[MRCA] Ft. Mott Ft. Miles Ground Wave Test

[B Smith]

       Last Sunday October 23 Dave KB3ELD, Mark KD3ZK and  I conducted
ground wave testing  on 3885 Kcs between  two Coast Artillery sites
Ft. Mott, New Jersey and Ft. Miles, Delaware. The purpose of the test
was  to confirm the over the horizon ground wave (surface wave) 
between
the two sites over a 53 NM (62 Statute) path which was for the most
part  was over water which would result in excellent ground
conductivity.
Due to the low frequency and short distance NVIS was not  considered.
An additional test would be made on my end using a end fed  half wave
wire and compare it to a center fed doublet.

       Dave  and Mark set up their  WWII station  a BC-669
and PE-108 on Saturday. They used a standard 75 meter doublet
suspended via antenna kit poles at  30 to  40 feet with the lobe of
the antenna pointed  North and South. I set  up at Ft Miles with a
doublet  antenna at 20 feet in the center 15 feet   on the ends and 
oriented
E and W for maximum lobe to the North and South.
     Two way ground wave was loud and clear and Dave could still hear
me when I  switched to  4 watts on my end.
        Dave and Mark worked all day Saturday  getting set up and all
I had to do was  park my war wagon Sunday  morning  and set up a
push up pole  on a tripod and turn on my "borrowed" PRC-70.
 In addition to the center fed doublet antenna I also tried a end fed
long wire fed with a Fuch tuner. Identical  on the air results proving
that the end fed wire was accepting RF and performing  just as well as 
the
center fed doublet but was  much easier to put up.
        Overall test results were outstanding, solid ground wave was
utilized  for 2 hours. N3FRQ, and K2WI were also on the frequency but
not as strong and with fading and Rob  was experiencing some local 
noise.
      Since the path is reliable further installation of a permanent
radio location and antennas  at both military installations  will be
considered, and this  will further enhance our relations between the
Military Radio Collectors, the  MRCA, and the military
reenactment groups.

Photos of the equipment  and video may be seen at:

73

breck