wrote in message
oups.com...

Seeing-I-dawg wrote:
Do you currently use a longwire or dipole or have the real estate for
one?
Have you been considering the ALA1530+ instead?

I exchanged emails with Wellbrook about using the ALA100 with my current
70M
fullwave Horizontal loop.

About Horizontal loops
http://www.cebik.com/wire/hl.html
http://www.cebik.com/fdim/atl1.html
http://www.cebik.com/wire/horloop.html

About ALA100 http://www.wellbrook.uk.com/ALA100b.html

The ALA100 will allow me to use a coax feeder instead of the noise prone
450ohm ladder-line and dispense with the
antenna tuner/matchbox.

Per Wellbrook, "You may also find that a smaller vertical loop with
ALA100
will give better directivity for MW plus very high gain at HF. The
ALA100
will out perform the ALA1530+ , because the loop area is much larger."

So if you are considering a ALA1530+ and are currently occupying real
estate
with a long-wire or dipole, you may consider joining the ends with the
ALA100 for a loop in either the horizontal or vertical plane.

Here's to the '06/'07 DXing season!
Post your logs and good luck.

First, please understand and accept that I have nothing against the
Wellbrook company or thier products. Their web page has clearly helped
many newbie SWL learn how to errect
a "long" wire antenna. And many people swear by all of their loops.
However, my
experience suggests loops may not be the do all end all.

For a alternative perspective please read the research by Dallas
Lanford at
http://www.kongsfjord.no/ "Measurements of Some Antennas Signal to
Man Made Noise Ratios"

Every situation is different. And the guy I traded theALA 1530 to loves
it.
Perhaps under extreme noise situations loops are better.

My recent experiments mirrored Dallas' experiences.

My "shack" is still disassembled. I hope to have it up and running by
the
weekend. 2 days of rain really messed with my plans.

Terry


Terry, this post wasn't intended as an addendum to my previous post to you
about horizontal loops.

I don't/can't dispute the claims about verticals Vs. loops regarding noise.
Generally, a vertical antenna is ideal for DXing since its main "lobe" is
towards the horizon (in all directions). But I know you knew that. Could
that account for the difference in S/MMN ratio in the Kongsfjord comparison?

The two main practical advantages of loops is steerability or nulling with
relatively small loops and inherently broadbanded performance with
relatively large (full wave) loops. The Wellbrook ALA1530+ claims both -
broadband performance using a broadband amplifier and steerability using a
small "shielded" loop.

The ALA1530+ design is different from the ALA100 in that the ALA1530+ "loop"
is inside an aluminum tube/shield. Alegedly this shield(?) rejects the
nearby Electric-field which supposedly contains the noise component and
amplifies the Magnetic-field which supposedly does not contain the noise
[Electro-Magnetic wave = RF]. The ALA100 wire antenna component has no
shield so how can it reject nearby Electric-fields containing noise?
Additionally, in the Kongsfjord power line comparison (45Ft vertical Vs.
Loop) the vertical's main lobe is at the horizon (under the powerline). The
lobes of the loop are very much like that of a dipole (above the horizon) -
more closely aimed at the powerline. Therefor, I think the Kongsfjord
comparison is missplaced. But I am not versed with the noise argument
related to loops Vs. verticals.

My point to my original post in this thread was that if you already have a
dipole or longwire (which is inherently NOT broadbanded) you can use the
ALA100 to convert them into a loop. The Wellbrook ALA100 product is simply
a broadband amplifier (I suspect similiar to the 1530). It does not include
any "antenna" or coax. You supply the antenna wire yourself - an existing
dipole or longwire folded into some resemblance to a large broadbanded loop.
The shape is not critical as long as the wires are not too close.

Converting a dipole or longwire into a broadbanded loop and adding a
broadbanded amplifier like the ALA100 seems like a good idea. Although the
ALA100 was meant to be used with a relatively medium sized rotatable
vertical loop, http://www.wellbrook.uk.com/ALA100b.html
Wellbrook's email in essence said it will work with any reasonably sized
loop oriented in any plane - vertically or horizontally.

My antenna goal is to have one antenna and to squeeze as much performance
out of it on as many frequencies (500KHz-30MHz) as possible. That, my
friend, can be most closely accomplished with a large loop. However, I am
intriqed by the 15ft vertical that is diagramed at the Kongsfjord noise
measurments link.

There are no ideal antennas. Just antennas with ideal applications.