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16
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eHam Forums / DXing / RE: Another one to gripe about...
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on: April 23, 2011, 04:44:22 PM
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Call is too long, he probably won't run the right brand of antenna, he will work too much, and he won't adjust exactly to our schedules...
But it'll be nice to have Macquarie on the air... right? Right?
Nah. Forget it. Having a bad day? These remarks are really uncalled for. This is a very disappointing post from someone who usually gives great advice on all subjects. Why don't YOU head on out there and show the guy how it's done before you criticize? Not all DX ops have unlimited resources, big budgets, equipment provided by and endorsements from large radio manufacturer's etc. Indeed, not every DX activation is even a DXpedition. Sounds like this guy is a scientist who happens to also be a ham and brought his gear along. He probably has more important things to do (like research, what he's PAID for) yet will give out a new one in his spare time and make a lot of people very happy. Hope you have a special day.... 73, Ken AD6KA Ditto from me. |
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17
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eHam Forums / DXing / RE: DX 24/7 . . . .
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on: April 17, 2011, 07:22:58 PM
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At 4:30 AM PST I am hearing DX on 20M like I haven't heard in years. ZS6CCY is booming in S9 +20, as are others - on LP.
Yesterday, worked 5N7M on 12M and in the same hour 15M - for all time new band mode slots.
The other night - J5UAP on 30M - where I could hear all of EU and AF at night.
10M and even 6M are the next to open. We've had more openings on 10M lately than in years too.
The SFI is "only" 119, and the SN is "only" 97, so - ewhat N3OX has said in another post - more is at play than just these 2 numbers!
Just wait until the flux is in the 200's. !!!!! |
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18
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eHam Forums / Antennas and Towers and more / RE: How to estimate the 'footprint' for guying a tower
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on: April 17, 2011, 07:22:01 PM
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Is there a quick and easy formula to calculate the distance/location of guying wires for an antenna tower of defined height? (Presumably there is an optimum angle between the tower and the guying...)
I want to do a back-of-postcard calculation so that I know the required dimensions of land plots that are available for purchase in my locality.
Thanks
Simon
a2 + b2 = c2 a squared plus b squared equals c squared. Ask any 6 year old. |
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20
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eHam Forums / DXing / RE: What is the deal with this?????.....
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on: April 07, 2011, 06:34:37 AM
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3 US Dollars???..Are you kidding me???....Can somone please verify that this is now the norm?....And no IRCs, eh? What is up with this???...
Use the QSL Buro, it's cheaper (if that is an issue). |
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21
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eHam Forums / Station Building / RE: Disconnecting stations when not in use?
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on: March 31, 2011, 04:12:19 PM
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After asking extensive questions on this subject on this and other forums I gave up looking for an answer! Everyone has an opinion, and not an answer; including me! I guess this is because Lightning is an untamed beast, you never know how it will behave, even with the best protected systems such as Big AM Radio Stations, Aircraft etc. you hear stories of it causing problems from time to time.
I gathered two things after weeks of research.
1) Use as many multi connected 10ft ground rods as possible going around the perimeter of your house, three or more is best and connect that chain of grounds to your panel box ground. Your tower or Mast should of course also be grounded to the Rod nearest to it, and if it's a tower you need 4 Rods or more in the corners of the tower. Then connect every piece of gear to that ground system, including the Coax and rotator surge protectors. You should have at least one coax protector near the Antenna and at least one more just before it enters the house. If your soil conductivity is too high all of this may be a mute point so it's best to have that tested.
2) If you get a direct strike you will find that all the steps in number one might or might not save your equipment. So you have only bought yourself real protection against an indirect strike.
You are wrong. The system you propose in #1 is not a properly designed system. You need to do more homework from reputable sources. |
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23
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eHam Forums / DXing / RE: My complaint with some of the Big Gun's
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on: February 28, 2011, 01:44:17 PM
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Do you see anything wrong here?
Nope happens all the time. Get on the Low Bands if you really want to be humbled. I suggest you suck it up and become a better operator, what about the next day, same time, were you there waiting for the DX (or maybe calling them early in that window). Also....put up a bigger tower and then you can do the bragging. |
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24
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eHam Forums / Antennas and Towers and more / RE: Grounding woes...
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on: February 14, 2011, 10:47:14 AM
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Hi,
I need to install a station ground and have 2 issues:
1) there is a lot of rock so a 10' bar is going to be very tough. I never see any mention of a ground plate. Are these good for radio stations? I would be ale to get this down about 3 feet.
Yes just make sure you can bond to it in accordance with NEC codes, i.e. mechanical or exothermic means.
2)There is no house ground (near where the power lines come into the house) an it seems that the ground is with the electrical supply somewhere on the pole. How would I ground the radio ground to the house? I could run 6 gauge wire to the power box, but shouldn't this be outside?
Yes, outdoors only.
Can I get a ground installed where the power lines come in?
