[Mldxcc] The Daily Slogbook

[Rick WA6NHC]

With the help of a buddy over in NV who emailed then called me, I was 
able to work K1N on 160 meters tonight.  Those of you that have seen 
this antenna will be amazed (me too) that it worked.  It's barely off 
the ground, averaging 30' high.

He was the loudest we've heard on 160 all week.  But the EU crow was too 
easy, he didn't work much west of the Rockies for most of the evening.  
I though he had quit, but he came back, said UP 2 and I jumped back in.  
My second call and it was in the book.

Tomorrow (tonight) should also be an very good evening.  The rain noise 
is down, the lightning has moved off, the arcing insulators are cleaned 
off and the band was in pretty good shape.  You should try too.

Without the tuner, this dipole is nearly 17:1 on 160 AFTER going through 
a 4:1 common mode choke.  The tuner is only able to bring it down to 
2.15:1, which is mostly acceptable to the amp.  It allowed me to run 
~350 watts without faulting, but not one more watt input. I even dragged 
out the old Heath tuner and it wasn't able to do much better (it loads 
better without the choke, which was my next trick).

The point is, that if you have something that will load onto 160, there 
are a few nights left (the 14th is the last day).  If my meager station 
can manage, yours can too.  I'm about half way to filling the entire 
dance card (except on 6, which is no way).  It just takes time in the 
chair.

My score card is filling out.  If the 10 meter Q from today holds, I 
only need 30 meters for a band sweep (LOUD NOW but JA only, argh). I 
have all three modes too.  This simple dipole works out pretty darned well.

My theory:  If the HOA says no antennas, put up what you can, get the 
best ears (K3) and some power (KPA500) and see what happens.  I now have 
7 confirmed Q's with K1N (my #244) with 2 more pending.  As things slow 
down, it should get easier for the small pistols and cap gun stations.

Good hunting!

Rick wa6nhc