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LF Engineering H800 Skymatch
I'm curious, for SW reception, does it work well with a portable
(like, say an SW77 or Satellite 700), as well as with your tabletop receivers? Size-wise and being optionally battery-powered, it looks like an attractive option for portable applications (certainly for, say, a Drake SW8 or something of that calibre), but I'm wondering if it's just too much an antenna for a portable... Junius |
LF Engineering H800 Skymatch
Junius
I'm very interested to hear responses to this question as well! I'm looking at either the H800 or H900, or the one from northcountry. I'm currently using a Sangean Super 909 with a Degen DE-31 active loop antenna. Douglas Kilen Superior WI USA www.pbase.com/kilen |
LF Engineering H800 Skymatch
Saw a review at:
http://entropy.brneurosci.org/antenna-lfh800.html Shawn "junius" wrote in message ups.com... I'm curious, for SW reception, does it work well with a portable (like, say an SW77 or Satellite 700), as well as with your tabletop receivers? Size-wise and being optionally battery-powered, it looks like an attractive option for portable applications (certainly for, say, a Drake SW8 or something of that calibre), but I'm wondering if it's just too much an antenna for a portable... Junius |
LF Engineering H800 Skymatch
It looks like the H900 only works with the plug in adapter because of
power consumption... no battery option. (although I would probably make my own external batter pack for it) |
LF Engineering H800 Skymatch
The H-800 is a great little antenna. I have one. It will work just fine
with an SW77 or comparable portable, so long as the receiver in question has a reasonably good attenuator. In my experience, the H-800 is dynamite on MW and up to around 5 mhz. It's good from 5 mhz up to around 15 mhz, and it's performance gradually tapers off from there. At any rate, this is how I remember it...I haven't used the H-800 very much since switching over to a Wellbrook loop. It's a very good value, though. Doesn't get the attention it deserves, in my opinion. Steve |
LF Engineering H800 Skymatch
Thanks Axelrod for the link to the review and thanks Steve for your
impressions of the H-800. Since LF Electronics seems to tailor a lot of their products toward lowfer and MW BCB listeners, I had thought that it might well be the case that the H800 would exhibit better performance in the lower frequencies than the higher frequencies of the SW spectrum. Since my interest is primarily in HF, it seems that, although it might offer some improvement in the 120 and 90 meter bands, the H800 likely would not offer significantly improved reception over the AOR WL500 antenna I already have (unless we're talking about outdoor mounting of the H800 away from a noisy indoor environment). The WL500 is a nicely made antenna; nice performance across the SW spectrum. Easy to set up and decent on battery consumption, too. Unfortunate that AOR discontinued this fine product. Junius wrote: The H-800 is a great little antenna. I have one. It will work just fine with an SW77 or comparable portable, so long as the receiver in question has a reasonably good attenuator. In my experience, the H-800 is dynamite on MW and up to around 5 mhz. It's good from 5 mhz up to around 15 mhz, and it's performance gradually tapers off from there. At any rate, this is how I remember it...I haven't used the H-800 very much since switching over to a Wellbrook loop. It's a very good value, though. Doesn't get the attention it deserves, in my opinion. Steve |
LF Engineering H800 Skymatch
I haven't used the H-800 very much since switching over to a Wellbrook loop. It's a very good value, though. Doesn't get the attention it deserves, in my opinion. Well, the Wellbrook loops get some pretty nice reviews in Passport to World Band Radio. Given Wellbrook's lack of any distribution in the U.S. & Canada, it's sometimes a little surprising to see how many North American SW listeners on this newsgroup are using Wellbrook loops. Junius |
LF Engineering H800 Skymatch
Yeah, I'm surprised that the people at Wellbrook haven't worked out a
distribution deal with, say, Universal or Grove. It's also worth mentioning that I've heard good reports about the RF Systems MTA vertical antenna, which is available through universal. It's about seven feet tall, as I recall, and is passive and apparently extremely quiet. However, if you have the space for it, the MTA is probably worth considering. I'm not sure how it would compare with the H-800, but someone else in the group might know. Steve |
