Is there any certificate you can get for working 10 DX stations that are using attic based antennas? That would be even more difficult as working DX I guess? Again I was surprised by the late propagation on 15m yesterday. I still worked USA till 21 UTC when normally you would experience the band dies just after sunset. You do not hear anything on that band only noise. But when using WSJT-X on 21.078 you still see some faint traces of the JT9 mode that are still decoded by the software. It's amazing! I even managed to work 2 stations that were using attic based antennas according to their QRZ pages. W4ED Bob from GA works with a 20m OCF dipole fed with 300Ohm line and a 20/15m coil loaded dipole all build at the attic. W9MDB Mike from IL works with a Pixel RF Pro 1B magnetic loop and a 61ft dipole fed with a Icom AH-4 autotuner both at the attic. This is what JT9 is really ment for. DXing with restricted antennas and/or low power. I was trying 20m after 21 UTC and found it still open as well, with low signals but still I was spotted at a lot of stations in the USA.
12 comments:
Toch interessant om de avonduren op een andere manier te gaan benutten. Je hebt mij nieuwsgierig gemaakt. 73 Hans, PE1BVQ
Hello Bas. I have been working a lot of JT65 this year and also a little JT9. I run 5 watts here and love it. The JT modes are amazing on HF, Hope to work you on the air sometimes. 73, Dave K5MQ
Hi Bas
Fully agree on the low power/restricted aerials comment. I have not done JT9 for a while. I might give it a go to see if I can log a few more QRP DXCCs with the G7FEK aerial.
73 Angel M0HDF
Good evening Bas, at my old QTH I had the Alpha Delta DX EE dipole and it was in my attic and I had huge success with it. With all the HOA's popping up over this way I image the attic antennas will be more and more common.
Mike
Bas, I remember working several using attic antenna's when I lived in AK. And several sounded really good considering their setup. I'm using indoor antenna's now so the tables have turned a bit, for me at least.
Ik had een paar avonden de kans om wat voor de radio te doen. Had alles te maken met het werk van de XYL zoals je weet. Maar kan uiteraard ook via remote vanuit de woonkamer. Het probleem is dat ik niet altijd zin heb om in de shack de radio aan te doen in de avond. Maar zoals je ziet heeft het wel degelijk zin om eens te gaan kijken. 73, Bas
Hello Dave, first of all thanks for the comment and I just add you blog to the roll here. I prefer JT9 over JT65. JT65 is just too crowded and people are transmitting over each others signals. Hope to meet you on air some day. 73, Bas
Hello Angel, it is really worth doing JT9 some time especially with QRP. 5W or lower is enough to reach the world. 73, Bas
Hello Mike, yes I remember. Placing antennas in a urban area is getting more and more restricted. But you don't have to be restricted in the hobby with a attic antenna. Although I have to admit a big beam at height or a long and high dipole will make radio life a lot easier. 73, Bas
Hello Phil, yes for you it's a complete turn around. From a (most) wanted DX station with a big beam to a modest (QRP) station with indoor antenna's. But you still enjoy the hobby, that's the most important thing. 73, Bas
Well done, Bas! There's always great satisfaction from JT working. Can I suggest a new, 'Slate-Covered, Attic-Mounted Antenna' DX award? Last time I checked, the slate was cutting signals by about 40dB. That's tough!
That would be a really tough award to get. A roof that is insulated with alu foil layer to reflect is even better. That way almost no signal would be left.
73, Bas
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