DX: Here We Come #2

 "The rewards of life come to those who DO, not to those who merely read, talk or day dream. ACTION is The KEY".  I don’t know where that quote originated, but it is on my wall, in my face as I sit at my computer. This  continuously galvanizes me to ACTION. Yesterday was for talk, and day dreaming, but today is for ACTION. I do not know who this is for, but I hope that it can help someone put that DX station in their logbook. If you can hear it, you can work it. True, but sometimes you have to try a wee bit harder to make it happen. 

The antenna is the secret to pulling in real DX. My DX band is 40-meters with 80-meters a close second. Right now things are tight with the electricity company generating RF interference on these bands DX bands, from their smart meter equipment. By now most of the world should know about this RF interference, noise and frequency jamming problem that exist  in V4 land, as it sabotages ham radio DX activity.  The RF interference is illegal, but it will cease in time to come. I really hope that the amateur radio operators can be compensated for the years that they have been deprived full use of these DX frequencies, 100K Uncle Sam should not be considered unreasonable. We will see. 

My lowest cost effective, and best DX antenna has been the half wave top and bottom loaded vertical antenna. This is what one DX ham radio operator, EI7BA, had to say about it. https://www.qsl.net/ei7ba/low_band_antennae.htm . 

I believe that his model may work straight out of the box. My antenna model was home grown. There is only one thing abut this antenna that you really need to know, that is, the antenna is half wave long. [492/F]  [1/2 wavelength]. No matter the length of the vertical or horizontal sections. My 40-meter antenna vertical section was 20 feet long, the design calls for a 1/8 wave length vertical element [123/7.15=17.2028 feet] but I was not going to cut my 20 foot length of aluminum tubing, and the horizontal sections were adjusted to maintain an antenna length of 1/2 wavelength.

For 80 meters, the vertical section is only 32-feet long. 984/8=123. 123/3.8=32.3684 feet. Longer or shorter length can be used for the vertical section, to facilitate the materials available. The horizontal sections will be adjusted to reflect the total antenna length of 1/2 wavelength. A V4 buddy made his antenna from wire and hung it from a mast. That helped me to conclude that this antenna was the answer to making easy DX contacts. His horizontal sections extended over the fence of his neighbor. I still have to experiment with linear loading the horizontal sections to keep them on the lot. The vertical section can also be linear loaded. The experiments on these antennas never end.

When you get into the realm of building and experimenting with these DX antennas to maximize their performance, the best antenna analyzer affordable is required. A couple weeks before covid19 was declared in Saint Kitts, I received my Rig Experts HF antenna analyzer. https://rigexpert.com/products/antenna-analyzers/ .

 The AA-35  model antenna analyzer for HF has more than justified the investment.  https://rigexpert.com/products/antenna-analyzers/aa-35-zoom/ .

 One of my radio suppliers offer these products  most cost effectively.  http://www.randl.com/shop/catalog/index.php /.

 An antenna analyzer is your antenna's best friend. Beg, borrow, or do whatever you must to ensure that your antenna is tuned up for maximum performance, all the time. If you need help, check your ham radio antenna buddy.  

All my vertical antennas sit 2-feet above my 6- foot high chain link fence. The minimum point above ground that any part of the antenna should be is, 16-feet for 160 meters, 8-feet for 80 meters, 4-feet for 40 meters, and 2-feet for 20 meters. Higher is always better.  This is a quote from the 1st Edition of The Amateur Radio Vertical Antenna Handbook by Capt. Paul H. Lee, USNR, K6TS  in 1974.  """ The 1/4 wave vertical gives a useful vertical lobe from about 10 to 55 degrees. A 3/8 wave vertical will drop the lobe somewhat, from 8 to 40 degrees. A 1/2 wave vertical is quite an improvement, giving a useful lobe from about 5 to 35 degrees. The 5/8 wave vertical which is the optimum height used by may broadcast stations to get maximum field intensity along the ground, is the best we can do with a single vertical element, giving a useful lobe from about 3 to 27 degrees, ideal for DX work.""" This is from page 13. Get a copy of this book and continue experimenting with DX antennas.

Investment in antenna handbooks are worthwhile, especially if they give data on phasing vertical antennas and more. A copy of ON4UN's Low-Band DXing by John Devoldere, ON4UN is a must read. There are other handbooks available, add to your DX library as necessary. Since I am a vertical antenna lover I only look for vertical antenna information as it happens for 40, 80 and 160 meters. From 20-meters to VHF I am content to use the best ready made antennas available. It is said that the two element beam provides the most gain for any antenna. With that said it is within everyone's budget to build a 2-element maximum gain antenna for any frequency. Think about it, and give it a shot. Join the long list of real DX stations using the 2-element 40-meter beam with success. 

Making real DX contacts is easier than you think. A little effort is all that it really takes. Good luck with your DX activity.