Even though my Butternut is not up now at the home
QTH, (I left it with VP9ID on my last trip there in 3/93),
I'd like to share some observations of the Butternut on 80.
In Bermuda, the Butternut was installed on the roof of a house
with only 2 radials on 80m (they were full 1/4 wave, however).
When I returned to my home QTH, Glen let me hear the
difference between the vertical and his G5RV...."woefully
inadequate" is an understatement. Even with only 2 radials,
the signal from the vertical was 10 dB louder than the G5RV.
BTW, the G5RV was only 30 feet above ground ..... lesson
for me: horizontal antennas on 80 need to be "high"
(> 90 ft) to be effective.
I never used the Butternut on 80m from my home QTH, as
I have a 1/4 wave sloper array that works reasonably well.
So, I can't make any comparisons from this end.
For the ARRL DX contest, I centered the SWR curve on
3.8 MHz. For the WPX, I would suggest about the same
frequency. I don't think they'll be many stations above
3.850 MHz in the contest, and you don't want to miss the
chance to snag the high-point dx QSO's below 3.8 MHz.
Interesting story from my last trip to VP9 (3/92): I was
tuning around the bands at 5 pm after just getting the
antenna up. I was listening on 80 meters, and out of
the blue I hear UF6?? (can't remember suffix, it was one
of the "regulars" though) calling CQ around 3.795. I
called a couple of times with my barefoot TS820 and
he couldn't copy me. The interesting thing is that I
didn't hear any Europeans, VE1's, W1's, etc. calling him.
He kept CQ'ing and finally QRT'ed. What a catch (for me
anyway) on 80 SSB!
Good luck to all in the WPX contest this weekend.
Good luck to me in getting some time to get on the
air! (Current plan if XYL can put up with it is to go
single band 40m.)
73, Tom WB4IUX
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From: hq.tgv.com!tgv.com!cq-contest-relay
To: cq-contest
Subject: 75 meter segment
I have 90 kHz worth of 75 meters available on my butternut
vertical. What is the best center frequency for the WPX
contest this weekend? You can tell that I do not operate
to much 75M contests, the g5rv is woefully inadequate. Hears
great, speaks softly. BTW, I may combine my two 30L1's and
feed it, using the SB220 for eliminate crossover distortion.
.... .. .... ..
See ya in the contest, 73 de Bob - ND1H ...-.-
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