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
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