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Post by Lee on Dec 24, 2011 9:24:11 GMT
Hey, got my first VK station today! 14megs on the vertical. Serious distance 10,455 miles. Now you need the QSL card to substantiate your claim my son ;D ;D ;D I'm not bothered about all that, qrz.com does the same thing |
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chaindrive
Superbike Rider
I am ever so shy
Posts: 3,474
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Post by chaindrive on Dec 24, 2011 9:25:42 GMT
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Post by andymuza on Jan 1, 2012 0:50:18 GMT
Sack cards. Just record all ya contacts, who needs the hassle of boring cards. Its totally different when you hear the actual contact.
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Post by gipsykev on Jan 1, 2012 0:58:42 GMT
its such a buzz when your onto american truckers
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Post by Lee on Jan 1, 2012 20:00:53 GMT
I'm into the USA every day now, five contacts plus. The window is between 2pm and 5pm, worked Senegal and morrocco today
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chaindrive
Superbike Rider
I am ever so shy
Posts: 3,474
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Post by chaindrive on Jan 1, 2012 20:06:14 GMT
You've got to much time on your hands  come down here and grind some valve shims for me instead |
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Wheelnut
Superbike Rider
Tesco or bust!
Posts: 4,231
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Post by Wheelnut on Jan 1, 2012 20:37:38 GMT
I'm into the USA every day now, five contacts plus. The window is between 2pm and 5pm, worked Senegal and morrocco today At times, you worry me!  |
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Post by Lee on Jan 1, 2012 23:50:29 GMT
Andy, Dave, colm, 4 element cubical quads.. anyone had any experience with these?
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chaindrive
Superbike Rider
I am ever so shy
Posts: 3,474
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Post by chaindrive on Jan 2, 2012 19:30:09 GMT
No experience but heard they are great if you don't have the room for a full size beam and don't upset the neighbours as much
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Post by Lee on Jan 2, 2012 21:09:21 GMT
I've been looking at the plans for them, massive forward gain, impressive radiation pattern, recon I could knock one up with bamboo canes and scrap wire.. no horizontal or vertical fading issues cos its got both polarities. Hmm which band though? 15m ? I need some neat poles for it to look right
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Post by gipsykev on Jan 2, 2012 21:11:17 GMT
I've been looking at the plans for them, massive forward gain, impressive radiation pattern, recon I could knock one up with bamboo canes and scrap wire.. no horizontal or vertical fading issues cos its got both polarities. Hmm which band though? 15m ? I need some neat poles for it to look right you might need to seek planning permission from your local council , if you were in durham i may have been able to help on that one
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chaindrive
Superbike Rider
I am ever so shy
Posts: 3,474
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Post by chaindrive on Jan 2, 2012 21:37:05 GMT
Look for glass fibre poles Lee, stronger for a given diameter and don't interfere with the F/B gain. nylon fishing cord is good for keeping the elements in line
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Post by andymuza on Jan 2, 2012 21:59:57 GMT
Andy, Dave, colm, 4 element cubical quads.. anyone had any experience with these? Cubical quads. Oh yeah, they are awesome but the negative is the pure physical size of them. You will be hard pushed to find a better antenna. 2 ele cubical quad for 10 12 and 15mtrsYou should try an MA5B, small footprint antenna to look at with the performance that few can match and it's a 5 band beam. As for Planning permission. It really depends how it is mounted. If the mountings are low and the antenna can be easily removed then it is classed as temporary and planning permission is not needed. I got round planning permission by mounting my antenna onto a nice long pole which was then fastened to the close line pole. The antenna can be taken down in minutes. |
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Post by gipsykev on Jan 2, 2012 22:10:57 GMT
Andy, Dave, colm, 4 element cubical quads.. anyone had any experience with these? Cubical quads. Oh yeah, they are awesome but the negative is the pure physical size of them. You will be hard pushed to find a better antenna. 2 ele cubical quad for 10 12 and 15mtrsYou should try an MA5B, small footprint antenna to look at with the performance that few can match and it's a 5 band beam. As for Planning permission. It really depends how it is mounted. If the mountings are low and the antenna can be easily removed then it is classed as temporary and planning permission is not needed. I got round planning permission by mounting my antenna onto a nice long pole which was then fastened to the close line pole. The antenna can be taken down in minutes. ive seen that done between clothes lines but getting the swr down is a work of art |
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muzzasv
Superbike Rider
Traction control? This is my traction control mate!
Posts: 4,910
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Post by muzzasv on Jan 2, 2012 22:12:49 GMT
going back to what dave said about fibre glass poles how about carbon fibre i.e tent poles you can get tent poles from any camping store and im pretty sure you will be able to get them made to size
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Post by gipsykev on Jan 2, 2012 22:21:59 GMT
going back to what dave said about fibre glass poles how about carbon fibre i.e tent poles you can get tent poles from any camping store and im pretty sure you will be able to get them made to size you can make an ariel out of almost anything |
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Post by andymuza on Jan 2, 2012 22:25:54 GMT
2 problems with carbon fibre, its expensive and its electrically conductive in a big way. The latter could effect the way the signal is directed reflected etc.
It would be ok as a boom but not as spreaders for the wire on a quad antenna.
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Post by gipsykev on Jan 2, 2012 23:02:59 GMT
2 problems with carbon fibre, its expensive and its electrically conductive in a big way. The latter could effect the way the signal is directed reflected etc. It would be ok as a boom but not as spreaders for the wire on a quad antenna. you can use anything thats a conductor to make an ariel |
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Post by Lee on Jan 2, 2012 23:09:00 GMT
Thanks guys, ill look up the ma5b, the cubical quads are big, but essentially there is nothing to them. I think they would stand up to massive wind too. Hmmm, the more elements the better the directional gain... It could be knocked together with one plastic boom, 8 pieces of bamboo, some copper wire and some fishing line... Oh, and some cable ties....
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Post by andymuza on Jan 2, 2012 23:17:15 GMT
2 problems with carbon fibre, its expensive and its electrically conductive in a big way. The latter could effect the way the signal is directed reflected etc. It would be ok as a boom but not as spreaders for the wire on a quad antenna. you can use anything thats a conductor to make an ariel Not if it doesn't radiate a signal it doesn't. |
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