N3QO » ma5b

Add Cyprus to the list.

jeff — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 02:04:36 +0000

Last night I worked 5B4AIF on the island of Cyprus on 100 watts and obtained a 58 signal report from 5527 miles away. Can’t argue with the current antenna configuration. The MA5B seems to know it’s going to get swapped out for a Mosley TA-33 or a Cushcraft A3S with the 40m add-on.
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N3QO – Back on the air!

jeff — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 02:05:50 +0000

Spent most of the day getting the MA5B back up on the roof since the move from Allentown to Pottstown. I was graced with hearing EK6TA out of Armenia, my furthest I’ve heard yet. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to work him, but it was nice to know the antenna was at least picking it up. In addition an Italian and Irish station were also propogating to me around 5-6PM. You’ll see the ground wire on the outside station ground bus, this has since been changed out to zero gauge copper. I initially needed some form of ground for the polyphasers to discharge any built up static.

The wire routing will also need to change to separate the beam mount and inside station ground from the transmission and rotor control lines. Although so far I haven’t found any RF hot spots anywhere inside. But then again, at most I’m outputting 100 watts.
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The next antenna project.

jeff — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 03:18:08 +0000

I almost forgot to mention this… Today I ordered a Cushcraft MA5B multiband beam from AES.

In the wake of being unsucessful at hitting K5D while the DXpedition was active and talking to a few hams on the radio, I decided to extend my strength in a pileup by going directional. I was looking into another Cushcraft beam and also investigated a Mosley, but had too large of a turning radius for the house I’m renting. The MA5B has a turning radius of 8.8ft which fits in the spot I plan to install.

Once everything arrives I’ll post my findings which I hope are positive (crossing fingers).