The primary HF antenna in use at VY2DCS is the Hygain DX-88. There
are 73 evenly spaced radials around this antenna ranging in length from 13 feet to 25
metres. The distal tips / ends of the 20 to 25 metre radials are no further than 1.7
metres apart. No change in base impeadance was noted as the last 5 radials were
placed so I stopped :-) .
This antenna has the 160 M kit in place and is capable of operations from 160 to 6 metres. On 6 metres, efficiency is lousy at best but I have worked at least 2 contests with this setup when E-Skip has been excellent.
The antenna can be used on ALL HF frequencies and on occasion I have used it for 6 Metre operation when Es was strong and I did not want to miss new grids by going outside and switching the 6 Metre vertical in-line.
Other antennas on site include a 2 Metre AEA isople and a 70 cm eggbeater by M 2 .
These antennas are used for terrestrial operations as well as satellite operations.
The matching system in the
station is a MFJ 969 Versa Tuner II capable of matching impeadances on frequencies
from 1.50 MHz through to54 MHz. On 6 Meters - efficiency is low - so a vertical antenna
and horizontal dipole are also used.
The base loading of the Dx88 is as follows:
When one switches from 80M
operation to 160, one has to change the base loading coil, take the shorting bars off the
160 M coil, and reset the 160 and 80 M capacitors. As you can imagine, in the middle
of winter this is not much fun - especially if the base is buried in snow. As a result, I
spend most of my time on 80 Metres.
This page was last worked on by VY2DCS on 10 December 1999; © 1998 by David Seeler