Topband: Modeling the proverbial "vertical on a beach"

[Tom W8JI]

I looked at comparative data from four or five contests.

I'm too far out of the path and in distance (approaching 1000 miles 
different) to compare, but I was still interested in how others in the NE 
compared.

If it was really 10-20 dB, shore locations would stand out like a sore thumb 
compared to inland locations. Everyone from around New England is about the 
same. Heck, K3LR is on the Ohio/PA border and does just as well or better 
than coastal stations in signal levels.

10 dB is completely undoable with antenna systems, once someone is at the 10 
dB threshold of gain over a dipole at optimal height (except on 160 where 
polarization is a player, and we have to compare vertical to vertical). 20 
dB would be beyond the world of magic.

Understand I'm not saying there isn't a difference. I'm just saying it isn't 
an exaggerated difference that jumps out in the ways we use our systems.

Watch skimmer yourself. It is entertaining to watch.

73 Tom







----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Michael Tope" <W4EF at dellroy.com>
To: <topband at contesting.com>
Sent: Thursday, August 14, 2014 5:03 PM
Subject: Re: Topband: Modeling the proverbial "vertical on a beach"


> On 8/13/2014 6:28 PM, Tom W8JI wrote:
>>>
>>
>> But skimmer, which displays a relative level, does not show the level 
>> difference.
>>
>> Skimmer shows about the same peak levels, but the stations closer or over 
>> salt water paths (not localized salt water) have longer openings but no 
>> more level for peak level. Anyone can look at that.
>>
>> K3LR is about as strong into Europe, when I look at skimmer levels, as 
>> someone on the coast.
>>
>> The exceptions are people right next door to Europe (like VY1).
>>
>>
>> 73 Tom
>
> Tom,
>
> How much skimmer data did you mine before establishing a firm conclusion 
> that the advantages of saltwater proximity are exaggerated?
>
> Myself, I think of how well AA7JV and HA7RY have done at various locations 
> using antennas that were very close to or in some cases literally in the 
> saltwater. The consistency of their topband signals compared to 
> Dxpeditions who were confined to inland locations seems to point to a big 
> advantage. I'll admit, however, that this hypotheses comes about from 
> anecdotal observations filtered through a mental lens that is biased 
> towards believing saltwater is a huge advantage.
>
> I think using skimmer is an excellent approach to this question provided 
> of course that you have mined enough data to filter out the statistical 
> noise.
>
> 73, Mike W4EF...................
>
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