Topband: Fwd: Re: Belize-VK/ZL possibilities

[Greg - ZL3IX]

My point was as follows.

Apart from the launch point in V3, the entire path is over salt water. 
This means that any ground reflections will happen with the minimum 
loss. Even with several hops, this element of path attenuation will 
therefore be minimal.

My main observation is that QSO success, or otherwise, is likely to 
depend on Rx capabilities at the V3 end. Since it is a tropical 
location, QRN is likely to be significant. Directional Rx antennas will 
be a distinct advantage.

73, Greg, ZL3IX

On 2018-02-08 06:08 a.m., Grant Saviers wrote:
> One issue is probably the orientation of the Belize beach vs path to 
> VK/ZL.  A vertical on the beach within .7 wavelengths of the tide line 
> has pronounced gain seaward.  That gain is at the expense of the land 
> side pattern.  For an antenna on a pier the pattern doesn't get 
> symmetrical until a wavelength or so from the beach. The seaward 
> pattern has extremely low peak gain angle, great for DX, and the land 
> side about the same peak elevation as over "average ground."  So 
> "entirely over the Pacific Ocean" is the wrong way from what I saw 
> when visiting there.  Finding some salt water a dozen wavelengths long 
> towards the west might make a huge difference to VK/ZL.
>
> See my article in QST June, 2016.
>
> Grant KZ1W
>
> On 2/6/2018 20:45 PM, Greg - ZL3IX wrote:
>> Having noted that my answer to Iain's post has not appeared on the 
>> Reflector, I am trying again.
>>
>> -------- Forwarded Message --------
>> Subject:     Re: Topband: Belize-VK/ZL possibilities
>> Date:     Sun, 4 Feb 2018 10:58:31 +1300
>> From:     Greg - ZL3IX <zl3ix at inet.net.nz>
>> To:     topband at contesting.com
>>
>>
>>
>> Hi Iain,
>>
>> I worked V31YN in Jan 2007. Is that QSO one of the two in Clublog?
>>
>> No, I don't think it is a tricky path at all, being almost entirely over
>> the Pacific Ocean. Your problem will not be Tx, with an antenna over sea
>> water, but, unless you make a special effort with Rx, you may have a
>> problem hearing in a noisy tropical country like V3.
>>
>> 73, Greg, ZL3IX
>>
>> On 2018-02-03 09:43 a.m., iain haywood wrote:
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> I'm off to Belize again for the commonwealth contest in March but 
>>> after the event I plan to make use of the pier over seawater for top 
>>> band and some 60M.
>>>
>>> An inverted-L over seawater is planned.
>>>
>>> On checking clublog it says there have been only TWO QSO's ever 
>>> between VK/ZL and V31 on 160M.
>>>
>>> Is this a tricky path ? I assume its because of high thunderstorm 
>>> noise in the tropics.
>>>
>>> What do think of my chances with 100W and CW & some FT8 
>>> (shock--horror!)
>>>
>>> Iain G4SGX
>>>
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