Antenna Questions
ASW
I have alread about 50 feet of 50 Ohm RG-6 for the lead in.
I have about 50 feet of 2 conductor speaker wire, and about 200 feet of 4
conducter telephone wire.
First am I going to need a 9:1 transformer to make this work? My input is
supposed to be 50 Ohm.
Is a sloper omni directional? If not which end goes to what area I want to
listen to?
Thanks!
Ant
ASW
with metal staples?
Thanks!
Ant
"ASW" <antwo...@oohay.moc> wrote in message
news:zc6zb.13580$P%1.125...@newssvr28.news.prodigy.com...
Howard N. Lute
The slope points in the direction you wish to receive from. Simplify,
simplify...100 feet is fine and a lot easier to support over the life
of the antenna. No transformer is necessary.
H
Retired Teacher, Terrible Mechanic, Worse Plumber!
LPFM Page: http://home.att.net/~optcamel/fmradio.htm
Mark S. Holden
The matching transformer is optional, but I think you'll find it makes a significant improvement in the performance of the antenna.
ASW
well that did not seem to work.
I am being blown out by my local AM station.
But I am still pretty dead on all the other AM stations. I cannot pick more
than say 3 or so. Before it was about the same.
But I all I seem to have done is increase the noise!
I have some spurious interference every 60-70 Khz. This is from my power I
am assuming. How do I get rid of it?
I have it hooked up to about 50 foot of speaker wire.
Which is in turn soldered to the center lead on my coax. The coax then goes
into my reciever. Am I missing something?
Thanks!
"ASW" <antwo...@oohay.moc> wrote in message
news:uM6zb.13583$P%1.125...@newssvr28.news.prodigy.com...
ASW
I am picking up news talk 1010 out of Toronto on 6070.
Is this normal? I live in Bay City MI.
"ASW" <antwo...@oohay.moc> wrote in message
news:zc6zb.13580$P%1.125...@newssvr28.news.prodigy.com...
J999w
>*sigh*
>
>well that did not seem to work.
>I am being blown out by my local AM station.
>But I am still pretty dead on all the other AM stations. I cannot pick more
>than say 3 or so. Before it was about the same.
>
>But I all I seem to have done is increase the noise!
>
You didn't mention what radio you're using, but sounds like you're overloading
the front end. I think the antenna is working fine, but your radio can't handle
the loud AM stations in your area. Perhaps a antenna tuner or preselector will
help. You can make one quite easily with parts from an old radio found in the
trash, or rummage sale.
What radio are we talking about?
jw
wb9uai
milwaukee
Howard N. Lute
>I havea wooden fence that I can attach this wire to. Can I staple it up
>with metal staples?
>
>Thanks!
Not the best idea, wrap a wire around the post to an insulator then
from the other end of the insulator is youir antenna...do the same at
the up end of the slope and attach the hot lead of your coax to the
antenna. like this
|--------<>------------------------------------------------------<>----------||
insulator antenna insulator
Diverd4777
<antwo...@oohay.moc> writes:
>
>*sigh*
>
>well that did not seem to work.
>I am being blown out by my local AM station.
Hi Art:
- BTW what kind of receiver do you have ??
I have a Sangean 606A, Icom R-75 and a $ 10 Jwin JX -M14
The M-14 overloads sometimes, the others; - Even using 100 foot random wire
don't overload much at all..
- YOu could try something like a Pre selector ( See below )
http://www.mfjenterprises.com/products.php?prodid=MFJ-1045C
_-I am within ten miles of several 50,000 watt AM Stations;
No problem.
>I have it hooked up to about 50 foot of speaker wire.
>
>Which is in turn soldered to the center lead on my coax. The coax then goes
>into my reciever. Am I missing something?
- Try just holding the antenna NEAR your radio, not touching it, moving it
closer & farther away
from the receiver & see if that helps..
Dan
>But I am still pretty dead on all the other AM stations. I cannot pick more
>than say 3 or so. Before it was about the same.
>
>But I all I seem to have done is increase the noise!
>
>I have some spurious interference every 60-70 Khz. This is from my power I
>am assuming. How do I get rid of it?
>
>I have it hooked up to about 50 foot of speaker wire.
