From: "Mike Dennison" <mike.dennison@rsgb.org.uk>
To: rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org
Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 13:00:23 -0000
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Subject: Re: LF: M0BMU - First week on LF
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G0MBU wrote: 

> Many thanks to all the stations who have worked me during the last 
> week or so, for the very warm welcome I have received, and their 
> patience with my patchy morse capabilities! It has made all the 
> work involved in getting on LF thoroughly worthwhile.
> 	
> TX: 100W from VFO & modified Maplin mosfet audio amp - manual 
> CW only at the moment.
> 
> Antenna: Inverted L, 30m long and 5m high, two wires in top 
> section, joined at feed end and spaced 4m apart at far end.
> About 8 ground rods spread around garden. Matching by adjustable 
> series loading coils, and multi-tapped ferrite cored transformer. 
> Aerial current 1.4A
> 

Congratulations on your first week's operating. We haven't worked 
yet, but no doubt will soon as I am your nearest local.

Actually, I'm insanely jealous as you are already getting the same 
reports as me and it took me two years to get to that level - and all 
with just 100W and a low antenna. And 1.4A from a 100W Tx? My 
200 watter produces 1.7A so your antenna must have a lower 
impedance than mine. I suspect the proximity to Brookman's Park 
BBC helps as you may well be benefitting from the earth mat and 
possibly even some parasitic radiation from the masts/antennas 
(for those that don't know, it is an MF station with verticals and a big 
Marconi T).

Anyway, congratulations on a good start and welcome to the 
friendliest band there is.

> I have also been playing with 10m telescopic fiberglass poles, of 
> the same type shown on GW4ALG's web pages, to prop up the 
> middle of my antenna and so gain a few metres. Like Steve, I 
> found these whipped about in the wind a lot, but  have now guyed 
> them using monofilament "strimmer line" from a garden shop, tied 
> round the antenna wires with no further insulation. These were not 
> harmed by operating in the rain either, even with the key held down 
> continuously for 30 seconds. 

I have used this mast at home and portable, and its insulating 
properties are very good indeed. I did not need to use additional 
insulators with it.


Mike, G3XDV (IO91VT)
http://www.dennison.demon.co.uk/activity.htm