Antennas an opinion W9VNE
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1. I have 67 years of operating experience.
2. I have used full sized yagis, some times stacked on 40 up through 10. Some were owned at my own station and others were available as a guest. I am a CW OPERATOR. A couple of friends were deep into antennas. They did not want to operate contests. So I was asked to operate on CW to see how their stations measured up. 3. I have not used a gain antenna on HF in almost 30 years. I have 370 DXCC Mixed total. I never have missed a DXCC entity that I needed in those 30 years. 4. When I moved to my current QTH 30 years ago I threw up a wire (1/4 wave) with 2 radials for 30 meters. That was my 1st antenna at the new QTH. I woke at 4 AM and found a pile up on 30 meters on a H44 DX pedition. They kept calling CQ plenty of answers but they did not reply to anyone. Well after about 5 minutes I called once. Amazed when they answered me. 5. Location is the most valuable criterion at a station. If you are fortunate to have a good location you really can compete. I am on the shore of the Ohio River East of the city of Cincinnati. I am about a half mile from that river. The River has cut a swath for hundreds of miles. Over 220 degrees I am 400 feet above that river. The River is 400 feet above Sea Level. My tower is 45 feet above ground. It is all down hill over that 220 degrees from my QTH. 6. On 160 I had an Inverted L with 30 radials 30 feet long each. Ran 500 watts and worked DXCC in 4 months. Beat out a friend who has a 4 square and thousands of feet of radials on 160. He ran three times my power. One morning I worked 3 JA s while he waited. He lives 90 miles from me. 7. I use a triband rotary dipole at 45 feet For 30 years. The important thing is I can rotate it. On LP on VK I ususally get 1 S unit better than the others. Still 500 watts. My Point ? MY 67 years of experience: L O C A T I O N is the best thing you can have. Not being close to Salt Water being on a hill is the best alternative. It has worked for me. I have had locals call me on the telephone. Can you hear JT1CO on 80 ? Let me see. Yup 2 calls and I am in his log. Antenna ? A 35 foot top loaded vertical. My buddy 25 miles away could not even hear the JT. He tried calling listening over my telephone. That did not work. Other similar occurrences too. Get a good location. Some are way better. Flat land sucks. 73 Jim W9VNE Sent from my iPhone ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [hidden email] |
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I strongly agree.We've operated FD many times from mountaintops and won
QRP 1A Battery. It's like having a VERY VERY tall tower. 73, Jim K9YC On 3/15/2020 11:47 AM, Jim Danehy wrote: > L O C A T I O N is the best thing you can have. Not being close to Salt Water being on a hill is the best alternative. ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [hidden email] |
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Which is why we Midwesterners are always at a disadvantage against you
brethren in the Rockies and the Appalachians -- on two scores: 1) Height above sea-level is greater on a mountaintop than in a corn field (didn't know that, did you). 2) Temperatures are cooler and humidity is lower on a mountaintop than in a corn field (another revelation). But we like challenges. On occasion, a buddy and I have been known to win QRP multi-op honors from prairie picnic tables on blistering summer afternoons, and a decade or so ago saw our club win 3rd in the nation in a similar QRP 1A Battery Field Day. But who's bragging. Fun has many definitions. 73, Kent K9ZTV On 3/16/2020 1:50 PM, Jim Brown wrote: > I strongly agree.We've operated FD many times from mountaintops and > won QRP 1A Battery. It's like having a VERY VERY tall tower. > > 73, Jim K9YC > > On 3/15/2020 11:47 AM, Jim Danehy wrote: >> L O C A T I O N is the best thing you can have. Not being close to >> Salt Water being on a hill is the best alternative. > > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[hidden email] > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Message delivered to [hidden email] -- This email has been checked for viruses by AVG. https://www.avg.com ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [hidden email] |
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Try being 20 ft with sandy soil. Hot and humid.
