[UK-CONTEST] BERU 2005

[Clive Whelan]

G3WPH wrote


< The 40m long inverted L worked out extremely well on TX, with the
exception of ZS75PTA on 10m I worked every station I called.  Rx is another
matter - other G stations were obviously hearing much better than me - I
guess it's the problem of verticals being very susceptible to local noise
pickup. Perhaps I should investigate dipoles for the top 3 bands - other
suggestions?>

I doubt it. Rather it's a simple question of gain. Being a perennial unity
gain antenna user, I can invariably make good QSO totals, but always get
blown away in the "multiplier" department. Even with 100 watts, sneakiness
and persistence will always crack the pile ups in the end ( although you'll
never be premiere league), but for the most part you simply won't hear the
weaker mults. that the big guns do, and as they always say, if you can't
hear 'em ............. Imagine how beneficial 20db odd of f/b would be on
40m not to mention 30db+ of front/side!

A well elevated horizontal antenna will invariably beat a vertical, but not
many of us are fortunate enough to be able to do that. Your inverted L has
the benefit of both horizontal and vertical polarisation, so I'd be inclined
to stick with it until the tower and the yagi come along!


73


Clive
GW3NJW