Setting up your shack

Post by **meg** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 8:17 pm

I'm in Mt Helena - I'm thinking as the antenna still isn't very high that I'm picking up the signals that are bouncing, but not much in the "local" area. Does that sound feasible?

Post by **VK6ZMS** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 8:31 pm

meg wrote:I'm in Mt Helena - I'm thinking as the antenna still isn't very high that I'm picking up the signals that are bouncing, but not much in the "local" area. Does that sound feasible?

I would say that is the case, hopefully when you get your antenna up higher
you will able to hear the Perth stations. Although the Darling Range may be a problem.

Post by **meg** » Sat Nov 01, 2008 9:18 am

VK6ZMS wrote: I would say that is the case, hopefully when you get your antenna up higher
you will able to hear the Perth stations. Although the Darling Range may be a problem.

Still working on getting the dipole up higher for the HF, but there is a guy on the roof right now putting up a 6 meter mast for my spanky new Diamond X50 antenna.

Post by **robbage** » Sat Nov 01, 2008 11:05 am

You should be able to get the centre of the dipole up about 6 metres then

Post by **meg** » Sat Nov 01, 2008 12:22 pm

It's up! And I can now trip Tic Hill and Roleystone from the comfort of my seat in front of the computer.

Pic is here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sonic_echidna/2991117730/

edit - I should mention, took that pic looking in the rough direction of Roleystone. As you can see, I've still got some trees in the way, but just over what's left of the rise there there is a beautiful view towards that end of the ranges. Looks like the mast has put me within "sight" of that view

Post by **VK6ZMS** » Sat Nov 01, 2008 1:05 pm

Hi Meg
Try stringing the dipole between some of those branches. Attach a length of rope to a small spanner and throw it across a branch.
Cheers

Post by **meg** » Sat Nov 01, 2008 1:16 pm

VK6ZMS wrote:Hi Meg
Try stringing the dipole between some of those branches. Attach a length of rope to a small spanner and throw it across a branch.
Cheers

That's the plan, I need to work on my aim with the spanner though...

They're a fair way up and there's reasonably dense lower growth underneath (banksia and younger gumtrees). And most importantly - don't hit the dogs on the head as the spanner lands!

I met VK6UK last night who suggested I find a dead jarrah and try a vertical rhombic antenna using that as the high point. He's also loaned me the ARRL antenna book which is full of info. I'm really looking forward to the Standard course now.

Post by **meg** » Sun Nov 02, 2008 8:57 am

Well, I'm officially over the moon with the new Diamond X50 antenna.

Finally got onto the news callbacks this morning and was even complimented on having a "good signal for an F call" and (paraphrased) "you sound like you could be just outside the transmitter hut".

I was using the Quansheng 2m handheld (fully charged up this time) into the Diamond X50 antenna, now with enough height to see to RAP.

Post by **robbage** » Sun Nov 02, 2008 9:25 am

Sounded good, Meg. Comparable to your signal on Tic last night

Post by **Toottoot** » Fri Nov 28, 2008 2:51 pm

Meg, if you cant get a good earth (starpicket wont go in far and the ground is gravelly or quite porous) you can improve it slightly by getting some heavy (obviously the thicker the better but no less than 10mm in diameter) stripped copper wire (2-5m) and digging a trench as deep as you can get it (obviously the deeper the better) and laying the stripped wire in it. Leave the end above ground and solder or clamp your radio earth to it.

If you put it somewhere there are no plants growing you can dose the ground up with salt, or a very very salty solution, to reduce the ground resistivity. Even if you do all this and the ground is pretty much gravel you still may not get a very good earth but at least you have tried!

WA Radio Scanner Users' Group

Setting up your shack

Re: Setting up your shack