Bill, a question about your 160 meter antenna. I have learned from the wise
old-timers on this message board that a vertical antenna with broad-banded
behavior is a lossy antenna. Same with a vertical antenna that shows 1:1
match.
Verticals with good efficiency have sufficient ground radials/counterpoise
and present approx 30 ohms impedance and therefore do not provide a 1:1
match (I think it's about 1.5:1 or something like that). In addition, the
efficient verticals are not broad-banded. Dipoles yes, verticals no. Also,
if your antenna is not a vertical on 160, then as you know it will be an
even bigger challenge to work DX on TopBand.
Please share more details?
Mark Lunday, WD4ELG
Greensboro, NC FM06be
wd4elg@arrl.net
http://wd4elg.blogspot.com
-----Original Message-----
From: K4OWR [mailto:k2owr@comcast.net]
Sent: Saturday, December 05, 2015 2:41 PM
To: Mark Lunday; topband@contesting.com
Subject: Re: DX on 160, was: Topband QRP WAS
:::: Ok. That explains my experience in so few DX contacts. I'll change that
immediately; although I do enjoy ragchewing with other similar interest
hams. I find CW cumbersome for that since it breaks down simple conversation
into one letter at a time; but the weak signal benefits are huge.
Now all I have to do is commit to going up to the shack (about 150' up the
hill) in the relative dark and cold much later in the evening, or as you
guys recommend before sunrise.
I do not leave the heat on up there so it will be very cold here on a
Tennessee morning :-) In the meantime I look forward to working you guys and
will fire up between 1820-1840 from now on. My antennas are set for 1:1 swr
at about
1860 but are fairly broad for some lucky reason. I do not use antenna
tuners, especially on 160 where I find them to be a fire hazard with my big
amp :-)))) Thanx for all the terrific info!!
BILL K4OWR
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