3W1T YouTube "Spin the Bands" #hamradio

by Greyline Performance يوليو 02, 2022

Let's "Spin the Bands" for a minute...

VIDEO: 1 minute spin of 17M finds 3W1T on 18068 peaking S-5 in Northern W7. Just a 24' DX Flagpole in an HOA at sunrise. "Magic Hour." What are you finding on the bands?

Graphic representation of 3W1T Vietnam signal plots, working Western and Eastern USA this morning. Graph by http://beta.reversebeacon.net

CYCLE 25 IS IMPRESSIVE SO FAR.

HOW TO FIND DX IN 1-MINUTE OR LESS? TRY THIS...

1. Check DXMAPS.COM - Select the HF or VHF tab. Then look through the various bands to see what activity is spotted crossing through your area, or nearby. (40, 20, 17, 15, etc.)

2. Check the RBN (beta.reversebeacon.net) which shows a signal strength (dB) for each automated spot (not necessarily the same as graphic #1). You can select an all-band view (not recommended) or a single band at a time, such as the band you are currently tuning around on. You can also type in a callsign, 3W1T, VU4W, 9N7CI, for example, to see where they are, and where their signals seem to be reaching.

3. TUNE THE BAND - If I haven't tuned the band already, which typically I do first. It's easy enough to hear if a signal is DX or not, owing typically to a polar-type flutter on the signal. The above #1-2 takes just a split second or two to get a graphic idea of what is open or what may be open and that's usually the band I'll try first.

4. TUNE TO THE DX TARGET STATION'S QRG - a quick tune to the frequencies these DX stations you see lighting up the maps is worthwhile. When you set your dial to a DX station's frequency, you might be surprised that the DX signal will rise and fall within several minutes. Let it ride there on frequency for a few minutes, you just might hear a signal rise out of the noise.

Before you shut down the radio...

5. Fun Experiment for Digital and CW operators: HOW LOUD ARE YOU AROUND THE WORLD?

Lastly, I'll try #5 here, which is fun to see how I'm getting out using the same tools above. Try it with 1 Watt or 100 Watts, etc.

FT8 Map showcases the entire planet "live" on the air.
See the map, here: https://pskreporter.info/pskmap.html

RBN Signal Data: http://www.reversebeacon.net/srch.php
1. Find a clear frequency in the CW band
2. Call "CQ CQ your-call your-call"
3. Type your name in the Spot Search
4. See where you are heard around the world.

Would you like to work the world from home, in the fanciest, fussiest HOA, or in your RV or campsite? We have you covered with a Smarter, Stronger, and more Elegant solution for Real DX.

HAM RADIO IS FUN AGAIN. PASS IT ON…

Greyling Performance Antennas logo

Fun Plus

Looks great and works even better. I hear more stations on my regular nets than I normally do. I used stone papers for a rectangular wall around the flagpole which matches the house. A beautiful, wonderful, addition to my hoa property.

A positive upgrade...

I was impressed with the quality of the antenna tubing used. It's not the normal aluminum used by the other manufacturers, but a precision machined tubing. It fit together tightly with the thick fiberglass insulating sections. Using the LDG-RT600 remote antenna tuner, it tuned very well on 40-6 (I don't use 160/80) as a ground-mounted 28 ft. vertical dipole and really captures the DX! My QSO and country count really started accelerating from where it was. I live on a small corner lot with no HOA, and have no real trees for antenna supports. I can now reach AUS and the South Pacific with ease from the East Coast of the USA. I had a special installation so it took me about 5 hours to install by myself (several trips to several hardware stores for clamps, all-thread and such). It was pretty much a 'remove and replace' with the old antenna. All-in-all, it was a worthwhile investment and upgrade, I love this thing!

Very pleased and impressed.

I got HOA approval, even though they require white fiberglass flag poles. I explained that while it was a genuine flag pole, it was also an amateur radio antenna that provided emergency communications if needed. Living in hurricane country, that thought that was a very good thing to have in the hood.
As for the technical details of the antenna, speaking as one who has built their own flag pole antenna, this one is a great design and manufactured antenna. The machined parts and hardware are first rate! The performance is superb. I’m FT8 ing points easily 1000+ miles on 20w. (20 meters).

I’ve tried to include photos, but can’t seem to…..

I am providing my first impression report regarding my 24FT HOA antenna. Installation was easy once I was able to figure out the instructions. The twin lead spacers were missing so I inserted a section of PVC into the lower section to insulate the twin lead. I’m using an IC7300, MFJ 993brt remote tuner, Balun Design, Inc model 117t balun which takes coax as input and twin lead as output. I then feed it through an Array Solutions model AS309H arrestor which takes twin lead as both input and output. With the remote tuner: SWR readings are 1.2 in the cw portion of 40 meters and 1.5 in the ssb portion SWR readings are 1.1 all the way across 20 meters (my favorite band) SWR readings are 1.2 in the cw portion of 15 meters and 1.4 in the ssb portion I am a cw guy and have worked all over Europe and South America as well as New Zealand and am getting very good signal reports. Needless to say, I am very pleased with this antenna so far. It works way better than I expected I haven’t yet had to operate in windy or rainy conditions so there is more to learn. Howard Glassman K4OBC

Great pole, excellent service and communications.

I purchased the pole without the antenna and am very happy with the quality and ease of installation.

3W1T YouTube "Spin the Bands" #hamradio

Let's "Spin the Bands" for a minute...

Would you like to work the world from home, in the fanciest, fussiest HOA, or in your RV or campsite? We have you covered with a Smarter, Stronger, and more Elegant solution for Real DX.

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