[ILQSO] antennas for ILQP

[James Funk]

K8MR is correct: if the propagation isn't there, it doesn't matter what
you use!

Probably the best prop I ever saw in ILQP was about six years ago (I
forget exactly) when I was at a corner in extreme southern IL.  My
primary antenna was a trapped dipole, 65 long or so, at a height of
about 30', with the ends east and west.  It wasn't an especially "good
antenna" in terms of efficiency, but the prop gods were smiling. I could
not only work mobiles all over the state on 40 and 80, I was working
stations all over the Midwest (some within 250 miles) on  20, 15 and 10!
In the last half hour of the contest, I moved several northern IL and IN
stations through five bands.

Mobile antennas are notoriously inefficient.  I've heard estimates for
most "conventional" 80 meter mobile antennas (Hustler, Hamstick) that
are under 3%.  If anybody can create something for a mobile with a bit
higher angle of radiation (that can still be transported down the road!)
they will probably do better in-state than with a vertical.  The
tradeoff may be a weaker signal out beyond 500 miles.

In many, MANY hours of working stations on the county hunter nets, I
know there is a tremendous difference in the signal strengths of the
different mobile stations at approximately the same distances, with no
apparent reason (same sorts of antennas).  Propagation changes are more
noticeable when the signals are weak to begin with.  

One thing that would be worthwhile this year is for some of the fixed
stations to make some quick notes on which mobiles were strong and which
were not so we can do some comparisons afterwards and maybe all learn
something!  

Fun!

73, Jim N9JF

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