Thank you for a most interesting topic. I wonder about the open board meetings in Charleston, SC, what is the average attendance of the general membership to the meetings?

73 de TF3JB.

They're also prompt to execute their export orders. I can attest to that. Excellent company!

73 de TF2JB.

I would advise you to use the building-roof as a ground for your 5BTV. Try to mount is as close to the roof as you can. I would say up to 6 inches is OK but much more might give you resonance problems. I've seen a few of these antennas mounted incorrectly, perhaps 4-5 feet off a roof, which means you would resort to a different feeding style that were used at the time.

It is correct, that if the metal plates on the roof are not well connected to each other, and particularly if the roof is very old, you might experience a capacitance effect that could give you a problem. I would though not worry about that at this moment.

The 4BTV and 5BTV have been popular in this country for the last 20-30 years and most of them are mounted on top of a roof with metal plates. You might consider guying your antenna (we must do it up here in the north) but take care to use a non conductive thread for the guying. You can find a guying formula in the handbook.

73 de TF2JB.

I just want to say thank you for your excellent information. This is valuable information for myself and other newcomers. In my case, the last QSO's I had via satellite was through the Oscar 6 and 7's back in 1976 and 1977...

I have recently acquired a new Icom IC-910H transceiver. Yes, I bought the xtal oven as well, but not a CW filter which I assume will be needed.

Just the other day I was listening in on both SSB and CW QSO's between 145.900 and 145.990 MHz only using my 20m Delta loop antenna... I have no idea which satellite that was. I have since joined AMSAT and am currently going through the beginners literature...

Again, thanks and 73 de TF2JB.

I met a ham down in Germany in November of las year. He was very angry at the amateur radio dealer who had sold this antenna to him, for not accepting to take back (in his own words): "...this "dummy-load" of an antenna". I think there is a limit to what dealers should agree to put on the market. When the experience is as bad as with this product, it will simply be to the benefit of all (including the dealers) to pull this off the market. Of course the factory should also realize that it will make a bad name for itself - not only for this product - but for all other products which could very well be good performers...

73 de TF2JB.

 

I would like to ask the same question about SoundSweet Speakers; have been waiting 6 months...