Author |
Message |
Newoperator
New member Username: Newoperator
Post Number: 1 Registered: 5-2007
| Posted on Saturday, May 12, 2007 - 12:20 am: |
|
I just moved up to methuen mass and i live on a lake .I used to live in malden up in the hills and i could see boston from my second floor window.I had my imax 99 in malden and the skip was preety decent.Now that i live here i dont understand it.I hooked my imak up only four feet off the ground on my deck and i just hooked it up to a barefoot pro 510 xl 4 watt uniden and im shooting more skip on am then i ever have in malden on my 2510 and im in a valley as well. kinda weird ay. i just actually ordered a 257 from copper cuz i sold off my 2510 last year and it was the biggest mistake i ever made.I miss my 2510 but im wondering how the 257 will match up.Just hope its as good as people say it is. |
Starface
Senior Member Username: Starface
Post Number: 1254 Registered: 1-2005
| Posted on Saturday, May 12, 2007 - 2:05 am: |
|
To me it looks as if you moved into a "Hot Spot" There are both Hot spots and dead spots you can locate your antenna/s. And just think your doing better at a new location at 4 feet off the ground? Wait till you get the 99 up to about 36 feet to the feed point! Good look and heres to hearing you on the air waves soon! 73 de George STARFACE CEF476
|
Newoperator
New member Username: Newoperator
Post Number: 5 Registered: 5-2007
| Posted on Saturday, May 12, 2007 - 10:56 am: |
|
Im gonna keep it where its at cuz im not giving off any bad voltage to any tv's so thats a plus.I ran a huge garden stake rod into the ground and ran a copper tv wire to it for a ground and that seems to be working good to but i still think i gotta tune the rings on the antenna when i get the new radio that should be easy with it mounted right on the deck ;).I looked around at reviews and found some interesting stuff on this 257 and i think its gonna be a winner.I just hope copper shipped it unfortunatly there closed and i want a tracking number |
Newoperator
Junior Member Username: Newoperator
Post Number: 10 Registered: 5-2007
| Posted on Sunday, May 13, 2007 - 1:52 am: |
|
i gotta get straps so i can run it to my chimney where can i find mounting straps will my local hardware store have them also do i have to retune if i move the antenna to another location?I was kinda thinking of getting a new imax 2000 later so i was gonna wait till then to do the chimney mount.I was talking to a guy in dorchester which is about 40 miles south of me on am and it was during normal conditions today.He was running a amp i was running the barefoot pro 510xl at 4w. |
Marconi
Advanced Member Username: Marconi
Post Number: 706 Registered: 11-2001
| Posted on Sunday, May 13, 2007 - 6:25 am: |
|
Well New, we can't overlook the fact that DX does come a go. Of late I too have been receiving spotty and weak DX almost all day and night here in the Texas Gulf Coast area. I hope though that you have just impropved your location like Starface suggests. Good luck with your new radio. |
Tech237
Moderator Username: Tech237
Post Number: 782 Registered: 4-2004
| Posted on Sunday, May 13, 2007 - 8:38 am: |
|
The other question is you mentioned you line on a lake - how close are you to the actual water of the lake? That body of water may have some bearing too. Simon Tech237 KD7IEB
|
Captian_radio
Intermediate Member Username: Captian_radio
Post Number: 194 Registered: 9-2004
| Posted on Sunday, May 13, 2007 - 9:26 am: |
|
Sounds like you are probably hearing sporatic e skip, and as for your antenna working great at just 4 feet up is likely that your low antenna is favoring the high angle that most E skip propagates.Low antenna = higher takeoff angle = better for E skip which is often coming in at a high angle, Now this will be true for most short hop or single hop E skip, if you want to work the multi hop E skip than you will need your antenna higher to take advantage of the much lower angle of the multi hop E skip. Check out some of the big contest stations that have antennas stacked at different heights , they can take advantage of the varying angles that all skip comes in at by switching to a lower or higher antenna. There is lots of good reading out there to support this , check it out this stuff is fascinating to say the least. Bob CEF451/VE1CZ Robert L. Spicer
|
Sonny
Intermediate Member Username: Sonny
Post Number: 161 Registered: 5-2004
| Posted on Sunday, May 13, 2007 - 4:19 pm: |
|
New, The Lake is helping you out a great deal as the radio waves will bounce off the lake, I donot remember the Ham that lived up in NH right on the ocean front and ran a hugh antenna farm. His system was photoed many times in ham magizines |
Wildrat
Senior Member Username: Wildrat
Post Number: 1287 Registered: 12-2003
| Posted on Sunday, May 13, 2007 - 5:32 pm: |
|
It's definitely the lake. Down here you can tell when the mobiles get near the water because their signal goes way up. That water is part of your antenna now. I am going to do the same thing with my Harley, go park by the Gulf and sound like I'm on the base. WILDRAT Mark 27.285MHZ CEF674 CVC029
|
Marconi
Advanced Member Username: Marconi
Post Number: 707 Registered: 11-2001
| Posted on Sunday, May 13, 2007 - 8:06 pm: |
|
I believe if you guys were to study the issue about lake (fresh) water improving radio communications in any appreciable way, you would find that it is sea (salt) water only that has positive affects on RF signals. |
Patzerozero
Senior Member Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 3715 Registered: 7-2004
| Posted on Monday, May 14, 2007 - 7:34 am: |
|
'would find that it is sea (salt) water only that has positive affects'-don't i know it |