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[CQ-Contest] SSE-Pointing Fixed Beam

Subject: [CQ-Contest] SSE-Pointing Fixed Beam
From: kg5u@hal-pc.org (Dale L. Martin)
Date: Fri Nov 28 19:35:53 1997
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A couple of weeks ago, I posted an inquiry to the=20
reflector asking if it would be beneficial to my=20
planned CQ WW operation to spin the fixed NW-pointing
A3 at 40' to the south to pick up the South America
contacts (there might be more of them on 10/15/20
for me than JA/UA0/HL, etc.).  My A3S at 70' at the
top (rotatable) of the tower could cover the other=20
directions.=20
Below are the responses I received.  This week,=20
I moved the antenna around to the SSE (I had=20
mentioned South, but really did mean SSE--HC8 will=20
just have to listen up harder for my calls). I=20
ran some tests today and it seems to work well.=20
However, due to a previous commitment, I'm not=20
able to get in the contest until later tonight.=20
=20
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=

Responses:=20

Dale- Just some musings on the problem: I don't know your propagation in
TX, but out here in San Diego we nearly never point a beam south. First,
most of the activity we hear is from EU (N-NE) and the Carribean (ESE =
from
us).  Second, the main activity from the south is LUs on 10M, and if 10 =
is
open, you'll work them anyway with almost any antenna pointed any
direction. We found out at our 6E2T Mexican site in Ensenada, with =
1000ft
hill ridge immediately to the south, that we lost virtually no southern
QSOs beacuse the 10M skip had such a high angle, probably normal
trans-equatorial propagation. You'll work the occasional TI and PJ =
anyway
(although there are supposed to be alot of PJs on now). =20
Here, a N-NW beam is good because, if there's any propagation, we run =
JAs
late in our day, or all night long on 20M, and often on 40M (but you =
only
have an A-3 w/o 40M kit, right?). These are bread and butter QSOs for us
left coasters since we don't get into EU as well as east coast. Also,
there used to be a lot of active Asiatic Russian contesters (UA0s)  that
we could work with even a dipole oriented toward N-NW direction. Anyway, =
I
guess I'm saying south isn't necessary as a fixed beam direction, as =
long
as you can point generally in that direction to catch LUs when 10M is
open. NE for EU and N-NW for JAs and UA0s would seem to be better
headings, if your propagation is anything like ours.=20
73, Larry N6NC (6E2T, XE2L, 6E2L contest teams; Pres. SCCC)
.......................
A great idea...depending on ur exact QTH, make sure it
covers the Caribbean so you can grab the quick M/M
QSO's while tuning the band.
73, Tom W4iU
........................
Dale,=20
This is commonly done, and you are right, the low antenna is the one to =
use
because the paths to the carribean and SA are mostly high angle paths.=20
To pick a direction, look at the map and figure out where the =
multipliers
are=20
and point the antenna right down the middle of them..Something like 130 =
or
135
degrees works from here....
A variation on this theme is to  stack two antennas with the low one=20
pointed to Europe and the NE USA.  That way you have a stack towards
the high volume high multiplier areas and cover everything else with the =

high one.=20
Jim
W0UO/5
........................

Yep, a Carib/SA antenna is a useful addition.
I find that my 40 ft high TH7 is often the BEST antenna to AFRICA,
and even Europe during midday and early afternoon, vs. TH6
and/or monobanders at 60 to 80 ft.
73 / GL,  Tom  N4KG
..........................
You might want to consider getting a WX0B stackmatch and "stacking =
them".=20
Northwest is not a bad direction since it's towards JA.  I would suggest
that you might be better off by pointing the lower one towards Europe =
and
trying them together that direction.  For the south stuff, you'll =
probably
be better off with the higher antenna anyway.  Most of the activity to =
the
south occurs later in the day and higher antennas are better then.
GL & 73!
Bob N5NJ
...........................
Not a bad idea, if you cant use it as a STACK with the high antenna,
then fixed south is a good compromise.  While South is not as important =
on
CW as on SSB, plenty of Carribbean stuff will be on as well as important
multipliers on the mainland of SA.  It saves wear
and tear on the big antenna.  I use a C3 at 50 feet as my multiplier
antenna and it stays south almost all the time, while my stacked TH6's =
are
at Europe 90 percent of the time and turned to catch Asians and
Pacific and a few Africans.  I only put the high antenna (90 ft) south
for the VP8 on SSB, all the other southern Qsos and Mults were
with the low antenna more or less fixed south.
73 Chas K3WW
............................
<<=20
Thoughts? Suggestions? Comments?=20
  >>

