[IRCA] AM BCB antenna system. Advice requested

[Larry Hagood <larry_hagood@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hello,
  My name is Larry Hagood (AD5VM) I've been a ham for about seven years but am just now getting into MW dxing. I just placed an order for some antenna gear and wanted to get an opinion on my setup. 
My only receiver is my ham rig which is an FT-2000 with DMU. I know it's not the most sensitive receiver on AM and I'm not even sure I like it as much as the IC-746 Pro I sold in order to help pay for this monster. 
Anyway...
I live in a very RF quiet area (underground utilities) My lot is 75 x 300 ft but there is a vacant 300 ft lot directly behind me that I could use. My location is about 6000ft above sea level. I am in the desert and have no trees in the yard. However there is one exception to the "rf quietness" here, 770 KKOB's 50KW transmitter is about 10 miles from my house...
 
I just placed an order for the following items:
-Palstar MW550p
-I.C.E. 182A isolation beverage matching unit
-500ft 14 ga copperweld
-Quantum Phaser
-MFJ-1020C
-WinRadio longwire 9:1 balun
 
I plan to run about 300 ft of the wire suspended about 6ft above the ground and connect it to the ICE matching unit. I'll drive a 4ft ground rod at the matching unit which will be under an eve of my house. I'll connect that to the MW550p in the shack via 75' of RG-58 coax. The MW550p will connect to one side of the Quantum phaser. I'll run a smaller wire antenna (say 50') off the other side of my house and connect it to a 20' piece of RG-58 via the 9:1 balun. This will be connected to the input of the MFJ-1020C and then into the second connector of the quantum phaser. 
 
As a newcommer to AM BCB DX'ing I'm asking for any advice on setting up this system. 
Thank you,
-Larry



> From: irca-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: IRCA Digest, Vol 43, Issue 68> To: irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Date: Fri, 9 Nov 2007 16:53:22 +0000> > Send IRCA mailing list submissions to> irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit> http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to> irca-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > You can reach the person managing the list at> irca-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific> than "Re: Contents of IRCA digest..."> > > Today's Topics:> > 1. TP? 9 Nov (Nick Hall-Patch)> 2. Re: TPs for 9 Nov 07 (Walter Salmaniw)> 3. TPs for 11/9 (Bill Block)> 4. 1050 CKSB Winnipeg-St. Boniface MB (saulamdx)> 5. Confirmation/clarification of WFAW Test info for this weekend> (kh2ar@xxxxxxxxxxx)> 6. JOHR 1287 (vroomski@xxxxxxxxxxx)> 7. TP's for 11-08-09 (vroomski@xxxxxxxxxxx)> 8. TPs for 11-09-07 (vroomski@xxxxxxxxxxx)> 9. DX Tips for WDXR (Patrick Martin)> 10. Re: TAs Tonight (cafe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx)> 11. Re: JOHR 1287 (Patrick Martin)> > > ----------------------------------------------------------------------> > Message: 1> Date: Fri, 09 Nov 2007 15:13:14 +0000> From: Nick Hall-Patch <nhp@xxxxxxxx>> Subject: [IRCA] TP? 9 Nov> To: Mailing list for the International Radio Club of America> <irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>> Message-ID: <7.0.1.0.2.20071109150436.0291cf70@xxxxxxxx>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed> > sluggish just after 1400UT, deteriorating to mildly revolting by > 1500UT when I finished a 1430-1500 band scan....except that 774, 747, > and 828 were delivering reasonable audio at that time, as well as 612 > (which was Aussie).> > Odd morning for sure. K of zero up to 1200UT, mostly zero for the > last several days, with a "2" in there somewhere.> > Details, such as they are, later.> > Nick> > > > > > > ****************************************************************************> Nick Hall-Patch> Victoria, B.C.> Canada> > ****
