Worked Renzo, P29FR, 14180 1145 UTC.  I feel confident this was short path, as he was S8 on the short path.  Also, I could hear UA9 and UA0 and W7 working him, which further supports the SP conclusion.  VOACAP also indicates SP much more likely at this time, with LP only happening when there is dual sunlight late in the day for me.

I worked DU1WGA just after my sunrise, 1122 UTC, 13 June, 20 meter CW.  My hex beam at 45 feet was pointed due north, and I copied him 579.  We exchanged emails about our stations - he is also using a hex beam, and said the Long Path route was quite FB at the time.  I was like, huh?  I was pointed short path, how is it that he was pointed long path and I copied him 579?

What is the conventional wisdom about short path versus long path?  I do know some of the regular occurences and have used those before:

December 2012, I worked XU1A at my sunset a and before his sunrise on 80 meters long path.  How am I sure?  Because the long path was in darkness while short path was almost all sunlight.  Also, I was using a directional receiving antenna and it was SIGNIFICANTLY louder when pointed southeast along the long path.

In January 2006 I worked YB1A at my sunset on 40 CW.  I did not have directional receive then, but others commented on how their 4-squares favored LP.

In January 2013, I worked VK2KN long path on 20 CW.  I know this because he was stronger on my 64 foot dipole (broadside N/S) than on the hex (pointed N).  Also, he had stacked array pointed LP.  This has occurred many times in winter at my sunset, the VK long path from November to January on 20 CW.  I have seen some instances where I could work the VK stations but not hear the JA who were calling them.  That's clearly LP prop.  But what about some other situations?

Wintertime seems easier to predict on lower bands (ON4UN does a great job explaining low band LP and SP prop in his text).  But summertime is not as easy for me.  Since our sunrise coincides with SE Asia sunset at summer solstice, it seems like it could be either direction.  I am listning to YB8TAF on 20 SSB right now.  He is S5 on the hex beam pointed SP, working all over central and east NA.  He is S4 on the high dipole oriented LP/SP.

Any guidance/info would be appreciated.  Thanks.

Yes Sir!  VERY COOL!  Would you mind emailing me the NEC file, Dale?

wd4elg@arrl.net

Thanks

N3QE nailed it.

But let's say I need Navassa.  But I travel to Navassa with the DXpedition team (oh, how I can dream that I were on the team that eventually goes there).

What fun is it if I have my buddy go to my home station and work me while I am on Navassa, for DXCC credit?  I did not do the operating, I don't get the thrill of busting the pileup.  Somebody else did it for me.  Allowed by the rules.  But no fun, IMHO.

Antenna is up. 108 feet long.  about 3/8 wave high on 17 meters.  Did not have a chance to listen much other than for a few minutes Sunday evening.  I took a 1/4 wave of 450 ohm and hooked it to a 4:1 balun to 50 ohm coax.

In the shack, no need for a tuner as the SWR shows 1.6:1.  So I will give it a listen and compare it to the hex at 45 feet.  The Franklin array does does sound about 10 dBm quieter than the hex.  But that was just one evening.  So I shall see.

Thanks for the help, Dale.

Thanks Dale.  I will disregard the picture and go with the 1/4 wave matching section of 450 ohm ladder line as discussed.

I am expecting about 4.5 db gain over a dipole, per the ARRL antenna handbook, in broadside lobes.  I will have the antenna about a half wavelength high which should give me a pretty good pattern and some low angle DX over the poles...as I will have the wires running E/W.

Dale

This pic shows the tap happening at 1/4 wave point, but the length of the transmission line is longer, a total of 1/2 wave.  And it is shorted.

http://www.qsl.net/va3iul/Antenna/Wire%20Antennas%20for%20Ham%20Radio/31-Colinear%20Franklin%20Antenna.jpg

So I am still a bit confused.  Should I just use 1/4 wavelength and hook direct, or do I need 1/2 shorted and tap at the 1/4 wave point?

Thanks, Dale.  Ah yes, love that magical 1/4 wave transformation magic!

I have the 4:1 balun, so if I assume 1000 ohms feedpoint impedance then I will be all set with using the 1/4 wl of 450 ohm line for the transformer.

If the feedpoint impedance is 750 ohms, then I still come out OK with the 1/4 wl of ladder line and the 4:1 balun.

Do I need to worry about an excessive value for the reactive element when considering this transformation effect, or just look at the total impedance as 1000 ohms and not worry about the reactive versus pure resistive component? 

My error, should have posted it here instead of under the Elmers forum.  Apologies.

ARRL antenna book says about 1K for feedpoint impedance, and unlike collinear arrays of just two half waves that can be matched by a quarter wave of 450 ohm line....Franklin arrays apparently don't have that capacity.

I am considering running 50 ohm coax from the shack, and then using a 9:1 transformer to connect to the ladder line.  The problem is...what kind of SWR will I see if I don't use a tuner?  Should I still try to use a 1/4 wave length of 450 ohm line to transform the impedance...even if it is not down to 50 ohms?  Not worried about the loss in the 450 ohm ladder line, but I am concerned about the loss in the 300 foot of coax...and I am wondering if I need a tuner at the shack?

ARRL antenna book says about 1K for feedpoint impedance, and unlike collinear arrays of just two half waves that can be matched by a quarter wave of 450 ohm line....Franklin arrays apparently don't have that capacity.

I am considering running 50 ohm coax from the shack, and then using a 9:1 transformer to connect to the ladder line.  The problem is...what kind of SWR will I see if I don't use a tuner?  Should I still try to use a 1/4 wave length of 450 ohm line to transform the impedance...even if it is not down to 50 ohms?  Not worried about the loss in the 450 ohm ladder line, but I am concerned about the loss in the 300 foot of coax...and I am wondering if I need a tuner at the shack?

Money talks. Also, going through the main supporters of the DPRK...the Chinese...is the right path. It is obvious that the Intrepid Groups knows what they are doing, and the planning has been years in the making.  Just getting the visas shows major progress, and gives hope. Kudos to the group for outstanding delivery so far.  This is exciting!

Incredible signal. I was able to work them with 5 watts from my car on Wednesday evening near the VA/NC state line. Excellent prop, great ops.

Well, I shortened the coax by not going through the remote antenna switch, replaced 100 feet with some LMR 600 I have, and just like that I worked VK0CZ on 17 meters CW.  Ha.  Just when I was beginning to have my doubts.  I guess crawling around in the dark tonight and getting bitten by bugs (yep, they are here already in NC) was a good sacrifice for the DX gods for VK9CZ.  So W2IRT, my next step is to get some hardline in place.  A few dB does make a difference, as I discovered tonight.

I will do some comparisons with another ham who has a C31XR on the other side of town.

Thanks to all who offered guidance.   

Noone has recommended (or refuted) the collinear antenna idea.  It will only be at a half wave height, so not sure if it will be any better.

Thanks, Gene.  Agreed.  Thanks for sharing that.  It gives me hope.

I don't "get" why this is so hard from here.  I do have some high voltage tension lines due north about 600 yards from the hex and lower in elevation.  Not a problem, unless I am trying to do very low angle work.  I wonder if that could be the problem.....naw, those things run East/West and I never have an issue working into JA or UA0.  But A5,S2,9N is killer for me.  There is no terrain issue that I can see...all flat ground.  Must be something with this QTH.

Setup is the hex at 45 feet, with 375 feet of LMR 400.  But it has oak trees at 70 feet all around it. Although studies say not much difference with HF absorption, I wonder...

Luke, thanks for that info.

Yep, and my mirror shows an ugly mug to begin with...I don't need an ugly conscience to go with it!