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With some unavoidable chores out of the way I finally went further on my quest to erect a better antenna for 20 meters. The question asked last time on why the rooftop vertical performed below par was solved pretty quickly: the ground connection to the coax lead had come loose and after I fixed that it performed better, but still not as well as the garden vertical (the garden vertical about 10 dB better than the rooftop vertical).

VK3DZ made an interesting remark in the comments on my last article: “keep VHF antennas at least 12 meters high to avoid short-range noise.” My antenna is for HF, but the more distance from noise sources the better and maybe more distance from the metal roof would also help. So I got my fiberglass poles out and put the garden vertical up on the roof, 4 meters above the metal roof.

From a distance they look very faint: one vertical in the middle, one on the left.

A good comparison could be made with the other vertical, but the difference was minimal: signals strengths were comparable and noise levels were the same. After a couple of days I put the garden vertical back in the garden and put my delta loop for 6 meters on the roof.

In a private e-mail exchange a while back Steve (VE7SL) wondered if tying the ground connection directly to the metal roof would have an effect. The question was related to long- and medium wave reception, however it would be a good experiment to see if it would have an effect on my rooftop vertical. Up till now my ground connection has been a single 90 cm ground rod, which did a good job of syphoning off some noise. When I bought that rod my local hardware store said that the longest one they had was 90 centimeters (3 foot), but when I went out to buy some more there recently they gave me 180 centimeter ones (6 foot). I got two for about US$15, so well within my budget. I connected them with twin solid core electrical copper wire and after an hour of pounding on them in 35 degree heat (Celsius, not Fahrenheit) they were in.

The two ground rods prepared and ready to go underground.

A lot of sweat swept from my forehead later…..they’re in!

Some dirt shoveled over it and nobody would even guess what’s there.

Unfortunately we had a typhoon coming through and it damaged the garden vertical. After fixing it I will have to make plans for the next antenna experiment.

Stories you’ll find in our August, 2017 issue:

Rocky Mountain Ham Radio Microwave Backbone and DMR Repeater Network
By Wayne Heinen N0POH

The Rocky Mountain Ham Radio deployed analog repeater sites all along the Front Range of Colorado and had been linking them via the Internet for years. Due to the cost and reliability factors of commercial Internet, the club had been looking for a ham radio spectrum-based transport method for their IP needs which have been steadily growing over the years. What was needed was a digital link that could be created between the various mountain top sites, an IP based network of their own design that would be controlled by the club. Wayne explains how they did it.

Intro to Scanning Today
By Bob Grove W8JHD

The requirements of scanner listeners have been changing since the very first radios capable of tuning the public service bands were manufactured. While some analog scanners available today are still useful, many listener in more urban areas need significant upgrades to their listening posts to continue listening. Bob explains which radios are best for each technology today.

TSM Reviews: W4OP Loop Antenna
By Thomas Witherspoon K4SWL

Last year Thomas caught a bug: the National Parks on the Air (NPOTA) bug. He found NPOTA the perfect excuse to play radio outdoors. From August to December 2016, he activated ninety-one NPOTA National Parks running QRP (low power). To do so he needed a stand-alone antenna small enough to set up easily, rugged enough to do so many times and capable enough to make contacts from some very remote spots. The W4OP loop filled the bill.

Using Weak Signal Modes for Propagation, RFI, and Antenna Analysis
By Robert Gulley AK3Q

Digital mode operating has changed everything for many hams looking for a way around the disappearing solar cycle. WSJT-X weak-signal software, which includes JT65, JT9, MSK144, JT8 and other specialized transmission modes for moonbounce, meteor scatter and aircraft scatter has extended two-way amateur communications on bands that otherwise might not be used. Robert has also discovered that these programs are an excellent resource for identifying and studying propagation, Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) and antenna characteristics.

US TV Channel Assignments: Part 3
By Mike Kohl

This third installment in the series on the repacking of the TV band continues with the identification of significant communities within each designated marketing area (DMA). Markets numbering from 151 to 248 are covered this month.

Scanning America
By Dan Veeneman
Winnebago County (IL), Broward County (FL)

Federal Wavelengths
By Chris Parris
Joint Base Lewis McChord, Washington

Utility Planet
By Hugh Stegman
Watching the Eclipse with a Radio

Shortwave Utility Logs
By Hugh Stegman and Mike Chace-Ortiz

VHF and Above
By Joe Lynch N6CL
Honey, I Shrunk the Loop

Digital Voice
By Cory Sickles WA3UVV
Feels Like the First Time

Amateur Radio Insights
By Kirk Kleinschmidt NT0Z
RG-6: It’s Still a Steel

Radio 101
By Ken Reitz KS4ZR
Connection Complications: Troubleshooting 101

Radio Propagation
By Tomas Hood NW7US
Coronal Mass Ejection Science

World of Shortwave Listening
By Rob Wagner VK3BVW
The Use and Abuse of SINPO

The Shortwave Listener
By Fred Waterer
Radio from Four Continents via Shortwave and Internet

Amateur Radio Astronomy
By Stan Nelson KB5VL
New Callisto Devices

The Longwave Zone
By Kevin O’Hern Carey WB2QMY
630-Meter Band Plan Takes Shape

Adventures in Radio Restoration
By Rich Post KB8TAD
Heathkit HG-10B VFO

Antenna Connections
By Dan Farber AC0LW
Stealth: A Philosophy and a Methodology

The Spectrum Monitor is available in PDF format which can be read on any desktop, laptop, iPad®, Kindle® Fire, or other device capable of opening a PDF file. Annual subscription is $24. Individual monthly issues are available for $3 each.

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