[Lowfer] The downside of PC's and radio

[Andy - KU4XR]

I remember comments from some of my Elmers ( anyone remember that
term ?? ) when PC generated CW, and CW readers hit the market.
They were aghast at the idea, feeling that it would be the demise
of ham radio. You know how you felt personally when the FCC decided
to lower the code requirements for entry into ham radio, only to
eventually drop the requirement altogether. Another " aghast " for
many an old timer who " HAD TO " pass the 20 wpm CW test to get the
extra class license. Lots of things have changed over the years,
for the better, or not is a personal opinion in most instances.
For sure however, is the fact that radio is no less technical today
than it has ever been in the past. Maybe even more so today with all
the new fang-dangled stuff on the market. Transmitter designs,
receiver designs, Pre-Amps, Filters, all the goodies to make your
radio " more funner " But the key element that was, still is, and 
always will be the critical element to sucess is:::: The Antenna !!
I think most everyone has a grasp of that fact, but over the past
couple of years, I have gone from having a " grasp " of that fact,
to " Knowing !! " it's a fact. Any transmitter will emit a signal,
and any receiver can be made to receive it. But not just any old 
antenna will make this possible, especially at MF, LF, and below.
>From my personal experience; at first, I was relying on my PC, and 
all the wonderful software out there to do the job for me, and dig
out those weak signals. It wasn't until I started trying to get a
signal into the air on 1750 meters that I started to understand 
just how important the antenna is. To this day; and I started
listening in 2007, I have yet to " Hear " a lowFER signal. And 
when I started trying to get a signal on the air, I kept asking the
same question over and over; " Can you HEAR me ?? " I have never
gotten an answer on that question yet. I have received many Screen
Captures, and all of them Greatly appreciated. But I still have not
received a single report from anyone that they actually " HEARD "
audibly !! my carrier. To begin with, it didn't bother me too much.
I was to busy enjoying the 400 to 700 mile distant screen captures.
And I was thrilled that I was being received at those distances with
only a few microwatts actually getting into the ether. However, the
longer I have stayed with this little hobby, the more reading I have
done. I started finding articles from the guys of yester-year who
were being " HEARD " not just seen, and using CW too. The same 
distances of 400 to 700 miles that I am being seen, they were being
heard !!! Average distances of 100 to 200 miles, all day, every day
using Plain Old CW seemed to be a standard occurence " back then " 
I started looking at the antenna designs that some of the sucessful
operators were using, and their setups. That is when I started to
realize where I was really " dropping the ball " to say. My transmitter
was fine, but my antenna setup Stunk !! To get those 700 mile captures,
I was really relying on the guys who put lots of effort into their
receiving setups. I suppose that it was in 2009 that I really started
to become concerned with improving my antenna efficiency. I have read
a lot, asked way to many questions, enough to become annoying possibly.
Because I realized that " I " was becoming too dependant on my PC, and
filtering software. I will never have the ultimate, or optimum antenna
setup, but I am striving to improve it to the last micro-dB that I can
get out of it. My Elmers used to tell me that " A good antenna, and
low wattage, can many times outperform a bad antenna with high wattage."
My hope is that someday soon, I will have a legal antenna that is 
efficient enough to actually be heard, as well as be seen. And I guess
I need to emphasize that I am referring specifically to Part-15, and
not Part-5 operation. There is a thrill in this low power, short antenna
stuff.

To any newcomers to the lowFER world; invest the time, and put forth
the effort to erect the best possible antenna that you can, right from
the start. You certainly won't be unhappy that you did. 

73 to all, and enjoy the hobby :

Andy - KU4XR - EM75xr - Friendsville, TN. USA
LOWfer Beacon " XR " @ 185.29875 KHz ( QRSS-60 )

*** Temporarily OFF, while constructing a new antenna ***

Coordinates:  N:  35º 43' 54" - W:  84º 3' 16"
http://www.myspace.com/beaconxr