T's:    Sounds like a good idea
S's:    Is your tower 25/45 G - if so watch how tight you tighten things
since the legs are thinwall
C's:    Good Luck
oj
..............................
Dale, my 2 el quad is rotatable at top of 76' tower
and 3 el yagi is fixed on SE at 48' height for CQ WW
both covering 10/15/20.=20
Works FB for me.  This was my first time with this
configuration and it netted me a score in the SSB
CQ WW of 895,898 points.  I highly recommend it.
Next year I hope to have the low yagi rotatable
for greater flexibility.  GL with your decision and
results.
73 Ric Wo4o
wo4o@juno.com

=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D

Thanks to all who responded. =20
This should be a fun contest.=20

73,

Dale Martin, KG5U
kg5u@hal-pc.org
http://www.hal-pc.org/~kg5u

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</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>A couple of weeks ago, I posted an =
inquiry to=20
the <BR>reflector asking if it would be beneficial to my <BR>planned CQ =
WW=20
operation to spin the fixed NW-pointing<BR>A3 at 40' to the south to =
pick up the=20
South America<BR>contacts (there might be more of them on =
10/15/20<BR>for me=20
than JA/UA0/HL, etc.).&nbsp; My A3S at 70' at the<BR>top (rotatable) of =
the=20
tower could cover the other <BR>directions. </FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Below are the responses I =
received.&nbsp; This=20
week, <BR>I moved the antenna around to the SSE (I had <BR>mentioned =
South, but=20
really did mean SSE--HC8 will <BR>just have to listen up harder for my =
calls). I=20
<BR>ran some tests today and it seems to work well. <BR>However, due to =
a=20
previous commitment, I'm not <BR>able to get in the contest until later =
tonight.=20
</FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>&nbsp;</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000=20
size=3D2>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D<BR>Responses:=20
</FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Dale- Just some musings on the =
problem: I don't=20
know your propagation in<BR>TX, but out here in San Diego we nearly =
never point=20
a beam south. First,<BR>most of the activity we hear is from EU (N-NE) =
and the=20
Carribean (ESE from<BR>us).&nbsp; Second, the main activity from the =
south is=20
LUs on 10M, and if 10 is<BR>open, you'll work them anyway with almost =
any=20
antenna pointed any<BR>direction. We found out at our 6E2T Mexican site =
in=20
Ensenada, with 1000ft<BR>hill ridge immediately to the south, that we =
lost=20
virtually no southern<BR>QSOs beacuse the 10M skip had such a high =
angle,=20
probably normal<BR>trans-equatorial propagation. You'll work the =
occasional TI=20
and PJ anyway<BR>(although there are supposed to be alot of PJs on =
now).&nbsp;=20
</FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Here, a N-NW beam is good because, =
if there's=20
any propagation, we run JAs<BR>late in our day, or all night long on =
20M, and=20
often on 40M (but you only<BR>have an A-3 w/o 40M kit, right?). These =
are bread=20
and butter QSOs for us<BR>left coasters since we don't get into EU as =
well as=20
east coast. Also,<BR>there used to be a lot of active Asiatic Russian =
contesters=20
(UA0s)&nbsp; that<BR>we could work with even a dipole oriented toward =
N-NW=20
direction. Anyway, I<BR>guess I'm saying south isn't necessary as a =
fixed beam=20
direction, as long<BR>as you can point generally in that direction to =
catch LUs=20
when 10M is<BR>open. NE for EU and N-NW for JAs and UA0s would seem to =
be=20
better<BR>headings, if your propagation is anything like ours.=20
</FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>73, Larry N6NC (6E2T, XE2L, 6E2L =
contest teams;=20
Pres. SCCC)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>.......................</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>A great idea...depending on ur exact =
QTH, make=20
sure it<BR>covers the Caribbean so you can grab the quick M/M<BR>QSO's =
while=20
tuning the band.</FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>73, Tom W4iU</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 =
size=3D2>........................</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Dale, </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>This is commonly done, and you are =
right, the=20
low antenna is the one to use<BR>because the paths to the carribean and =
SA are=20
mostly high angle paths. </FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>To pick a direction, look at the map =
and figure=20
out where the multipliers<BR>are <BR>and point the antenna right down =
the middle=20
of them..Something like 130 or<BR>135<BR>degrees works from=20
here....</FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>A variation on this theme is =
to&nbsp; stack two=20
antennas with the low one <BR>pointed to Europe and the NE USA.&nbsp; =
That way=20
you have a stack towards<BR>the high volume high multiplier areas and =
cover=20
everything else with the <BR>high one. </FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Jim<BR>W0UO/5</FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 =
size=3D2>........................</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2><BR>Yep, a Carib/SA antenna is a =
useful=20
addition.<BR>I find that my 40 ft high TH7 is often the BEST antenna to=20
AFRICA,<BR>and even Europe during midday and early afternoon, vs. =
TH6<BR>and/or=20
monobanders at 60 to 80 ft.</FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>73 / GL,&nbsp; Tom&nbsp; =
N4KG</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 =
size=3D2>..........................</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>You might want to consider getting a =
WX0B=20
stackmatch and &quot;stacking them&quot;. <BR>Northwest is not a bad =
direction=20
since it's towards JA.&nbsp; I would suggest<BR>that you might be better =
off by=20
pointing the lower one towards Europe and<BR>trying them together that=20
direction.&nbsp; For the south stuff, you'll probably<BR>be better off =
with the=20
higher antenna anyway.&nbsp; Most of the activity to the<BR>south occurs =
later=20
in the day and higher antennas are better then.</FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>GL &amp; 73!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Bob N5NJ</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 =
size=3D2>...........................</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Not a bad idea, if you cant use it =
as a STACK=20
with the high antenna,<BR>then fixed south is a good compromise.&nbsp; =
While=20
South is not as important on<BR>CW as on SSB, plenty of Carribbean stuff =
will be=20
on as well as important<BR>multipliers on the mainland of SA.&nbsp; It =
saves=20
wear<BR>and tear on the big antenna.&nbsp; I use a C3 at 50 feet as my=20
multiplier<BR>antenna and it stays south almost all the time, while my =
stacked=20
TH6's are<BR>at Europe 90 percent of the time and turned to catch Asians =

