Junior:
That is really encouraging.
The screw-driver is mounted on a pipe which is attached to the bumper of the
RV. I find that the whip that works best for me is a 109-inch whip that is
screwed into the top of the screw-driver unit. Interestingly, the top of
the screw-driver unit is probably only about 6 to 8 feet off the ground
(depending on what band is being used), so the top of the whip is probably
about 15 feet or so above the roof of the RV.
I tune the screw-driver with something called a Turbo-tuner, which finds the
screw-driver setting with the lowest SWR for the preferred frequency of
operation.
It certainly is not a high profile station, but it does get out at least in
some sort of minimal way.
As one might expect, my best contacts seem to be made in CW, and I actually
can do fairly well in CW contests with this set-up.
I simply find it easier than trying to string up a wire antenna somewhere.
However, now that we have a seasonal site for the summer, I actually have
thought of asking the camp ground managers if I could use some of their
trees for a temporary wire antenna, like a G5RV.
Will just have to take that one step at a time.
Anyway, thanks for the very encouraging report, Junior!
73 from Tom Behler: KB8TYJ
----- Original Message -----
From: "Junior Lolley" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, May 08, 2011 7:10 PM
Subject: Re: Today's 40-Meter Roundtable
Tom, the 480 and the screw driver antenna did a great job for you today.
I had a great signal on you down here.
Junior Lolley KG4itd
Liberty County Emergency Coordinator
-----Original Message-----
From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of tom behler
Sent: Sunday, May 08, 2011 7:00 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Today's 40-Meter Roundtable
I want to sincerely thank Lloyd and the others who picked up the slack
for me on yesterday's 40-meter east coast mid west round table.
Yesterday was one of those days where things just came together all at once,
and I had to make some quick decisions as to how best to get everything
done.
My alternate 2-meter 440 antenna is now totally up and functional, thanks to
the help who came over late yesterday afternoon.
Then, we were able to take the RV out to the local camp ground, and did get
our seasonal site. It was the last one in the area that we liked, so we
grabbed it!
This means that the XYL and I will now be out there camping on the week-ends
through mid June, and then, once the XYL is done with her para-professional
work, we will spend a number of week days out there as well.
As you may know from earlier discussions, and from today's 20-meter
cross-country blind ops net, I have a TS480 in the RV, but only 100 watts
and a screw-driver antenna.
This will make my ability to run the 40-meter round table somewhat limited,
but I'd like to try it from out at the camp site next Saturday if my
schedule holds up, and if others would be interested.
Again, I want to apologize for my quick exit yesterday, and to thank
everyone for picking up the slack under what appeared to be very difficult
conditions for the 40-meter round table.
73 from Tom Behler: KB8TYJ
----- Original Message -----
From: "Lloyd Rasmussen" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, May 07, 2011 5:13 PM
Subject: Today's 40-Meter Roundtable
Thank you to everyone who persevered and checked in. I think that most of
us could only copy 3 or 4 stations well. Another newcomer checked in, Gail,
KD8KWG in Columbus, Ohio. She heard of the roundtable through a W9 who had
checked in at some point. We closed the roundtable at 2040Z. Check-ins
today were:
W3IUU
KW3A
KJ4ZVU, WAYNE, TENNESSEE
K8LR
WB9R
KD8KWG, GAIL, COLUMBUS, OH
KD8BBK
WA9DRO
KG4ITD
WB9SLM
I recommend we not try to keep this going over such a large area through the
summer on 40 meters, but resume it in the fall. We'll see what others want
to do, however. I plan to be around tomorrow for the 20-meter net, but not
next Saturday.
73,
Lloyd Rasmussen, W3IUU, Kensington, Maryland
Home: http://lras.home.sprynet.com
Work: http://www.loc.gov/nls
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