Generally signal strength is much lower on the k9ay than the vertical however, the noise floor is substantially lower as well the signal to noise is often much better the preamp is operable below 7 mhz only in some situations the vertical antenna is better. As for all lowgain antenna, there could be some noise incursion common mode issues. Obviously to support folding, either the antenna wire has to move along the ends of the arms or i have to detach the antenna wire from the base. Martin francis ndb k9ay mast revised th july, 2004 main dx pages. Listen to this file with the new controller version. Test results by k5qy have confirmed the utility of these suggestions. The antenna is designed as a portable antenna, for setup during winter months. If you wish to see my whole detailed circuit, look here pdf. The relays are large, 12 vdc units which do not have the best contacts. The k9ay loop is meticulously built, and works very well. A lot of info can be found on internet, and especially in the must read low band dxing by on4un. In the future we will be publishing successive mp3 files from 4sq k9ay. Some observations on the k9ay receive directional antenna tom mcdermott, n5eg january 12, 2010 the k9ay antenna is a popular, compact receive directional antenna commonly used on the 80 and 160 meter amateur bands to improve the signaltonoise ratio 1. One very popular receive antenna is the beverage, which is essentially a very long wire usually about 68 above the ground.
K9ay 80160 meter switchable loop antenna system after operating a couple 160 meter contests last winter, i realized i needed to do something to improve my receiving performance. The k9ay comprises of an antenna control unit and two antenna head units. The ayl4 consists of two units, an indoor control box and an outdoor. Microsoft word this is how the k9ay receiving antenna works 9c. Jan 30, 2017 the k9ay is a receiving loop antenna that works well on the lower frequency bands. It consists of a wire loop of any convenient shape diamond, delta, etc, hung from a single support and with a ground rod at the bottom. To compensate, the preamplifier provides 15 db gain, with a filter that passes approximately 1. As there is much literature on the net about this antenna, i will not publish it here, but just provide some pictures on my construction. The user supplies the necessary wire loops, mast, leadins, etc. Although very effective, beverages are often 500 to long, so are not practical for hams with small lots. Mediumsized low band rx antenna solutions gary breed, k9ay expanded version of a presentation at the w9dxcc convention september 15, 2007, elk grove village, il with the low bands benefitting from the current sunspot minimum, receive antennas are important for dxers, contesters and other active amateur radio operators.
The k9ay terminated loopa compact, directional receiving. It resembles a delta loop, but is a very good directional receiving antenna. Locating your k9ay loops since you have chosen a small receiving antenna, it is likely that your transmitting antenna will be nearby. The drawing provided above are of a k9ay loop tested at sites in billerica, ma and east harwich, ma during 1999. Seems very few people have anything good to say about them. Installation instructions ayl4 4way k9ay loop system. I did modify my proii so the receive antenna is disconnected during transmit and the problem went away. Large metal objects affect the antennas performance, so install it in the clear. For our contest group pa6z we needed some good receiving antennas for the low bands 160m, 80m and 40m. When the preamplifier is switched off, the filter is also bypassed, and the antenna may be used on any frequency. A directional eh antenna for hf thank you to frank sessink pa0fsb for submitting to us his document describing the k9ay loop antenna pdf, which is the antenna that he successfully uses with his rtlsdr for hf reception. It belongs to the family of the small loops, like flags and pennants, but it needs a ground connection. The k9ay loop is ideal for larger arrays, since it has already has a directive pattern.
Wish you had enough room for an effective lowband receiving antenna. Instead of a wire return to complete a transmission line path, the ewe relies on earth. His web site url was posted on the k9ay yahoo group. The k9ay behaves just like two short sloped verticals with the same phase shift. Mark connelly, wa1ion south yarmouth, cape cod, ma, usa rev. Remember, in the antenna control box, there are 2 grounds. As a lowband fan, i was impressed with the ewe antenna developed by floyd koontz, wa2wvl. The bbl1 broadband loop is a scaleddown version of this antenna. Lowband operators are always looking for ways to improve their hearing. Some people have assembled this antenna, but have had difficulty in achieving an acceptable. This link is listed in our web site directory since saturday dec 14 20, and till today the minik9ay antenna has been followed for a total of 674 times. Ive chosen to use a waterproof multiconductor plug to enable quick detachment of the antenna wires from the k9ay control box that will be located at the base of the antenna. The operators unit provides a rotary nulling control and a five position. Ham radio antenna books and publications category is a curation of 11 web resources on, electromagnetic waves and antennas, ideas and projects for qrp, p j grimshaw.
About the mini k9ay antenna the resource is currently listed in in a single category. Fasten the antenna wires effectively the top guys first, and let the nylon ropes dangle better still, tape them to the sides of the mast temporarily before you start, so the wind doesnt make. Download the original paper pdf document from k9ay here. This monograph provides a couple of suggestions that may improve the operation of the antenna.
I have no room for beverages in fact several honest suppliers like k1fz and n0tt told me dont bother and directed me to this loop, so this was my only choice for a real receiving antenna with some theory behind it. Other useful information would include your experience with similar products, infomation on a product that you would purchase instead of this one, and so on. How to build the k9ay loop, by gary breed, array solutions. My current k9ay is an amalgamation of parts removed from various equipment. There are hams who have built 4squares of k9ay loops. This antenna system is the only broadband phased k9ay to offer a unidirectional pattern similar to the beverage, over 360 degrees with electronic null optimisation. Ive chosen to use a waterproof multiconductor plug to enable quick detachment of the antenna wires from the k9ay control box. About the minik9ay antenna the resource is currently listed in in a single category.