LF Engineering H800 Skymatch
"junius" wrote in message ups.com... I'm curious, for SW reception, does it work well with a portable (like, say an SW77 or Satellite 700), as well as with your tabletop receivers? Size-wise and being optionally battery-powered, it looks like an attractive option for portable applications (certainly for, say, a Drake SW8 or something of that calibre), but I'm wondering if it's just too much an antenna for a portable... Junius Active whips with good dynamic range are extremely easy to homebrew- and excellent article appeared in QST a couple years back using a CATV transistor- better IP3 than likely any of the consumer antennas available. Seem to recall that FAR Circuits has the PC board. Don't forget a good RF ground at the antenna- without it, the outside of the coax shield becomes part of the antenna- transporting house noise out to the pick up probe. Dale W4OP |
LF Engineering H800 Skymatch
Junius,
You may wish to read these four Messages about the LF Engineering H-800 and H-900 Active Antennas. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortw...a/message/6752 ABOUT - "Omni" {Non} Directional Vertical Active Antennas http://groups.google.com/group/rec.r...df7f47f701f5f4 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortw...a/message/6549 ABOUT - LF Engineering - "Omni" {Non} Directional Vertical Active Antennas http://groups.google.com/group/rec.r...33e014f4850ed8 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortw...a/message/6560 What About - An LF Engineering Vertical Active Antenna + Plus a Slinky Jr. ? http://groups.google.com/group/rec.r...bf937573bb4101 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortw...a/message/6563 The Secret to most of these Small Vertical Active Antennas seems to be Location and Placement of the Active Antenna Element. http://groups.google.com/group/rec.r...336b89160888d8 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortw...a/message/6561 As Dale Parfitt recommmended a good Ground to the mounting position of the Active Antenna and connected to the Coax Cable's Outer End Connector; can help reduce Noise Pick-Up along the Coax Cable . TIP - Two Snap-On / Clamp-On Ferrite Core Choke one about 4" - 6" down the Coax Cable from the Active Antenna and another one about 4" - 6" before the Coax Cable enters the House/Building can also help reduce Noise Pick-Up. hope this helps - iane ~ RHF . . * * * EXTRACTED from NewsGroups : Rec.Radio.Shortwave = = = From: "junius" junjun...@... = = = Date: 27 Nov 2005 16:43:10 -0800 = = = Local: Sun, Nov 27 2005 4:43 pm = = = Subject: LF Engineering H800 Skymatch I'm curious, for SW reception, does it work well with a portable (like, say an SW77 or Satellite 700), as well as with your tabletop receivers? Size-wise and being optionally battery-powered, it looks like an attractive option for portable applications (certainly for, say, a Drake SW8 or something of that calibre), but I'm wondering if it's just too much an antenna for a portable... Junius . . = = = Dale Parfitt wrote : Active whips with good dynamic range are extremely easy to homebrew- and excellent article appeared in QST a couple years back using a CATV transistor- better IP3 than likely any of the consumer antennas available. Seem to recall that FAR Circuits has the PC board. Don't forget a good RF ground at the antenna- without it, the outside of the coax shield becomes part of the antenna- transporting house noise out to the pick up probe. Dale W4OP . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - . Tous Sont Bienvenus ! - - - Groupe par Radio d'auditeur d'onde courte pour des Antennes de SWL http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortwave-SWL-Antenna/ . Alle Sind Willkommen ! - - - Shortwave Radiozuhörer Gruppe für SWL Antennen http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortwave-SWL-Antenna/ . Tutti Sono Benvenuti ! - - - Gruppo Radiofonico dell'ascoltatore di onda corta per le Antenne di SWL http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortwave-SWL-Antenna/ . Todos São Bem-vindos ! - - - Grupo de Rádio do ouvinte do Shortwave para Antenas de SWL http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortwave-SWL-Antenna/ . Все *адушны ! - - - Группа оператора на приеме коротковолнового диапазона Radio для Aнтенн SWL http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortwave-SWL-Antenna/ . ¡Todos Son Agradables! - - - Grupo de Radio del oyente de la onda corta para las Antenas de SWL http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortwave-SWL-Antenna/ . = = = = = Translation = = = = = All are Welcome - - - To Join the Shortwave Listeners (SWL) Antenna Group on YAHOO ! http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortwave-SWL-Antenna/ . . .. . |