Yes, that's what I'd do and bond that to the main electrical panel as well as your radio ground wire you've run around the outside of the house.Thanks for your help.
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25
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eHam Forums / Antennas and Towers and more / RE: Glen Martin Roof Tower Install
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on: February 01, 2011, 04:14:29 PM
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or anyone that has or had a Glen Martin roof tower installed, wondering what you used to route the cables across the roof? I'm assuming there is some sort of stand-off similar to the old TV twin lead stand-offs of years ago. Trying to figure out the best way to keep them off of the roof until I can route them down the side of the house.
Wrap them in close-cell pipe insulation and then wrap that in Scotch 33 for UV protection. |
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26
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eHam Forums / DXing / RE: How to request QSL for multiple QSO's
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on: January 28, 2011, 12:27:18 PM
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I gang up label on the back of the cards I send. Make sure they are inchronologicsl order. Hi All what is the correct way to QSL when you are looking to confirm 5 plus QSO's for an example I have 18 qso's with IS0R and there not getting 18 qsl cards  my qsl cards only have space for one qso and I use stickers generated by VQ log and it will only do 3 qso per label. I was thinking of doing something using Excel and sticking in on the back of the card  I have to try to catch up on my cards LOTW has made me lazy. Thanks Trevor EI2GLB |
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27
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eHam Forums / DXing / RE: DXpedition on-line logs?
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on: January 24, 2011, 04:22:48 PM
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Au contraire, mon frère If one goes back into my history one will find a new ham living in a close-in subdivision, with only an R5 to begin with, then a three element yagi mounted on the roof up only 30 feet and then much later an amplifier. What I did learn during this long time was how to be a good operator, how to be a good DXer, how to work pileups, how to work propagation, how to do everything. Also with a single HF2V mounted in the victory garden in the back, guyed with strong fishing line so in heavy winds it wouldn't whip back into the power lines. I obtained 5BDXCC with this setup. The big place and big towers and all came much later. My count on one hand included this time. I challenge that if you are having troubles, it is not the DXpedition's fault, it is not lids' faults, it's not the lack of on-line logs.....it is YOU that is the fault. Yes yes I know we don't like to be criticized and come up with many many excuses except that it is us that is soley to blame. It's human nature to do it. I don't fault anyone for it but only know that your "misery" will continue until the light bulb shines brightly in your head, if ever. Oh....and the super amp was only a used SB-220 and the expensive equipment was first a 520S and then a 440S, not your super super DX radios by any stretch. I don't think I would use all the fingers on one hand to count the number of times I incorrectly logged a QSO with a DXpedition station.
If you really really need an online log as a crutch for this problem I'd suggest looking at your operating style or equipment for a real fix. Easy to suggest, but many of us peions out here have to deal with antenna restrictions, and many don't have the resources to have Alpha (or Ameritron, Promethius, or any number of other kW+ amps available.), and expensive radios. We have to deal with what we can afford and with the amount of aluminum in the air we can "get away with" Nice that YOU DO, but you ARE the exception, NOT the rule. |
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28
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eHam Forums / DXing / RE: DXpedition on-line logs?
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on: January 24, 2011, 12:41:14 PM
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I don't think I would use all the fingers on one hand to count the number of times I incorrectly logged a QSO with a DXpedition station.
If you really really need an online log as a crutch for this problem I'd suggest looking at your operating style or equipment for a real fix.
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29
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eHam Forums / Elmers / RE: Yet a couple more antenna grounding questions
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on: January 11, 2011, 08:33:26 AM
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I have a question about shortwave listening antenna ground rods. I have read that the best way to ground an antenna is by pounding an 8' ground rod into the ground and connecting your antenna to it. Which is more important or more effective, the depth of the ground rod or surface area in contact with the earth? The thought of pounding an 8' rod into the ground doesn't thrill me. So, what if I were to cut a standard rod (from Home Depot) into 3 or 4 equal lengths, pound them all into the ground next to one another and simply bolt them together and then tie the antenna to that, would this be as effective, or almost as effective as having an 8' rod straight into the earth? Thanks for any and all answers to my questions.
Rob
Space them every 2X their length from each other. |
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30
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eHam Forums / Station Building / RE: Station and Antenna Grounding
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on: January 07, 2011, 10:43:58 AM
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I have recently started building my station in my basement in a Condo. I have pounded 2 8' grounding rods in, on right below my two band (2M/70cm) Homebrew Pole and one about six feat away next to where my feedlines enter the house. Now the questions.
1) I have grounded my Pole to the rod below it and I have connected the two ground rods together but I have not as yet connected then to the electrical ground because the actual ground point for the electrical ground is on the other side of the house. Can I use the existing copper water pipes to complete that ground or should I run a wire between the two grounding post to complete the ground connections to ensure that my ground are all unified.
Connect them with a wire via an outdoor path.
2, the J'pole sits 10 feet above ground; do I need radials to complete a ground place and if so how do I figure the size and quantity?
73,
Rick
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