[Elecraft] RE: [QRP-L] N6KR FD report

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

A-yup. I made tons of contacts as a Novice with an 80 meter dipole up about
25 feet in 1952. I was 70 miles from downtown Los Angeles. I didn't know a
thing about NVIS in those days. I was just lucky that I couldn't afford a
big pole to hold up my dipole any higher! It gave me all the solid, regular
contacts I could want on 80 to build up my speed to pass the 13 wpm General
Class license before my Novice expired (The Novice was 1 year and
non-renewable back then. It was pass or perish by the end of the year). 

Thinking about it, I suspect that the hoopla over NVIS is a very good thing,
including the adoption of a name for it. With all the focus on low radiation
angles and DX-ing to the point of getting DXCC in a few days or weeks
(instead of years or even decades of effort only a short while ago) I'll bet
fewer ops than ever know about the need to consider radiation angles for the
sort of communications they want to achieve. 

When it comes to radiation angles, lower isn't always better, except when it
is <G>.

Ron AC7AC

-----Original Message-----
I think the only point I was making was that Wayne was near a high
population density area and was making use of cloud burning.

I certainly wouldn't use NVIS in Wyoming for example.  In NJ, it is critical
especially on 40 meters to be able to switch between two or more antennas
with different take off angles.  It is just amazing the difference in signal
strengths and as you have said, do it where it makes sense.

Cheers!
Bob
N4HY