Topband: Re: Low Topband Dipole/Propagation Outlook

[Thomas Giella KN4LF]

Thomas KN4LF Said:
I worked my first 100 DXCC countries on 160 meters in two winters using 100
watts and a dipole at 35 feet from central Florida. It's the second 100 that
require a good vertical and more power.

Bryce KH6AT Asked:
Why

Thomas KN4LF Says:
  The first 100 DXCC entities comment was a generality, it could be the
first 125 or so depending on your QTH. To answer why? At least from here in
Central Florida we are close to Central and South America, plus we are near
or reasonably near countries with large ham populations like Canada and
England and also propagationally favorable countries like South Africa and
Australia. Contacts that can be made on a low dipole and 100 watts.
   After that you are then going after Mongolia, India, The Philippines,
etc. plus DXpeditions. Contacts like these need higher power and better
transmit antennas to be able to bust a pileup
and good receive antennas become much more important also.
  At my last QTH I had highly conductive soil in the near field and swamps
in the Fresnel Zone and no QRN at all, so my electrical 1/2 wave T vertical
could hear very well. Stations from England and Australia were routinely S9
to +10 over but I could not hear Mongolia, etc. until I put in a beverage
receiving antenna.
  By the way if I may be allowed to add, I began my detailed HF/MF radio
propagation outlook again yesterday. In the previous 3 years it was on a 7
day basis but now I am producing it on a daily basis. It is published every
morning around 1400 UTC and be found on the Internet at
http://www.kn4lf.com/kn4lf5.htm .

73,
Thomas F. Giella
Space & Atmospheric Weather Forecaster
C/S KN4LF
4208 Thackery Way
Plant City, FL, USA 33566
EL87WX

KN4LF 160 Meter Amateur Radio Resources & More:
http://www.kn4lf.com/kn4lf.htm





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