2022-05-02, 21:22:46
This was an enlightening and fun exercise. Thanks to John for organizing it.
I set up near the water towers on the E side of Port Elgin. Ground elev is 218m, about 20m higher than home. Rig was a Yaesu 8900 running about 50 watts, using an LiFePO4 battery. Antenna was a 4 el. Yagi up about 15' on a tripod/mast in the back of my truck, aimed at OS.
Results:
Stations with full quieting signals:
VE3JMD
VE3VCG
VA3TS
Stations that were readable but not full quieting:
VA3KOT (@50W, could not read @10W)
VE3FP
Stations that were barely readable:
VE3BQM
VE3RQY
I did not copy any of the other stations in John's report. I did not attempt to swing my antenna around, but that might have brought in VE3OZW.
Early on I heard someone discussing turning down their squelch. I had initially forgotten about that, but it's essential for copying weak signals. Just have to put up with the FM noise. Good lesson learned.
Next time I hope to have my antenna on a higher mast, I think that will be more productive than running more power (and a lot cheaper!).
73
Dave, VE3WI
I set up near the water towers on the E side of Port Elgin. Ground elev is 218m, about 20m higher than home. Rig was a Yaesu 8900 running about 50 watts, using an LiFePO4 battery. Antenna was a 4 el. Yagi up about 15' on a tripod/mast in the back of my truck, aimed at OS.
Results:
Stations with full quieting signals:
VE3JMD
VE3VCG
VA3TS
Stations that were readable but not full quieting:
VA3KOT (@50W, could not read @10W)
VE3FP
Stations that were barely readable:
VE3BQM
VE3RQY
I did not copy any of the other stations in John's report. I did not attempt to swing my antenna around, but that might have brought in VE3OZW.
Early on I heard someone discussing turning down their squelch. I had initially forgotten about that, but it's essential for copying weak signals. Just have to put up with the FM noise. Good lesson learned.
Next time I hope to have my antenna on a higher mast, I think that will be more productive than running more power (and a lot cheaper!).
73
Dave, VE3WI