Fw: [TowerTalk] the proverbial wet noodle
Tim Makins, EI8IC
ei8ic@eircom.net
Tue, 12 Dec 2000 19:48:56 -0000
Yessssir, absolutely. I have finished a MOST enjoyable weekend competing in
the ARRL 10m contest, with results as follows :
Callsign: EI8IC Total Claimed Score 551460
Section: Single Op,Mixed Mode, High Power
SD V9.70 Copyright Paul O'Kane EI5DI 1990-2000 www.ei5di.com
Band 160m 80m 40m 20m 15m 10m Total
CW QSOs 0 0 0 0 0 539 539
SSB QSOs 0 0 0 0 0 338 338
CW Points 0 0 0 0 0 2152 2152
SSB Points 0 0 0 0 0 676 676
CW Mults 0 0 0 0 0 104 104
SSB Mults 0 0 0 0 0 91 91
Due to lack of a beam on 10m, the antenna used most of the time was a wire
delta loop, apex up, height of 50', fed with balanced 100 ohm screened
feeder (the stuff they use to network offices). I'd recommend delta loops
to anyone - I have a few here, including a full sized one for 80m at 60'
that is fed with a 1:1 balun and 75ohm coax - it works great. I would be
interested in people's thoughts about what difference it makes if the delta
loop hangs straight down, or is angled out ie the top is not above the
bottom. I seem to find the angled version works best, or am I just
imagining it ?????
Tim Makins, EI8IC
----- Original Message -----
From: "Finger, Bob" <Bob.Finger@DynCorp.com>
To: "TowerTalk" <towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: 11 December 2000 15:09
Subject: [TowerTalk] the proverbial wet noodle
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
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