Hi Ross
Great info & advice, thank you. Yes, I am planning to work on the wire antenna in the back garden soon, and form a shape of loop either triangle or square. I will also insert some sort of balun before connecting the coax feeder. In that way, it will minimise the band noise, and give quieter reception?
Yes, you are right, I think you don't need to have a huge space to put up good antennas, although it helps. I think if the element is small, then always use some sort of active amp, and use it in some situations where I want to copy very very weak signal. I mean signals from Radio Korea, Radio Japan and Voice of Korea from Pyung Yang are all very very weak in Europe unless they are relayed by the nearby stations. But only some of the programs are relayed, and most of them come from direct from the transmitting countries, which make the signals very weak.
In that situations, I noticed the active antenna amps definitely help. Recently I got hold of a used Plaster AA-30 Active Amp, and this unit does the job. It is amazing how, it kills the band noise, and it can peak the signals that I am after by the tuning knob, and it works.
But I am going to put up a loop for receiving on HF, and work with in conjunction with the AA-30. I got some DX logging already on HF such as Radio San Miguel from Bolivia transmitting power is only 500 watts on 4700Khz, and they were coming in nicely. And have been listening to all my favourite stations such as Radio Japan, Radio Korea regularly with much improved reception with the AA-30.
Hopefully the loop antenna will even boost more on the reception quality.
Thanks & enjoy the DXing.
73
Al.