>
>Which is in turn soldered to the center lead on my coax. The coax then goes
>into my reciever. Am I missing something?
- Try just holding the antenna NEAR your radio, mooving it closer & farther
away
from the receiver & see if that helps..
>
>Thanks!
>
Howard N. Lute
Which direction are you pointing the slope?
Conditions right now are not good either...solar cycle et al. It'll
calm down in a few months and then reception will improve slowly. Try
7k - 10K area at night.
H
Retired Teacher, Terrible Mechanic, Worse Plumber!
LPFM Page: http://home.att.net/~optcamel/fmradio.htm
J999w
>
>Is this normal?
Quite.
Thats CFRX which rebroadcasts CFRB.
The only signal I can get on that band during the day.
jw
wb9uai
milwaukee
ASW
OK, sorry for the lack of info here.
I have an ICOM PCR-100
The local AM station is AM 790 and it is about 20 miles away or so.
Specs.
"Class: B
Daytime Power / # of Towers: 5,000 watts / 6 / directional
Nighttime Power / # of Towers: 1,000 watts / 6 / directional"
I got about +40dB on it with ATT on.
WIth ATT off I get my needle pegged.
It is not really a sloper. I kinda just wove it in and out of the fence
posts every few feet.
Thanks again.
"ASW" <antwo...@oohay.moc> wrote in message
news:zz7zb.13587$P%1.125...@newssvr28.news.prodigy.com...
Diverd4777
<antwo...@oohay.moc> writes:
>
>First off, thanks everyone for replying I really apppreciate it!
>
>
>OK, sorry for the lack of info here.
>
>I have an ICOM PCR-100
>
- This one ?? ( See below )
http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/icr100.html
ASW
http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/widerxvr/3100.html
"Diverd4777" <diver...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20031202193121...@mb-m13.aol.com...
The Axelrods
ASW wrote:
>Hi, I am going ot setup my own random/longwire.
>
>I have alread about 50 feet of 50 Ohm RG-6 for the lead in.
>
>
>I have about 50 feet of 2 conductor speaker wire, and about 200 feet of 4
>conducter telephone wire.
>
>
Both of these are very useable
>First am I going to need a 9:1 transformer to make this work? My input is
>supposed to be 50 Ohm.
>
It is not necessary but may help. An impedance matching device may work
better than the balun or a tuner
>
>
>Is a sloper omni directional? If not which end goes to what area I want to
>listen to?
>
Slopers hear better the direction they are pointed but still hear well
in several directions in my experience
>
>Thanks!
>Ant
>
>
>
>
>
--
73 and Best of DX
Shawn Axelrod
Visit the AMANDX DX site with info for the new or experienced listener:
http://www.angelfire.com/mb/amandx/index.html
REMEMBER ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN HEAR FOREVER
ASW
not improve anything.
An example would me RTE on 6155. With my Scantenna It comes in pretty
clear. I get about +3dB to +5dB.
A little fading, some static cutting in and out.
With my "DIY" antenna about the same as far as dB goes, but much more
fading, and a lot more static in between fades.
Oh well back to the drawing board.
Thanks
Ant.
On a side note, as I tune across the bands, the "Dead Space" that I know
nothing is one (3200). I get about about +8 dB of pure static. As I scan
through the frequencies up until about 5000 I get a wave pattern of sinal
that peaks every 60+/- herz. Is this the power in my house? How do I get
rid of it?
Thanks Again.
"ASW" <antwo...@oohay.moc> wrote in message
news:zc6zb.13580$P%1.125...@newssvr28.news.prodigy.com...
Tim ODonnell
fence in the back yard. I used television antenna wire standoffs to keep the
bare copper from touching the fense and an MLB Balun form Universal. I have
this hooked to an old Drake R8 and for the most part I am happy. It does
sound as though you are overloading your front end. Maybe something to knock
the gain down a bit will help.
Tim
"ASW" <antwo...@oohay.moc> wrote in message
news:Hlbzb.13620$P%1.126...@newssvr28.news.prodigy.com...
Mark S. Holden
>
> Well I have come to the conclusion that the antenna I have made really does
> not improve anything.
>
> An example would me RTE on 6155. With my Scantenna It comes in pretty
> clear. I get about +3dB to +5dB.
