A bit more top band

Well,

Following the antenna I originally made here and then replaced here, I've been fiddling with the earthing arrangement for the system.

I've added some counterpoise wires which I have stapled to the fence and various other bits and bobs in the garden.

I've then made an artificial earth/counterpoise tuner thingamabob, much like this thing back here, and mounted it at the base of the antenna between the earth rods and the radials:

And then adjusted the capacitor for maximum smoke on top band when TXing.

There's quite a lot of current flowing, what improvement it makes I dont know.

Here's a map of FT8 and CW QSOs I've made on top band since the changes to the antenna:

Chopsey Cat (AKA Git Bastard Cat from Hell) is asleep in the conservatory:

whereas Maggie and Florrie Cat are tucked up in one of the dogs beds:

Local conditions.

Top Band (Again)

Well,

A while ago we had some work done in our garden, this resulted in the removal of a 'purglar'; now, this was all fine except it was supporting my top band antenna I made back here.

I've got round to making a replacement for the antenna today, nothing original - it's an end fed sloping, inductively loaded wire.

There's 54 feet of wire, 20 turns on a bit of tumble dryer vent pipe, then 5 feet to the feed point plus an earth rod (well two actually) on the sreen of the coax. Here's the inductor:

and this is the earth arrangement:

Now, I am planning to add several long counterpoise wires, but I haven't done so yet. I connected the antenna to my analyser thingamabob:

or if you prefer return loss:

I've been listening on the WSPR frequency tonight:

It will be a very inefficient antenna and also it has a very narrow bandwidth (like all inductively loaded antennas), but it's clearly hearing signals.

Here's a map after an overnight run:

I also took down the main 4M and 6M antenna today for maintenance, I've put somthing I had at the back of the shed in it's place temporarily, I've also put the 13cm antenna I had lying on my bench in the air:

Here's our two doing what Spaniels do on a beautiful frosty morning earlier today:

Good, egh?

Over the Pond (Again)

Well,

I left my TS-590 running WSPR last night on Top Band, here are the results as a map:

So the crazy antenna that I made back here:

http://g0mgx.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/top-band-what-happens-there-then.html

Is still working fine.

I'm wondering if I could convert the antenna for the even lower bands by changing the inductor - the answer is, of course, that I can. However, the efficiency of the antenna will be further reduced as the frequency decreases. I think I need to understand the maths behind the efficiency calculations before I do anything too hasty.

Here's the new Ham Cat helping out yesterday. I have a full week off work so have some plans for some insanity in the shack... watch this space.

Interesting, egh?

Over the pond on Top Band

Well,

You may recall my ramblings about Top Band back here:

http://g0mgx.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/well-this-top-band-twig-does-it-work.html

So on-and-off I've been leaving WSRP running on either Top Bank or 30M over night, just to see how far signals are getting, and have been wondering if this may ever happen:

Well, looks like it has!

Fun, egh?

Your are, you're completely Loopy!!

Well,

Following some interesting reading on Top Band RX antennas, here:

http://www.qsl.net/kc2tx/

I decided I might like to have a go at making one of those.... the main reason being that my experiments with my sloper from here:

http://g0mgx.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/top-band-what-happens-there-then.html

especially when using it on WSPR, I seem to find that I am being heard by far more stations than are hearing me.... so perhaps a different antenna for receive may help...

So here is this ridiculous concoction:

and as you can see, perhaps not quite as rigid as it needs to be....

but anyhow, it was strapped to a wooden support and connected to the wireless.... result.... local MW broadcast stations significantly weaker on this loop then the sloper, but more interestingly the noise was higher on this antenna than the other.... a total disaster!

So I decided to solder another earth cable onto the existing slopers earthy side and plant some more copper in the garden:

We will have to wait and see if this improves the RX performance...

Here is an interesting image of me in concentration mode:

Cat's weren't much help as normal:

Here the Geddy cat is asleep on my laptop keyboard - not very handy!

Good though, egh?