Reply-To: rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org From: "Alberto di Bene" Sender: To: rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org References: <003e01c130d4$30973360$7798fea9@host.telepac.pt> <3B8E1787.4FB4EC0D@usa.net> <00a601c1316f$0791a180$d3331997@KOSOVEUALESSANDRO> <3.0.1.16.20010911092252.2c47dcf4@mail.cc.kuleuven.ac.be> Subject: LF: Re: CFA (once more) Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 10:31:22 +0100 Message-ID: <3B9DD9EA.67F706DB@usa.net> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.76 [en] (Win95; U) Importance: Normal X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2800.1106 X-Listname: rsgb_lf_group X-Accept-Language: en Rik Strobbe wrote: > Some interesting articles (both for the 'believers' and 'non believers') > about the Crossed Field Antenna can be found at : > http://www.eriinc.com/IEEE/ > [...] On this subject, this last weekend I went to a hamfest in Piacenza, Italy, where some commercial prototypes of the EH Antenna were presented. They had a couple of Yaesu FT-1000MP, one connected to a full size dipole for the 40m band, and the other to an EH antenna for the same band. I asked if I could play a little with them, they said 'yes, of course'. Then I tuned a faint CW signal with both receivers. The full size dipole outperformed the EH but only by a slight edge, which apparently was remarkable, given the difference in size. But then I went outdoor, to look at both antennas. The EH was installed just half meter above the center of the dipole.... hmmm... I suspect a strong coupling between the two... probably the lines of force of the electromagnetic field were made denser by the dipole in the proximity of the EH antenna... Then I asked for a further test on the 20m band, where no dipoles were installed, using this time an indoor EH antenna, mounted on a 2-meter tall support. They agreed, and even connected a microphone to the transceiver. The 20m band was rather quiet (it was about noon on Saturday), with only a few signals. I called a Cyprus station who called CQ Contest, but no answer. Then I found another station, an SV1, also calling CQ. This one answered me, giving me an S5 report, but then he failed to answer a question I posed him, showing that my readability was less than perfect... All in all, I am quite skeptical about this antenna, theoretical considerations aside. A friend OM regularly makes QSO with a 1.5m whip, base-loaded, from his car on the 7, 14 and 21MHz bands, so this new EH antenna seems to perform nothing more, nothing less than a short loaded dipole, not worth the money they ask for it, nor the troubles for building it. Just my opinions. 73 Alberto I2PHD