[Lowfer] Antenna changes @ WMS

[PAUL DAULTON]

WMS has been off for a couple of months due to a power cable failure. When
 I pulled the
power cable up to replace the rg59 I found a section chewed up, probably
 by a mole.
Now that I am back on the air I note and increase of about 15 percent more
 antenna current
than I had last year. This has been one of the wettest summers we have had
 in years. Soil here
is clay with a layer of shale down about 30 inches. Rain has to run off
 horizontally or evaporate
as it doesn't penetrate the shale. Most days when I mow even late in the
 aftenoon there is a 
sheen of moisture on the riding lawnmower wheels.
Antenna current is measured by a ft 37 pickup coil, one turn primary in
 the ant lead and 20 turns
in the secondary. A 1n914 diode and 50 microamp meter in series completes
 the meter circuit. As
I improved my ant and tx last year I removed turns until I had about 90%
 deflection, now I peg the 
meter on keydown. Guess I'll have to take a couple of turns off.
I wonder if others note a seasonal variation on antenna tuning.
Paul Daulton
K5WMS
Jacksonville, AR
EM34WU