Fellow Topbanders,
I received this email note from Charles, S9SS (formerly S92SS) who gave
me (K1HTV) and many others a new country on 160 Meters. Charles is
transmitting station manager of the Sao Tome relay station of IBB,
the International Broadcasting Bureau which transmits VOA programming
to that region of the world. Also attached to the email were a few
pictures (not included here because of file size) of his new QTH and a
huge Baobab tree from which he plans to run a 'T-top' antenna on 160M.
Its nice to hear that S9 will soon be on the air again on the Top Band.
73 de Rich - K1HTV
dz@voa.gov
- - -
Charles writes:
Rich,
Lesley and I are back in São Tomé.
We were given the call signs S9YL and S9SS. That's same as last time
minus the "2".
I have begun work putting together a T-top for 160 meters.
The antenna itself should be a bit more efficient than the one I had
before. My supports will be taller, so I will have a longer vertical
radiator. I will also have a few hundred more watts of power.
My position, however, is not as good for the path to the states.
Previously, along that path I had only about a quarter mile of land
between me and the sea. This time, though I still live by the sea,
there are around 20 miles of intervening land along the path to the
U.S. before it reaches the sea.
You can tell your 160 meter friends that I expect to be QRV on that
band by the end of October. It remains to be seen how well I'll get
out from this new QTH on the VOA site.
73,
Charles - S9SS
(picture, not included)
S9YL at the Base of a Huge Baobab Tree That Will Support One End of
the T-Top
(another
picture)
I live in the house in the center. You can imagine how bad the
QRM is from those curtain antennas just across the street! You can
just make out the old HyGain TH-2 above the palms to the left rear
of the house.
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