Hi,
So today it's chilly and raining (36 F - no wind - light rain). I'm
taking advantage of Murphy's Antenna Corollary - the one stating the
inverse (perverse?) relationship between pleasant (or poor) antenna
erecting/repair weather and finished antenna performance. I am hoping to
have an antenna that will work for me on 160 and 80 meters and the
station configured to do so in time for the Stew Perry event this
weekend. Right now I just can't get my modest loop to load on either of
those bands (too small). It seems to work okay on 40 meters through 10
meters even if it's not the greatest antenna in the world. It's been
better than NO antenna at all. I'm putting up somewhere between 130 and
160 feet of end fed wire with a single counterpoise on the ground 130
feet long and obviously using a "tuner". The wire isn't going as high as
I want it but it's going up. Later (Spring?), with some young blooded
help I can get the wire higher. I'm presently climbing trees (YIKES!)
and installing electric fence insulators. I'm taking a break to dry off
and warm up. I've never ever had a cold or pneumonia but I AM getting
older (mid 60s) and I really want to take a pass on those pleasures.
I'll post again if I survive and get the new antenna on the air on
either band. Later I'll be clearing some undergrowth and maybe get more
accurate measurements of distances between various trees on my small
lot. Antennas and receivers are the two most important parts of a ham
station. A transmitter is not unimportant but is way down the food
chain. The weak link in MY station is the antennas. I'm getting focused
on that and putting up something quick to get on the air and make
improvements later.
73,
Bill KU8H
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UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
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