IMPROVING SOUTH AMERICA TO USA SKIP

[unit_399]

I live in Colombia, South America, approx. 1500 miles southeast of Miami. Our ranchhouse (and my antenna) is on the top of a mountain - 5500' elevation. I run 450 watts peak into an Antron 99 w/ groundplane kit mounted on a 36' guadua pole. I've grounded the antenna and the radio equipment and installed a 16 wire ground radial setup as recommended on the SIGNALENGINEERING/ULTIMATE website. I have solid DX contacts with the southeastern US. Sometimes as far west as El Paso, Texas, and as far north as New York City. I want to increase my US coverage to include California and the Pacific Northwest. Is there any way to lower the angle of radiation of my A99 (to increase my skip distance) other than increasing the antenna's height? Also, I have a clone MaCo 105HV beam ready to put up and need to know what height would be best for max USA coverage. I have another linear (1500W pep) available if that is the answer.
Any suggestions?

- 399

 

[Justme]

Using an decent beam works both ways in getting out and reception.
An 1500 watt amp only increases your signal 3 fold over the 450 you use now, less as 1 S point.
But, the reception will not improve, so the station you want to work needs to have the same output and antenna system to be heard by you.

A beam wiill fit your needs the best, with an rotor, keep the omnidirectional vertical for checking out the conditions, and work DX with the beam.

 

[radioreddz]

all that you listed will work for some world wide dx . it's all about being patient and conditions or probagation. i live in the state maryland in the USA and have talked into europe,so.america and cross the usa with a antron 99 as well as with a inverted V. with as little as 150 watts. you did not list your radio i asume that you are using SSB. listen to a lot of guys out in DX land and they are using antron 99's and imax 2000's. but with the great items you listed you have no problem conditions permitting.

 

[dudmuck]

You could improve the A99 by using a full quarter wavelength on the groundplane radials.
It would be lower bandwidth, but the gain is more.

For the beam, its always best to have a rotor so you can aim it to the best signal strength.
Horizontal is generally best for skip, even though polarization is random from skip, the horizontal tends to reduce local noise floor. And the metal from tower/mast has less influence.

 

[unit_399]

radioredz -

I run a realistic TRC458 base radio on 26.755 to 27.205. Mostly AM.

Dudmuck -

My tower is made of guadua. Super heavy-duty bamboo-like tree. Light but very strong. The one I am using is 53' tall. 11 inch diameter at the base tapering to about 7 inches at the top. 5 feet will be buried so total tower will be 48 feet to the antenna base. We've cut the guadua but I have to let it sit for a couple of weeks to dry and harden. When I get the whole thing put up I will post some pictures. BTW, I replaced the driven element and the radials in my A99 with Francis CB50 Amazers. Maybe better... we'll see. Thanks for the help

- 399
http://members.aol.com/jjs399/index.html

 

[bob85]

399, the francis radials should be better than the short a99 radials,
your using a wooden mast so thats great too,
i would also use a current balun at the antenna to decouple your coax,
that should lower your angle of radiation and improve gain,

heres a thread that may help you,
http://www.worldwidedx.com/amateur-radio-antennas/29727-common-mode-currents-decoupling.html

 

[DXman]

As far as height for using your beam, I would maybe ask here if any of the Ham guys may have the software "Yagi Terrain". With this software they could find out what your best height is going to be for working up into the Northwest.

From here in Washington state, I have worked all country's in South America on 11 meters except 1 - that being Guyana. That's using just 26 watts and my 5 element yagi at 11 meters - 36'.
So with your beam at around 36 feet, you shouldn't have much of a problem.

 

[unit_399]

DxMan -

Thanks for the info. We got the beam up yesterday. Just a tad less than 43' to the base of the antenna. I will install the ground radial package this weekend, and I should be on the air early next week. When you work 11 meters, what freqs do you run? maybe we can hookup.

- 399

 

[KingCobra_CDX882]

a99 is a so so antenna
(not really all that good but at times any antenna can work well in proper conditions)

The beam is a Excellent way to go
I also like Interceptor I-10K

both antennas destroy a99
both regularly get excellent DX