----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, August 03, 2011 8:53
AM
Subject: LF: POOR ANTENNAS
LF
Well it seems some are of the opinion that the problem
is not Antennas but increased environmental noise and Seasonal
conditions.
Others say that a small antenna for RX es Grabbers is
better than nothing. I disagree with this logic because the displayed signals
are not what one is expecting and at worst the signal is not visible at
all.
While environmental noise varies and can be a problem
and Seasonal changes effect signal propagation I still think poor RX antennas
are the main problem.
In the past I was able to work OH1TN to the North East
and IK5ZPV and other Italian stns to the South Daily ie all day long as well
as night time on normal CW and average reports were 579 SUMMER as well as
winter. At present with my same antenna and TX, several hundred watts I
am not visible on the majority of EU grabbers DAYTIME even in
QRS3 let alone CW.
Using conventional inv L antennas at my
QTH I am able to observe on screen and audio all those that TX on
137 Khz.
There are instances were some EU transmissions are
not visible on EU grabbers although I can see/hear and work them from
here.
My conclusion is that all the technology and effort
that has gone into setting up good Grabbers and Receiver systems is
being let down by POOR ANTENNAS.
Some time back I tried a commercial high spec loop
antenna/amplifier and it was inferior by 2 to 3 S
points in the optimum direction compared to my inv L system,
therefore receiving a S3 signal on the inv L would not be visible/audible
on the loop and probably the same applies to the probe type antenna.
It has been pointed out by others also that years
ago the older receivers worked better for commercial world wide communications
because in my experience they had proper large antennas ie Rhombics, V - Beams
and Beverages, and Radio Amateurs had similar antennas scaled down
in some cases. There was also an abundance of skilled Radio
Operators that could handle any situation, a scarce commodity today.
In todays communications world Amateur Radio
has become a convenience hobby, manipulator of Black Boxes, mobile phones and
Internet.
Let us have your observations
73 de Mal/G3KEV
