[UK-CONTEST] propagation SSB CC

Tue Feb 3 15:28:38 EST 2009

Nigel

A full-wave horizontal loop antenna is an almost perfect omnidirectional 
high-angle radiator.  A simple dipole at the same height produces more 
low-angle and has a dgree of directivity.  If, as has been suggested, levels 
of high-angle absorption were elevated, the advantage the loop would 
normally give for 'local' working would have been nullified.  Wet ground 
should certainly not detract from an aerial's performance - quite the 
opposite in fact.

Steve  G3UFY

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Nigel" <nubsey at ntlworld.com>
To: <UK-Contest at contesting.com>
Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2009 7:23 PM
Subject: Re: [UK-CONTEST] propagation SSB CC

>I have to agree with Nigel G3TXF. I only live about 3 miles from him, but
> last night I was 90 qso's behind him. Now I know he is a much better op 
> than
> me, but 90 in an hour and a half is a bit too much to put down to 
> operating
> style. (At least I hope I am not that bad) I thought that I as doing ok.
> Called CQ most of the time, and most callers scores were behind me. Then
> someone gives you a huge score and they are so far in front, it could make 
> a
> grown man cry. I dare say what antenna you are using plays a big part. I 
> use
> an 80 metre loop at the moment at about 45 ft at it's highest, and draped
> around the garden. I seems to work ok. But it does not seem to be what I
> would call a killer signal. A G5RV has been used and seems to be a total
> failure. Never even managed to get across the pond with it. I dare say
> location plays a big part. My ground is always wet. I often wonder if this
> is acts as a bit of an attenuator.
> Will be building an 80 metre Windom, to try sometime in the near future.
> This I will be able to get up in a straight line, so we will see how it
> performs.
> Nigel G0VDZ
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Nigel G3TXF" <nigel at G3TXF.com>
> To: "UK Contest Reflector" <uk-contest at contesting.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2009 12:24 PM
> Subject: Re: [UK-CONTEST] propagation SSB CC
>
>
>> Yes, there's more to this propagation stuff than anyone of us knows.
>> Antenna
>> height, antenna orientation as well as the propagation must play a bigger
>> role than we suspect. G3WVG (aka G0AAA) is about five miles from me. And
>> yet
>> we get remarkably different results in different CC's. Sometimes WVG is
>> way
>> ahead. And sometimes, like last night, TXF is ahead. Being lucky with a
>> 'good' frequency also makes a huge difference. Unusually for me I had 
>> just
>> such a frequency last night. The whole 90 minutes was spent CQing. As I
>> recall there were only two 'dull patches' when absolutely no-one came 
>> back
>> for four or five minutes. Otherwise it was a steady trickle.
>>
>> 73 - Nigel G3TXF
>>
>> PS : Although the K3 is supposed to be the dream-radio for CW ops,
>> seemingly
>> it isn't too bad on SSB either!
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: uk-contest-bounces at contesting.com
>> [mailto:uk-contest-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Don Beattie
>> Sent: 03 February 2009 11:23
>> To: Uk-Contest at Contesting.Com
>> Subject: Re: [UK-CONTEST] propagation SSB CC
>>
>> Yes, I too was puzzled, Malcolm. I was running my dipole at about 55 ft,
>> and
>> found it really hard going here in Shropshire. I was kept pretty busy, 
>> but
>> with a lousy channel - I know there were callers I could not copy - and
>> yet
>> by the end of the contest I was some 40 QSOs below the leaders. I think
>> most
>> of these were in the South-East, so wonder if a relatively high density 
>> of
>> "local" stations helps in this contest ? It was noticeable that the Eu
>> stations (DJ and beyond) were very strong, but (for me) few in number. So
>> yes, skip was long, I think, and high-angle absorption was high.
>>
>> Ended up with 132, but a real struggle to emulate the leaders.
>>
>> 73
>>
>> Don, G3BJ
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "g3pdh" <g3pdh at btopenworld.com>
>> To: <uk-contest at contesting.com>
>> Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2009 9:50 AM
>> Subject: [UK-CONTEST] propagation SSB CC
>>
>>
>>> Does anyone have an explanation of last nights 80m CC conditions. From
>>> this
>>> area (Norwich) the band was just mushy noise with a few signals, mainly
>>> continental and a few G's. More noticeably the few G's heard could 
>>> hardly
>>> hear me, as if one way paths existed, and despite this some were still
>>> exchanging relatively high numbers. It would be interesting to see some
>>> analysis of this phenomena as to whether it was propagation, antennae
>>> etc.
>>> All stations in our group did poorly despite running decent rigs and 
>>> full
>>> size dipoles. Such conditions hardly seem to reflect text book theory.
>>>
>>> Malcolm G3PDH
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> UK-Contest mailing list
>>> UK-Contest at contesting.com
>>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/uk-contest
>>
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>>
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>
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