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K2RAS

Joined: Sat, Sep 21st 2013, 03:42 Roles: N/A Moderates: N/A

Latest Topics

Topic Created Posts Views Last Activity
NPOTA Award Jan 1st 2016, 01:37 1 7,954 on 1/1/16
Faraday HFDF Antenna Oct 21st 2015, 17:09 1 5,899 on 21/10/15
Carolina Windom Antenna Sep 2nd 2015, 01:17 4 7,502 on 2/9/15
Fire Danger From Random Wire in Trees Nov 26th 2013, 00:30 2 6,603 on 15/1/15

Latest Posts

Topic Author Posted On
NPOTA Award K2RAS on 1/1/16
Where can I download a simple list of the National Parks on the Air entity codes so an offline award tracking system can be created.

Thanks, Ron
K2RAS
Faraday HFDF Antenna K2RAS on 21/10/15
I am considering purchasing National RF's HFDF Vector Gun amplified antenna for chasing HF noise. The antenna will be connected to a SDRPlay portable radio.

I am a little concerned about the antenna as it is advertised as a Faraday loop. My understanding is that a Faraday loop is secondary to a larger loop in typical magnetic loop designs. Is this a workable design or is National RF simply selling 'marketing fluff'.

Thanks for the assistance,
Ron K2RAS
Carolina Windom Antenna K2RAS on 2/9/15
Both antennas were about 30' above ground and positioned in the same location, not close to local noise in a rural environment. The antennas were as high as I can get them across some trees.

What do you think about removing the vertical radiator from the windom, making it an off-center fed as compared to the simple random wire at the same height?

Thanks, Ron
Carolina Windom Antenna K2RAS on 2/9/15
I would appreciate some direction on my Carolina Windom antenna. My QTH consists of a Pixel amplified mag loop antenna for HF receiving. Transmitting has been done on a Carolina Windom and also a 55' random wire/counterpoise antenna on 80-6M.

I am perplexed that the random wire is 'deaf' across all the bands but transmits much better than the WIndom. The Carolina Windom's transmit performance is miserable but the receive performance is far better than the random wire. This comparison is true across all of the HF bands. How is it possible that the good transmit antenna is deaf on receive, and the good receive antenna cannot transmit well?

Since I mainly receive on the mag loop, I am considering removing the Windom and going back to the random wire antenna for transmitting, but want to make sure I am making the correct decision. Supposedly the Windom is a more sophisticated antenna than the simple random wire. The SWR levels are relatively similar across the two antennas. My choice of these two antennas is due to a HOA limitation on space.

Any direction is appreciated,
Ron, K2RAS
Fire Danger From Random Wire in Trees K2RAS on 26/11/13
Is there any general rule of thumb about what power level starts becoming a fire danger for a random wire antenna in trees? I am running 10W in the HF bands.

Thanks, Ron

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