X-GM-THRID: 1203438430927278879 X-Gmail-Labels: rsgb lf X-Gmail-Received: 4cbb73171547d9bfe191770777eb1fab8764979c Delivered-To: daveyxm@gmail.com Received: by 10.54.72.5 with SMTP id u5cs1266wra; Mon, 15 May 2006 10:24:35 -0700 (PDT) Received: by 10.78.29.13 with SMTP id c13mr671317huc; Mon, 15 May 2006 10:24:35 -0700 (PDT) Return-Path: Received: from post.thorcom.com (post.thorcom.com [193.82.116.20]) by mx.gmail.com with ESMTP id o53si7157836nfa.2006.05.15.10.24.34; Mon, 15 May 2006 10:24:35 -0700 (PDT) Received-SPF: neutral (gmail.com: 193.82.116.20 is neither permitted nor denied by best guess record for domain of owner-rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org) Received: from majordom by post.thorcom.com with local (Exim 4.14) id 1FfglI-0006C6-Pp for rs_out_1@blacksheep.org; Mon, 15 May 2006 18:21:40 +0100 Received: from [193.82.59.130] (helo=relay2.thorcom.net) by post.thorcom.com with esmtp (Exim 4.14) id 1FfglI-0006Bx-AB for rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org; Mon, 15 May 2006 18:21:40 +0100 Received: from post-22.mail.nl.demon.net ([194.159.73.192]) by relay2.thorcom.net with esmtp (Exim 4.51) id 1FfiHP-00055C-Hm for rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org; Mon, 15 May 2006 19:58:59 +0100 Received: from ndb.demon.nl ([82.161.81.65]:21735 helo=pcroelof) by post-22.mail.nl.demon.net with smtp (Exim 4.51) id 1FfglD-000Mut-7U for rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org; Mon, 15 May 2006 17:21:35 +0000 Message-ID: <002901c67843$ff9d5200$2201a8c0@pcroelof> From: "Roelof Bakker" To: References: <003c01c67744$f08f9160$2201a8c0@PC2> <001a01c6777d$448fa600$2201a8c0@pcroelof> <043e01c67799$8ccbb5a0$7900a8c0@athlon1200> Date: Mon, 15 May 2006 19:21:27 +0200 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2900.2869 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.2869 X-Spam-Score: -0.4 (/) X-Spam-Report: autolearn=disabled,AWL=-0.422 Subject: LF: Re: Re: T/A May 14 Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="Windows-1252"; reply-type=response Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 2.63 (2004-01-11) on post.thorcom.com X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, hits=0.0 required=5.0 tests=none autolearn=no version=2.63 X-SA-Exim-Scanned: Yes Sender: owner-rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org Precedence: bulk Reply-To: rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org X-Listname: rsgb_lf_group X-SA-Exim-Rcpt-To: rs_out_1@blacksheep.org X-SA-Exim-Scanned: No; SAEximRunCond expanded to false Status: O X-Status: X-Keywords: X-UID: 5378 Hello Dave, Yes, I will be using a BFR96 solely for being better adapted to SMD mounting. So far I have had no problems in sourcing 2N5109's in the Netherlands. They are still widely available in Europe. Regarding your remarks on the feedline contributing to reception; that gives rise to an interesting question. I have only used non metallic poles with my mini-whips, because they were available and much easier to handle. However, I received a few questions on the use of metalic poles. Someone told me that an active whip will stop working when the coaxial feedline is tied to a metal pole or runs inside. I have performed a few tests on a short ( 4 feet high) metal and fiberglass pole. I have used groundwave signals from DCF39, 138.830 kHz, 575 km and the carrier of NDB ONO-399.5, Oostende, Belgium, 399.500 kHz, 59 km. Test # 1, metal pole, coax cable taped to the pole. DCF 39: -74 dBm ONO-399.5: -79 dBm Test # 2, metal pole, coax cable extended horizontal, 4 feet high DCF 39: -64,5 dBm ONO-399.5: -72 dBm Test # 3, fiberglass pole DCF 39: -55 dBm ONO-399.5: -69 dBm Test # 4, fiberglass pole, shield of the coax cable grounded at the bottom of the mast (copper earth stake, 3 metre long) DCF 39: -51,5 dBm ONO-399.5: -71 dBm Received on a SPM-30 and a 20 dB tuneable pre-amplifier. The differences in signal strength between a conductive and a non-conductive mast are large; at 138.830 kHz 19 dB and at 399.5 kHz 10 dB. Thus, it seems to be good practice to use a non-conductive mast. Test # 4 is interesting. Connecting the shield of the cable at the bottom of the mast, gives a 3.5 dB stronger signal at 138.830 kHz. However, at 399.5 kHz the signal level is 2 dB less. I have not a simple answer for what is going on here. From the bottom of the mast to the house the feedline is 11 metre long. The shield is connected to a groundstake somewhere in between and before entering the house. Inside the house the coaxial cable is 6 metre long. To simplify matters, I will repeat these tests with my battery operated SPM-3 and a short length of coax. Best regards, Roelof Bakker, pa0rdt