Randy,

You can’t really come to any conclusion on propagation or an antenna’s performance based on a day or two of observation, especially on 160 meters. There are just too many factors involved.

Regardless, you appear to be hearing better and that is good!!!

73 Joel W5ZN

From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Randell Curtis, W5ZJ via ADXA
Sent: Monday, January 13, 2025 4:43 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [ADXA] 160 meter pennant antenna. Some results.

I have had 2 better days of receiving on the 160 meter pennant antenna. I suppose it may be due to the wet ground from the snow. I found that the band noise, with no signal, increased about 6db, but received signals were much better. Last night at 9;24pm local, 0324utc, was my longest reception on 160.. 7Q6M was a -16. Unfortunately, I had already left the shack. 

The previous night was a good reception night also, with several DX stations in Europe, South America, and the Caribbean heard. I was able to work most of the stations heard in the Caribbean and South America, but had already left the shack when the European stations showed up. This night contained my second longest reception into Russia, just east of Ukraine. 

While not being able to call the "good DX" on 160 due to not being in the shack, I did use the pennant on 80 to receive and work a few JA stations, and a VK6 on 01-11. 

What I have learned over the past bit is that 160 is still kicking my tail, and leaving me as confused as ever about working this band. I will not dare say the pennant is the best thing since sliced bread because I don't know what is causing the improvements in reception. Is it snow causing the ground under the pennant to be better, or has 160 meters just had better band conditions in the last couple of days. However, in my location, I do know that I have a high noise floor on both the 80 meter loop and the inverted L. and receiving any weak signal is almost impossible without the pennant.

If any are curious about the few QSO's I've had on 160 and 80 the last couple of days, you can take a look  at the QRZ page. These all were using the pennant as the receive antenna, and the inverted L on transmit on 160. I'm not sure if I was using the inverted L or the loop as the transmit on 80. 

Good DXing to all.

Randy W5ZJ