LF Engineering H800 Skymatch Active Antenna
Junius,
One of the LF Engineering H800 Skymatch Active Antennas is available on eBay at this time. It has a Starting Bid of $99 with a Buy-It-Now Price of $125 + $7.70 for S&H http://cgi.ebay.com/_W0QQitemZ5843281489 A 'bran new' LF Engineering H-800 Skymatch Active Antenna with the full LF/MW/SW Spectrum from 10 kHz through 50 MHz. http://www.grove-ent.com/ANT15.html http://www.lfengineering.com/products.htm http://www.lfengineering.com/pdf/Mon...es%20H-800.pdf Standard MSRP Price of $139 + S&H Question - Why Buy Used ? When a New One with a Manufacture's Warranty and Store 30 Day Return Policy only Costs $14 more. well that is my two cents worth ~ RHF |
LF Engineering H800 Skymatch Active Antenna
Junius,
Here are two possible reasons for choosing the LF Engineering H-800 Skymatch Active Antenna with Fifty Feet (50') of RG-174/U Coax Cable for Camping and that sort of thing . . . http://www.grove-ent.com/ANT15.html http://www.lfengineering.com/products.htm http://www.lfengineering.com/pdf/Mon...es%20H-800.pdf 1. Rig a Rope to the H-800 (Top-Up) and use a Tree Limb to hoise it up in the Air 35'-40' away from everything. 2. Put the H-800 On-Top of a 10' piece of PVC Pipe that is secured in a One-Foot Hole-in-the-Ground and is located 35'-40' away from everything. The AOR WL-500 is a very good In-Door SWL Antenna http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/sw_ant/0238.html http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/sw_ant/0796.html http://www.universal-radio.com/catal...t/0238sys.html http://www.universal-radio.com/catal...t/0238int.html http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/sw_ant/0238.pdf and for In-Door use would most likely be much better than the LF Engineering H-800 Skymatch Active Antenna. LF Engineering H-800 Skymatch Active Antenna is by design an Out-Side {Out-Doors} SWL Antenna and in an Out-Side Environment {Location} would have greater utility for both Fixed and Mobile use. hey it's just my opinion - iane ~ RHF |
LF Engineering H800 Skymatch
Comparing serial numbers on Wellbrook ALA 100, in a years time they
sold 3 of the version sold for North America. Their products are a bit pricey, even more so due to the weak dollar. Not only do they not have a North America outlet, but their UK outlet doesn't have a secure server. You have to fax your credit card number to the UK. If you don't mind hacking a bit, the ALA 100 is the way to go. If haven't checked lately, but when I got mine, it was the cheapest and the least expensive to ship. Further, it is very portable since the loop is whatever you DIY rather than some thing as big as a hulahoop. junius wrote: I haven't used the H-800 very much since switching over to a Wellbrook loop. It's a very good value, though. Doesn't get the attention it deserves, in my opinion. Well, the Wellbrook loops get some pretty nice reviews in Passport to World Band Radio. Given Wellbrook's lack of any distribution in the U.S. & Canada, it's sometimes a little surprising to see how many North American SW listeners on this newsgroup are using Wellbrook loops. Junius |
Considering the Par Electronics End-Fed Shortwave Listener's (EF-SWL) Antenna
Junius,
The Par Electronics End-Fed Shortwave Listener's EF-SWL Antenna is a very good Shortwave Listening (SWL) Antenna and I recommend it to any one who wants to get good results right out of the box by simply adding Coax Cable and a Ground. PAR Electronics EF-SWL Antenna Info : http://groups.google.com/group/rec.r...b0c1f933b5e495 POPCOM= http://www.popular-communications.co...landOct04.html MT= http://www.monitoringtimes.com/html/mt2003reviews.html eHAM= http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/3707 PAR= http://www.parelectronics.com/swl_end.htm UR= http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/sw_ant/2205.html GE= http://www.grove-ent.com/ANT8.html READ - PAR Electronics EF-SWL Antenna http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortw...a/message/1666 http://groups.google.com/group/rec.r...85739bddf54cc3 Setting-Up the Ground Connection READ: Par Electronics EF-SWL" End-Fed Shortwave Antenna http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortw...na/message/277 http://groups.google.com/group/rec.r...2c697b586250c4 Question - Do you have a 'portable' AM/FM Shortwave Radio ? Then Read Setting-Up a Par EF-SWL Antenna with a 'portable' AM/FM Shortwave Radio using an External Antenna 1/8" Mono-Jack Input. