Better VLF antenna

[Fabio Pra da Silva de Souza]

Hi everyone.

I'm trying to use a supersid monitor and unfortunately I have no VLF radio station sign (no spike in the chart, only background noise). I built a 1 meter square antenna with PVC and I installed about 20 meters from the computer, outside of a building. Inside the building the computer noise is very very strong (many computers near). I'm almost giving up this place for the supersid monitor. Last chance, what could I do? Buy some wire and double the turns? Trying another type of antenna? Cry?

Thanks

Fabio Pra

[WILLIAM & MELINDA LORD]

Hi Fabio,

Have you sent us a screen shot of your program while collecting data? If not, please send and let us take a look.

To try and track if there is a specific item creating noise is to turn everything except the computer and monitor running the SuperSID (SSID) off.  Look at the data collection program and see if there is any improvement to the signal. What we are looking for is the peaks of the station frequencies to rise higher than the noise floor.  If it does improve with everything off, turn one item at a time on and look at your data collection screen.  If the signal goes from good to bad, you have identified your noise source.

Do not be discouraged if this does not work. The noise could be from neighboring properties.  Try moving the antenna to different spots and again look to see if there is any improvement in the signal.  Be sure to allow a minute or two for the signal to settle before deciding if it is better, worse or the same.

Let us know your progress.

 

Bill & Melinda Lord
www.tnSkyNet.com
www.radio-astronomy.org

Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak. :-)

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[Jan Lustrup]

If Bill&Linda’s sugestions does not work, then try using a laptop computer and drive out to the countryside away from the electronic noise, and see if you pick up signals there. If not, there must be something wrong with your setup. (I thing that SuperSID monitor runs on 12Volts DC?)

 

Jan Lustrup

Norway

[Les Rayburn]

I'm been very remiss in getting my SuperSID station online. This is
mainly due to the difficulty in putting up a large, multi-turn loop
antenna. I've been wondering if a VLF-LF active whip, such as those sold
by LF Engineering might work?

As anyone tried these with a SID monitor in the past?


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73,

Les Rayburn, N1LF
121 Mayfair Park
Maylene, AL 35114
EM63nf

6M VUCC #1712
AMSAT #38965
Grid Bandits #222
Southeastern VHF Society
Central States VHF Society Life Member
Six Club #2484

Active on 6 Meters thru 1296, 10GHz & Light

[George Williams]

Hey, Fabio,

There are some things to consider about the antenna-

1- It is highly directional. It should be aligned along the path between the receiver and transmitter. It has a very deep side null, so if it is pointed across this line it will not receive anything.

2- It is possible to tune the antenna so that it is resonant at the frequency of the transmitter by placing a capacitor of the proper value across the loop. If the natural frequency of the loop is too far from that of the transmitter, reception will be diminished.

There are online resources to help with both of these issues.

Later,

George

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[Marcus D. Leech]

On 05/08/2014 03:17 PM, George Williams wrote:
> Hey, Fabio,
>
> There are some things to consider about the antenna-
>
> 1- It is highly directional. It should be aligned along the path
> between the receiver and transmitter. It has a very deep side null, so
> if it is pointed across this line it will not receive anything.
>
> 2- It is possible to tune the antenna so that it is resonant at the
> frequency of the transmitter by placing a capacitor of the proper
> value across the loop. If the natural frequency of the loop is too far
> from that of the transmitter, reception will be diminished.
>
> There are online resources to help with both of these issues.
>
> Later,
> George
>

Just for added information, I use a loop antenna that is built on a 1.2m
square frame, with about 30 turns of #18ga wire on it. However many
meters that works out to :)

I then use a Behringer microphone pre-amp to amplifier the signal up for
my sound card. Works like a champ for multiple VLF stations in the
DC-48KHz range, although I haven't been active with it for a couple
of years. The loop is oriented roughly east-west.






--
Marcus Leech
Principal Investigator
Shirleys Bay Radio Astronomy Consortium
http://www.sbrac.org

[WILLIAM & MELINDA LORD]

Hi Les,
We have used a whip antenna with the SuperSID and got good results.

 

Bill & Melinda Lord
www.tnSkyNet.com
www.radio-astronomy.org

Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak. :-)

---

From: Les Rayburn <l...@highnoonfilm.com>
To: sara...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Thursday, May 8, 2014 1:41 PM
Subject: Re: [SARA] Better VLF antenna

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[WILLIAM & MELINDA LORD]

The SuperSID uses 6VDC power.

 

Bill & Melinda Lord
www.tnSkyNet.com
www.radio-astronomy.org

Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak. :-)

---

From: Jan Lustrup <j-lu...@online.no>
To: sara...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Thursday, May 8, 2014 12:15 PM

Subject: Re: [SARA] Better VLF antenna

[Les Rayburn]

Oh, thank you for the feedback. I'll set it up with the LF Engineering whip, and try it out. I'd love to finally put my SuperSID to work.

Les Rayburn, Director
High Noon Film
130 1st Avenue West
Alabaster, AL 35007-8536
(205) 621-7500
(205) 621-7505 FAX
(205) 253-4867 CELL
http://www.highnoonfilm.com

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[Fabio Pra da Silva de Souza]

The images

[Jan Lustrup]

The stronge signal on the right hand side, is that NRK (Iceland) on 37,5kHz?

 

Jan Lustrup LA3EQ

Norway

 

From: Fabio Pra da Silva de Souza

Sent: Thursday, May 08, 2014 11:28 PM

To: sara...@googlegroups.com

Subject: [SARA] Re: Better VLF antenna

 

The images

--

[Jan Lustrup]

Hi ,

Here is a good VLF antenna that no longer then a ballpoint pen.  I’ve used some years with good results in receiver signal from all over the world on VLF and longwave, even on the “Dreamers band” at 8kHz.  It’s better then my 30 meter long Marconi “T” and my 80 meter dipole!! 

I mount my Miniwhip on top of a 6meter long glassfiber fishingpole. Find a quiet place in the garden for best signal to noise ratio.

 

http://dl1dbc.net/SAQ/Mwhip/pa0rdt-Mini-Whip.pdf

 

http://dl1dbc.net/SAQ/miniwhip.html

 

And for fun, here is a 8km long “antenna” i tried for VLF receiving!

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWsdaSmWg7E

 

 

 

Jan Lustrup LA3EQ

Norway

 

 

 

From: Les Rayburn

Sent: Thursday, May 08, 2014 10:54 PM

To: sara...@googlegroups.com

Subject: Re: [SARA] Better VLF antenna

 

Oh, thank you for the feedback. I'll set it up with the LF Engineering whip, and try it out. I'd love to finally put my SuperSID to work.

Les Rayburn, Director
High Noon Film
130 1st Avenue West
Alabaster, AL 35007-8536
(205) 621-7500
(205) 621-7505 FAX
(205) 253-4867 CELL
http://www.highnoonfilm.com

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This e-mail contains information that may be confidential or privileged and is intended only for the person(s) named above.
Any other distribution, copying or disclosure is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please
notify the sender immediately and return the original transmission to the above address by mail without making a copy.

On 5/8/2014 3:26 PM, 'WILLIAM & MELINDA LORD' via Society of Amateur Radio Astronomers wrote:

Hi Les,
We have used a whip antenna with the SuperSID and got good results.

 

Bill & Melinda Lord
www.tnSkyNet.com
www.radio-astronomy.org

Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak. :-)

 

---

From: Les Rayburn mailto:l...@highnoonfilm.com