[Elecraft] RE: QRP from the bottom of the Grand Canyon

[Mike and Alicia Fanning]

Thanks Wayne.  My preferred operating antenna (strictly from a convenience
standpoint) has been a vertical wire with 1/4 wave counterpoises for 20, 30,
and 40 m tied to a BNC to binding post adapter on the KX-1.  Not sure how
that would play in this case...  If I carry the rig into the hole, I will
post after the trip to let everyone know how I fared.

Personally, I was hoping for some directional gain broadside to the gorge
courtesy of the Vishnu effect (also documented in the propagation journals
as "schist happens").  Unfortunately, I understand that this phenomenon is
primarily in play on Wednesdays, which is my travel day.

Oh, and by the way, you and Eric keep up the great work.

73,
Mike, K4GU


-----Original Message-----
From: wayne burdick [mailto:n6kr at elecraft.com]
Sent: Tuesday, August 29, 2006 12:24 AM
To: Mike and Alicia Fanning
Cc: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: QRP from the bottom of the Grand Canyon


Mike Fanning wrote:

> Anyone have any experience trying QRP from the bottom of the big hole?
>  I
> will be backpacking the week of September 6-12 in the Grand Canyon, and
> would like to take my KX-1...


Mike,

I think your chances of making contacts is very good. If you have a low
dipole or random wire, you'll get some vertical radiation (in fact,
most of it :)  and with this "NVIS" antenna I'd be surprised if you
didn't work a few stations on 40 meters, any time of the day.

There's also a form of HF ducting that occurs in long river gorges near
the 36th parallel, peaking in the first week of September, often on a
Thursday. This is a hazardous time for migratory waterfowl of the
Kaibab plateau, whose normal sensitivity to the Earth's magnetic field
is disrupted by intense ionization that propagates along the limestone
walls. The visual effect, celebrated as "duck-ducting" by Havasu
indians, is documented in canyon petroglyphs. Of course it was only
hundreds of years later that their descendants, using early radio
receivers, were able to truly appreciate the phenomenon across the full
spectrum. Apparently it was quite messy. Based on an historical
analysis of such reports, I think you can expect long QSOs into Provo,
Utah.

73,
Wayne
N6KR


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