[HCDX]: BEVERAGE ANTENNAS

[mwdxer@xxxxxxxxx (Patrick Martin)]

Hi Everyone:

Well in Australia you've got the kangaroo, in Northern Europe, the
raindeer and here on the Northern West Coast of North America, you've
got elk. I got up this morning and turned the Drake R8 on to find out
very little signal was coming through on my Northern Beverage. I knew
what the problem was, as I have repaired in in the past. Yes, a herd of
elk decided to go right through my neighbors fence and through my
beverage. Well it is all fixed now. I raised it abit through that area,
so may the next time, the elk will miss hitting it.
  On the subject of beverages, how many who have beverages up year
around ever check splices? I do quite often, but with all the rain we
have had this year,  some of the soldered connections are worse. I am
right in the process of replacing some of the wire on the Eastern
Beverage that runs 1500 feet. In the next few days I hope (weather
permitting) to replace or at least check every splice. The beverage has
been out there for 15 years and have gotten alot of splices in that
period. I might add we have very high winds on the coast here. We had 2
wind storms in Feb / Mar of gusts to 120 MPH. Wnds of 70 MPH are common
place in the Winter months. I always use insulated wire. It generally
about #14 or #12. 
  In my checking of unwrapping the splices yesterday, I found one really
bad connection. Apparently an old one. I cut it out and respliced it
after cleaning the wire good. You really need a good solder joint in the
high winds here. You don't want crackle crackle on my radio.
  In the process of repairing the splices, I have found the Eastern
Beverage to get my directional again. It has been abit on the poor side
the last few months.
  To give you an example. Close to two wave lengths on 1600 khz, I have
done well DXing the Midwest & Eastern US with the beverage. 10 years ago
I used to hear  stations like WXVI-Mongomery AL and WWRL-New York. In
the past few months, Utah dominates. Well, they used to dominate until a
couple days ago when I repaired some splices. Last night it was CO and
MO. The conditions weren't even very good. 1600 khz along with other
frequencies are most of a jumble again. I noticed WMDM tearing up KDDZ,
WQSN under KXOL, etc. So, if you have beverages out there, check your
splices. It has made a world of difference and I have more to go.
73s,
Patrick Martin
Seaside OR
(On the windy  rainy coast)

Patrick Martin
http://www.CallingHollywood.com
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