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Long wire vs. G5RV/dipole
Need a little help here.
I've been using a G5RV for a number of years for my receivers and it does a very good job. But I notice that many folks here seem to prefer a long wire. Is there much difference between a long wire compared to a G5RV or dipole? And if using a long wi wouldn't a long wire need to be electrically matched to the receiver? Or, by using a G5RV, am I essentially using 1/2 of the antenna as a long wire (the center portion of the antenna jack on the receiver so to speak). Is one antenna really that much better than the other? As I said, I've been using a G5RV for quite a long time and I feel I can pick up just about the same things other folks do; so I don't believe changing to a long wire would dramatically improve my reception. But then again, I might be wrong. Any help would be appreciated in understanding the difference between the antennas a bit better -- if there is any. John |
Whatever works best for you should be what you use S. I think a long wire
would need to be matched, but the adavantage would show up in less noise and fewer images etc. A dipole tuned to the bands you most monitor has the same advantages. In some areas, a long wire may fetch more signal, but it also gathers more noise. I guess the best thing to say is that each kind of antenna has advantages, and some may be more advantageous than others in relation to the receiver. Strength and Honor "John" wrote in message om... Need a little help here. I've been using a G5RV for a number of years for my receivers and it does a very good job. But I notice that many folks here seem to prefer a long wire. Is there much difference between a long wire compared to a G5RV or dipole? And if using a long wi wouldn't a long wire need to be electrically matched to the receiver? Or, by using a G5RV, am I essentially using 1/2 of the antenna as a long wire (the center portion of the antenna jack on the receiver so to speak). Is one antenna really that much better than the other? As I said, I've been using a G5RV for quite a long time and I feel I can pick up just about the same things other folks do; so I don't believe changing to a long wire would dramatically improve my reception. But then again, I might be wrong. Any help would be appreciated in understanding the difference between the antennas a bit better -- if there is any. John |
JD,
The G5RV is a good Antenna and an Off-Shoot of the common Dipole. ALL TRANSMITTING THEORY ASIDE: * For SWLs think of the G5RV as a Dual Opposing Inverted "L" Antenna with common mode vertical (dual element) Leg. - Here the G5RV is more Omni-Directional. * For SWLs some specific Frequencies the Top Arms of the G5RV Antenna function like a Dipole that is 'cut' for that Band or Bands. - Here the G5RV is very 'directional' Dipole. Some G5RV WebSite Links: * G5RV Multi-Band Antenna - by Louis Varney [G5RV] http://www.qsl.net/aa3px/g5rv.htm http://www.astrosurf.com/lombry/qsl-g5rv.htm http://personal.brunnet.net/markf/g5rv-etc.html * G5RV Antennas - by Gaylen Pearson [WBØW] http://www.wb0w.com/g5rv/g5rv_antennas.htm * G5RV Plus - by RadioWorks http://www.radioworks.com/cg5rv.html (Using a 1:1 Balun and Line Isolator) * G5RV Antenna Radiation and SWR Scans - by Art Unwin [KB9MZ] http://www.roadkill.com/~unwin/G5RV.html http://www.roadkill.com/~unwin/gr/ * G5RV Antenna by Keith [WB2VOU] http://www.g3ycc.karoo.net/g5rv.htm * The G5RV Antenna System Re-Visited - by L. B. Cebik [W4RNL] Part 1: The G5RV on 20 Meters http://www.cebik.com/g5rv.html Part 2: The G5RV on All HF Bands http://www.cebik.com/g5rv2.html THE LONGWIRE ANTENNA FOR SWLs: The commonly called 'LongWire' Antenna is actually a "Random Wire" Antenna that is used by Shortwave Listener's. The most 'common' form of the Random Wire Antenna used by SWLs is the Inverted "L" Antenna. This Inverted "L" Antenna Configuration lends itself to the Low Noise Antenna design that was popularized by John Doty. Inverted "L' Antenna Reading List http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortw...na/message/374 "LOW NOISE SWL ANTENNA" - by Mark Connelly [WA1ION] http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortw...na/message/119 "Another Look at Noise-Reducing Antenna Systems" Inverted "L" Antenna as an 'available space' SWL Antenna http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortw...nna/message/54 "LOW NOISE SWL ANTENNA" - popularized by John Doty. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortw...enna/message/2 .. .. REMEMBER: "The Shortwave Antenna is 55.5% of the . . . Radio/Receiver and Antenna/Ground Reception Equation" http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortw...na/message/288 A Shortwave Antenna is "Equally" Important for Good Reception [.] .. .. iane ~ RHF .. Some Say: On A Clear Day You Can See Forever. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortw...na/message/502 I BELIEVE: On A Clear Night... You Can Hear Forever and beyond, The Beyond ! .. = = = (John) = = = wrote in message . com... Need a little help here. I've been using a G5RV for a number of years for my receivers and it does a very good job. But I notice that many folks here seem to prefer a long wire. Is there much difference between a long wire compared to a G5RV or dipole? And if using a long wi wouldn't a long wire need to be electrically matched to the receiver? Or, by using a G5RV, am I essentially using 1/2 of the antenna as a long wire (the center portion of the antenna jack on the receiver so to speak). Is one antenna really that much better than the other? As I said, I've been using a G5RV for quite a long time and I feel I can pick up just about the same things other folks do; so I don't believe changing to a long wire would dramatically improve my reception. But then again, I might be wrong. Any help would be appreciated in understanding the difference between the antennas a bit better -- if there is any. John .. |
David wrote:
It's been my experience that for listening to all the HF bands from 3 mhz meters through 25 mHz a big-ass long wire works better than anything else, on average. As a long wire (inverted-L) gets longer, it will become directional on the higher bands. This may not be desirable, depending on what direction you're trying to receive. -----= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =----- http://www.newsfeeds.com - The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! -----== Over 100,000 Newsgroups - 19 Different Servers! =----- |
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If he is using a full size G5RV (more likely an OCFD), he has already got
these problems. "starman" wrote in message ... As a long wire (inverted-L) gets longer, it will become directional on the higher bands. This may not be desirable, depending on what direction you're trying to receive. |
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(John) wrote in message . com...