>
> A little fading, some static cutting in and out.
>
> With my "DIY" antenna about the same as far as dB goes, but much more
> fading, and a lot more static in between fades.
>
> Oh well back to the drawing board.
>
> Thanks
>
> Ant.
>
> On a side note, as I tune across the bands, the "Dead Space" that I know
> nothing is one (3200). I get about about +8 dB of pure static. As I scan
> through the frequencies up until about 5000 I get a wave pattern of sinal
> that peaks every 60+/- herz. Is this the power in my house? How do I get
> rid of it?
>
> Thanks Again.
>
More than likely, what's happening is RFI from lamp dimmers, dirty power supplies in consumer electronics and the like is finding it's way from your house to the antenna on the braid of the coax.
An impedance matching transformer, with it's own ground should help with that.
Lower the noise level, and you'll find more signals.
Howard
in the are 8-}
Friendly shot complete, what you describe is a classic case of
overload, though I'm surprised it's not from a more local station.
More often, you receive the bogus signal on a direct multiple
(harmonic) of the primary (fundamental) frequency with an offset that
will match your IF - the fact that this is 6x the fundamental = 10 KHz
is odd by my standards.
Is your antenna grounded? I've had overload on a portable with an
antenna that was grounded, was worse when the radio was on the same
ground. Went to a balun without DC continuity and it cured the
problem. Suggest you follow up on the grounding, try it with
antenna + radio grounded, antenna grounded - radio not and neither
grounded to compare results. Also, if using a portable re-examine the
length of the antenna; I've found best results at 50 feet and less
with portables.
Good Luck,
Howard
Brother Bill
I grew up near Pinconning, but consider Bay City my home.
Bill
"ASW" <antwo...@oohay.moc> wrote in message
news:zz7zb.13587$P%1.125...@newssvr28.news.prodigy.com...
J999w
Don't try to evaluate an antenna on one one or two stations. Leave it up and
use it over a period of days or weeks. Every antenna has it's strengths and
weaknesses which leads to rule number 35 ... you can never have enough antennas
!
jw
wb9uai
milwaukee
RHF
What you are missing is the Matching Transformer between the Antenna
Element and your Coax Cable.
NOTE: Before your buy or build a MW/SW Matching Transformer try using
a simple TV 300 to 75 Ohm Matching Transformer to "Test" your Antenna
Set-Up.
1. The Far-End of the "Speaker Wire" Antenna Element is Stripped,
Twisted Together and Soldered. Then Sealed with Electrical Tape.
2. The Near-End of the "Speaker Wire" Antenna Element is Stripped and
Connected to the Primary #9 Side of the Matching Transformer. Then
Sealed with Electrical Tape.
3. The Secondary #1 Side of the Matching Transformer is Connected to
the Coax Cable. One Lead to the Center Conductor Wire and the other
Lead to the Coax Shield Wires.
- - - At this "Junction" the the Coax Cable's Shield should be
Grounded to a good Earht Grounding Point. (Ground Rod and Short Heavy
Thick Ground Wire.)
4. The Coax Cable runs from the Antenna Element to the
Radio/Receiver. A second Grounding Point should be used at the
Radio/Receiver
FWIW: You have now 'created' a "Closed Loop" (Thin, Flat and
Elongated) Antenna Element (Balanced) that Matched-Up-To a Un-balanced
Coax Cable with a Remote (Quite) Grounding Point. For the most part
this is a Low Noise Antenna design.
OBTW: For more SWL Antenna Ideas . . .
- - - Check-Out the SWL Antennas and AM & FM Antennas eGroup on YAHOO
!
GoTo=> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SWL-AM-FM-Antenna/
iane ~ RHF
.
.
= = = "ASW" <antwo...@oohay.moc>
= = = wrote in message news:<Vf7zb.13585$P%1.125...@newssvr28.news.prodigy.com>...
>
> *sigh*
>
> well that did not seem to work.
> I am being blown out by my local AM station.
> But I am still pretty dead on all the other AM stations.
> I cannot pick more than say 3 or so.
> Before it was about the same.
>
> But I all I seem to have done is increase the noise!
>
> I have some spurious interference every 60-70 Khz.
> This is from my power I am assuming.
> How do I get rid of it?
