I have read and re-read the recently posted 160m RX antenna information presented on the Top Band Reflector and am sold on building a separate low band receive antenna system in my front yard that is away from my TX towers in the back yard.
I am wondering if anyone is willing to give me input on my situation. I need the best option for narrow beam RX. There are neighbor houses (noise sources) close to the property line on the east and west sides, and my house is on the south side, of the proposed receive antenna area. So I need both good front-to-back and good front-to-side rejection. The least visually intrusive antenna system for the front yard would seem to be something using short verticals or perhaps loops or flags hidden in the landscape plantings. Overall front yard dimensions are approx 130 x 130. Property line alignment is N-S. Desired receive directions would be NE-Europe, NW-Asia, SE-Africa, SW-VK/ZL. ( An aerial view of my QTH is available on Google Maps, satellite view ) Ground conductivity is poor, so I will need supplemental ground radials if I go with RX verticals. I cannot run ground radials onto my neighbors properties, so putting the RX verticals right on the property lines, with only half a ground radial system probably would not work properly. Recommended distances for a 160m four-square are either 135 feet which is not do-able here, or 80 feet which is do-able and would allow for 25 ground radials around all four RX verticals - but the side rejection looks to be minimal with an 80 foot array spacing. The other obvious options to a four square might be a pair of short verticals or flags or loops using an Antenna Phasing and Noise Canceling box such as the NCC-1. Any advice or hearing of your experience with a narrow beam RX system in a similar situation would be greatly appreciated. 73 Lloyd - N9LB _________________ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
