Re: [HCDX] K9AY loop installed

["Don" <ulformat@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Guy had his K9AY up the night before Walt arrived -- next to the ranchero.
Guy's  K9AY experienced a bit of noise from TV interference (not present
when we used it at that location last December), so he moved it out to the
new location mentioned by Walt!

My K9AY was out 750 feet from DX Central on the sand dunes adjacent to the
surf. This was an experiment to see if noise was different or whether  the
signals at the ocean were of any higher amplitude. Andy Ikin's literature
stated that 300 feet distance from the control box was the practical limit.
We pushed well beyond this and noted no difference between the two K9AYs in
amplitude of received signal and or noise figure.

On this May DXpedition, there were times when the K9AY actually outperformed
the array of beverages. John, Guy and I all noted this at various times (we
share antennas via Stridsberg 8:1 splitters and modified antenna switches so
that each person can access all antennas all the time).  The ground was well
saturated!

During early July we tried another DXpedition. John Bryant put up his 4-loop
in the spot occupied  by Guy's K9AY in May, and mine was put up nearby (We'd
proven that there was no substantial advantage to  unreeling and reeling up
the 750 feet of RG8X and control line!) . This time, the K9AY's were doing
considerably less well than the beverages on both AM and SW.  The ground now
was well dried out. In fact, we had to "water" the ground stakes on all the
beverages and the K9AYs (One of which had a supplementary ground plane of
wires at ground level under the loops.)

I think Walt has made an excellent point here --- the K9AY operates better
over saturated ground. This may also explain the relatively poor response
seen by experienced dxers using a K9AY (of home construction) over the bare
rock of the Newfoundland Coast.

Don
Oregon

Also, we experimented with Pennants from the July QST article with good
results, and I also put up a copy of the EWE I use at my home listening
location. In all cases, these antennas heard the same signals as the
beverages and K9AYs, but at lower levels (note: no broadband amplifiers were
in place on the pennant/EWE, but were on each of the beverages. Andy's K9AY
implementation has a built-in amplifier. This could be part of the
difference. We'll make more measurements next monthafer correcting this
difference).  Bill Smith has generously pointed us to a source of some
broadband preamps that have a considerably reduced noise figure; we'll be
comparing these with the Kiwa units we typically use. Thanks, Bill!


----- Original Message -----
From: "Walter (Volodya) Salmaniw, MD" <salmaniw@xxxxxxxx>
To: <hard-core-dx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: <plimmer@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, July 28, 2000 8:03 PM
Subject: Re: [HCDX] K9AY loop installed


> It's unfortunate that John in South Africa has had such a bad experience
> with the Wellbrook K9AY antenna.  I had the opportunity to experiment with
> two on the Washington Coast with expert DXers John Bryant, Guy Atkins, Don
> Nelson, and Bill Smith this past March, and the results were nothing short
> of amazing.  Nulling was absolutely astounding at times, especially on
long
> and medium wave, and even slightly on the tropical bands.  Performance
> equaled 300 to 500 meter Beverages.  We even fed one from the sand dunes
> overlooking the ocean some 300 to 400 meters away, in order to compare it
> to one installed immediately adjacent the motel.  The performed pretty
much
> identically.
>
> The main difference appears to be in the ground environment.  We were on
> the ocean coastline, in the pouring rain, with a high water table (often
> above the ground!).  The local power lines did not seem to cause any
> problem, even with the one K9AY adjacent the motel.  I'm a convert!
> Upto to my introduction to this antenna, I was a die-hard Beverage man,
and
> used a T2FD at home.  I know that Guy was planning on removing his T2FD as
> he has been so pleased with his K9AY.  I personally would not be in a
hurry
> to return the unit.  Perhaps waiting for the wet season may correct the
> problem?
>
> ...............Good DX from Victoria, BC, Canada.
>
>
> Walter R. Salmaniw, MD             email:  salmaniw@xxxxxxxx
> Victoria, British Columbia    DXING FROM CANADA'S WEST COAST, using
> CANADA                        premier radio receivers:
>
>                                Rockwell/Collins
> HF-2050
> (250) 592-1033                Collins R390A,ITT Mackay 3031A,
>                                Racal RA.117, JRC NRD 535D, and
>                                Kenwood R5000.
>
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