Anyone using K9AY receive antenna?

Dave - WB5NHL

I am planning a K9AY delta loop receive antenna for 160M. It would seem that the Flex 6000 preamplifier capabilities would mean I don't need the standard out board receive pre-amp. Any thoughts or experience?

K1UO Larry

Hi Dave,   I would say try the Loop first with just the Flex6K preamps.. You may well find that will be sufficient.  If not, then look into the external preamp solution.  I am not affiliated but the KD9SV dual Band preamp for 160/80 ( I think DXE sells these now) would be a perfect match.  I have used that on a variety of 160 meter RX antennas and it has a very good  low noise factor.

W5XZ - dan

Larry is right, of course....I use a pair of single element, rotary, smaller than average K9AY's on top band every day. Mine are only 140 ft ^2, physically configured as diamonds, with R + C terminations, to improve low angle front to back, per G3LNP.  They are 70' feet apart, fed 180 out, for east-west fill that i can't get with my hiZ 4sq.  EZNEC models indicate they are close to  -40 dbi, but I use a trick, hi-gain, 160 only, low noise prototype preamp from KD9SV. it 'works a treat', as the UK guys say, with the pair of loops. rx sigs rival those from my tx marconi, so no extra gain is needed at the rig.  Is that too much information?

now, to get JT9 playing on top band; preparing to unleash the demons, ha!

73, w5xz, dan

W5XZ - dan

dave, on second thought...

parlez-vous EZNEC? if so, I'd say if your K9AY gain is better than -20 dbi, the flex preamp will do..
ck it with an elevation plot, first...if not, you'll need extra horsepower...

of course, you don't HAVE to duplicate the k9ay wire dimensions exactly; you can make the loops any size you want.  Smaller elements DO have lower gain, of course. and pairs of loops, 180 out, are usually 6 db worse. but, you gain a bunch of RDF with the improved side rejection, with more than one loop.  See K4IQJ's most excellent dayton presentations...Dr. J has blessed my reactive termination idea (which was not particularly original)..

here, at least, on 1/2 acre in the suburbs, and working top band almost exclusively for 6 years, I find if the antenna has less than -45 dbi gain, you may get directivity, but you'll never hear the weak signals..

I'm stuck at 194 worked, 187 confirmed, on top band, FWIW...with a short, lossy marconi T for tx.

is that 'mo betta'?

73, w5xz, dan

W5XZ - dan

a single K9AY has lousy side rejection...which it worth a LOT, IMHO..

W9OY

When diversity gets going you should try each of those k9ay's on a separate Rx antenna input and grab the steering wheel.

W5XZ - dan

i wish i could, but only the dual SCU 6700 is going to support diversity, i think...
 my 6500 won't support it.

so, for now, i'll combine antennas externally the old fashioned way, with 'cross-fire' phasing, delay lines, magic-T's, etc..