Topband: 160 path

[by way of Bill Tippett <btippett@alum.mit.edu>]

Bob
I was on 160 at the same time Tom was.  As you investigate skewed path 
propagation and its association to auroral activity, crank this into your 
data bank for refrence.

 For receive I use a 2 element rotatable antenna with loaded elements. This 
is from what I have seen a lot like the Titenex unit. I first built it for 80 
m and then converted it to a 80/160.  The performance is close to a beverage 
but with the added feature that its rotatable.  The front to back seems to be 
about 20Db.  I have tried to determine the half power beam width with a low 
level signal generator in the near field but Im not convinced I have done 
this to any accuracy. I will say this much, its sharp enough to see a rapid 
drop off in signal strength very shortly after the start of rotation from the 
maximum reception point.   

Im not sure what you will make of this information however, I did not see any 
significant path skewing on the very same signals Tom is referring to.  When 
you speculate as to the auroral effect, or cause, of these skewed path 
signals, consider my latitude (21 north) and the diminished auroral effect at 
this latitude.  Unless Im way out in left field (not referring to my 
longitude of 157 west) I assume that reinforces your theory.  Or maybe its 
just some more useless info.

Aloha
Ron Ellis  KH6DV