE or NW. Barely copiable sigs pound in when I figure out where
theyre coming from. :)
But I must admit, I cant quite hear some Euros during contests that I
could use a Beverage or short vertical Hi-Z array for.
Bob ( in central Ohio)
-----------------------------------------From:
topband-request@contesting.com
To: topband@contesting.com
Cc:
Sent: Thursday January 6 2022 12:00:51PM
Subject: Topband Digest, Vol 229, Issue 6
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Today's Topics:
1. Re: TB conditions at VE6WZ 2021 season (Roger Kennedy)
2. Re: K9AY Loop Questions (john@kk9a.com)
3. Re: K9AY Loop Questions (Cecil acuff)
4. Re: K9AY Loop Questions (W0MU Mike Fatchett)
5. Re: K9AY Loop Questions (Jim Brown)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Wed, 5 Jan 2022 19:01:31 -0000
From: "Roger Kennedy"
To:
Subject: Re: Topband: TB conditions at VE6WZ 2021 season
Message-ID:
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Hi Steve
I think one of the reasons I don't work you very often is because I
don't
usually stay on the band late enough !
That's apart from my city noise level ! Also, for some strange reason
you're rarely as strong with me as others get you.
Really weird conditions the other night. With the new RBN I can see
how my
signals compare with any other Europeans across the pond. There was
clearly
some selective ducting going on, as for a while I was way stronger
than
anyone else on the band, including OK1CF, DL8LAS and OZ7YY !
73 Roger G3YRO
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Wed, 5 Jan 2022 21:23:12 -0500
From:
To:
Subject: Re: Topband: K9AY Loop Questions
Message-ID:
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
I tried an AY loop decades ago, without the Array Solutions
adjustable
termination controller, and I do not remember it being that useful
for RX.
The antenna is ground dependant so perhaps it works better for some
than
others. Even a short Beverage may be a better choice. From my P40A
station I
used a Pennant with decent results. It was inexpensive to build and
not
ground dependant however it only covered one direction. The Array
Solutions
Shared Apex Loop Array has great reviews and may be worth
considering, Pete.
John KK9A
Pete Smith N4ZR wrote:
I recently installed a K9AY loop (with the Array Solutions
controller),
and have a couple of questions. Installation is pretty standard, with
a
fiberglass pole at the center, ground rod at its base, and on the
ground
radials under each direction of the loop.
The antenna is directional, as demonstrated by tuning in broadcast
stations at the high end of the AM band and separating stations on
the
same frequency so that I can hear one or the other. Atmospheric noise
is 1-2 S units more on my inverted L than on the K9AY antenna, but
signal strengths of stations in the favored direction of the loop
seem
about the same or a bit lower than the inverted L. The Termination
adjustment is working, to judge by the switching transients, but
seems
to make little or no difference.
How do these results compare with others' experience? I didn't expect
a
"magic bullet", but the K9AY loop seems a little bit underwhelming.
--
73, Pete N4ZR
Check out the new Reverse Beacon Network
web server at.
For spots, please use your favorite
"retail" DX cluster.
------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Wed, 5 Jan 2022 20:40:19 -0600
From: Cecil acuff
To: john@kk9a.com
Cc: topband@contesting.com
Subject: Re: Topband: K9AY Loop Questions
Message-ID:
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
I tried the Array Solutions SAL30 and didn?t find it an improvement.
I hoped it would be an improvement. It might just be my lot.
It has had some technical improvement since I owned mine but the
video is not typical. At least not at my site.
Cecil K5DL
Sent from my iPad
> On Jan 5, 2022, at 8:23 PM, john@kk9a.com wrote:
>
> ?I tried an AY loop decades ago, without the Array Solutions
adjustable
> termination controller, and I do not remember it being that useful
for RX.
> The antenna is ground dependant so perhaps it works better for some
than
> others. Even a short Beverage may be a better choice. From my P40A
station I
> used a Pennant with decent results. It was inexpensive to build and
not
> ground dependant however it only covered one direction. The Array
Solutions
> Shared Apex Loop Array has great reviews and may be worth
considering, Pete.
