[Elecraft] A preliminary X O experiment

[eric]

Greetings all Elecrafters!

   First, i need to preface this with a sad confession: I don't have an 
Elecraft. :(  But, by the time this is all finished, I'm pretty sure I will!

  I am here on the advice that many of you are  very much interested in radio 
experimentation, and i feel this group is particularly suited to doing some 
really significant radio science.

  We can get a lot more sophisticated as we move along, but here's something 
nearly every ham can do, and this will allow us to build up a really good 
baseline instrument for further experimentation with X and O mode propagation.

  It involves the construction of a very simple CPOL horizontal turnstile 
antenna, with switchable sense.  For those with space limitations, this can be 
built as an inverted vee, with a single supporting pole.  Two inverted vees at 
right angles, fed with transmission lines with a 90 degree phase shift.

To keep things simple, we can start with a single frequency antenna, tuned for 
15 MHZ, using WWV as the reference transmitter.

Once you have this antenna in place, we need to do just one quick test.  it is 
this:

Do you see a significant difference in the signal strength of WWV when you 
switch from RH polarization to LH polarization.  That's it.

I'll tell you the implications in a later installment, but first I'd like to 
hear what YOUR observations are, AND your interpretation of what you see!

I will need your QTH coordinates.

I will guarantee you this will be FUN and informative!

ERic
-- 
Eric P. Nichols, KL7AJ, NNN0AKA, WD2XSH/27
P.O. Box 56235
North Pole, AK 99705
(907) 488-0483
kl7aj at acsalaska.net
epnichols at alaska.edu
kl7aj at arrl.net
http://ericnichols.net