It sure was nice to be able to actually copy --- and to WORK! --- all those
European stations last night for a change...
Up until now, for the past week or more anyway, it seemed that only the fellows
on the east coast, and a select few from the mid-west, were able to
consistently work DX...it was like this part of the country was in some kind of
a propagation "hole", or something! Even VK3ZL, who is normally a VERY
comfortable copy here most mornings, has been just a faint whisper blended in
with the band noise of late...
Update on the antenna system: I added four more 1/8-wave radials beneath each
of the two existing phased inverted "L" antennas, for a total now of 16 per
element...next up is the raising of the third "L". It'll be supported by an
existing tower, suspended from a pulley/mast at the 50' level...
As all of my "...friends and associates"(!) have proven to be no-shows in the
climbing department --- I fear (quite literally, actually) that the odious task
of climbing the thing to string the support rope through the pulley shall fall
(no pun intended) upon me. I am NOT looking forward to the task, but I am
anxious to see how three elements might play on the band, set-up tri-angle
style...that will surely serve as inspiration to get the deed done, more than
anything else...
~73~ Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ
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