On Wed, 16 Feb 2005 02:19:31 -0500, Gary wrote:

First off I don't really believe in one way propagaiton unless someone
can convince me otherwise ? However, I am curious about a phenomenon
I've experienced with a number or radios and antennas over the years.
I've had eveything from a 4 element Yagi at 55 feet to the dipoles I'm
using now and lots of new transcievers. I work all CW and on occasion
I'll get a 599 signal report from the other station yet he's barely
copyable from my end. They all seem to be running the same 100 watts
or more that I'm using now and are using a dipole cut for the
frequency in use like I am or a G5RV etc. I wonder if anyone else has
observed this and/or has an explanation ? This has occured on new
transceivers too numerous to name over the years. So I know its not a
problem with a particular radio.

73 and Thanks in Advance

Gary K8IQ

I have been thinking about that same thing. I hunt counties and
therefore talk to lots of mobiles. Many times I talk to the same
mobile in different locations. There are times I am received 59 and
hear 22. Other times I hear 59 and get a 22. Since there are many
mobiles throughout the country, I think I get a better picture of what
propagation looks like than I would if I were just making random
contacts. I live in the southeast and use a dipole, so for the most
part, communications are in the same direction.

Here is my theory, as unsound as it may be. Think of a station with
100 watts using a TV dish style antenna talking to a person using just
a dipole with 100 watts. The dipole user will hear a much stronger
signal. However, on HF, we don't use dishes. Or maybe we do...

We know the ionosphere affects propagation. It is assumed that
signals take the same path and therefore should have the same
strength, but I don't think so. If the ionosphere is dense (relative
to my frequency) behind and over my station, I may be using it as a
'dish' reflector. However, at your location, you may have a porous
ionosphere so rather than your signal being reflected, it is being
absorbed. The result is that I have an ERP of 200 watts and you reply
to me with an ERP of 20.

This is just my theory I have in my mind and it may be that it is more
full of holes than the ionosphere I put over your station in the
example.

But, for what it's worth....
73 for now.

Buck
N4PGW

--
73 for now
Buck
N4PGW