Ekco A182 restoration. An Ekco vanity set? - Page 2 - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Gabe001 · 1st Dec 2022, 2:06 pm

Can anyone advise on how to make best use of the shortwave bands? My shortwave reception tends to alternate between periods of clear reception and interference that wipes out the entire band. Is this normal? Also, is a standard wire aerial ok?

cathoderay57 · 2nd Dec 2022, 9:23 am

Hi Gabriel, SW reception varies depending on time of day and solar flare activity that influences the ionised layers of the upper atmosphere. Higher frequency bands, 16-19m, are best during daylight and the lower frequency ones, 41-49m, during night-time. A directional loop aerial followed by a wideband RF amplifier is your best bet. These are directional and so can be rotated to null out local sources of interference (to some extent). You can buy commercial examples of loops, the best ones being quite expensive. Some of the cheaper variety work acceptably. Search the Forum since there has been quite a bit of discussion of these, also some homebrew examples. A long wire aerial will work; that's all I use most of the time but it really needs to be outdoors because indoor interference devices are now so numerous. Cheers, Jerry

Hartley118 · 2nd Dec 2022, 9:35 am

In our residential area, I find a long wire too effective at picking up the switch-mode PSU interference field seemingly radiated from every house. As a result, I now always use a loop aerial, which is effective at rejecting the interference. Mine’s a commercial one (Wellbrook), but a search of this forum suggests various home brew types.

Martin

Nickthedentist · 2nd Dec 2022, 10:07 am

Paul Sherwin described the use of a ferrite rod aerial from a scrap transistor set: https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...read.php?t=579

Gabe001 · 2nd Dec 2022, 12:21 pm

Thank you for the suggestions.

I'm familiar with Paul's thread and I had enquired about it with Paul directly a few months ago. I'll build it, it should be easy enough. I just need to get my hands on a spare transistor radio chassis with SW/MW/LW so that I can use the parts (ferrite rod and tuning cap) I'll put a request out in the appropriate section.

cathoderay57 · 2nd Dec 2022, 10:52 pm

I'd be interested to hear how well it works on SW since most of the projects I've seen have been limited to LW and MW. I did come across this one https://swling.com/blog/tag/ferrite-antennas/ but my feeling is you'd be better off with a mag loop, swmbo permitting of course! Jerry

1st Dec 2022, 2:06 pm	#21
Gabe001 Octode Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: Stockport, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 1,258	Re: Ekco A182 restoration. An Ekco vanity set? Can anyone advise on how to make best use of the shortwave bands? My shortwave reception tends to alternate between periods of clear reception and interference that wipes out the entire band. Is this normal? Also, is a standard wire aerial ok?

2nd Dec 2022, 9:23 am	#22
cathoderay57 Nonode Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Bristol, UK. Posts: 2,161	Re: Ekco A182 restoration. An Ekco vanity set? Hi Gabriel, SW reception varies depending on time of day and solar flare activity that influences the ionised layers of the upper atmosphere. Higher frequency bands, 16-19m, are best during daylight and the lower frequency ones, 41-49m, during night-time. A directional loop aerial followed by a wideband RF amplifier is your best bet. These are directional and so can be rotated to null out local sources of interference (to some extent). You can buy commercial examples of loops, the best ones being quite expensive. Some of the cheaper variety work acceptably. Search the Forum since there has been quite a bit of discussion of these, also some homebrew examples. A long wire aerial will work; that's all I use most of the time but it really needs to be outdoors because indoor interference devices are now so numerous. Cheers, Jerry

2nd Dec 2022, 9:35 am	#23
Hartley118 Nonode Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Cambridge, Cambs. UK. Posts: 2,091	Re: Ekco A182 restoration. An Ekco vanity set? In our residential area, I find a long wire too effective at picking up the switch-mode PSU interference field seemingly radiated from every house. As a result, I now always use a loop aerial, which is effective at rejecting the interference. Mine’s a commercial one (Wellbrook), but a search of this forum suggests various home brew types. Martin __________________ BVWS Member

2nd Dec 2022, 10:07 am	#24
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,083	Re: Ekco A182 restoration. An Ekco vanity set? Paul Sherwin described the use of a ferrite rod aerial from a scrap transistor set: https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...read.php?t=579

2nd Dec 2022, 12:21 pm	#25
Gabe001 Octode Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: Stockport, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 1,258	Re: Ekco A182 restoration. An Ekco vanity set? Thank you for the suggestions. I'm familiar with Paul's thread and I had enquired about it with Paul directly a few months ago. I'll build it, it should be easy enough. I just need to get my hands on a spare transistor radio chassis with SW/MW/LW so that I can use the parts (ferrite rod and tuning cap) I'll put a request out in the appropriate section.

2nd Dec 2022, 10:52 pm	#26
cathoderay57 Nonode Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Bristol, UK. Posts: 2,161	Re: Ekco A182 restoration. An Ekco vanity set? I'd be interested to hear how well it works on SW since most of the projects I've seen have been limited to LW and MW. I did come across this one https://swling.com/blog/tag/ferrite-antennas/ but my feeling is you'd be better off with a mag loop, swmbo permitting of course! Jerry