My mission was to mount the AX1 antenna in to a "puck" that was made for me by Bruce N9DBJ last fall. It allows you to screw in three aluminum legs, the AX1 goes right in the middle and there are places to connect ground radials with alligator clips or banana plugs. So I got the antenna mounted in the center of the puck, attached the coax, and spread out two radials about 30 foot each in length. AX was set to 20m so that is where I decided to start. What I did not know was the band was not in very good shape at the moment. I saw this SSN:126 SFI:153 A:12 K:1 when I got home. A index over 5 or 6 makes it challenging to say the least. What I did hear, I could just barely hear. I even turned it up to 10 watts...and got no takers on 20m, 17m, or 15m.
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| AX1 mounted on the N9DBJ Puck |
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| My SUV with AX1 sitting on top. |
I made zero contacts, for the first time ever. The skunk was in the boat.
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| My empty Log Book - Nothing sadder. |
So as the wind picked up, and it started to sprinkle, I just packed it up. Did some scouting for edible mushrooms, found none, found some interesting garbage left behind, all in all a good day to be outdoors.
73 de KB9BVN
Brian
I saw you spotted on the POTA app and tried listening for you. Nada, zip, zilch - which is very strange as usually IN and IL are an easy hop from NJ. As a matter of fact, like you I wasn't hearing anybody! I did end up working AK8CW in Wisconsin, but that was a challenge, too - and my only POTA contact for the day.
ReplyDeleteI was going to go over and activate the Edison Memorial Tower - US-1815, but decided it would only be an exercise in frustration. 72 de Larry W2LJ