[SOC] Antenna Mojo?

[W2AGN]

I don't know if it was conditions, or what, but it seemed like I could work 
everybody I heard this past weekend for the DX contest, even 5U9C, 4L8A, etc. 
Great fun!

My question is this. Have you ever noticed that a particular antenna, at a 
particular QTH seems to work better than it has any right to? I remember as a 
kid, we had a 180' Zepp up about 35',  6" open wire feeders. That thing got 
out better than most beams. I have always put up a 180' Zepp as my first 
antenna when I moved around, but never had one work like that one.

Back a year or so ago, I stuck a 40M dipole up. Actually, inverted V. Apex at 
about 35'  with one end to a tree at about 25' and the other to the corner of 
the housr at maybe 30'> It was to be a temporary antenna while I got my 300' 
loop up.

Well, for some reason that darned dipole has a pipeline into Europe. I have 
worked Europeans with 100mw with no problem. Been accused of really running a 
KW when I was using 4W. It works well the other direction, too. Had a 1/2 
hour ragchew with VK9NS VERY early one morning.  

The stupid dipole outperforms my 300' loop on 40M. Makes no sense at all. It 
should be radiating straight up.

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      John L Sielke   W2AGN
       w2agn@pobox.com

   http://www.qsl.net/w2agn
        Trustee: W3IYQ