I have a full wavelength receiving antenna up 6' cut for 160, which is @2 w.l on 80M. I use a small preamp in the shack - and MFJ-959C. I also have a set of preamplified, steerable K9AY loops.
Last night I could hear TO4E on 80M with the low hanging longwire - better than on the K9AY loops.
The low hanging longwire is attached to my rectangular deer fence because I cannot run the wire straight - like a beverage. I do have a pair of ICE Beverage boxes.
My question is - what can I do to further improve my receiving antennas? I am wondering if terminating the longwire with the ICE boxes would help, or if maybe I should try an 80M vertically polarized rectangular "slot" antenna - fed at the side.
I know - "try it and see" is the best answer, but I would appreciate some experience from those who have already gone down this road. And yes, I have the ARRL Antenna book as well as ON4UN's low band DXing antenna book. . . .
TIA