>
> John KK9A
>
>
>
> Pete Smith N4ZR wrote:
>
> I recently installed a K9AY loop (with the Array Solutions
controller),
> and have a couple of questions. Installation is pretty standard,
with a
> fiberglass pole at the center, ground rod at its base, and on the
ground
> radials under each direction of the loop.
>
> The antenna is directional, as demonstrated by tuning in broadcast
> stations at the high end of the AM band and separating stations on
the
> same frequency so that I can hear one or the other. Atmospheric
noise
> is 1-2 S units more on my inverted L than on the K9AY antenna, but
> signal strengths of stations in the favored direction of the loop
seem
> about the same or a bit lower than the inverted L. The Termination
> adjustment is working, to judge by the switching transients, but
seems
> to make little or no difference.
>
> How do these results compare with others' experience? I didn't
expect a
> "magic bullet", but the K9AY loop seems a little bit underwhelming.
>
> --
> 73, Pete N4ZR
> Check out the new Reverse Beacon Network
> web server at.
> For spots, please use your favorite
> "retail" DX cluster.
>
> _________________
> Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband [3] -
Topband Reflector
------------------------------
Message: 4
Date: Wed, 5 Jan 2022 19:42:44 -0700
From: W0MU Mike Fatchett
To: topband@contesting.com
Subject: Re: Topband: K9AY Loop Questions
Message-ID:
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed
The SAL is pretty much just an AY loop with a more functional
controller?? I have had moderate success with a pennant at V31 as
well.
W0MU
On 1/5/2022 7:23 PM, john@kk9a.com wrote:
> I tried an AY loop decades ago, without the Array Solutions
adjustable
> termination controller, and I do not remember it being that useful
for RX.
> The antenna is ground dependant so perhaps it works better for some
than
> others. Even a short Beverage may be a better choice. From my P40A
station I
> used a Pennant with decent results. It was inexpensive to build and
not
> ground dependant however it only covered one direction. The Array
Solutions
> Shared Apex Loop Array has great reviews and may be worth
considering, Pete.
>
> John KK9A
>
>
>
> Pete Smith N4ZR wrote:
>
> I recently installed a K9AY loop (with the Array Solutions
controller),
> and have a couple of questions. Installation is pretty standard,
with a
> fiberglass pole at the center, ground rod at its base, and on the
ground
> radials under each direction of the loop.
>
> The antenna is directional, as demonstrated by tuning in broadcast
> stations at the high end of the AM band and separating stations on
the
> same frequency so that I can hear one or the other. Atmospheric
noise
> is 1-2 S units more on my inverted L than on the K9AY antenna, but
> signal strengths of stations in the favored direction of the loop
seem
> about the same or a bit lower than the inverted L. The Termination
> adjustment is working, to judge by the switching transients, but
seems
> to make little or no difference.
>
> How do these results compare with others' experience? I didn't
expect a
> "magic bullet", but the K9AY loop seems a little bit underwhelming.
>
------------------------------
Message: 5
Date: Wed, 5 Jan 2022 21:46:18 -0800
From: Jim Brown
To: topband@contesting.com
Subject: Re: Topband: K9AY Loop Questions
Message-ID:
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed
On 1/5/2022 6:23 PM, john@kk9a.com wrote:
> I tried an AY loop decades ago, without the Array Solutions
adjustable
> termination controller, and I do not remember it being that useful
for RX.
> The antenna is ground dependant so perhaps it works better for some
than
> others. Even a short Beverage may be a better choice. From my P40A
station I
> used a Pennant with decent results. It was inexpensive to build and
not
> ground dependant however it only covered one direction. The Array
Solutions
> Shared Apex Loop Array has great reviews and may be worth
considering, Pete.
Again, when thinking about any of these RX antennas it's worth
studying
slides and recordings of W3LPL's several Dayton talks on the topic.
One
of its most useful info is how each type is or is not sensitive to
surrounding objects/vegetation and other locally significant
conditions
like soil conductivity. Each type has its strengths and its Achilles
heels.
73, Jim K9YC
------------------------------
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