[Lowfer] Wet ground - low radiated output
Zack Widup
w9sz.zack at gmail.com
Mon Nov 2 15:43:27 EST 2009
I will have the W1TAG loop tuner with the relay-switched capacitors and the
W1VD amp done in a week or so. Hopefully it performs well. I am using a
5-foot square loop.
73, Zack W9SZ
On Mon, Nov 2, 2009 at 2:22 PM, Paul Daulton <k5wms at centurytel.net> wrote:
> Dave W5dsb and I both built the Lyle Kohler loop tuner/preamp. Niether
> of us had much success with small, 3ft on the side, loops. But the
> tuner did work well on whips. I have two ts50s and two identical
> Gateway III compters. I also have the pa0rdt mini whip. 75 metre dipole
> vs mini whip is a toss up some times one is better than the other, then
> the reverse is true on another day.
>
> I note W5JGV is using the HP selective voltmeter. Dave compared those
> two and the ts50 won out. But antenna matching may be a factor there
> too.
>
> I may drag my loop tuner out and try a 10ft dia single turn shielded loop.
>
> My ts50 and random wire(75meter dipole) does a great job on 137. I have
> captures of all 5 or 6 at once.
>
> Judging from the variometer setting my antenna has changed quite a bit
> from dry weather.
>
> 73 Paul
>
> Quoting Garry and Linda Hess <k3siw at sbcglobal.net>:
> > Hi Paul,
> >
> > It's been pretty wet up this way too, but not nearly as bad as what you
> > report. We're having major renovations done to the house and it's going
> > slowly because so many days no work can be done due to rain.
> >
> > Noted that W5JGV was acting as a watering hole grabber last night and
> > hearing very well (MP, CV, and XR at various times). I was trying to
> > copy CV with the loop and not doing much but then I switched to the
> > e-probe/SDR-IQ set up and eventually saw CV, XR, and MP (the latter two
> > fading in and out, MP solid). Will have to make more comparisons between
> > my loop and the e-probe. I certainly think the former should be better
> > but I'm seeing more noise than in the past so may be getting desensed by
> > it. I have an MFJ tuner modified for LF use so perhaps I can null the
> noise.
> >
> > Sorry I didn't get around to looking for WMS until sunrise was too
> > close. Will tune for you sooner tonight, weather permitting.
> >
> > 73, Garry
> >
> > Paul Daulton wrote:
> > > Garry
> > > We have had the wettest summer on record. Friday we had flash flooding
> > > all over the state, roads were closed all around me. My yard is
> > > saturated. Normally we have a burning ban in my county from July to
> > > October. This year we have not had a single ban. I have noted when the
> > > ground is saturated my signal reports diminish. I dont have an
> > > accurate way to measure field strength. During the monsoon rains WEB
> > > dissapears. He did come back in last night. Farmers say they need 10
> > > days of dry weather to harvest, estimates of crop losses are 15% or
> > > more for rice and soy beans.
> > > My ground is clay down about 30- 36 inches then hard shale. Water has
> > > to run off horizontally or evaporate. Bill (WEB) is setting on sandy
> > > soil which may dispell water faster. I am getting day time copies on
> > > WEB last few weeks when storms not present. No luck with CV.
> > > I dont have much of a top hat, CV doesnt have a ground system, yet we
> > > both seem to get out for DX. Yet we cant copy each other. I wonder if
> > > that has to do with the angle of radiation. I used to copy MO at about
> > > the same distance as CV.
> > > Ive only had partial copies of CV,XR, and MP. Its time I got busy on a
> > > loop for this winter. Paul
> > >
> > > Quoting Garry Hess <k3siw at sbcglobal.net>:
> > >> Andy,
> > >>
> > >> I've only been listening to lowfers a bit over a year, but last year
> XR,
> > >> CV, and WMS were copied regularly by December. So far this winter
> season
> > >> the best I've been able to do is occasional traces. Only WEB has been
> > >> copied regularly, but it seems relatively down in strength and
> sometimes
> > >> fades into the noise. MP and EAR are good daytime copy, but I used to
> > >> see MP well at night listening to the watering hole and so far this
> > >> season it hasn't been in there, or has been weak. As at your QTH,
> > >> October has been a very rainy month here, but the lightning activity
> has
> > >> subsided nicely compared to the middle of summer.
> > >> In contrast to lowfers, NDB reception has been fine. I picked up new
> > >> stations this month at a rate of about 1 per night. Since about 1350
> > >> have already been logged, those new ones aren't in the back yard.
> > >> Stations in South America are coming in as well as last year.
> > >> Hopefully by the end of December lowfers will be coming in like last
> > >> year too. Time will tell.
> > >> 73, Garry, K3SIW, EN52ta, Elgin, IL
> > >> ______________________________________________________________
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> > >
> > > Paul Daulton K5WMS
> > > beacon WMS 187.492 khz qrss30/slow 24/7
> > > Jacksonville,Ar 72076
> > > em34wu
> > >
> > >
> >
>
> Paul Daulton K5WMS
> beacon WMS 187.492 khz qrss30/slow 24/7
> Jacksonville,Ar 72076
> em34wu
>
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