The Eternal Squire wrote:
All,

I'm finally back on the air! Thanks for the antenna help, everyone. I
found on the net a 30m collapsible fiberglass pole. I applied copper
tape to one side as the radiator. I used layers of duct tape to
reinforce every joint. I have the ground side tied to the ground rod
of the trailer electrical system. No counterpoise yet. I worked a few
stations tonight on 40m CW.

Glad to hear it - you're on the way now.

Next, put an ATU at the bottom of the pole and give yourself some more
bands. It doesn't have to be an auto-ATU - a small headband flashlight
is much better value.

Then get some more wire on the ground, and you'll be surprised how 40
and even 80m perk up.

I am grateful for all the help, even to those who thought I wasn't
listening at first.

Your sense of what can and can't be done has been spun completely
around, first by the wind and then (probably less gently) by this NG.
You seem to have survived the experience rather well.


--
73 from Ian GM3SEK 'In Practice' columnist for RadCom (RSGB)
http://www.ifwtech.co.uk/g3sek

Thanks. Just laid down 2 quarter wave counterpoises for 40m, and
another quarter wave counterpoise for 20m. I also connected the ground
system to an outside storage shed but who knows that would add. The
ground system had already been connected to the electrical system
ground ground, and thereby the house wiring.

Noise floor seems to be extremely high for 40 m in the afternoons and
evenings, is this common?

The Eternal Squire

The Eternal Squire wrote:
. . .
Noise floor seems to be extremely high for 40 m in the afternoons and
evenings, is this common?

Atmospheric noise is usually very low on 40 meters during the day.
Sounds like you have some relatively local source of man-made noise.

Roy Lewallen, W7EL