On Mon, Mar 16, 2020 at 14:35 KENT TRIMBLE <[hidden email]> wrote: > Which is why we Midwesterners are always at a disadvantage against you > brethren in the Rockies and the Appalachians -- on two scores: > > 1) Height above sea-level is greater on a mountaintop than in a corn > field (didn't know that, did you). > > 2) Temperatures are cooler and humidity is lower on a mountaintop than > in a corn field (another revelation). > > But we like challenges. > > On occasion, a buddy and I have been known to win QRP multi-op honors > from prairie picnic tables on blistering summer afternoons, and a decade > or so ago saw our club win 3rd in the nation in a similar QRP 1A Battery > Field Day. > > But who's bragging. Fun has many definitions. > > 73, > > Kent K9ZTV > > > > > On 3/16/2020 1:50 PM, Jim Brown wrote: > > I strongly agree.We've operated FD many times from mountaintops and > > won QRP 1A Battery. It's like having a VERY VERY tall tower. > > > > 73, Jim K9YC > > > > > On 3/15/2020 11:47 AM, Jim Danehy wrote: > >> L O C A T I O N is the best thing you can have. Not being close to > >> Salt Water being on a hill is the best alternative. > > > > ______________________________________________________________ > > Elecraft mailing list > > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > > Post: mailto:[hidden email] > > > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > > Message delivered to [hidden email] > > > > -- > This email has been checked for viruses by AVG. > https://www.avg.com > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[hidden email] > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Message delivered to [hidden email] Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [hidden email] |
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In reply to this post by KENT TRIMBLE
I can't speak for our bretheren in the Rockies, but most of the people
in my part of the Appalachians live in the valleys with mountains around us. I don't live there now but I did grow up there. Utilities, especially water, are very expensive on mountaintops and icy roads in the Winter are deterrents. Also, electric storms in the Summer are terrifying. Jim - W4BQP K2/100 #2268 On 3/16/2020 3:32 PM, KENT TRIMBLE wrote: > Which is why we Midwesterners are always at a disadvantage against you > brethren in the Rockies and the Appalachians -- on two scores: > > 1) Height above sea-level is greater on a mountaintop than in a corn > field (didn't know that, did you). > > 2) Temperatures are cooler and humidity is lower on a mountaintop > than in a corn field (another revelation). > > But we like challenges. > > On occasion, a buddy and I have been known to win QRP multi-op honors > from prairie picnic tables on blistering summer afternoons, and a > decade or so ago saw our club win 3rd in the nation in a similar QRP > 1A Battery Field Day. > > But who's bragging. Fun has many definitions. > > 73, > > Kent K9ZTV > Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [hidden email] |
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This thread brings to mind that we can always think of ways our situation
could be better, but it is still true that any antenna is better than no antenna. I know many folks have better locations than mine, and FAR better antennas, but that has not kept me from having tons of fun, and fairly good DX success. In my HOA limited neighborhood, here in Indiana flatland, I have a 30' Flag Pole vertical over mostly clay. That has been my only antenna for about 9 years. For the first 5 years I had 2000' of radials with my antenna tuner in the shack. For the last 4 years I have had 3000' of radials and a tuner at the base of the antenna. I have not worked everything I have called, but have managed to confirm 303 countries including 84 on 160 and 1745 on DXCC Challenge. Friends tell me I am very fortunate... I agree. I knew I could get on the air, but I am having greater success than I expected and therefore tons of fun. I have seen some folks delay putting up an antenna for years because they could not decide what would be the very best antenna. I say learn what you can... put up something... and improve on it over time if you are able. Dave - K9FN On Mon, Mar 16, 2020 at 4:03 PM Jim Campbell <[hidden email]> wrote: > I can't speak for our bretheren in the Rockies, but most of the people > in my part of the Appalachians live in the valleys with mountains around > us. I don't live there now but I did grow up there. Utilities, > especially water, are very expensive on mountaintops and icy roads in > the Winter are deterrents. Also, electric storms in the Summer are > terrifying. > > Jim - W4BQP > K2/100 #2268 > > On 3/16/2020 3:32 PM, KENT TRIMBLE wrote: > > Which is why we Midwesterners are always at a disadvantage against you > > brethren in the Rockies and the Appalachians -- on two scores: > > > > 1) Height above sea-level is greater on a mountaintop than in a corn > > field (didn't know that, did you). > > > > 2) Temperatures are cooler and humidity is lower on a mountaintop > > than in a corn field (another revelation). > > > > But we like challenges. > > > > On occasion, a buddy and I have been known to win QRP multi-op honors > > from prairie picnic tables on blistering summer afternoons, and a > > decade or so ago saw our club win 3rd in the nation in a similar QRP > > 1A Battery Field Day. > > > > But who's bragging. Fun has many definitions. > > > > 73, > > > > Kent K9ZTV > > > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[hidden email] > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Message delivered to [hidden email] Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [hidden email] |
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