Improving Reception - Thoughts on Receive Antennas

I’ve been experimenting with using the W9INN Sloper to listen on 20m and then switching to the Tennedyne T-8 Log Periodic Antenna, after rotating, to do the actual QSO.

A bit clumsy, as I have both antennas on the same feedline, selected by an Array Solutions RatPak 6n Antenna Switch.

The omnidirectional nature of the longwire lets me listen from all corners, while the directivity and rejection of signals not in front of the Log Periodic make completing the QSO much easier.

I’m thinking of taking this a step further with a better receive antenna, dedicating the spare feedline I had pulled when the tower was installed. If you caught my earlier post “Over Under Sideways Down – Honey that Cable had to go Somewhere!” you may have caught how I had redundant wire pulled, with a spare for each wire I intended to use. Given the labor & difficulty of installing the cables, the added materials seemed a good deal.

I’m looking at DX Engineering’s Receive Four Square Array Packages as an option. I’m just not certain how to configure it given my yard is under 2 to 3 feet of snow every winter.

ComTek Systems also has specialist Four Square Antennas, but with transmit capabilities.

And Array Solutions has a neat AS-AYL-4 4 direction Low Band Receiving Antenna option.

Which ever way I go I better get my skates on, as I’m down to just August through October for prime antenna installation weather. Of course to be a good amateur I should wait until it is below zero to install, hi hi!

Thinking,

73

Steve
K9ZW

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