************************************************************************ > > > > ------------------------------> > Message: 2> Date: Fri, 09 Nov 2007 07:16:03 -0800> From: Walter Salmaniw <salmaniw@xxxxxxx>> Subject: Re: [IRCA] TPs for 9 Nov 07> To: Mailing list for the International Radio Club of America> <irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>> Message-ID: <0JR800037VQV6K10@l-daemon>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii> > At 07:02 AM 11/9/2007, you wrote:> >Started out as a promising morning, with lots of carriers at 1300, > >developing into audio on some of the more common frequencies by 1330, > >but that proved to be the peak, as things gradually faded down after > >that. Nothing dramatic, just a gradual fade, and by 1420 sunrise I'd > >rate things as poor. Hope things turn out better on the coast.> >> >Well, it's off to Don's place in Lamont for the next few days, so with > >luck I'll leave Nick's cloud.down here.> >> >73,> >> >Nigel Pimblett> >Dunmore, Alberta> > > Only listened between 14:48 and 15:10 this morning. Instead I was more focused on Alaskans, specifically 630. By 15:00, though, KCIS in WA took over the frequency, even on my Alaskan loop, although earlier, I'm sure it was Juneau (and I was also hoping for Nenana, AK). I'll have to review my mp3 file on that one. Only had 11 audios this am, with the strongest being the NHK2 stations, especially 774 which was briefly a 9. Otherwise, only heard:> > 747 (7)> 774 (9)> 837 > 873> 1017> 1053> 1134> 1143> 1242> 1566> 1575> > That was it! Have a great DX session at Don's, Nigel! ...........Walt.> > > > > ------------------------------> > Message: 3> Date: Fri, 9 Nov 2007 15:17:01 +0000> From: Bill Block <billwblock@xxxxxxx>> Subject: [IRCA] TPs for 11/9> To: IRCA Hard-Core <irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>> Message-ID: <BLU102-W26848776047614FD137E9BD0840@xxxxxxx>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"> > > Good Morning> > Listened from 1245-1355 UT and conditions were way down from yesterday. Only one station with audio and that was JOUB-774 with man and woman 
with JJ talk at 1339 UT. Carriers were 558, 648, 693, 747, 774, 828, 963, 972 and 1566. The carrier on 963 was strong but never did get any audio from it.> > > Bill Block> Prescott Valley, AZ> Drake R8> _________________________________________________________________> Boo!?Scare away worms, viruses and so much more! Try Windows Live OneCare!> http://onecare.live.com/standard/en-us/purchase/trial.aspx?s_cid=wl_hotmailnews> > ------------------------------> > Message: 4> Date: Fri, 9 Nov 2007 07:17:06 -0800 (PST)> From: saulamdx <saulamdx@xxxxxxxxx>> Subject: [IRCA] 1050 CKSB Winnipeg-St. Boniface MB> To: "am@xxxxxxxxxxx" <am@xxxxxxxxxxx>, "amdx@xxxxxxxxxx"> <amdx@xxxxxxxxxx>, "irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx" <irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>> Message-ID: <727438.95633.qm@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1> > Heard this at Burnt River this morning (Friday) at> 0704 EST. French CBC news //860 (national feed). Weak> but steady under CHUM Toronto with no sign of NYC.> > I was on the lookout for this one after hearing in a> few weeks ago at Cappahayden during the Newfoundland> DXpedition, also around sunrise.> > Not much else loggeed by cx seemed good overnight. I> got here at 2 am and stayed up. 960 had Fox Sports> radio and later had religion, then had ESPN. Heard an> anthem at 0559 EST and then Rogers City MI was> dominant. CFFX Kingston ON was not heard overnight,> leading me to wonder if it had gone off. But it came> back gradually and was dominant around 0530...> > 1450 is indeed off. Heard Fort Wayne IN while still> downtown last night, and Holland MI aroudn 0730 here> this morning.> > 1420 CKPT is still on, but WHK Cleveland OH and WOC> Davenport A were dominant overnight. Now of course> it's all CKPT.> > Heard Cuba on 530 with Rebelde, //5025 as others have> heard it. I gather this is the same station in Havana> that was heard here last year with a different name,> which I have written down somewhere...> > All this on the radio Shack loop. I'll get the wires> connected today. Now, to get
