[FARC] 80 meter success

[kirktal7237 at msn.com]

After putting the MFJ isolator unit on the coax feedline of my 75-80 meter dipole, I can report, so far, success in making contacts on 75-80 meters without turning on the air conditioning unit in the house.  I made contacts up into Connecticut, New Jersey, and Canada with "very fine signal" reports.  Though no long-haul contacts these, it was nevertheless encouraging.

Resonant frequencies are 3.800-3.850 MHz with 1.5:1 or less SWR and less resonant frequencies of 3.860 to 4.000 MHz. with 3:1 or > SWR which the tuner should take care of.  Using the tuner will give me coverage in the general class SSB phone portion of the band which is just fine.   Though by-the-book I wouldn't expect to be as successful making contacts on 3.860 Mhz. to 4.000 Mhz..  

I haven't checked each and every frequency in the 75-80 meter band for the air conditioner gremlin, but will continue to make tests.  I will also make tests with the "odd multiple" bands 17 and 15 meters as Scott suggested to see about making contacts there.  I have already made a few DX contacts to the Caribbean on these bands as well as to the far western United States with so-so signal reports, and perhaps the antenna may be somewhat "multibanded" after all.

While I can't do 40 or 20 meters very well on SSB phone, I can still do 20 meter PSK31 and RTTY with another cut-for-digital dipole antenna I have.    Plans for the summer are to flatten out the 90 degree apex of the inverted vee dipole to see if that helps with radiation.  The Buddipole, which hasn't arrived yet, can be set up for any of the bands except 160 meters I believe.  

73
KB3ONM
Kirk