eHam
eHam Forums => Antenna Restrictions => Topic started by: W2NER on January 23, 2023, 07:45:54 PM
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I have a inverted L at my house in a HOA. Its a 43 ft flagpole with about 125ft of wire off the top into a 75 ft pine tree. I'm thinking about getting the Greyline 24 ft OCF vertical to replace it. I'm only thinking about this due to the high noise level in my area. Normally about s9 and I have gone through the steps to make sure this noise level it's not be caused from anything in my house. Would a OCF vertical be beneficial to my problem with noise without sacrificing much reception? This is on 160m mostly, by the way..
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Any antenna that has a ground counter poise will have a higher noise level than a balanced antenna such as a dipole, folded dipole or a loop.
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If you’re looking at the Greyline product, make sure you read all of the reviews. Research them very carefully.
Gary W0CKI
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Your current antenna seems fine for transmit. Any shorter is likely to be less efficient. You may try to use a different antenna for receive. An active loop or even K9AY if you have space.
Greyline owner seems to be an English major with a second degree in advertising.
Ignacy NO9E
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Do you have an RF choke on your feedline? is it grounded prior to entering the house?
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yes to both questions
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I would suggest using RX antennas to improve reception and keeping your existing vertical.
If you want to improve transmit you should go bigger, not smaller, on 160M.
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any suggestions? i gave a 34 in magnetic loop in the back yard but, on 160 it’s not great. i gave a small yard, not more than 1/4 acre.
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It is hard to do better than an Inverted-L on 160 meters.
I have a 36ft high Inverted L strung between two trees.
I have 152 countries confirmed on Top Band and over a hundred worked on CW.
Being able to hear the DX makes a big difference on 160M.
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Do you have any other antennas? in the attic? if so try disconnecting them all but the flag pole inverted L from the system, antenna switches, from the transceiver. Even if they are VHF or UHF antennas. The source of the noise could be coming in on the coax from a different antenna. I had that issue with a vhf antenna in my attic causing high noise floor on 40 meters. Disconnected it and noise is gone.
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Check the post of WA5YOM about his experiences with an OFC vertical. I would run from that idea. What you have have is much better than a 24' OCF vertical. See the forum Antennas, Towers and more, Greyline Vertical issues.
So, what to do about your RX noise problem. Noise outside your house is often out of your control but you can improve things. What bands do you want to operate?
You say you have a 34 in magnetic loop in the back yard, but on 160 it’s not great.
Does that antenna help on the higher bands?
Does it have a mast mounted preamp?
Can you build a larger loop (like 2X the size) for 160 meters?
Two of several methods to obtain a better RX S/N ratio:
1) A rotary small loop antenna mounted near the ground such as you have
2) A phasing box and sense antenna. Your loop can be used as the sense antenna. DX Engineering stocks boxes by DX Engineering, MJF and WiMO.