(RHF) wrote in message . com... JD, The G5RV is a good Antenna and an Off-Shoot of the common Dipole. ALL TRANSMITTING THEORY ASIDE: * For SWLs think of the G5RV as a Dual Opposing Inverted "L" Antenna with common mode vertical (dual element) Leg. - Here the G5RV is more Omni-Directional. * For SWLs some specific Frequencies the Top Arms of the G5RV Antenna function like a Dipole that is 'cut' for that Band or Bands. - Here the G5RV is very 'directional' Dipole. Thanks for all the responses so far. Yeah, that "dual opposing inverted L" seems to make a lot of sense. And it is low noise. As for directional properties: I don't seem to notice any. Maybe I haven't bothered to experiment enough; but I've noticed that I seem to receive stations on a par with reception reports I've read here and other places. As for the top arms being "cut" for certain bands; again, maybe I haven't experienced all, but I seem to get all I can get on any band just as everyone else does. Anyways, those are just my observations. I have always been happy with the G5RV. Some day I'll need to get a bit more motivated and stretch out a really long wire and see what difference it makes at my location. Again...thanks to all the replies received. John .. JOHN, There is only way that you will be able to "KNOW For Sure" that your current G5RV Antenna is Omni-Directional or very Directional on various SW Bands. Take the G5RV Antenna down; and re-mount the G5RV Antenna perpendicular (90*) to it's former position. Then try listening to your old good stations and next Scan the SW Bands for new stations that you could not hear before. IF - The old Stations are 'weaker' and you are hearing NEW Stations: Then your G5RV is very Directional like a Dipole. However - If the old Stations 'sound-the-same' and you can not hear any New Stations: Then your G5RV is Omni-Directional. iane ~ RHF .. |
(RHF) wrote in message . com...
(John) wrote in message . com... (RHF) wrote in message . com... JD, The G5RV is a good Antenna and an Off-Shoot of the common Dipole. ALL TRANSMITTING THEORY ASIDE: * For SWLs think of the G5RV as a Dual Opposing Inverted "L" Antenna with common mode vertical (dual element) Leg. - Here the G5RV is more Omni-Directional. * For SWLs some specific Frequencies the Top Arms of the G5RV Antenna function like a Dipole that is 'cut' for that Band or Bands. - Here the G5RV is very 'directional' Dipole. Thanks for all the responses so far. Yeah, that "dual opposing inverted L" seems to make a lot of sense. And it is low noise. As for directional properties: I don't seem to notice any. Maybe I haven't bothered to experiment enough; but I've noticed that I seem to receive stations on a par with reception reports I've read here and other places. As for the top arms being "cut" for certain bands; again, maybe I haven't experienced all, but I seem to get all I can get on any band just as everyone else does. Anyways, those are just my observations. I have always been happy with the G5RV. Some day I'll need to get a bit more motivated and stretch out a really long wire and see what difference it makes at my location. Again...thanks to all the replies received. John . JOHN, There is only way that you will be able to "KNOW For Sure" that your current G5RV Antenna is Omni-Directional or very Directional on various SW Bands. Take the G5RV Antenna down; and re-mount the G5RV Antenna perpendicular (90*) to it's former position. Then try listening to your old good stations and next Scan the SW Bands for new stations that you could not hear before. IF - The old Stations are 'weaker' and you are hearing NEW Stations: Then your G5RV is very Directional like a Dipole. However - If the old Stations 'sound-the-same' and you can not hear any New Stations: Then your G5RV is Omni-Directional. iane ~ RHF Will depend on the band quite a bit though. Will always be pretty omnidirectional on the low bands, unless the antenna is real high in wavelength for the band used. "1/2 wave or higher" Max gain will be straight up for the usual heights involved. The G5RV acts pretty much as an 1.5 wl dipole on 20m, and should show broadside gain of 2-3 db over a 1/2 wave dipole. The maximum "clean" broadside gain will be at about 12 mhz. "appx 5 dbi". This is where the antenna is an extended double zepp. The pattern is X shaped on 20m, with less gain. On 21 mhz, you will see an X pattern with about 4.7 dbi in four directions. On 28 mhz, you have a six lobe pattern with max gain in four "x" directions. "about 4.6 dbi". But even with the lobes and gain, it's quite probable you wouldn't totally lose any station when turning 90 degrees, due to ground effects, metal in the area, etc, unless you found a fluke good null by chance. You could peak a few up though, and probably find a few good nulls, if you could rotate the antenna. The G5RV will act the same as any other 102 ft dipole, assuming no feedline radiation. "Which it shouldn't have". If I were to run a G5RV for all bands, I'd feed it with ladder line the whole way to the tuner. I'd dump the coax and choke. Just causes excess loss, and a quite larger chance of imbalance. MK |
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