Date: Wed, 20 Apr 2016 11:51:47 +0100
From: Chris Wilson <chris@chriswilson.tv>
Organization: Gatesgarth Developments
Message-ID: <885507565.20160420115147@chriswilson.tv>
To: Mike Dennison <rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org>
In-Reply-To: <57175921.22075.57BECD@mike.dennison.ntlworld.com>
References: <5713E677.6040003@lineone.net>, <1071555453.20160418034309@chriswilson.tv>, <5716079B.30004@lineone.net> <57175921.22075.57BECD@mike.dennison.ntlworld.com>
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Subject: Re: LF: LF Receiving (was Alex (R7NT) reports)
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Status: O

Hello Mike,

Wednesday, April 20, 2016


I have been using a home built active antenna a friend bought me off
Ebay, probably a close copy of the "proper" one I feel guilty about
having a clone of. It's in a home built capped waste water pipe
housing near the top of my lattice mast, on its fibreglass topmost
section. I have found it does not work as well feeding my dedicated LF
receiver, one of these:

http://icas.to/lineup/idc-136ii-kit-eng.htm


as does my transmitting, resonant aerial. That's a vertical with a
horizontal quad loop as its top hat.


This active antenna is just using the dedicated PCB section as the
antenna, maybe I should add an external piece of stiff wire to it? I
am certainly not plagued by any strong transmissions near here, it's
normally our own electric fences that cause me issues.But sharing a TX
aerial with a receiver is a pain. As is sharing my HF loop with an LF
TX.... :( I need more aerials, but I do not need a divorce. Difficult!

I would and could invest in a dedicated receiver for LF though,
something hopefully better than the one in the link above. Space isn't
an issue. Any suggestions for something commercially available? I am
not incompetent at building stuff, I simply do not have the time at
the moment, due to work. I have used my Kenwood TS-590 as an LF
receiver, but again, as it's also the exciter form y LF amp, it's a
pain swapping stuff about. I really want something I can leave on RX
all the time like the IDC-136ii above, but better... Thanks.


Best regards,
 Chris  2E0ILY                          mailto:chris@chriswilson.tv

 My part time LF grabber is at http://www.chriswilson.tv/grabber.html


> Hugh's advice is excellent - adequate sensitvity, a resonant antenna 
> and good front-end filtering. I would add good dynamic range, an 
> effective noise blanker and ideally a way to reduce or switch off the 
> AGC. After fittng the filters, there should still be a large 
> difference in background noise when the antenna is connected.

> Local noise is a major factor, and it may be necessary to have a 
> separate receive antenna, situated and oriented away from the noise 
> source.

> Lastly, it can help to have a directional (preferably steerable) 
> antenna to reduce lightning noise away from the wanted direction.

> Mike, G3XDV
> ============