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Hello Jim,
Right now, the only significant 10m propagation is via ground wave (i.e. line of site). Not sure where the SDR was that you listened on but unless it was pretty close to our location in NH, it probably did not hear much.
As we get closer to June/July, we should get some E-Skip (Es) activity which will sometimes open 10m for longer distances. The best thing for you to do is what you did on Sunday – try a nearby SDR to Nashua, NH, and see what you can hear. If we get Es propagation, you should be able to hear more folks on our HF net.
Hi Jeffery,
We’ll be setting up on Friday. Would you be interested in joining the Station Setup team that will be putting our station together once we get to Milford on Friday?
It looks like the N1IMO-R Echolink port is now working for iPhones and Apple devices. THANK YOU BERNIE!
Hello Ian,
Given that you are looking at HF bands, the trees will not affect the performance of your antenna unless the limbs are close (same with 20 ft). If you are going to put up a tower though, you should plan to clear the trees so that a falling tree cannot hit the tower or cross a guy wire. A tree falling on a tower or guy wire can collapse your tower if the tree is even of modest size.
The general rule of thumb is that you want to place your antenna at least 1/2 wavelength above ground. This would be about 35 ft or more on 20m, 70 ft or more on 40m, etc. You will get a takeoff angle improvement in the specific downhill direction only. A good spot (based upon your picture) would be on the peak of the hill if you can make that work. This would probably optimize your takeoff angles in multiple directions and yield the best DX performance at your location.
Just to clarify… The RS-50M is a 120VAC input supply. Astron also makes an RS-70M-220V (70A) version that can be had in 220VAC input.
There is some debate as to whether to use linear supplies (such as the RS-50 or RS-70) vs switching supplies. The switching supplies are more efficient but some can generate quite a bit of RF noise, birdies, etc. that end up in our receivers. These problems tend to become worse with supplies at higher current levels such as those that you are considering.
Hello Peter,
Thank you! You’re on the Transport team. Would you also be willing to help put up and take down the tower as part of the Tower Team?
Hello Ryan,
At this current level, a 240V supply will draw a more reasonable amount of current than a 120V one would. We use an Astron RS-50M here.
https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/asr-rs-50m
Hi Aron,
6m is a lot of fun because of its unpredictability. There are several different propagation modes that are common on 6m include E-Skip (Es), Auroral Meteor Scatter, TEP, and sometimes even F-layer.
Also, as you mention, getting a directional antenna up for 6m is not that difficult. The antennas are smaller than HF and they do not need to be up as high to work well.
Digital modes like FT8, Q65, and MSK144 have opened the 6m band to lots of folks who were not on the band previously. As a result, there is more 6m activity than ever before.
Field Day is a good time for 6m as late June is a perfect time for some of the best Es propagation of the year. We made over 140 contacts on 6m during 2019 Field Day.
It should be fun and you’ll definitely have a chance to learn how to put a 6m station together.