[Wswss] 23 CM Report For 4/8/2007

[CHARLES LEADER]

Turnout was light this morning but propagation was good. Ralph K6TSK DM03 and Larry K6HLH were both worked here in CM97. Both had 55 - 57 signals while N6XQ/b has been S0-S2 all morning. Spring tropo has returned! Weather here is partly cloudy (large cumulous collectus clouds) and 60F.
   
  Us folks up north still want to encourage the lower power stations to get on and give it a try. A good example is the QSO I had with Jack N6XQ this week. Jack was running 30W to a pair of 12 ft. loopers, not a huge amount of power but good antennas. I am sure that many of the guys down south running 10-15W and a decent single yagi can make the path work with a little patience.
   
  If your running really low power, I'll be upgrading the station shortly. Will be changing out the 150 ft. of 0.50 in heliax for 1.25 in as well as adding a 0.8 dB LNA at the 4 way power divider. Should give me an additional 3.5 dB on transmit as well as lower noise front end and 18 dB of additional gain on receive.  Will still be running 250W to 4 X 67 el. at 70 ft. but will get all the RF up and down :) - complete next month I hope.
   
  One final note, I am still looking for the following grids for VUCC [CM99, DM05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 15, 16]. Please shoot me an email if your in one of these grids and want to give it a go.I'd also be happy to set a schedule up for anyone who needs CM97.
   
  73's & happy Easter,
   
  Chuck