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortw...a/message/1649 READ - Lets Think : Out-of-the-Box {Ready-Made} Shortwave Listener (SWL) Antennas for a Minute. http://groups.google.com/group/rec.r...1e9554b3d7d7ee i have one setting right next to me in the box as i write - iane ~ RHF . . Tous Sont Bienvenus ! - - - Groupe par Radio d'auditeur d'onde courte pour des Antennes de SWL http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortwave-SWL-Antenna/ . Alle Sind Willkommen ! - - - Shortwave Radiozuhörer Gruppe für SWL Antennen http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortwave-SWL-Antenna/ . Tutti Sono Benvenuti ! - - - Gruppo Radiofonico dell'ascoltatore di onda corta per le Antenne di SWL http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortwave-SWL-Antenna/ . Todos São Bem-vindos ! - - - Grupo de Rádio do ouvinte do Shortwave para Antenas de SWL http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortwave-SWL-Antenna/ . Все *адушны ! - - - Группа оператора на приеме коротковолнового диапазона Radio для Aнтенн SWL http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortwave-SWL-Antenna/ . ¡Todos Son Agradables! - - - Grupo de Radio del oyente de la onda corta para las Antenas de SWL http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortwave-SWL-Antenna/ . = = = = = Translation = = = = = All are Welcome - - - To Join the Shortwave Listeners (SWL) Antenna Group on YAHOO ! http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortwave-SWL-Antenna/ . . .. . |
Considering the Par Electronics End-Fed Shortwave Listener's (EF-SWL) Antenna
On 19 Dec 2005 15:32:14 -0800, "RHF"
wrote: . . . . . $60 for a simple wire antenna? |
Considering the Par Electronics End-Fed Shortwave Listener's (EF-SWL) Antenna
On 19 Dec 2005 20:57:14 -0800, "RHF"
wrote: David - Per your two links : One RF Junkie SWLZ Balun = $16.50 45 Feet (#14 AWG @ 45/100 x $70) = $31.50 Total Cost $48 PAR EF-SWL Antenna = $58 david - you decide - iane ~ RHF . . . . 14g for an antenna? Try 22g. |
Considering the Par Electronics End-Fed Shortwave Listener's (EF-SWL) Antenna
David,
The Par Electronics End-Fed Shortwave Listener's EF-SWL Antenna uses 45 Feet of # 14 AWG Polyethylene Black Jacketed Flex-Weave Antenna Wire with 168 Copper Strands as it's Wire Antenna Element. FLEX-WEAVE = http://www.davisrf.com/ham1/flexweve.htm That was the basis of the above # 14 AWG comparison ~ RHF |
Considering the Par Electronics End-Fed Shortwave Listener's (EF-SWL) Antenna
On 20 Dec 2005 15:40:43 -0800, "RHF"
wrote: David, The Par Electronics End-Fed Shortwave Listener's EF-SWL Antenna uses 45 Feet of # 14 AWG Polyethylene Black Jacketed Flex-Weave Antenna Wire with 168 Copper Strands as it's Wire Antenna Element. FLEX-WEAVE = http://www.davisrf.com/ham1/flexweve.htm That was the basis of the above # 14 AWG comparison ~ RHF . Like I said, it's very nice. Probably overkill. I have a piece of Teflon insulated, tinned 22g strateched 125' across my backyard that's working just fine. Seems a thick wire like the 14g would require a heavier-duty suppourt arrangement. I just use nails and TyRaps. |
Considering the Par Electronics End-Fed Shortwave Listener's (EF-SWL) Antenna
David wrote: On 20 Dec 2005 15:40:43 -0800, "RHF" wrote: David, The Par Electronics End-Fed Shortwave Listener's EF-SWL Antenna uses 45 Feet of # 14 AWG Polyethylene Black Jacketed Flex-Weave Antenna Wire with 168 Copper Strands as it's Wire Antenna Element. FLEX-WEAVE = http://www.davisrf.com/ham1/flexweve.htm That was the basis of the above # 14 AWG comparison ~ RHF . Like I said, it's very nice. Probably overkill. I have a piece of Teflon insulated, tinned 22g strateched 125' across my backyard that's working just fine. Seems a thick wire like the 14g would require a heavier-duty suppourt arrangement. I just use nails and TyRaps. |
Considering the Par Electronics End-Fed Shortwave Listener's (EF-SWL) Antenna
David,
If that is what works for you then that is good enough. ~ RHF |
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