True, but the major point being that a transmitting antenna is usually a
narrow bandwidth antenna...A good transmitting antenna will be good for
receiving that frequency of course, but it could be argued that a SWL
receiving antenna should have a high bandwidth/gain factor..



Mike







"N8KDV" wrote in message
...


Jackie wrote:

"Dave" wrote in message
...
Has anyone here read the two books on wire antennas by the ARRL? They
are
volumes I & II, and have at least some information on shortwave
receiver
antennas. Are they any good? Should I spend my money on them?

I wouldn't. The ARRL antenna books are pretty technical and more
oriented
towards transmission of amateur signals than SWL.

At the same time an antenna that is very efficient for the transmission of
an
amateur signal will also be very efficient for delivering a signal to a
receiver.

"Sherman D." wrote in message
...
True, but the major point being that a transmitting antenna is usually a
narrow bandwidth antenna...A good transmitting antenna will be good for
receiving that frequency of course, but it could be argued that a SWL
receiving antenna should have a high bandwidth/gain factor..

Depends on what you're interested in hearing. An antenna optimized for
European pirate broadcasts could be useful, or one built for Tropical Band
reception. The ARRL books in question are not highly technical and will
provide plenty of ideas for experimentation. Knowledge is Power.

"PM"

"Sherman D." wrote in message
...
True, but the major point being that a transmitting antenna is usually a
narrow bandwidth antenna...A good transmitting antenna will be good for
receiving that frequency of course, but it could be argued that a SWL
receiving antenna should have a high bandwidth/gain factor..

Yes, you are right. That said, I got generally good SW reception from a trap
dipole I had strung 30' up in some trees. It was made for 20-15-10 meters,
but I got decent SW reception from it when used with my IC-718. Too bad I
had to move, and it's all packed away in a storage locker now.

Jackie