On 07/14/2014 04:40 PM, outsider wrote:
I got my Pixel loop about 2 months ago. I have it mounted in my back
yard about 10 feet up to the bottom of the loop on an inexpensive
rotor. There was an initial problem. The power supply was generating a
birdie in the middle of 40 meters. Pixel immediately sent me a new
power supply as soon as I phoned them. They sent me a prepaid label to
return the bad supply.

I installed an A-B switch for my receiver to make instant comparisons
between my full size 75 meter horizontal loop and the Pixel Loop.
Now to the performance. Be aware throughout this little missive that I
am comparing the Pixel Loop to a 75 meter full size horizontal loop
about 35 feet off the ground. I live in a small town about 3 blocks from
city centre. I have had serious noise problem when using a dipole. The
full size loop did a whole lot to lessen my noise from nearby
residential homes and small businesses. My full size loop crosses my
metal roof with about 5 feet to spare on the two ends of my home. I am
on a 100 X 120 lot.

First I will note that using the Pixel loop to null noise from a storm
works pretty well. My full size loop will work better on 75 meters in
almost all conditions than the Pixel Loop. The only exception is at
night when the storm noise is coming from just one direction and I can
null it with the Pixel Loop. So it kinda makes sense from a simply gut
feeling that a full size loop fed with open wire line is going to work
better than the Pixel Loop. I find this gut feeling to be true in fact.
Now, I have no antenna for transmitting on 160 meters so I will not say
much except that the Pixel loop will receive better than my 75 meter
loop. When working on 40 meters and reception conditions are marginal,
I find myself switching to the Pixel. The signal strength is down but I
can just hear the other station better. These situations involve
stations that are not even moving my S meter. I cannot give measured
S/N ration readings. I am just going by what I can hear. This is also
true on 20 and 17 meters.

On 15 and 10 there is a very different story. Switching to the Pixel
will show an increase in my S meter reading and a significant increase
in S/N ratio. An average example on 10 meters where this antenna works
best for me would be hearing a station showing an S 1 signal strength on
my 75 meter loop. Switching the Pixel would bring up the strength to S3
or even 4. This is also with less noise.

It took me some time to test and get a feel for this antenna. My initial
feeling after hooking up this antenna was disappointment. I expected my
75 meter loop to out perform the Pixel on 75, but I did not expect the S
meter reading to drop several points on 40 meters. I thought I had
wasted my money. However, after operating with this antenna for a couple
of months, I kept finding myself switching to the Pixel when reception
started getting dicey. This is true on 40, 20, an 17. On 15 and 10, it
is obviously showing stronger S meter readings and much better S/N. I no
longer have a dipole to compare performance. I suspect however, that
this Pixel would run rings around a dipole when operated in an urban
environment. I believe that for those who live in a city with a lot of
QRN around them, that this antenna mated with a dipole or loop makes a
very good antenna system. For most who only have room for a dipole and
are at the mercy of surrounding plasma tvs, I would think that they
would find this antenna to be a very welcome relief from the noise. I
also use a DSP audio ADAPTIVE noise reduction module. I have become very
spoiled now. I expect that most of my QSOs will sound like FM.

Again, I think that this is a pretty good investment for those who live
in an urban environment. You could spend thousands more on a Cadillac
transceiver and still be plagued by a noisy received signal.

W8EZI

I make full wave loops out of scraps of 12g stranded from the pile at
Home Depot and MJF Guanella baluns. I receive on the loops and transmit
from a 43' vertical or (for 10) My M400 Starduster. I also SWL on a full
wave 80m loop and there is no QRN. I am in a neighborhood full of cheap
dimmers, cheap SMPSs, RV chargers, plasma TVs, etc. and I never hear a
lick of it. Full wave loops have common mode rejection of local noise
and once that is not a factor you'll get more realistic S-meter
readings. S:N is what is important, not total S-meter deflection. YMMV
73 de dave kd6il