Hello James , M0BMU,
Many thanks for the contact yesterday.
As a matter of interest I have been QRT for about 2 months now but have
re-erected an LF antenna again. Perhaps you might be interested in what I am
using.
Basically it is a 4 wire horizontal antenna using electricans earthing
wire. Length 90 metres overall. Total amount of wire in antenna 360
metres.
The support system consists of the following........
I have a 10 metre wooden pole ( ex street light pole) with a metal pole
protruding at the top to which I have joined a horizontal 3 metre steel
pole with 4 insulators spaced 2 on each side of centre. Across the
field next door ( farmer agreeable to my having antenna strung across it )
I have
the 4 wires running to another pole, again with 4 insulators which
terminate each of the 90 metre wires.
This end is supported by a rope slung over the limb of a large oak tree
and hauled up to about 8 metres.
At the feed end the wires come together 12 metres beyond the high support
and drop about 20 feet
at an angle of 45 degrees to the shed window , where it feeds through the
wooden window frame to the
ATU coil. To bring to resonance, the loading coil has a value of 950 uH.
The appears to be strong similarities between my antenna and John G4GVC,
whose antenna is essentially horizontal as well. I will be very interesting
to note how the antenna performs in the light of the strong debate on high
verticals and if reasonably successful, could give encouragement to those
who cannot or don't want to erect large verticals. John G4GVC has had
great success with his, so lets hope I can work a bit of DX with mine.
Thanks again for the pleasant qso.
Bye the way Mike G3XDV has done wonders to his signal, sounds superb, good
copy, thanks Mike for the qso last night.
73's Finbar EI0CF Malin Head.
-----
Original Message -----
From: James Moritz <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: 18 February 2000 11:27
Subject: LF: Thursday night conditions - DL1SAN's ANT
Dear LF Group,
Was very pleased to work EI0CF and SM6PXJ on 136kHz
normal CW last night, both for the first time.
The fading on signals on the band was very noticeable - Finbar
started off as 439 and was 559 by the end of the QSO. Christer's
signal was the other way round - starting at 549 and almost
disappearing at the end of the QSO. I have tried to work both
Finbar and Christer on several occasions before, but with no
success, so it seems these 'rapid fading' conditions are good for
me, anyway.
I am still running 100W into an inverted L at about 8m average
height - but in spite of this, and somewhat sporadic operating, I
have been able to work about 30 different stations in 8 countries
since last December. I would encourage anyone who likes the idea
of 136kHz operation, but who is put off by not having a huge
antenna or transmitter, to have a go anyway - you can still have an
interesting time with quite modest means.
Interesting to see how DL1SAN's inverted V antenna works out - I
presume he intends to tune it up as a short dipole - It would be very
interesting if he could also try it as a top-loaded vertical, for
comparison. That should add some fuel to the low angle versus
high angle debate. If Wolf tunes it up as a dipole, he will certainly
need a well insulated feeder!
Cheers, Jim Moritz
73 de M0BMU
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