Meriden ARC Web Site | Castle Craig Chapter 10-10


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Do you need the tiny island country of St. Kitts? My XYL & I will be there!
#1
Does anyone need the tiny island country of St. Kitts? In a couple of weeks, my XYL Elsie (KB1IFZ) and I will be there for a few days.

We have applied for a V4 amateur radio visitor's license with the National Telecommunication Regulatory Commission of St. Kitts, and we'll pick it up from the NTRC we arrive on the island. I'm packing my trusty FT-857, and intend to toss up a wire into a nearby palm tree for some fun QSOs.

In addition to being new members to MARC -- thank you for the warm welcome! -- Elsie & I are also long-time members of the SARA Club, and we are already planning skeds with them, too.

We don’t have our travel itinerary set yet. But if anyone is interested, please chime into this thread. As soon as I have tighter info, I’ll post it here. (It may be really short notice, as the heads up may occur when we’re on the island and we figure out what our QTH and antenna options are.)

FYI, my wife and I enjoy DX and love DXpeditions. For instance, we’ve had the great pleasure of twice operating the IARU HF Championship contest from Aruba. It’s fun to be on the receiving end of a pileup! We also, generally, like contesting. I’ve been working Field Day (yes, I know it's not technically a contest) since 1974 and Sweepstakes since 1976.

Anyway, let me know if you’d like a contact from St. Kitts.

73,
Eric KB1EHE
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#2
As I said I need it on 17 meter and Digital. Also on 10 with a 10-10 number.

Al - N1API

(02-20-2016, 07:44 PM)KB1EHE Wrote: Does anyone need the tiny island country of St. Kitts? In a couple of weeks, my XYL Elsie (KB1IFZ) and I will be there for a few days.
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#3
(02-20-2016, 07:44 PM)KB1EHE Wrote: Does anyone need the tiny island country of St. Kitts? ...............
....
73,
Eric KB1EHE

Please advise, I can use St Kitts on most bands, most modes except CW.
K1RCT - Rob
W1NRG Station Activities Manager
Home Email

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#4
DXpedition update:

St. Kitts has approved my visitor's license.

I'll be active "holiday style" on St. Kitts (NA-104) March 9th - March 13th as V4/KB1EHE.

I intend to try to work all HF bands via my Yaesu FT-857D using a 53-ft. end-fed wire sloper with 9:1 UNUN. It tunes and works fine on 80-10m. I will also string up a simple 20m dipole. I am bringing my portable tuner. The dipole also tunes up and plays fine on 40m and 10m.

I have been experimenting with the above portable setup this weekend and last weekend. Plenty of QSOs. So everything is performing well.

If you're interested in the design and construction of the 53-ft. end-fed with the 9:1 UNUN, check out this excellent article: http://w5bii.org/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=9to1_unun_antenna

As I mentioned, I will be active "holiday style". I'll be on vacation with my XYL, Elsie, KB1IFZ. I'll hop on the air whenever the opportunity presents itself and the band conditions are favorable.

QSL via home call direct and LoTW.

I'll provide further updates before I head to St. Kitts.

Stay tuned.

73,
Eric KB1EHE
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#5
If you're interested in having a backup antenna, I have an Alpha 6-160 end fed (J-Pole), brand new in the box that you are welcome to pack away if you'd like a backup. It is small, about 18" long in the plastic bag, about 6" diameter.

I'm looking forward to making contact when you get down there!

Have a great time!

Link to the Antenna I mentioned: Alpha 6-160 HF J-Pole.
K1RCT - Rob
W1NRG Station Activities Manager
Home Email

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#6
Hi Rob.

Thank you for the offer for the Alpha 6-160 end fed (J-Pole). Greatly appreciated.

I have the identical antenna, and have been anxious to try it. Last weekend, in my portable gear test, I put it head-to-head with the 20m dipole and the 53-ft. end-fed with the 9:1 UNUN. I used a coax switch to be able to do instantaneous comparisons. It tuned up fine, but on receive it was significantly down compared to the other two.

