From w4pm at yahoo.com  Mon Jun  5 14:45:21 2017
From: w4pm at yahoo.com (Howard Motley)
Date: Mon, 5 Jun 2017 18:45:21 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: [CVCC] 2017 CVCC Picnic
References: <2136611927.2138745.1496688321848.ref@mail.yahoo.com>
Message-ID: <2136611927.2138745.1496688321848@mail.yahoo.com>

Don't forget the picnic is this coming Saturday June 10th at 4:00 P.M. at the QTH of W4PM
Address:11121 Linderwood DriveMechanicsville, VA? 23116
Phone: 804-550-3423


In attendance? will be:

W4DR - 2W4PM - 2WAPFM - 2K4OSO - 2K4WNW- 2N4DEN - 2N3UA - 2Wu4G - 1
73,Puck W4PM


From hmmjr at comcast.net  Fri Jun  9 10:31:07 2017
From: hmmjr at comcast.net (H. M. Motley, Jr,)
Date: Fri, 9 Jun 2017 10:31:07 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: [CVCC] W4PM - Have the bands gotten worse in the last 5 weeks?
Message-ID: <2089770227.254568.1497018667339@connect.xfinity.com>

If it wasn't for 40 meters there would be no ham radio at my QTH.  So far with my temporary antenna I've made 14 contacts ALL on 40.  I did make two EU DX contacts - Tof,  DJ6ZM being one. I hear nothing on other bands!  Have things gotten even worse than they were?


A scientific measurement of my antenna (I stepped it off and guessed a bit) shows 80 to 85 feet of end fed wire at a height of 10 feet above the ground running to the west.  Yesterday I added 30 feet of hook up wire to the ground terminal of the T network tuner and ran it along the house outside back wall.  I left the roll on the end so it's end loaded!

This allowed me to increase power from 15 to 25 watts without seriously increasing the RF in the shack!  Maybe the extra RF will tickle the feet of the Mocking birds that keep landing on it.


Had I used red wire instead of black I would expect better performance (see my April 1 article a few years back entitled "The Red HOT Radiator or How to Maximize the Gain from a Wire Antenna").  


I do have a new open wire fed 40 meter EDZ ready and as soon as I can throw a couple of lines over a couple of oak trees I'll put that up.  I'll also need to order a new balanced tuner to replace my  lightning toasted one.


If you hear my CQ please call.  If you have no or little time a simple hello, report, and goodbye before you run is OK.


A great weekend to all and to all a good day,


Puck W4PM


P.S.  CVCC folks - looking forward to seeing you at the W4PM super station for the Saturday picnic!