View and download the shield schematic and pcb kicadeagle cad files, librecad. The case of declining beverageon ground antenna performance. Other useful information would include your experience with similar products, infomation on a product that you would purchase instead of. With this setup i have the option of choosing the best.
Transmitting antennas, power lines, towers and other nearby large conducting objects can reradiate signals that are coupled to the receiving antenna. This system provides a cardioid directional pattern in four different directions. Hf switchingmatching antenna six to two switch antenna six to two switch 2 triplexer ver. Terminated loop basics the k9ay loop is one of several published designs that use a terminated loop to get a directional pattern in a small space. This year jurek sp3gem prepared the sn3a station for 80m cw in such a way, that i was able to listen the set of 8 beverage antennas on one and 4 sq k9ay on the other radio using the audio switch stereo, radio 1, radio 2 driven by the wintest keyboard. Also, as i remember from topband reflector post, it is quite common to make mistake connecting even single k9ay antenna. The main category is k9ay loop antennas that is about k9ay loop antennas. Frank extends the idea by showing a method that can adjust the directivity electrically. Like all small antennas, the k9ay loop is much less efficient than your transmitting antenna or a beverage receiving antenna.
The k9ay terminated loopa compact, directional receiving antenna. Wellbrook k9ay phased array 500khz to 2mhz the wellbrook k9ay phased array is a sophisticated broadband antenna system, designed for enhanced mw and 160m ham band reception. Yes, i finally got around to putting up a k9ay loop. Rx antena 4way rx antenna switch k9ay loops k9ay loop feeder with bpfs and preamp rx antena beverages and wire antennas acessories. Model ayl4 4way k9ay loop system this is the popular k9ay receiving loop, as described in the september 1997 issue of qst, the k9ay terminated loopa compact, directional receiving antenna. It works well enough, but id love to get one of these units into the control box at the base of the antenna. The antenna combines magnetic h and electric e field reception in order to create a directive radiation pattern. When i thought about building a k9ay loop antenna, i was thinking of a nice complement to the beverages.
By gary breed, k9ay the 1 directional receiving antenna owband operators are always looking for ways to improve their hearing. A 1015 db broadband amplifier is selected by a front panel switch on the control unit. K9ay loops wish you had enough room for an effective low. Gary breed, k9ay, developed a receive loop system that takes up very little space. Comments the switchable receive antenna is a nice addition. Asayl4 mw kit ayl4 mast and wire kit description includes six mast sections of 4 ft effective height 44. While outwardly appearing different, the ewe operating mechanism is no different than a flag, pennant, or k9ay. Antenna modeling files american radio relay league. By gary breed, k9ay lowband operators are always looking for ways to improve their hearing. A metal mast can be used, but make it only as long as necessary and insulate it from ground. Describe your experience with the asayl4 the true k9ay dx antenna with optional wiremast kit and tell us why you give it the rating you did required.
To get a larger version, click on the drawing above. Martin francis ndb k9ay mast revised th july, 2004. The k9ay terminated loopa compact, directional receiving antenna wish you had enough room for an effective lowband receiving antenna. So, connecting particular box with their respective k9ay antenna gives another chance to make mistake. We believe open source is a better way of doing things. K9ay loop faqs rf feedback and rx front ends my radio is an ic756proii, driving an alpha 76a amplifier 1500 watts out and i did have feedback from the loop that distorted my transmit signal. The ewe, pennant, flag and others all operate using the same principle as the k9ay loop, and they all provide a cardioid pattern with one deep null. Rowley, ma pdf dxp5a lab test data zipped excel medium frequency amplifier circuits compared. Modular antenna switch antenna six to one switch antenna six to one switch kit antenna one to.
Kennedy n4gg a fabulous power point document about his k9ay. It is usually mounted on the roof of a car for seaside dxpeditions of brief duration. Placing an antenna very close to or in the soil drastically reduces the resonant. The wellbrook k9ay antenna consists of two chassis mounted in substantial plastic boxes. K9ay loops wish you had enough room for an effective lowband. K9ay interfacing connecting the k9ay antenna requires a dedicated receive antenna port on your rig. The k9ay antenna is a small antenna configured like a loop, with one end grounded. The tentec orion has such separate receive antenna port to protect the front end of the rig from damaging currents when transmitting, frontend protection similar to that sold by array solutions is needed. For example, two k9ay loops will have a far better directive pattern than is possible with two omnidirectional verticals.
Thank you to frank sessink pa0fsb for submitting to us his document describing the k9ay loop antenna pdf, which is the antenna that he successfully uses with his rtlsdr for hf reception. I took this in stages by playing with the pennant loop with vactrol circuit first. I maintain that this is the best possible arrangement, and in this case the. This link is listed in our web site directory since saturday dec 14 20, and till today the mini k9ay antenna has been followed for a total of 674 ti. Here some observations regarding this upgrade, in no particular order. In addition, the control unit consists of a direction switch 8 directions, 4 directions for the 2loop version, an omni switch to select all loops, and a nulling control. The k9ay antenna output is defined as between the ground stake and the active end of the loop, and the connections to the receivers 400 ohm antenna input were only 200mm long.
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