[SECC] More in common than different

[Gordon]

Good morning guys and gals.  This is my first post (of substance) though I
have been reading for quite a while now.  I am absolutely thrilled that we
got past the recent problems on the reflector.  For the first time in a long
time, I took the time to read everything everyone has written.  Enough of
that part.

NOW!  Antennas for working SS and other contests.  I can't really allude to
what I have done so far but I have read extensively over the past two years
trying to come up with something workable for the guy who cannot erect a
tower much less climb one.  Wire antennas seem to be the way to go to place
the signal in the most favorable direction.  One thought that comes to mind
is the MOXON 2 element beam made from wire and suspended from available
trees or masts.  It takes up less space than other normal sized antennas.

I remember reading in the Handbook many years ago about using three 2X4s for
a fairly sturdy mast.  Separating two of the pieces by 2X4 blocks and
sandwiching the upper piece between them at the top to get up to 30+ feet of
mast which can be either guyed or braced against the eaves of the house at a
convenient point.  Of course that's great for older OFs like me that can't
walk or climb very well.  500 feet of #14 insulated wire is less that $20.00
at Lowe's so that's the way I am going.....A Moxon for 20 and maybe for 40.
My present 5BTV vertical works fine for some things but is definitely NOT a
contest antenna.

Let's not write 10 and 15 off just yet.  I remember two years ago at Field
Day when 15 was wild until midnight here in Macon.  10 Meters worked fine up
until about 10:30 Sat night.  Then again, I may have had a pipeline because
it seemed as though I was on the DX (type) end of a never-ending pileup for
a few hours.  One never knows these days!

Gordon - K4OD
Macon, Ga
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bill Coleman" <aa4lr at arrl.net>
To: "Jeff" <w4dd at arrl.net>
Cc: <secc at contesting.com>
Sent: Sunday, October 01, 2006 6:12 PM
Subject: Re: [SECC] More in common than different


>
> On Oct 1, 2006, at 12:30 PM, Jeff wrote:
>
> > With
> > the CQWW and SS only weeks away, lets focus on that.  I'd like to
> > hear what
> > new antennas whet up recently and how they are performing.
>
> Hmm. SS is only a month away. I need to get busy!
>
> Here's my plan:
>
> 1) I have a 115 foot doublet at 35 feet fed with open wire. It's been
> up for several years now, but recently it has been giving me a
> problem -- the SWR shifts radically when transmitting more than a few
> watts.
>
> I'm not sure what's wrong, so I have two ideas:
>
> a) Rewind the remote balun. Theory is that there's arcing taking
> place between the bifilar winding of the balun. Instead of a Guanella
> design, I may shift to a W1JR design, which uses teflon coax instead
> of twisted wires.
>
> b) Replace the untuned doublet with a 80/40m trap dipole. Coaxial
> traps are pretty easy to design and build. I'm already using them in
> my 30/17m inverted V.
>
> 2) K2 has provision for a receive antenna. I plan a K9AY loop to be
> temporarily mounted over a small tree in my yard. There have been
> times when calling CQ on Phone that I have had trouble hearing the
> callers. I'm hoping the loop will help out on 40m and 80m.
>
> 3) It's not really for SS, but I have enough wire to put down four
> more 100 foot radials on the shunt. Need to get that down before the
> ARRL 160m.
>
>
> Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASEL        Mail: aa4lr at arrl.net
> Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!"
>              -- Wilbur Wright, 1901
>
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