[Lf] Re: vertical antenna

[Andre' Kesteloot]

Thanks Steve for the information, which I am also disseminating to the other
members of our LF group
To have worked OH1TN with your 12 meter vertical is very impressive indeed
WIll try that in my own garden next month, as soon as I have some free time
73
Andre'
****************
Steve Rawlings wrote:

> Hello Andre',
> I wish you and your family a very happy New Year.
>
> Firstly, please note that my new Email address is:
> steve at alg.demon.co.uk
>
> Secondly, I have indeed done a lot of work on 136 kHz with balloons!
> But the wind and rain over the past 7 weeks has made it difficult for me
> to operate during this period with my experimental vertical antenna
> (with or without balloons).  So it's been nice to have my loop as
> back-up for making local QSOs.
>
> General information about my vertical can be found at:
> http://www.alg.demon.co.uk/radio/136/experi_vert.htm
>
> A sketch of the vertical can be found at:
> http://www.alg.demon.co.uk/radio/136/experi_vert2.htm
>
> For additional information about the balloon-supported wire, see:
> http://www.alg.demon.co.uk/radio/136/balloon.htm
>
> > Two questions :
> > 1) how large were the balloons?
>
> It rather depends how brave you're feeling at the time you inflate the
> balloons!  But I generally inflate them to about 400 mm diameter.  The
> 'party balloon' catalogue describes them as '20" punch ball balloons' -
> but I don't think that I've ever risked losing that much helium in one
> go!
>
> > 2) when your vertical is used alone, (without balloons) do you have a
> > capacitive top, or is it just a vertical stick?
>
> With my small garden, it is not possible to use any top wires.  So it
> is, I'm afraid, just a simple 12 m vertical.  I have worked 13 countries
> on the 12 m vertical, the best DX being with OH1TN (1914 km).  But I'm
> about 6 dB stronger when using the 8 m balloon-supported extension, and
> my best DX on the 20 m vertical is with OH3LYG at 1946 km.
>
> I hope this helps.  Please let me know if you need more information.
>
> Good luck with all your projects in Y2K,
> 73
> Steve