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Old July 24th 07, 04:00 PM posted to rec.radio.shortwave
bpnjensen bpnjensen is offline
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First recorded activity by RadioBanter: Jul 2006
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Default Eavesdropper Trapped Dipole Antenna -vice- Alpha Delta DX-Ultra Shortwave Antenna

On Jul 23, 3:36 pm, RHF wrote:
On Jul 22, 3:59 pm, D Peter Maus wrote:





RHF wrote:
How Do They Compare For Shortwave Listening (SWL) ?


Eavesdropper-C Trapped Dipole Antenna
* Overall Length about 43 Feet (13.1 Metres).
http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/sw_ant/0680.html
http://www.antennasupermarket.com/EAVESDROPPER.htm
http://www.durhamradio.com/s/product...at=1845&page=1


Any one using a Eavesdropper Trapped Dipole Antenna ?
[ For Shortwave Listening (SWL) ]


Or for that matter an Alpha Delta DX-Ultra Shortwave Antenna ?
* Overall Length about 80 Feet (25 Metres).
http://www.durhamradio.com/s/product...at=1845&page=1
http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/sw_ant/3377.html
http://www.alphadeltacom.com/pg1.htm


Anyone used both for Shortwave Listening (SWL) ?


Anyone tried them both Side-by-Side ?
[ For Shortwave Listening (SWL) ]
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= = = On Jul 21, 2:48 pm, RHF wrote:
On Jul 21, 1:25 pm, dxAce wrote:


I finally got my old Eavesdropper dipole antenna up in the air again in
preparation for the 2007/2008 DX season. I've not had it installed since about
1990 or so. Seemed to be OK in preliminary tests.
Tomorrow, I'll try to finish the coax installation into the house.
I have it oriented 150/330 degrees, main interest was to hopefully get better
South American reception.
dxAce
Michigan
USA
- oriented 150/330 degrees


DX Ace - Is this 150* Tip-to-Tip 330* -or-
150* & 330* perpendicular to the Sides ? ~ RHF


Eavesdropper-C Trapped Dipole Antenna
* Overall Length about 43 Feet (13.1 Metres).http://www.universal-radio.com/catal...http://www.ant...


Any one else using a Eavesdropper Trapped Dipole Antenna ?


Or for that matter an Alpha Delta DX-Ultra Shortwave Antenna ?
* Overall Length about 80 Feet (25 Metres).http://www.durhamradio.com/s/product...5&cat=1845&pag...


Anyone used both ?


Anyone tried them both Side-by-Side ?
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. .


I have both an Eavesdropper and a DX Ultra.


The Eavesdropper is setup in an inverted V configuration and is
virtually omnidirectional. It's got a small footprint. Takes up little
real estate. It's also very quiet.


The DX Ultra is very large. And correctly set up according to A-D
recommendations, it's also very tall, and visible over the second story
of my house.


Both need to be erected far from the house, to eliminate noise
sources.


DX Ultra is very sensitive. Not quite as quiet as the
Eavesdropper....likely due more to the smaller capture area of the
Eavesdropper than anything else. The DX Ultra also has a lower
practical frequency limit than the Eavesdropper. Although you don't
really notice it so much on MW because of the huge powers at play.


I've been able to overload my receivers on the DX Ultra, but not
the Eavesdropper.


If you have the real estate, the DX Ultra is the better choice for
most listening. If not, the Eavesdropper is fine.- Hide quoted text -


- Show quoted text -


DPM - Thank You for the Interesting and Informative
personal assessment of both of these high quality
Shortwave Radio Listening (SWL) Antennas.

Any other Eavesdropper Trapped Dipole Antenna or
Alpha Delta DX-Ultra Shortwave Antenna owner users
out-there with comments of info ? -cause-

i want to know - iane ~ RHF
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- Show quoted text -


I have a DX Ultra on a woefully small suburban/urban lot here in the
SF Bay area. It is oriented prett kuch the only way I can make it fit
on my lot. The center is around 25' high, and the ends are about 8
feet (gently-inverted V). It is over one end of my house. The two
sides of the antenna are not in perfect alignment - one end is askew
from the other by abotu 10 degrees. Overall, the center is about
"aimed" toward 140/320 (using the same convention as that given by
DXAce above), give or take 10 degrees. It is fed by about 100 feet of
heavy, quality 50 ohm coax cable, with a tight 8" coil as a balun
taking up about half of that length. The antenna itself is not
grounded, but the radio is.

This thing picks up some noise, but is far more noisy on lower freqs,
like 5.5 MHz and below. I think the balun coil helps the higher freqs
remarkably in this respect. It almost behooves me to make a *huge*
coil that wil be effective at lower freqs.

I think the antenna does poorly at freqs below 5 MHz anyway - a random
piece of wire strung up in practically any orientation yields
generally better results. I have tested the antenna for electrical
continuity many times and have foud ti to be continuous, so it isn't
that the internal connections are poor. I have also replaced the
center static element with a new one, so that isn't the culprit. It
could be that the darn thing just isn't high enough or oriented
properly. Of course, it may also well be that the signals are there,
but the 25 sources of local noise murder them.

At higher freqs, especially 11 MHz and above, it is fabulous -
everything is loud, crisp and clear. 9 MHz is very good, 6 & 7 MHz so-
so, althgough once in a while these bands light up and really shine.

RHF - If you are down this way at all, let me know - you're welcome to
stop in and see the thing.

Bruce Jensen