[MRCA] M and S Net Saturday Report

[B. Smith]

Interesting net today, KK1K wins the loudest signal award, he was "fix 
portable". "Fixed Portable" is an  old FCC term we used to use when away 
from the Home QTH, we used to have to mail in a notice to the FCC 
Engineer in Charge of the District prior to operations.

I've been switching between Antenna "A" and Antenna "B"  for 
transmitting for some of the nets and most of my  reception signal 
reports   from the member stations are about even for the two antennas 
but on certain days one antenna would definitely win over the the 
other.  So we will assume that is due to conditions and the "skip zone".

Antenna "A" has been a cut to frequency doublet with apex of 35 feet and 
sloping elements at approx 45 degrees NVIS style over Chickenland ground 
with out an additional wire  ground reflector.

Antenna "B" has been a 210 foot loop at approx 20-25 feet fed with an 
Andrews 4:1 balun and then matched with a Collins 18OS-1 low loss tuner.

In most cases Antenna "B"(the loop) provided me with better reception, 
often 1 or 2 S units.(My S meter on the RF-301 is calibrated at approx 
50 uV., Each S unit is approx 6 db. So the loop is doing a very good 
job, an old timer once told me "The more wire you can get in the air the 
better off you are".

Which antenna is the best? Both of them - - - -         for now I will 
keep both antennas on line an retain the ability to switch back and forth.

Anyone bring a AS-2259 to Gilbert?  I field tested one several years ago 
and came up with approx matching values for  80 and 40 meters as well as 
60 Meters.
http://k4che.com/AS-2259%20Notes/AS-2259%20Page%201.htm

Z