Basil Burgess wrote:
Hello all

I've made a first attempt at installing an antenna. It's a 2 Slinky dipole
strung across my roof. I chose the Slinky dipole because it promised to give
good (if not excellent) results in a relatively short antenna. I strung it
between two 2' wood standards at the top of the roof. The roof is about
25-30' from the ground. I used the twin feedline, which is about 18', and
the insulators from a GSRV Mini antenna I bought. The twinline is connected
with a balun to a 50' RG-8X cable that runs across the roof and down to my
window. I've temporarily led it in through the window. The excess cable,
probably about 20 feet or so, is loosely coiled between the inner and outer
window.

The reception is great. I was picking up DX from Europe. However, I got no
answers to any attempt to call out. I wasn't expecting DX for my very first
QSO, but I was hoping for someone.

I think it may be because the feedline runs along the roof rather than
hanging in free space. Could this be the case? The SWR was terrible; it took
my automatic tuner a lot of work to get a match, but I was getting 1.5 or
less on 80 and 40.

Thank you for any advice you can offer.

73
Basil Burgess, VE3JEB

My email is basilb which is through hotmail

There is more to contacting DX then trying different antennas. You say
you are picking up DX from Europe so you obviously have a setup that
receives reasonably. How efficient it is transmitting is a different
issue. Can you make local contacts in Canada and the USA?

I was just trying to contact CN2R in Morrocco on 80 meters. I could
hear him fine but he doesn't seem to hear me. Well I am running 100
watts with a trap dipole. He probably can't hear me. He is also
probably running a kilowatt and I know he has great antennas. Much of
the DX you will hear may be running 10 times the power you are and that
is why you hear them and they don't hear you. Don't worry about the
antenna too much until you make local contacts and work your way out to
greater distances.
Also, you may have to call for a long time to get through the pileup
calling the DX (which you may not hear). Try calling CQ DX yourself and
see if anyone comes back.

Pete W6OP