In a message dated 2/9/2001 02:04:01 Eastern Standard Time,
Jan.E.Holm@telia.se writes:
>
> Didn´t K3BU make the statement that his razor was 10 dB better
> then the 6L KLM and the KLM was 10 dB better then the 5L Telerex?
> Result would be that the razor thing was 20 dB better then the
> Telerex, and 30 better then a dipole would follow the same reasoning.
> Why pick on W8JI, I saw this in print myself , so Yuri if you feel
> like picking on people you might as well pick on me too.
Let me again explain or underline what I was saying.
I didn't say "that his razor was 10 dB better then the 6L KLM" and I didn't
say that this was real, actual and measured gain figure between those
antennas.
I said in the last email trying to explain what "kind" of 10 dB:
" I said in real life tests. That means real antennas, with real stations,
with real (inaccurate) S-meters, but being able to detect differences.
Averaged over period of time, numerous tests, various directions, that was
the rough result. BTW KLM 6 el. Big Stick showed also about 10 dB advantage
over 5 el. Telrex. This is what it means, real life, not with scientists in
white coats. This was the final verification of performance in real life with
all those imperfections that take part."
Again, this does not mean there was 10 dB difference between the antennas as
it would be measured on the antenna test (or software) range, comparing it
under the same conditions. There was 10 dB (roughly, averaged) reported by
other stations when we did comparisons on the air, and as I mention with
imperfect S-meter and other goofy things that go on in situation like that,
but it is real life and that is what stations around the world reported.
Tests were run between VE3BMV (Razor at 106 ft.) VE3HGN (6 el. KLM at 145 ft)
VE3FFA (KLM at 80 ft) VE3MR (Telrex at 100 ft).
So, please don't twist it around and do not interpret it to anything
other than what I am describing. This is to illustrate how things translate
into real life, band situations - that perhaps 3 dB of real gain, can "cause"
10 dB differences in our imperfect radio world at the other end.
I am sure that many have noticed that their signals "jumped" in strength
more dB than they should have been according to "book gain". Some has to do
with peculiarity of ionosphere in propagating our signals. Here we are
touching another subject that I was "wrong", but I will leave it out.
For those who care to read further, I would illustrate few (anecdotal)
cases that made me feel good about performance of Razors.
VK0 on Heard Island, blew the finals (6146s), transmitted through them as
a capacitor running just 12BY7. I was the only one in NA who could hear him
and I worked him.
K1MM, when he fired up from Spratley, I was first NA station on the first
page in his log. Rest of NA got through abt 2 hours later.
When W2PV (stacked Telrexes on Bertha, 3 stack monobanders on 200ft
tower) kept calling CQ at the early band opening to Eu, had small pileup of
station calling them, without responding to them. I heard them about S2,
being few miles behind him.
The funniest report we got was from one Italian: VE3BMV - bomba atomica,
five nine plus twony, VE3HGN - five nine plus ten, VE3MR - 59 (I got it on
tape).
Typically I found that "my propagation" was extended by 1 to 2 hours as
compared to other non-Razor stations.
Last, the contest results (which put kinda figures on performance of
one's station) showed about 40% jump in my scores as compared to other
"junky" antennas I had.
I know there are many factors taking part in real life, but I never
experienced similar situations with my TH6, nor anyone around me with
monobanders.
> Now, if those razor whiz things are so good why not publish the
> data? If I would have come up with something that good I would
> have been proud to publish it.
> In any case, clames like the above I don´t belive at all, they belong
> in
> some kind a dream world, ohhh just remembered that back in the
> seventies smoking weed was very common in the states, hmmmm
>
> 73, Jim SM2EKM
OK, you asked for it.
I was proud of Razors, to me it was what Galileo must have experienced, the
whole new world out there. It made me think about propagation theory in the
books, I did some thinking, observation and came to some conclusions, that
perhaps not very accurately, but I put it down on paper in my article about
"Conductive propagation theory".
(see the CQ article on my home page:
http://members.aol.com/ve3bmv/index.htm)
CQ Magazine published the "faded" photos (twice on the covers) of Razors, I
gave a talk at Dayton Hamvention, have it on my QSL cards. I didn't keep it
secret, those who got curious and wanted to try them out, I supplied the
dimensions, free for asking, against nondisclosure agreement and few were
built. As I mentioned before, I considered them my proprietary designs, my
"secret" weapon in beating the competition in the contests and I can do with
them what I choose to.
Just to shed some light on my "weird" personality, I consider ham radio
precious hobby/sport. (I have lot to thank to radio, saved my life, helped to
find my first love, helped professionally and was source of tremendous
satisfaction, without directly making buck from it.) I have seen some of my
friends poisoning the ham radio for themselves by getting into the ham radio
business. I realized that I wouldn't want to work with radio stuff for x
hours a day, and then come home to my hobby - (radio again). I am very
serious about contesting (the only thing that still keeps my interest in ham
radio) and I design, build equipment and operate contests to find out how
good I can be. The "glory" to me is to see my callsign on the top of the
listing. I share my findings, but I like to keep some edge.
Maybe when I get to a point when I can't hack the contesting anymore, and
will have time to write things up, I will reveal my "secrets." Those who
ridicule me, are free to experiment and find out on their own, you got better
stuff? Lets see you beating my stuff in the contest. I always admire and
learn from those who beat me. They stimulate me to do better.
When I get CQ Magazine with contest results and see my call on the top, I
light up fine cigar by the fireplace, enjoy it and contemplate what else can
I do to do better in the next one. That is my reward and "glory" (and respect
from those who were beaten :-)
I got hell from Steve for getting personal. So this is my last posting on
the subject.
It seems that people misread and misinterpret what I am trying to convey (my
no good English?). I don't care what anyone thinks, I am not looking for
"recognition" nor to prove something. I saw statements, I commented on them
from my experience and what I know. If someone doesn't like or doesn't
believe it, he can go and complain to the post office.
See you in the next contest with some new Razorticals! Believe what you want!
I am not selling anything, just wanted to share MY experiences.
Sorry if I caused any problems.
Yuri, K3BU, VE3BMV, VE1BY
Tesla RC N2EE, NT1E
"who needs towers with verticals on the beach"
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