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W5CPT

Joined: Sat, Apr 4th 1998, 00:00 Roles: N/A Moderates: N/A

Latest Topics

Topic Created Posts Views Last Activity
Trees & Antennas article Jan 31st 2018, 16:20 1 10,142 on 31/1/18
RTTY DXCC ? Jul 28th 2011, 23:36 16 15,291 on 24/8/11

Latest Posts

Topic Author Posted On
Trees & Antennas article W5CPT on 31/1/18
I read the article in the February issue with great interest, but noticed the entire text was devoted to a VERTICAL dipole hung next to a tree. Only one reference to a horizontal dipole which to me seems to be the norm, and all that said was a horizontal antenna would not suffer the same signal degradation that a vertical will. Only once in my 27 years as a ham did I ever put a vertically polarized antenna in the trees, when I build a wire ground plane for 30M, which worked very well. I used it until I put a 43' DXE vertical out in the yard which loads and preforms very well on 30, 40 & 80M.

de - W5CPT -
What is a good 2 M radio to buy? KB3WHB on 31/7/11
Rather than look at one particular band, look at which end of the spectrum that lends it self to what you want to do. 2M is great for around town and chatting with the locals. But unless you get very serious (read that lots of $) that is all 2M will do. If you want to talk to folks around the world, go with HF. Right now 10M is still dead for most of the time. While it is coming back, there are other bands that are available right now. With taking just the first 2 tests getting you a General license you will be able to talk "around the world". As far as antennas are concerned you can get (or build) a multiband antenna that will serve very well. One great thing about being a Ham is that you are not confined to one band - start with your Tech license - get a small mobile rig or Hand Held if you are in a metro area and then progress to the higher tickets. You will find lots of guys and gals who will help you move up.

Clint - W5CPT
Ground conductivity W0OLL on 28/7/11
Here is a link to a Home-Brew method:

http://amfone.net/ECSound/K1JJ12.htm

and here is a map that will give you a good approximation:

http://filebay1.home.comcast.net/~filebay1/ground.jpg

Now that you know, there is not much you can do about it except what you have already done, which is to put down radials. If you can measure the feed-point impedance of the antenna. If it is about 35 ohms you have a good radial field. If it is higher than that you will benefit by adding more radials. More and longer is better, up to a point.

Clint - W5CPT
RTTY DXCC ? W5CPT on 28/7/11
What was the logic behind dropping RTTY DXCC and making it Digital?

Clint - W5CPT

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