On Wed, 6 Apr 2005 23:19:21 -0400, "Tom Holden"
wrote:

"Tebojockey" wrote in message
.. .

Well, our Telefunken curtain arrays have a typical gain of 20-23 dB.

TeleSource has just installed two TCI (Technology for Communications
International) 611VS curtains at 270 and 305 degrees for the low band
(6-12 MHz) here on Tinian. 3db azimuthal beamwidth is variable between
20-36 degrees, and they are vertically slewable in 4x4 and 4x6 mode.
Gain is between 16.6 to 24.1 dBi, and tower height is about 470 feet.

I would daresay if a 3-5 degree beamwidth had ever been made, it is
probably experimental. The physical size makes it prohibitively
expensive as well as mechanically improbable.

Al in CNMI
IBB Station engineer (contract)

Al, impressive sounding array.

I think you mean the 3-5 degree HF array could only have been scale modelled
at much higher frequencies.

The largest dish antenna is the Arecibo radio telescope at 305 meter (1000')
diameter http://www.naic.edu/public/the_telescope.htm. That could give a 5
degree or better beamwidth above 13-15 MHz if it had a suitable antenna at
the focal point. I don't know what its lowest frequency of operation might
be but this page http://www.naic.edu/techinfo/prcz/prczinfo.htm indicates
that 13.36 - 13.41 MHz is protected for radio astronomy. It's possible that
its original use for radar back scatter studies of the Ionosphere under the
DoD may have had it transmitting near the 20 meter band! With 5 degree
beamwidth pointing straight up, it would take a lot of hops to make any
decent terrestrial DX!

Tom


Hey Tom,

Nice to hear from you. I agree with your observations, but the
problem with what you describe is the angle of incidence/angle of
reflection.

As you point out, the hops required would probably decimate the signal
before it reached the target area. Shortwave requires a calculation
of the takeoff angle (another term for incidence/reflection) so that
the optimal signal arrives in the target area.

If we could tilt Arecibo's antenna up on a 45 degree angle, it might
have possibilities! Do we have anough men and kegs of beer to give it
a whirl? LOL

73

Al in CNMI

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On Thu, 07 Apr 2005 04:32:12 GMT, "Michael A. Terrell"
wrote:

Tom Holden wrote:

I think you mean the 3-5 degree HF array could only have been scale modelled
at much higher frequencies.

The largest dish antenna is the Arecibo radio telescope at 305 meter (1000')
diameter http://www.naic.edu/public/the_telescope.htm. That could give a 5
degree or better beamwidth above 13-15 MHz if it had a suitable antenna at
the focal point. I don't know what its lowest frequency of operation might
be but this page http://www.naic.edu/techinfo/prcz/prczinfo.htm indicates
that 13.36 - 13.41 MHz is protected for radio astronomy. It's possible that
its original use for radar back scatter studies of the Ionosphere under the
DoD may have had it transmitting near the 20 meter band! With 5 degree
beamwidth pointing straight up, it would take a lot of hops to make any
decent terrestrial DX!

Tom

Has anyone here ever seen a real curtain antenna while standing
underneath? I visited the old VOA plant in Mason, Ohio "Bethany" in the
late '60s and got the full tour with my high school's ham radio club.
Today its just another golf course for Cincinnati.


Michael, I see 'em everyday! LOL

They're beautiful, until you have to lower one to effect repairs
because the cheapskates didn't install the proper catenaries for
riggers going aloft! It's a 3-day project which plays havic with the
schedule....

I have a feeling IBB may be shutting down other sites in the next five
years or so. It seems they feel the budget crunches more than most
other agencies.

Al in CNMI

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On Thu, 07 Apr 2005 15:19:29 GMT, "RadioGuy"
wrote:

Well, our Telefunken curtain arrays have a typical gain of 20-23 dB.

TeleSource has just installed two TCI (Technology for Communications
International) 611VS curtains at 270 and 305 degrees for the low band
(6-12 MHz) here on Tinian. 3db azimuthal beamwidth is variable between
20-36 degrees, and they are vertically slewable in 4x4 and 4x6 mode.
Gain is between 16.6 to 24.1 dBi, and tower height is about 470 feet.

I would daresay if a 3-5 degree beamwidth had ever been made, it is
probably experimental. The physical size makes it prohibitively
expensive as well as mechanically improbable.

Al in CNMI
IBB Station engineer (contract)

I wonder if shortwave broadcast antennas have been used for
signals/communications intelligence?

RG


Back in the old days of the ASA, we had a General Dynamics FLR-9
antenna at most field stations. It was about 2km in diameter with
vertical antennas for every degree.

In germany, late at night, we would roll the old R-390A up on
mediumwave and listen to ball games from New York.

You can see a picture of one on the home page at www.usafsa.org which
is Field Station Augsburg's home page.

ASA Lives!

Al in CNMI

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wrote in message
...
Didn't 007 once stop somebody from trying to "tilt" the Arecibo
Telescope?

That's wrong on so many levels that it must have set some sort of record.