I keep looking for new countries every day and I've worked Russia several times over the last few years. But this morning I couldn't resist the opportunity to work a station in Orel, Russia. The city is in the area around Moscow, and Vladimir RA3EG was sending at a speed about a blistering 30 words per minute. Fortunately, it's a easily read CW call.
By the way.....Vladimir is 19 years old!
This Russian contact was on the 15 meter band, which I easily tuned my random wire, and according to the power meter on my tuner, I was pushing out about 3 watts again. Orel Russia is 5,114 miles in a straight line from Charleston WV. I was very happy with this contact!!
Soon afterwards, while tuning around the 10 meter band, I heard, and worked, a VERY strong F5NTV from Cassy-Lanton in France. I don't work a lot of 10 meter CW contacts for some reason?? Every time I hear a strong French station, I think of Dick F8WBD. I've been listening for him, for several weeks now, on 20 meters. Sooner of later, I'll find him and make a contact....
I'm very happy with my new random wire antenna. Although it's not as efficient as a normal dipole, it seems to be working very well. Taking the time to re-tune the radio, on every band change, is well worth the effort.
3 comments:
Hi John,
What do you use for a ground on the 50 feet wire antenna? Always looking for new ideas.
Thanks,
Jim
W2KLM
Hello Jim,
What ground ?? Absolutely nothing here. Hihi
Look back a couple of entries and there is a short video which shows the layout. I was careful to avoid the obvious RF sponges; but it basically runs the perimeter of the room, across the hall, and down a staircase. I have it tied off to the hand railing with a piece of string.
I will check out the video.
No ground - you lucky guy you!
Jim
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