[MRCA] 40M NVIS - no go

[ersmar at comcast.net]

Gents:

     When I arrived at the site of the disaster preparedness demo yesterday, 
I found that another Ham had already strung up a 40M dipole between to mil 
masts on the asphalt -paved parking lot.  We used his skywire all day.

    I believe he had it suspended too high for adequate NVIS work.  My guess 
is the center was about 25 feet in the air and the ends were a bit higher. 
In any case, 40 was long for us all morning.  I worked SC, MI and NH, but 
nothing like MD, VA, PA or DE.  There were a few local stations checked in 
to ECARS but I couldn't hear them.

    The room we were in (we didn't set up outside) was filled with 
spectators and others demo'ing their wares (Search Dog teams, horseback S&R 
folk, local PD, EMTs, etc.) and the background noise was deafening.  I 
couln't hear the RX well without turning up the volume and interfering with 
adjacent conversations.  Next time I'll bring two sets of headphones: one 
for me and one for visitors.

     However, I now have about 80% of the NVIS antenna system we discussed 
here last year.  I'll construct the 80/60M dipole portion, install it and 
the 40M kit in the front yard somehow, and report to you gents.  My guess is 
that the 80M version might be too long to install at Gilbert in the small 
grassy square in front of the exhibition hall we typically set up in.  Any 
suggestions?

73 de
Gene Smar  AD3F