Topband: Receive antenna pattern.

[Steve Flood]

I don't think modeling will not tell you much at all about antenna pattern 
at ground level over real ground - which is essentially what your trying to 
measure empirically with your receiver and GPS setup.  Isn't the important 
part of your receiving pattern the information at angles above ground level, 
including such metrics as "directivity factor".

Steve - KK7UV

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bruce" <k1fz at myfairpoint.net>
To: <Topband at contesting.com>
Sent: Monday, May 31, 2010 5:02 PM
Subject: Topband: Receive antenna pattern.


> Remember modeling only tells you what your receiving antenna pattern may 
> look like.  With the help of a GPS and portable reviver with an S meter, 
> you can get a better idea of what the pattern really is.  First put your 
> coordinates  of your receive antenna into the GPS, Feed a small amount of 
> power into your receive antenna. (not enough to damage the matching 
> transformer) Then drive/walk around your antenna with the portable 
> receiver/Mobil rig and take readings. (more distant readings are much more 
> accurate) With your GPS in the goto mode, and receive antenna coordinates 
> you selected,  you can collect signal strength readings.  A modern GPS 
> will give you the direction back to your QTH/receive antenna, and 
> distance. Find the right roads/locations, to get your readings, and get 
> busy. Try to take all the readings at the same distance/or interpolate. 
> Take many different location readings to help weed out the error ones that 
> come from signal obstructions.
>
> 73
> Bruce-K1FZ
> _______________________________________________
> UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK