Good evening from the alternative #hamr location and we are officially in a sever draught on the Central Coast of California. The HOA landscape deconstruction continues with its subsequent bio-mass reduction. Our ambient noise level that is the sounds of native birds has fallen to nearly zero decibels. Likewise, missing in action are scrub jays and humming birds, who shared space with other local airborne species. Privacy shrubbery was pulverized while shade trees morphed into saw dust.
As a result, I'm not sure if naked aluminum is a real good idea until I can determine the look of the new landscape and its bio-mass, this is a fickle situation. Luckily, the project coincided with the seasonal opening of 6m also known as the magic band. I took the time this afternoon and stowed my Kenwood TS850S high frequency wireless set in preparation for my endeavor.
My FT100 is 50 MHz ready and is now in the operating position for my first summer season dedicated to learning about the magic band. I have often read about the excitement that is possible on this wavelength. Likewise, the persistence of our low power, low profile station owners really motivated my summer challenge.
I configured my Buddipole antenna into a 6m off center fed dipole without arms and tuning coils. The antenna is located on our first floor terrace about 10 feet above the ground. A significant coupling issue dampened my attempt at increasing height as stand wave ratio rose significantly as the feed point approached the ceiling. I found a median point however I haven't ruled out my coax as its overall length is twenty five feet and mostly laying coiled up at the bottom of the tripod.
There are three possible locations for the antenna system that is first floor, second floor, and front yard. I have plenty of opportunity to experiment with each location as the radius of the antenna is relatively small in comparison to a high band flat top dipole. I'll keep you posted as to the results of each location while hedging my second floor terrace out performs the other two locations?
In the meantime, I'm feeling pretty stoked about experiencing 6m propagation as DX Maps was on fire with transequatorial propagation (TEP) into the afternoon. I have never really experienced a hard core sporadic-e opening on this wavelength neither F2 or TEP and life is too short for one mode or one wavelength only.
Ham radio the ultimate wireless experience!