Monday, March 3, 2025

What Is My Favorite Band?

I don't have a favorite band. Each band serves a purpose at the right time and place.

Right now, I am mostly locked out of 80 and 40 but only due to the fact that my Skywire Loop Antenna is down. So, for now, I have a 20M vertical field antenna. See photo of the antenna being used in the field. The guy wires serve as 1/4 wave tuned radials, i.e., the "other side of the vertical". I am able to tune the antenna from 80 meters to 10 meters. On 80, I can get a signal out of the back yard but not far. Thank you, Jesus, for antenna tuners. On my antenna, I placed a 1:1 balun at the feed point - the grey box where the radials intersect. This ensures that I don't get any feedline radiation.

80 M is a great band for NVIS work. My Skywire Loop excelled at that and I usually had armchair copy out to 500 miles or better.

80M serves my CW net interests. I don't do much phone rag chew other than working Special Event Stations in 80, 40, and 20. 10M is great for DX and for working POTASOTA, and stuff like that.

I also have a 6M dipole that works well. It is homebrew and uses the metal tubes that hold shower curtains. I still have a bunch of those tubes.

I liked working 160 on my loop. If you have a good tuner, you can load up a range fence or your rain gutters (metal, of course).

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