I looked at comparative data from four or five contests.
I'm too far out of the path and in distance (approaching 1000 miles
different) to compare, but I was still interested in how others in the NE
compared.
If it was really 10-20 dB, shore locations would stand out like a sore thumb
compared to inland locations. Everyone from around New England is about the
same. Heck, K3LR is on the Ohio/PA border and does just as well or better
than coastal stations in signal levels.
10 dB is completely undoable with antenna systems, once someone is at the 10
dB threshold of gain over a dipole at optimal height (except on 160 where
polarization is a player, and we have to compare vertical to vertical). 20
dB would be beyond the world of magic.
Understand I'm not saying there isn't a difference. I'm just saying it isn't
an exaggerated difference that jumps out in the ways we use our systems.
Watch skimmer yourself. It is entertaining to watch.
73 Tom
----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Tope" <W4EF@dellroy.com>
To: <topband@contesting.com>
Sent: Thursday, August 14, 2014 5:03 PM
Subject: Re: Topband: Modeling the proverbial "vertical on a beach"
On 8/13/2014 6:28 PM, Tom W8JI wrote:
But skimmer, which displays a relative level, does not show the level
difference.
Skimmer shows about the same peak levels, but the stations closer or over
salt water paths (not localized salt water) have longer openings but no
more level for peak level. Anyone can look at that.
K3LR is about as strong into Europe, when I look at skimmer levels, as
someone on the coast.
The exceptions are people right next door to Europe (like VY1).
73 Tom
Tom,
How much skimmer data did you mine before establishing a firm conclusion
that the advantages of saltwater proximity are exaggerated?
Myself, I think of how well AA7JV and HA7RY have done at various locations
using antennas that were very close to or in some cases literally in the
saltwater. The consistency of their topband signals compared to
Dxpeditions who were confined to inland locations seems to point to a big
advantage. I'll admit, however, that this hypotheses comes about from
anecdotal observations filtered through a mental lens that is biased
towards believing saltwater is a huge advantage.
I think using skimmer is an excellent approach to this question provided
of course that you have mined enough data to filter out the statistical
noise.
73, Mike W4EF...................
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