[TowerTalk] the proverbial wet noodle

[Finger, Bob]

Here is a story that may interest some of you.  I have been severely antenna
restricted during the past 15 years, and consequently have been inactive for
the vast majority of that time.  Figured I had to get back on the air to
rekindle my pile-up and cw skills prior to making the big retirement move
and getting real antennas up and operating. I also have this nagging
question about living without ham radio, as I have been doing for so long.

In preparation for this past weekends ten meter contest, a thought came to
me, thanks to ON4UN and his Low Band book.  John devotes considerable space
to the delta loop on 80.  A full wave delta, fed ¼ wave down from the apex ,
with the base at low height models well.  Would such an antenna work on ten?
I have a tree about 30 feet from the rear of the house, and I can reach a
house corner about 20 feet up.  Shack is on ground level.  I constructed a
20 meter delta loop,(1005/14=71.7 feet) and fed it ¼ wave from the apex with
450 ohm line.  Antenna was hung with the apex down, between the house and
tree with one corner at 20 feet, and the other at about 32 feet high.  I
tied the apex to a stake in the ground with twine to pull the antenna into a
triangle shape.  Results were I worked anything and everything I heard.  I
could not hear much from South Pacific/Asia, but Europe/Africa/South
America/North America were very good indeed.  This antenna was quiet!
Nothing heard on the band but receiver noise floor and signals. 

 Moral:  Do not let not having a tower and beam(s) be an excuse to not be on
the air.  It was great fun to S&P up the band on CW, working every station I
heard.  Nice to know that I can still break a pile up with finesse rather
than power. It was a real ego booster to be on ssb on Sunday afternoon,
S&Ping up the band to be told in more than one instance what a loud signal I
had to the west coast. 

 I know, it is ten meters at the height of the cycle and we can work
stations by loading a bed spring.  But it was fun! This delta loop must come
down tonight, but will be stored and is going back up for the ARRL DX
weekend. Stacked arrays and multiple towers are nice, but not necessary to
have fun.  Be creative, get on with what you can put up and enjoy!  73 de
W9GE


--
FAQ on WWW:               http://www.contesting.com/FAQ/towertalk
Submissions:              towertalk@contesting.com
Administrative requests:  towertalk-REQUEST@contesting.com
Problems:                 owner-towertalk@contesting.com