I've heard superb things about the Alpha 6-160 end fed, particularly on eHam.net: www.eham.net/reviews/detail/9968. Hence why I purchased it. My guess is that it is a little more finicky with its installation. I purposely used well-less-than-ideal temporary installations for all three antennas, to try to simulate my TBD St. Kitts installation. The dipole was draped over the wood railing on my back deck, so only about 15 feet high (with the ends almost touching the ground). And the 53-ft. end feed started at 15 feet high and sloped down to about 5 feet (tied to a tree). For the Alpha, I had the transformer end about 20 feet high and the low end sloping towards the ground, with the end about 5 feet off the ground.

Thanks again, Rob, for the offer. I look forward to a QSO with you, too!

73,
Eric KB1EHE
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#7
OK Eric, interesting observation abt the Alpha. I also have a BuddiStick which is a bit finicky too. Made my first HF contacts on it. I noticed that if I use more than one counterpoise, it tunes easier and has "better ears".

My Main Antenna is an OCF Dipole up about 30 feet house to trees. Works fine as I've had QSO's from Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Africa, all of Europe and the CONUS, All of Souoth America. If I can hear them, I can work them though it does not tune 160M at all.

73!
K1RCT - Rob
W1NRG Station Activities Manager
Home Email

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#8
Hi again Rob (and other readers).

Interesting information regarding your OCF dipole as your primary system.

My primary antenna, even for contesting, is the wire antenna that me and my good friend Rod Lane N1FNE invented and patented. Here's a link to the patent: www.bit.ly/1oJFFPO (BTW, many design variations -- and construction simplifications -- have been discovered and tested since the patent issued in 2011.)

In just 64 feet of space, it works phenomenal on 160 - 10m. And, because of its novel design, it doesn't require end insulators -- or even a center insulator! There are no coils / traps / gizmos. It is virtually indestructible; since there is no tension on the wire itself, it could (in theory, not recommended) even be made out of tiny gauge wire (like 24 AWG magnet wire)...and it would still survive a hurricane.

The secret is that there is no linear tension on the wire; it is zigzagged over a support rope -- hung like a curtain on a curtain rod. (We create tiny loops in the wire with twists of an small-diameter rod, like a screwdriver blade. And then the support rope is threaded though the loops.) As long as the support rope doesn't break, the antenna stays perfectly fine.

My antenna has survived New England winters and all sorts of storms for over six years -- and still looks as good as when I first put it up.

It works like magic. Hence, one of our nicknames for it is the "magic dipole".

We received the patent in 2011. And that gives us a legal monopoly on the invention for 20 years -- so until ~ 2031.

We haven't had time to explore entities to manufacture and market the antenna invention. Given that there are so few materials needed (just a length of wire and a length of support rope), the total material cost will just be a few dollars. As a "kit" it would be a piece of cake to package. If you or the Club have any ideas, let me know. It would make a great little business for a retired ham. (Perhaps I should create a separate post about the opportunity. What do you think?)

I've been designing HF antennas since 1974. It is one of my great passions in amateur radio!

Thanks, again, for your note. Have a great day.

73,
Eric KB1EHE
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#9
I'm going to check that out! One project I have is a Mosley TA-33 Tribander. I'm rebuilding the antenna now and eventually it'll go up on the roof or maybe a short tower.

FYI I ran a K6TU Prediction for your St. Kitts Holiday DXpedition.

I've posted the 'best propagation' mas here (as much as I could). I'll email you the entire set for your perusal.

I usually run these before most Contests so I have a decent Band Plan for the event.

40M & 80M look pretty good!
   
   
   
   
   

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K1RCT - Rob
W1NRG Station Activities Manager
Home Email

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#10
Wow. Thank you, so much, Rob!

The propagation projections you've supplied are super helpful. I really appreciate the insights and assistance.

Again, thank you so much!

73,
Eric KB1EHE
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