One thing I've noticed as I get used to this directional
beam stuff (used all wires prior to Jan) is where to aim
the darn thing. I have calcs and a db to help me figure
out which way I should be aiming but I often find that
the direct route isn't. Longpath is obvious, but some-
times the strongest signal comes from 20+ degrees either
way. Two weeks ago I had a qso with a KL7 (real) from
South Carolina with my 7 elements on 10 pointed about
20 degrees. He and I were both 59+. That was after
poining right at him (great cirlce) and exchanging 55
at best.
So try turning your beam back and forth a bit. I also
discovered once that I wasn't aiming where I thought I
was - (no more true north!) my Hygain 'Pathfinder'
digital control lost power and forgot where north was!
Sometimes looking out the window to see if it is
pointing where you think it should be helps, too.
GL es 73!
-Brian n8wrl
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-towertalk@contesting.com
> [mailto:owner-towertalk@contesting.com]On Behalf Of Jonathan Kaplan
> Sent: Wednesday, October 13, 1999 11:34 AM
> To: Towertalk@contesting.com
> Subject: [TowerTalk] Elementary question about Skip
>
>
>
> OK Gang,
> Here's a question I feel I should know but don't. I just
> finished installing an expensive tower-antenna combo.
> It's a M2 40m dipole above a TH7DX on the top of a
> US Tower HDX555. Now, I'm pleased generally with the
> setup, except I can't figure out the following:
> I often get listings via the local DX Spotcluster, posted
> by local hams of interesting DX spots, but more often
> than not, I get nothing when I tune in. Now, I don't expecct
> to be able to hear an internet-gated spot posted by a ham in
> another state, but many of these spots are from hams within
> 50 miles of me. Can someone explain this phenomenon and
> what rule, if any, is there about the footprint on the ground
> of a DX skip?
>
> Thanks
>
> CUL
> Jonathan KO6XS
>
>
> --
> FAQ on WWW: http://www.contesting.com/towertalkfaq.html
> Submissions: towertalk@contesting.com
> Administrative requests: towertalk-REQUEST@contesting.com
> Problems: owner-towertalk@contesting.com
> Search: http://www.contesting.com/km9p/search.htm
>
--
FAQ on WWW: http://www.contesting.com/towertalkfaq.html
Submissions: towertalk@contesting.com
Administrative requests: towertalk-REQUEST@contesting.com
Problems: owner-towertalk@contesting.com
Search: http://www.contesting.com/km9p/search.htm
|