----- Original Message -----

From: mal hamilton

To: rsgb

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