[IRCA] New Antenna Fun

[Barry McLarnon <bdm@xxxxxxxxxx>]

A new antenna can be a shot in the arm for DXing, and that certainly has been 
the case here!  In the first month or so since installing my pennant antenna, 
I've logged 25 new stations (26 if I include a tentative).  The pennant has 
the classic dimensions (14 x 29 x 29 ft), with a fixed 900 ohm termination 
and the lowest point is about 6 ft off the ground.  It favors the west 
(nominal null direction is ESE), but the directionality is modest, certainly 
not in the beverage/BOG class - so it comes as a bit of a surprise that all 
but one of the new catches is either west or southwest of me.

In case anyone is interested, here's the list of newies:

 580 MI WTCM  (under local powerhouse CFRA)
 590 MI WJMS 
 650 WY KGAB 
 770 AB CHQR 
 770 NM KKOB 
 860 OR KPAM  (tentative)
 910 WI WDOR 
 910 AB CKDQ 
 960 MN KLTF 
1040 BC CKST 
1060 AB CKMX  (previously tentative)
1060 MN KFIL 
1070 CA KNX  
1070 WV WIWS 
1070 MN KVKK 
1090 ON CBON12  (40W repeater)
1130 BC CKWX 
1180 IL WSQR 
1180 MI WXLA 
1350 MN KDIO 
1360 VA WWWJ 
1360 WI WVRQ 
1360 IL WLBK 
1390 MN KRFO 
1520 OH WDMN 
1700 MX XEPE 

Also, plenty of good relogs, such as KTNN, KOMO, CFFR and CHQT.

On the negative side, the new antenna picks up plenty of noise, as it's in a 
tiny inner city back yard and is right next to the house - no cure for that 
other than moving - but it obviously is doing a reasonable job in spite of 
that.  I like to think the guy with the headphones on, twiddling the knobs, 
has something to do with it too. :-)

Encouraged by this success, I've just put up a second pennant, this time with 
a SSW null direction and remotely adjustable termination based on Mark 
Connelly's design.  Due to space limitations, it crosses over the other 
pennant at its midpoint, more or less at right angles.  Looks kinda weird... 
the neighbors must really be wondering!  Early results are encouraging, 
though there is a residual noise floor after achieving deep nulls that tends 
to kill weak signal reception.  This antenna would really shine in a quiet 
location!

Barry, hoping for a return to A = K = 0 soon

-- 
Barry McLarnon  VE3JF  Ottawa, ON
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