and<BR>Pacific and a few Africans.&nbsp; I only put the high antenna (90 =
ft)=20
south<BR>for the VP8 on SSB, all the other southern Qsos and Mults =
were<BR>with=20
the low antenna more or less fixed south.<BR>73 Chas =
K3WW</FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 =
size=3D2>............................</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>&lt;&lt; <BR>Thoughts? Suggestions? =
Comments?=20
<BR>&nbsp; &gt;&gt;</FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2><BR>T's:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sounds =
like a good=20
idea</FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>S's:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Is your tower =
25/45 G -=20
if so watch how tight you tighten things<BR>since the legs are=20
thinwall</FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>C's:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Good =
Luck</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>oj</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 =
size=3D2>..............................</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Dale, my 2 el quad is rotatable at =
top of 76'=20
tower<BR>and 3 el yagi is fixed on SE at 48' height for CQ WW<BR>both =
covering=20
10/15/20.&nbsp;</FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Works FB for me.&nbsp; This was my =
first time=20
with this<BR>configuration and it netted me a score in the SSB<BR>CQ WW =
of=20
895,898 points.&nbsp; I highly recommend it.</FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Next year I hope to have the low =
yagi=20
rotatable<BR>for greater flexibility.&nbsp; GL with your decision=20
and<BR>results.</FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>73 Ric Wo4o<BR><A=20
href=3D"mailto:wo4o@juno.com";>wo4o@juno.com</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000=20
size=3D2>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<BR></FONT>&nbsp;</=
DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Thanks to all who responded.&nbsp; =
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>This should be a fun contest. =
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>73,<BR></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Dale Martin, KG5U<BR><A=20
href=3D"mailto:kg5u@hal-pc.org";>kg5u@hal-pc.org</A><BR><A=20
href=3D"http://www.hal-pc.org/~kg5u";>http://www.hal-pc.org/~kg5u</A></FON=
T></DIV></BODY></HTML>

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