 some sleep...> > Saul Chernos > > > > __________________________________________________> Do You Yahoo!?> Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around > http://mail.yahoo.com > > > ------------------------------> > Message: 5> Date: Fri, 09 Nov 2007 15:19:37 +0000> From: kh2ar@xxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: [IRCA] Confirmation/clarification of WFAW Test info for this> weekend> To: am@xxxxxxxxxxx, am@xxxxxxxxxxx, irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Cc: "Paul B. Walker, Jr." <walkerbroadcasting@xxxxxxxxx>> Message-ID:> <110920071519.20225.47347A890002FA7D00004F0122165514069D0ECD0805@xxxxxxxxxxx>> > Content-Type: text/plain> > I just spoke with CE Ernie Swanson and the test will run as advertised on the DXTESTS.info website - i.e., midnight Sunday night until 3 a.m. Monday morning. He apologized for any confusion the notice on the WFAW web site may have caused.> > Also, Ernie said he will be at the transmitter site during the test and will be happy to accept any prepaid phone calls from DXers at (920) 723-6033. He said he gets lots of calls to help him stay awake!> > Good luck to everyone.> > Jim Pogue> IRCA/NRC Joint Broadcast Test Committee Coordinator> Memphis, TN> > -------------- Original message -------------- > From: "Paul B. Walker, Jr." <walkerbroadcasting@xxxxxxxxx> > > Yeah,. their site says Sunday morning.. not Monday, like dxtests.info says.> > Id like to try for the test if someone can calrify.> > Paul> > > On Nov 9, 2007 3:54 AM, ronald musco <ronaldjmusco@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:> > Good morning Jim,> > I noticed on the WFAW web site that their test is Sunday morning. I thought it was Monday morning. Could you please clarify. Thank you.> > Ron Musco> > Jim Pogue <KH2AR@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:> Brandon Jordan - Blogmeister of the DXTESTS.INFO site - has posted two> interesting articles that ran in the local press about the WLPO DX Test. > Several DXers and their reports are mentioned in the articles. You can click> on this link to have a look.> > http://www.dxtests.info/2007/11/newstribune-newspaper-articles-about
.html > > Conditions have been quite good the last few evenings. Let's hope they> continue through the weekend for the WFAW test.> > 73s,> > Jim Pogue> IRCA/NRC Joint Broadcast Test Committee Coordinator > Memphis, TN> > ------------------------------> > Message: 6> Date: Fri, 09 Nov 2007 15:32:24 +0000> From: vroomski@xxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: [IRCA] JOHR 1287> To: irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Message-ID:> <110920071532.18673.47347D88000DEBCA000048F1221654868607059C0301019D90@xxxxxxxxxxx>> > Content-Type: text/plain> > > > Pat,> > JOHR 1287 in the 10:00 PM PST hour is really something. JOHR, when it heard here is usually after 5 am. I have heard a Japanese around 12:45 am, powerhouse JOUB 774. Being a mile from the ocean is sure a nice thing. When I'm are Grayland this coming week, will give it a try. > > Dennis,> Vancouver, WA> > ------------------------------> > Message: 7> Date: Fri, 09 Nov 2007 15:37:32 +0000> From: vroomski@xxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: [IRCA] TP's for 11-08-09> To: irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Message-ID:> <110920071537.7925.47347EBC000CAC1400001EF5221654868607059C0301019D90@xxxxxxxxxxx>> > Content-Type: text/plain> > > > --> Good Morning:> > Started Dxing this morning late around 1400 hours. Conditions down from yesterday, not even HLAZ 1566. JORF 1422 was a surprise with conditions being down. If conditions were good every morning, I guess Dxing would be less exciting.> > 153 Russia, 1400 pips on the hour, fair.> > 189 Russia, 1418 weak with Russian talk.> > 594 Japan, JOAK weak with man in Japanese.> > 774 Japan, JOUB 1443 fair with English lessons.> > 828 Japan, JOBB 1502 fair with woman in Japanese.> > 1422 Japan, JORF 1504 weak with man in Japanese.> > 1575 Thailand, VOA 1428 very weak with music.> > ------------------------------> > Message: 8> Date: Fri, 09 Nov 2007 15:40:54 +0000> From: vroomski@xxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: [IRCA] TPs for 11-09-07> To: irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Message-ID:> <110920071540.21315.47347F860003D19D00005343221654868607059C0301019D90@xxxxxxxxxxx>> > Content-Type: text/plain> > > > Good 
