Just a quick one here folks / antenna A is the DXE-RF-PRO-1B from DX Engineering – good stuff! / antenna B – A Random Wire / And antenna C is the Scanking HF Discone 0.05 To 2000 MHz Antenna from Nevada Radio (UK)
The antennas vary widely in cost and mounting practices – and there are performance differences – this post is simply to show a quick look at all three – performance wise with the same signal / same radio / same time – a snapshot so to speak.
The difficult part about testing different antennas is having to disconnect and connect coax over and over to change antennas – SDRUNO makes it as simple as the click of the mouse.
Three antennas and the capability to compare them side by side through the software switching in SDRUNO – Having Fun NOW!
These are all at 7.425mhz – 1015 UCT ( 5:15 am CDST / 02AUG25 ) in Sioux Falls SD
The loop – @25.4 SNR ( oriented map east to west )
The random wire – @23.1SNR ( oriented app. 100 degrees to 280 degrees axis )
And the discone – @25.9SNR – ( it’s omnidirectional )
The interesting difference is the noise floor – at this moment – with these conditions – at this frequency – variables really make this stuff fun – LOL! – the comparison testing is going to be a hoot! The obvious out of the box winner – “Bang For the Buck” – is the random wire. A simple 10 meters of wire strung out to the shed – done as right as it could be . . .
I have read several reviews on the discone -some folks knocking it for being somewhat deaf on HF ( 500khz to 30mhz ) – however I’m finding it performs in a decent fashion for me – remember variables – location ( in your yard/garden as well as geographic location – where in the world YOU are ) / mounting height / frequency / conditions and so on – and on – and on . . .
I will do three quick posts detailing each antenna and how they are installed and then try to do a few more comparisons showing the differences between them.
Bruce – What is this SNR thing you speak of? – Simply put Signal to Noise Ratio is the percentage of signal strength over the noise floor – noise floor is the background noise at any given frequency and consists of a combination of two things – natural noise and man made noise – and yes there are acronyms for both.
If you are interested in taking a trip down that particular rabbit hole <<Click Here>> and take a trip through Q Codes compliments of WIKI. and if you do go down the rabbit hole – say Howdy to Alice for me – And you can CLICK HERE to watch the whole movie . . .
Have Fun! – Run the Gun! – and remember – Fish Heads are Cheap!!
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