>
> I have it hooked up to about 50 foot of speaker wire.
>
> Which is in turn soldered to the center lead on my coax.
> The coax then goes into my reciever.
> Am I missing something?
>
> Thanks!
>
.
Harris
> I have alread about 50 feet of 50 Ohm RG-6 for the lead in.
RG-6 is 75-ohm cable, but no need to worry.
Art N2AH
starman
I use R6U coax made for satellite TV systems. I has good shielding and
works well as the lead wire for my low noise inverted-L (Doty-L)
antenna. R6U coax is 75-0hm and the radio (R8B) has a 50-ohm antenna
input but the mismatch hardly matters for shortwave receiving.
-----= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =-----
http://www.newsfeeds.com - The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World!
-----== Over 100,000 Newsgroups - 19 Different Servers! =-----
chuck
could make one?
thanks
charles foster
Arthur Harris
"chuck" wrote:
> could some one explain what An impedance matching transformer is and how
i
> could make one?
A random wire antenna fed at one end will present a high impedance (~2000
ohms). Most coaxial cables have a characteristic impedance of 50 or 75 ohms.
To match the coax to the antenna, a matching transformer is used.
See.
http://www.hard-core-dx.com/nordicdx/antenna/feed/index.html
Or do a Google search on: "9:1 balun"
Art Harris N2AH
RHF
I Am Glad You Asked :o)
B A L U N - R E A D I N G - L I S T - (First Draft):
The BALUN Defined:
"A balun is a device that joins a balanced line (one that has two
conductors, with equal currents in opposite directions, such as a
twisted pair cable) to an unbalanced line (one that has just one
conductor and a ground, such as a coaxial cable). A balun is a type of
transformer: it's used to convert an unbalanced signal to a balanced
one or vice versa. Baluns isolate a transmission line and provide a
balanced output. A typical use for a balun is in a television antenna.
The term is derived by combining balanced and unbalanced."
http://searchnetworking.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid7_gci342213,00.html
"Baluns and ununs (unbalanced-to-unbalanced transformers) belong to a
class of matching devices known as transmission line transformers.
They transmit the energy from input to output by a transmission line
mode instead of by flux linkages as in the case of conventional
transformers. When properly designed, they can have extremely high
efficiencies and very broad bandwidths. The theory of operation of
these devices rests chiefly on that of chokes and transmission lines.
A balun or unun is simply a choke that isolates the input from the
output (thus only allowing transmission currents to flow) and a
configuration of transmission lines."
http://www.coilws.com/W2FMI.htm
Balun Explained (WTH is a Balun) by G4NSJ
http://www.g4nsj.co.uk/balun.shtml
The Purpose for a Balun by John Doty
"The purpose of a balun is to block common mode waves (current flowing
in the same direction on both conductors of a transmission line) and
pass differential mode waves (current flowing in opposite directions
on the conductors)."
http://www.hard-core-dx.com/nordicdx/antenna/feed/balun3.html
Matching Less Important for Reception - by John Doty
http://www.hard-core-dx.com/nordicdx/antenna/feed/balun5.html
A Review of the ICE Model 180 Beverage/Longwire Matching Unit
- - - by John Doty
http://www.anarc.org/naswa/badx/antennas/ice_matching_xfrmr.html
Low Noise Antenna - by John Doty
http://www.anarc.org/naswa/badx/antennas/low-noise_antenna.html
Grounding is Key to Good Reception - by John Doty
http://www.anarc.org/naswa/badx/antennas/grounding.html
Balun Measurements
http://www.radioworks.com/nbalmeas.html
