Topband: Skimmer calibration

[Carl]

>> Do we really care that skimmers aren't hooked up to antennas with
>> pattern and gain?  One of the things in using VOACAP is knowing the
>> pattern of the RX antenna as well as TX. Omni pattern at RX removes RX
>> antenna bias.  Why shouldn't we specifically use omni on RX, so that
>> any enhancement is from the sender or the propagation/environment?
>>
>
> If I wanted to know what antenna was better, I would use a short vertical 
> or vertically polarized antenna for most applications.
>
> Ideally, you want a broad elevation pattern with no nulls. A 2 foot 
> vertical has about the same pattern as a 130 ft vert for elevation on 160, 
> so the only issue is sensitivity falling into RX internal noise.
>
> I think people live on the false notion that verticals have a null at near 
> zero, which patterns on Ham models will show, but that is a program 
> display shortfall causing that error. If they really were zero, all 
> broadcast stations would be dark for groundwave. :)

BC antennas have the elaborate radial system in order to get that groundwave 
while the typical on ground ham vertical loses a lot of the 0-10 degree (or 
more) radiation. Go to the beach to get it back.....or go with elevated 
radials.

Carl
KM1H