Morning:> > Started Dxing this morning late around 1400 hours. Conditions down from yesterday, not even HLAZ 1566. JORF 1422 was a surprise with conditions being down. If conditions were good every morning, I guess Dxing would be less exciting.> > 153 Russia, 1400 pips on the hour, fair.> > 189 Russia, 1418 weak with Russian talk.> > 594 Japan, JOAK weak with man in Japanese.> > 774 Japan, JOUB 1443 fair with English lessons.> > 828 Japan, JOBB 1502 fair with woman in Japanese.> > 1422 Japan, JORF 1504 weak with man in Japanese.> > 1575 Thailand, VOA 1428 very weak with music...> > Dennis,> Vancouver, WA> JRC 545 Ewe NW> > ------------------------------> > Message: 9> Date: Fri, 9 Nov 2007 08:43:29 -0800> From: mwdxer@xxxxxxxxx (Patrick Martin)> Subject: [IRCA] DX Tips for WDXR> To: irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, NancyJohnson@xxxxxxxxxxx> Message-ID: <13974-47348E31-2812@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>> Content-Type: Text/Plain; Charset=US-ASCII> > 890 CJDC/KBBI BC, Dawson Creek/AK, Homer mix here with CJDC with> C&W and KBBI with Jazz with NPR ancr at 1110 EST 11/9. (PM-OR)> > 1020 CIVH AB, High Prairie, good and dominant with a buy and sell> pgm, many slogans "The Fox", taking calls from people at 1112 11/9> (PM-OR)> > 1310 CHLW AB, St. Paul, good with spot cluster inc one for "The> Old Tyme General Store" in St. Paul "1310 CHLW Gold" mentioned at 1120> EST 11/9 (PM-OR)> > 1440 CKJR AB, Wetaskiwin, very strong with oldies and "The New> W-1440" IDs, into "Never My Love" at 1129 EST 11/9. (PM-OR)> > Drake R8> WNW EWE> SW EWE> Quantum Phaser> > Patrick Martin> KAVT Reception Manager> > > > ------------------------------> > Message: 10> Date: Fri, 9 Nov 2007 08:52:49 -0800> From: cafe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: Re: [IRCA] TAs Tonight> To: Mailing list for the International Radio Club of America> <irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>> Message-ID: <47349061-3d2@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>> Content-Type: text/plain> > > > Mike, KFQD Achorage on 750 is booming in at 05:40. Full ID at 05:30 totally over anyone else. Makes up a bit for the lack of TA
s. Nice local ID for CFTK, 550 Prince Rupert at 06:00 too...........Walt.> > > > I was looking for some of this last night 0615ish UTC --> 750 was certainly taking a beating from someone...> 800 was predominantly Spanish -- no idea who that would be -- Bonaire?> 540 was Spanish on top of the normally dominating CBK Regina.> I must say that I am using the Phaser way more now to dig through> the regionals in light of the fact that there are no TA's for me to> listen to and few TP's in the morn -- thanks to the Hall-Effect-Patch> circling overhead.> > Drake R8 - Eton E1 - Sony 2010> 3 X Wellbrook ALA100(M)> --> Colin Newell - Editor/Creator coffeecrew.com | dxer.ca> Web-Design / E-Commerce / Writing> Victoria, British Columbia, Canada> > > > ------------------------------> > Message: 11> Date: Fri, 9 Nov 2007 08:53:10 -0800> From: mwdxer@xxxxxxxxx (Patrick Martin)> Subject: Re: [IRCA] JOHR 1287> To: irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Mailing list for the International Radio> Club of America)> Message-ID: <13974-47349076-2822@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>> Content-Type: Text/Plain; Charset=US-ASCII> > Yes, I was a bit surprised to hear JOHR that early. I have logged JOUB &> JOIB that early in the past, but not JOHR, but Sapporo is fairly far> North and it is getting close to Winter. Even here by 3 PM, lots of skip> is coming in now.> I was still getting JOHR at 1630, so it looks like the signal was in for> over 10 hours. I was not up all night, but it probably was there.> > 73,> > Patrick> > Patrick Martin> KAVT Reception Manager> > > > ------------------------------> > _______________________________________________> IRCA mailing list> IRCA@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca> > Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers> > For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org> > To Post a message: irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > > > End of IRCA Digest, Vol 43, 
Issue 68> ************************************
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