Use of a 3rd Kiwi


Edward (W3ENR / K3WRG)
 

(With an embarrassed grin) I just had a stroke of luck and was able to pick up a 3rd Kiwi very affordably.  Assuming it checks out on arrival, how to use it?

My present station is pretty simple.  A single mag loop feeds two Kiwis. 

With a third Kiwi, what should I emphasize, bearing in mind I can't do everything and don't have an unlimited budget?

a) Band diversity - try to set up a 2200m antenna and maybe better 630m antenna ... or perhaps dedicated VHF.
b) Antenna diversity - feed it with an EFHW and have a second channel on major bands (CPU limitations here if doing FST4W, or maybe drop FST4W on some bands, e.g. 60m, 10m)
c) Remove nulls ... a bit similar to b ... but put another mag loop on it, oriented to catch the nulls of the current one.
d) Directionality - new antenna per b, but target an azimuth.  (I'm not a competitive WSPRer though, I aim for competence, not domination.)


Rob Robinett
 

I would emphasize antenna diversity.
That is how most top spotting sites like Tom WA2TP and Steve KD2OM use their bank of Kiwis

On Fri, Jul 8, 2022 at 3:06 PM Edward Hammond <manager@...> wrote:
(With an embarrassed grin) I just had a stroke of luck and was able to pick up a 3rd Kiwi very affordably.  Assuming it checks out on arrival, how to use it?

My present station is pretty simple.  A single mag loop feeds two Kiwis. 

With a third Kiwi, what should I emphasize, bearing in mind I can't do everything and don't have an unlimited budget?

a) Band diversity - try to set up a 2200m antenna and maybe better 630m antenna ... or perhaps dedicated VHF.
b) Antenna diversity - feed it with an EFHW and have a second channel on major bands (CPU limitations here if doing FST4W, or maybe drop FST4W on some bands, e.g. 60m, 10m)
c) Remove nulls ... a bit similar to b ... but put another mag loop on it, oriented to catch the nulls of the current one.
d) Directionality - new antenna per b, but target an azimuth.  (I'm not a competitive WSPRer though, I aim for competence, not domination.)



--
Rob Robinett
AI6VN
mobile: +1 650 218 8896


Jim Lill
 

I like choice b) but not a EFHW

On 7/8/22 18:06, Edward Hammond wrote:

(With an embarrassed grin) I just had a stroke of luck and was able to pick up a 3rd Kiwi very affordably.  Assuming it checks out on arrival, how to use it?

My present station is pretty simple.  A single mag loop feeds two Kiwis. 

With a third Kiwi, what should I emphasize, bearing in mind I can't do everything and don't have an unlimited budget?

a) Band diversity - try to set up a 2200m antenna and maybe better 630m antenna ... or perhaps dedicated VHF.
b) Antenna diversity - feed it with an EFHW and have a second channel on major bands (CPU limitations here if doing FST4W, or maybe drop FST4W on some bands, e.g. 60m, 10m)
c) Remove nulls ... a bit similar to b ... but put another mag loop on it, oriented to catch the nulls of the current one.
d) Directionality - new antenna per b, but target an azimuth.  (I'm not a competitive WSPRer though, I aim for competence, not domination.)