[TowerTalk] 6 meter angle arrival for DX

Sat Nov 14 16:19:51 EST 2015

   I have a pair of 6M2WLC's at 36' and 62'.  In the stack (BIP) they will
open the band and enable QSO's using scatter.  The upper antenna clearly
rules on F2 while the lower antenna (or BOP) does better on E-skip.  I also
have a 6M5X about 100' away at 50' which I use for diversity with the
stack-master.  Still casually working toward my first 100, my best DX was to
VK4 land on a Hygain 4 element at 140'.  Could not hear him on the lower
antennas in any combination.  Go figure.

73  Mike  K9MK/5

-----Original Message-----
From: TowerTalk [mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Mike
Smith VE9AA
Sent: Saturday, November 14, 2015 1:19 PM
To: towertalk at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] 6 meter angle arrival for DX

Hey Bill, 

I’ve been on 6m as a serious DXer since Nov 92
about 150 worked on SIX
(QRV
HF since the late 70’s)
.There were years I barely ever left the house from
mid June to mid July for fear of missing some EU 6m DXpedition on Es. 

 I was handsomely rewarded on more than one occasion with a 2 minute
opening.  But I digress
..

Via F layer, some of the angles can get very low 1-3º for optimum DX. (Will
we ever see F layer on 6m again?
.man, it’s been a while!)

On Es (single or double hop) the angles can get very high. (10-15 or 20º
even)
.I had dbl hop Es to Cuba one time where a tiny 3el @ 30’ was the best
antenna in the yard, but that was quite rare.

I’ve had every 6m antenna imaginable.  Probably my best were 2 stacked
antennas.

I had 3 over 3 at 50/70’ and 8/8 at 48/64’ and even the same 8/8 at 35/49’.
(qrz.com shows my 8/8 homebrew stack at 48/64’)

All these stacks always outperformed my reference antennas which have all
been long boom 5 or 6 element designs up at the same heights. (I really like
the K6STI 5el)

You can’t go wrong with a stack.  Lefty, K1TOL has one of the largest around
with 4 x 9el and I think he’ll tell you that 98% of the time, he just leaves
all 4 antennas in line.

I have work KH7Y via Es and he’s the guy to talk to I guess for KH6 prop.

Once you stack

do up a pair of antennas @ 50/70’ with a BIP/BOP switch and
you’re good.

73 es we’ll see you (all of a sudden) on SIX !

Mike VE9AA

p.s.-hardline is your friend on VHF ! (I am sure you already know that)

Mike, Coreen & Corey

Keswick Ridge, NB

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