Hi Bill, Both the solar flux index and the sunspot number are proxy measures of ionizing extreme ultraviolet radiation, the 10 nm wavelength of UV radiation that ionizes the E and F layers of the ion
Hi Arthur, Persistent high speed solar wind speed contains significantly more kinetic energy than transient high density solar wind. High density solar wind is a transient event of solar wind origin
Hi Jeff, Micro arcing can be excited by just a few volts of RF. While micro arcing probably is n't a fire risk, micro arcing radiates low level phase noise on transmitted signals. This is can cause a
Hi Andy, Your new end-fire array sounds excellent! How are your two elements constructed? What is the end-fire phase delay between your two elements? Are the end fire elements actually 125 meters apa
Want to help FEMA help those in need? Here's an on-call job with the FEMA Reservist program as an HF Operator: www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/585313700 73 Frank W3LPL _________________ Searchable
Of course Lee is absolutely correct. Many 160 DXers who have had difficulty with receiving antennas have given up too easily during the troubleshooting process. 73 Frank W3LPL -- Original Message --
Flexible coaxial cable jackets are easily damaged by careless handling, by mice and other vermin, by improper installation on a tower, or by not bonding the coax to the top and bottom of the tower wh
Hi Nick, W3LPL was multi-single, we spent very limited time on Topband except to chase multipliers. We worked 160 QSOs, 21 Zones and 70 countries on Topband Conditions appeared to be normal to Europe
Preventive maintenance methods should be employed to detect faults in contest stations and antennas before they impact competitive results. Its not that time consuming with modern, inexpensive tools
Geomagnetic storm watches are in effect from 9-11 December , due to coronal mass ejection (CME) effects from a direct CME collision with the Earth's magnetosphere on 9-11 December. The CME eruption w
The electron gyrofrequency (1.6 MHz or less) causes 160 meter signals propagating more-or-less east-west at mid-latitudes to strongly favor vertical polarization. 80 meter propagation only slightly f
Several topbanders have had both horizontal dipoles at various heights -- including both very low and very high -- and high performing vertical antennas that we could compare on the air in real time.
Horizontally polarized receiving antennas should be very low, so that they discriminate very effectively against both local vertically polarized RFI as well as atmospheric noise propagated via the io
Topband Guru W4ZV wrote an excellent comparison of the relative merits of vertical and horizontal antennas on 160 meters. Bill's excellent: "You can never have too many antennas!" is often quoted wit
Its a fool's errand to use only antenna modelling software to evaluate the complexity of topband transmitting antenna performance. Why is that? Antenna models do not take into account polarization mi
Hi Dan, An inverted-L with one elevated radial has lots of room for improvement, almost anything will improve what you now have. How much improvement you can achieve is mostly determined by site limi
Hi Dan, Your small lot is an ideal candidate for K2AV's folded counterpoise. Contact K2AV for guidance, he's helped countless successful users. www.k2av.com A few clarifications regarding radials and
Hi Clive, A second resonant radial is a good idea, but not because it might cancel horizontally polarized radiation. Why? Because -- just like a Beverage -- a horizontal wire close to the ground has
Hi Jim, That simply makes the radiating part of the vertical taller and elevates feed point. Its known in professional antenna engineering circles as a sleeved monopole with elevated feed point. The
Hi Fred, A single 300 foot Beverage has excellent front-to-back ratio but very broad 150 degree 3 dB beamwidth on 160 meters, A 580 foot Beverage has approximately 80 degree 3 dB beamwidth, and it wo