FM antenna tested and Tropo Ducting equipment list finalized

Post date: Dec 5, 2008 9:23:54 PM

The 8 element log-periodic yagi for the FM broadcast band was tested today. The test was basically to prove the antenna was working and providing gain and directionality. The gain looks like its about 6dBd and F/B is in excess of 20dB. Stations were monitored at full quieting at over 100 miles on the Sony XDR-S10HID receiver. Preliminary testing on the receiver shows sensitivity and selectivity are both very good. The antenna will now be disassembled for packing into my baggage later this month. The boom will be left behind, and a replacement boom constructed in Johannesburg.Hal ZS6WB and I reviewed the equipment list today for the tropo ducting station. We will be using the 70cm EME antenna on the troposperic ducting station rather than a dedicated antenna. The 70cm EME operation will only take place on 2-3 days. As that 4 x 13-element array will not be used much of the time, and only during moon visibility during the 70cm EME time, we will switch the array onto tropo the rest of the time. This eliminates the need to carry over a large 70cm yagi.The automatic CQs in beacon mode on 2m and 70cm will be generated by a computer in JT65 or CW. In addition, we will have two ID-O-Matic beacon keyers as backup CQ generators. The kits were assembled last night and will be tested over the weekend.