[CQ-Contest] W6AM Pictures

[k3bu at optonline.net]

Sorry for messy post, switching to new email and browser,
here it is again cleaned up:

Jim, N6TJ writes:
> So, pretty much from early 1973 to Don's passing in June 1985, I operated 
> many contests from W6AM, and spent literally 100's of hours there -
> working on the station and listening to him and the history of ham radio.  
> Don was truly one of the pioneers (I think he got his first "license" in 1912).
> During the last couple decades of the W6AM rhombic ranch, it was 'only' 9 
> rhombics and 18 directions on 24 acres, 1234 ft above the Los Angeles Basin, 
> right on the edge of the Pacific.  During its heyday, Don's property was 120 
> acres with 13 rhombics and 26 directions. 

Thanks Jim!

Very interesting and W6AM was certainly an icon and unique "hamonized" commercial installation of rhombics. 

Would you care and remember to share some anecdotes about Rhombics performance vs. regular mortal's antenna installations?

I had Rhombic one summer, running FTDX400, and Kermadec expedition kept telling me that I was only NA station that they were hearing when the band was "dead" to NA. 

I believe Rhombics are performing quite a bit better than what modeling software would indicate (calculated gain vs. real life performance). 

Tesla RC has acquired 175 salty - marshy acre Rhombic farm on NJ coast and we are looking forward to resurect it, any advice and experiences are greatly appreciated.

73 Yuri Blanarovich, K3BU
Tesla RC, N2EE, NT1E

 


Yuri Blanarovich, K3BU