Some thoughts about high angles to work locals. Remember inverse
square law? That is, -6dB for each doubling of distance? Locals
are close, so less loss.
Example -- W6 to W2 is almost 3,000 miles. W6 to W7 is typically
600 miles. W7 is 14 dB closer than W2. You don't NEED as much gain
to work short skip. You're going to work them anyway -- IF the band
is open for short skip. And if the band isn't open for short skip,
all the RF in the world pointed up isn't going to make it happen!
Now, those who have observed that some DX comes in at higher angles
are correct -- but not VERY high, and MUCH less often. Playing the
percentages, on 80 and 160, higher IS better.
Another thought about height and working/hearing DX. My 40, 80, and
160 dipoles are at 110 ft. Working long path to EU this morning on
40, they heard at least as well as my Beverages, and I made a half
dozen Q's. Listening to C52C last night on 160, the Beverage heard
at least 6 dB better than the dipoles and a vertical -- indeed, I
didn't manage to work them, even though they were solid copy for
nearly 2 hours.
73,
Jim Brown K9YC
Santa Cruz, CA
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