Experiments on Remote Receiving Loops by Lyle Koehler [KØLR]
(Using a Balun with a LW/LF Loop Antenna)
http://members.aol.com/lwcanews/longwave/lf-loops.htm
Fabricating Impedance Transformers for Receiving Antennas
- - - May 2001 by Paul Bryant
http://members.aol.com/DXerCapeCod/z_transformers.pdf
Balun Core and Winding Methods
http://www.catchnet.com.au/~rjandusimports/tut_11b.html
Construction and Use of Broadband Transformers
http://www.oselectronics.com/downloads/Broadband%20Transformers.pdf
Winding Your Own Transformers
http://www2.hard-core-dx.com/nordicdx/antenna/loop/flag/transformer.html
TRANSMITTER-RATED TOROIDAL BALUN KITS,
TOROIDS & ENAMELLED WIRE PACKS
http://www.ozgear.com.au/balun/ToroidalBalunKits.htm
Binocular Cores vs Toroidal Cores
http://lists.contesting.com/archives/html/Towertalk/2001-11/msg00001.html
RFI - Ferrites - Baluns - Iron Powder
http://www.sadona.com/news/news5.html
Baluns and Common Mode Noise Isolation
http://www.w8ji.com/common-mode_noise.htm
Doug's Antenna Transformer Page
Antenna Transformer Construction and Testing
http://users.netonecom.net/~swordman/Radio/unun.htm
Transmission Line Transformers "THEORY"
http://www.bytemark.com/products/tlttheory.htm
RF Transformers by Mini-Circuits
http://www.minicircuits.com/appnote/tran14-2.pdf
1:1 Balun
http://www.qsl.net/iz7ath/web/02_brew/11_balun/english/pag09_eng.htm
4:1 TRANSMISSION LINE BALUN
http://www.qsl.net/iz7ath/web/02_brew/11_balun/english/pag10_eng.htm
4:1 balun for 160 to 10 meters
http://www.hard-core-dx.com/nordicdx/antenna/feed/4_1balun.html
Putting a Balun and a Tuner Together - by Kevin Schmidt [W9CF]
http://fermi.la.asu.edu/w9cf/articles/balun/
4:1 QRP Balun by C. C. (Clay) Wynn N4AOX
http://kg8ih.cit.cwru.edu/w8edu/projects/wynn-balun.html
W2FMI Transmission Line Transformers (BalUns & UnUns)
- - - by Jerry Sevick
http://www.coilws.com/W2FMI.htm
Homebrew a 4 To 1 Balun - by Mike Martell [N1HFX]
http://www.rason.org/Projects/balun/balun.htm
Beverage Matching/Tuning/Balun - by Mauno Ritola
http://dallas.hard-core-dx.com/archive/1998/msg02536.html
The Loaded Dog 1:1 Antenna Balun
http://www.geocities.com/the_loaded_dog/ham/projects/project1.html
The BALUN - by Ian C. Purdie [VK2TIP]
http://my.integritynet.com.au/purdic/baluns.htm
The Choke Balun at Electronics Tutorials
http://www.electronics-tutorials.com/antennas/choke-balun.htm
Toridal Balun Winding - by W8JI
http://www.w8ji.com/toroid_balun_winding.htm
Balun and Core Selection - by W8JI
http://www.w8ji.com/core_selection.htm
HOW TO Construct a Guanella Balun - by Ralph Holland [VK1BRH]
(A Cost Effective Current-Mode 1:4 Balun)
http://www.arising.com.au/people/Holland/Ralph/CM4Balun.htm
Impedance Matching Transformer (IMT) - by Paul Ormandy [NZRDXL]
http://radiodx.com/spdxr/Baluns.htm
Baluns, Earth and More… - by Paul Ormandy [NZRDXL]
http://radiodx.com/spdxr/Some_Important_Aerial.html
Impedance Matching Transformers for Receiving Antennas
at Medium and Lower Shortwave Frequencies
June 2003 by Bill Bowers, John Bryant and Nick Hall-Patch [VE7DXR]
http://radiodx.com/spdxr/media/imt_doc1.doc
Magnetic Longwire Balun (MLB) Palomar
http://www.palomar-engineers.com/MLB-1/mlb-1.html
MLB for DX-Antennas - by "VK3KCG" Australia
http://dxantennas.com/wst_page4.php
The Magnetic Longwire Balun (MLB)
= = = A "CON" or Not ?
http://www.hard-core-dx.com/nordicdx/antenna/feed/magbal1.html
The Complete Answer to your Interference Problem
the "LWC System" for Long Wire Antennas
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/radkit/lwcsys.htm
W1CG - Balun Kit
http://www.njqrp.org/balun/
iane ~ RHF
.
.
= = = "chuck" <c.fo...@aci.on.ca>
= = = wrote in message news:<bqumss$g47$1...@news1.mountaincable.net>...
.