KE9V's Ham Radio Blog

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Winter Fades

Posted: 02 Mar 2020 02:33 AM PST
https://ke9v.net/2020/03/02/winter-fades/



It seems winter may be giving up and will soon flee to wherever it hides
during these days of perpetual warming. We had some snow and a short cold
snap in the final week of February, but now that March has arrived, the
forecast for the next 7-10 days all show high temps in the 50s (F). And if
this spring is anything like last, well be running the air-conditioning in
a few weeks. We dont really have spring here anymore, we leap right from
winter into hot and muggy. Im never pleased about these abrupt transitions,
I enjoy cold and snowy weather, but the longer days and milder temps means
I can get to work sooner on the antenna farm.




Being fully persuaded that Cycle 25 will be every bit as miserable as this
current solar cycle, I suspect the low-bands are going to become our
permanent home address so an Inverted-L antenna configuration seems a good
choice. Given the arrangement of my lot, Ill need to be creative with the
ground radials, but I have a few ideas that should work. I enjoyed great
results on multiple bands, including TopBand, with an L when we lived in
North Carolina. Those tall pine trees made for great natural supports.
Here, Im going to have to install artificial supports, like the Rohn H50
telescoping mast.




Beyond the antenna work at home, the change in season should permit a
return to field operations and Im looking forward to that. Ive no specific
goals for this year, other than to get outside and take a radio every
chance I get. Were even planning some vacation time around travel to select
State Parks and a lakefront cottage or two. It will also provide
opportunity for portable antenna experimentation in the backyard.




Thats always enjoyable and the extra preparation makes work in the field a
little easier.