Topband: Power Coupling, Verticals, etc.

[Bill Tippett]

        FWIW a few facts:

1.  BCS (VG ground) TOA 19 degrees, -3db @ 4 and 60 degrees.  
    High angle (90 degrees) down >10 dB from TOA peak (19 deg).
    Horizontal azimuth slightly stronger (<1 dB) in direction 
    opposite to top-loading wire.

2.  A l00' high dipole TOA 90 degrees, -3dB @ 36 and 144 degrees.
    Horizontal azimuth doesn't matter much since radiation is 
    straight up!
    
3.  VK is 5700 km farther to USA...at least one hop and ~6 dB 
    loss under classical models.

4.  K1B bearing to USA is 40 to 60 degrees true, putting it in 
    the area of -3.5 dB loss...not the -10 to -15 high loss area 
    (90-120 degrees) posted by NM7M previously.

5.  K1B high loss paths (90-120 and 270-300 degrees) would be 
    to South America and South/Central Asia.

I'm not sure how meaningful this makes any comparisons between VK
and K1B signals to the USA for proving anything other than the fact 
that VK is farther away.  As always, good verticals (BCS or 
Titanex) are the antennas that can always be counted on to perform 
well on Topband expeditions.  Low dipoles (yes 100' is low as it is
only 0.18 wavelengths high on 160) just do not cut it on 160.  If 
you are planning an expedition, please take a good vertical! 

                                          73,  Bill  W4ZV

P.S.  See info on Titanex and BCS below:

http://www.titanex.de/ (click on verticals)

TITANEX® Verticals are famous for their loud low band signals. 
Remember the signals of VK9CR, VK9XY, C56CW, FW2OI, S21XX, P29VXX, 
DL7DF/HR3, K7K (Kure), T31BB, 9M0C (Spratly), TJ1GB, ZL7DK, YJ0ADJ, 
FO0FI/FO0FR, 3B7RF, CN8WW, 3B9R, CE0ZY, A52A, D68C, 3G0Y and many 
others. 

http://www.pi4cc.nl/link/mkII.htm (scroll down to see BCS)

The BCS list is very long also (3Y5X, VK0IR, FO0AAA, K5K, XR0X, 
K1B are just a few that come to mind!)