Hi Pete, I built one several years back and my results were much like you describe.
I have tried several different RX antennas and for some reason on this lot none have heard significantly better than my Inverted L. All have been separated from the L by 250’. I’ve also had the Array Solutions SAL-30 and a couple BOG installations to no avail. Currently have a DX Engineering loop @ 30’ and it’s a marginal improvement at times. No longer have the L up as I’m testing a half sloper for 160, 80 and 40/30. Not sure what I’m missing because these things work for other folks. My noise level here is fairly low..S1-2 on 160 at night but I have little luck hearing Europe. I’ve used the Hi-Z 4 element at our club station during 160 contests and it works great! Night and day difference between RX antenna and listening on TX antenna. Can’t hear a thing on TX antenna but the world opens up when using the RX antenna. Can’t duplicate that at home. Have no room for the HI-Z at home either. I’m on a 150’ x 450’ lot with a 60’ tower. Hope you find the magic fix. Cecil K5DL Sent from my iPad > On Jan 2, 2022, at 9:29 AM, Pete Smith N4ZR <[email protected]> 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<http://beta.reversebeacon.net>. > For spots, please use your favorite > "retail" DX cluster. > _________________ > Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _________________ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
