[QCWA] Novice Reflections

[Barry C. Nelson]

Just FYI
 
Contest last week I worked 67 countries running my old Kenwood TS530S into a Hy Gain 12AVQ ground mounted vertical with 24 radials some as short as 10 feet and a few as long as 30 feet. I worked most of my contacts on 10, and 15 but also some on 20. Running barefoot by the way. Guess the bill of goods you referred to works after all.
 
Best Regards
 
Barry Nelson K9YVT
Licensed 06/15/1960 as KN9YVT 
 

________________________________
 From: Jeffrey D Angus <jdangus at att.net>
To: qcwa at mailman.qth.net 
Sent: Friday, March 8, 2013 11:02 PM
Subject: [QCWA] Novice Reflections
  
If you've been licensed long enough to belong to the  QCWA, then
you probably got your start in Amateur radio via the Novice Class
license.

What was your first antenna? If you were licensed in the '50s or
earlier, probably a doublet antenna, open wire line and a tuner.

But, from the mid '60s and later, you were probably sold a bill of
goods commonly referred to as a vertical antenna. You follow the
instructions, measure everything twice borrow an swr meter from
your Elmer,  it's tuned up perfectly, but.... It just doesn't work.

How many prospective hams did we lose to this marketing trick?

I know what you're thinking, "Marketing trick?" Yes, consider the
salesman at the local radio store.  The focus in sales is to maximize
profits. Which is going to contribute to the bottom line better. 65'
of #14 wire and 3 egg insulators or a 4-band trapped vertical, a
40' push up mast, 130' of #14 wire and 8 egg insulators?

Guess what folks, they're still at it pushing vertical antennas that
don't work.

"But I don't have room for a dipole"
Then you don't have room for radials either and your vertical won't
work.

"But so and so's DXpedition uses verticals."
Did you notice they were on the beach 3' from the ocean?

"I can hear all over the world, but I need an amplifier to transmit."
People get DXCC running 5 watts, there's something wrong with
your antenna if it takes 1 KW to be heard.

Jeff-1.0
wa6fwi




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