What's The Best Wire Dipole For All HF Bands :

There is no wire antenna that is the best. There is no antenna that is the best.

Every antenna comes with its features and its compromises. The features that are good for some are disadvantages for others.

You need to decide what you want to get out of it, before you can find the one that is "best" for you.

For example, a full-wave loop on the lowest band, fed with open wire-or ladder-line, can make a darned nice multi-band antenna. Loops have an advantage over many dipoles/doublets in that they work (or are easy-to match to) on even harmonics too. But on the higher bands, like on many wire antennas, its pattern breaks up into a mess of lobes and nulls. And if it is a horizontal loop, on the lowest band it might work best as an NVIS antenna (for local coverage) but not DX; but all those lobes on the higher bands have much lower radiation angles so they are good for DX. A vertical loop is directional which could be either good, or bad. And its pattern changes dramatically too on the higher bands.

So one way of looking at it is, whatever wire antenna you erect in your yard, is the one that's best for you.

Or if you are a perfectionist, or never quite happy with what you've got, then whatever antenna you erect will probably never be the best one for you.

Courtesy : Andy

Hamfair At Kollam :

Hamfair 2010 will be conducted at Kollam on 18 April, 2010 and fox hunt at Kollam will be on 17th April, 2010 . For more details contact VU2KGN 9847690373 and VU2SYT 9446854749 for anybody who wants stall.

Courtesy : VU2YNS

HAM Radio Classes In Vijayawada :

Mr. K. Leela Krishna, VU3LGX is conducting HAM Radio classes in Vijayawada. Anyone interested in taking classes for ASOC examination in and around Vijayawada may Please Contact at the address below:

Mr. K. Leela Krishna, VU3LGX
1-63,
Ramalayam(ST)
Ramavarappadu
Vijayawada
CALL: +91 8143406631
Email: nair007@gmail.com

Courtesy : NIAR

Morse Keys Worth Watching :

Just was on random surfing (internet) and came through 2 website having nice collection of Morse keys do check it out you will really enjoy it.

http://www.n4ekv.com/keys.asp

http://www.kt5x.com/default.asp

More QSL Cards Received :

I have uploaded more QSL cards which I have received. To view them Click here

Latest QSL Design :

Latest QSL card designed by me for my friend VU2TQC, OM Jayant. Jayant is a good homebrewer and very active these days working satellites.

Tool-Box :

This Tool-Box enables me to keep up with small hardware and tools which we amateurs need it now and then. By looking at it you can imagine how handy and compact it is, especially when you are staying in an apartment. I bought this yesterday and it cost very cheap. Now the storage area looks quite clean, XYL happy Hi Hi.

Mahabalipuram Eye-ball Meet :

The Mahabalipuram eye-ball meet has gained popularity among Hams over the years, conducted on 2nd Saturday of February each year, this year the event will be held on 13th February, 2010 at Tamilnadu Tourism Development Corporation Beach Resort Complex on East Coast Road.

No Delegate fee is charged.

All Hams & SWLs are invited.

Contact Person : Mr. S.K.Vittal, VU2VIT

How To Work Satellites By VU2GUR :

On a single channel frequency of the Birds, one has to give a counter effect to the Doppler Effect at the birds Receiver.

For Eg.,

Bird AO51
uplink :145.920MHzFM
Downlink : 435.300 MHZ

As the Bird approaching

Signal is good

For Rx at 435.310 to 435.305

Tx at 145.915

This holds good for all Birds according to the respective frequency.

But in Linear Transponder (eg., VO52 Hamsat only) one should not use FM on Dx-Birds which is using Linear Transponder.

For FM use only 435.250 up – Listen on 145.905, 145.900 & 145.895

If you want to hear your own signal.

Then Transmit on 435.245 as the Bird Coming to you

435.250 Bird is nearer

435.255 Bird going away

If you are interested in CW & SSB on VO52 please refrain from the frequencies of 435.245, 435.250 and 435.255 so that FM operators can enjoy at the middle Band.

For CW & SSB can be operated on 435.220 to 435.240 & 435.260 to 435.280

To the questions which antenna to be used for Satellite QSO

To start with: It is better to have 2 Handies or base one for VHF and another for UHF so that you can tune the frequency on Down Link for the Doppler effect and another set for uplink for Tuning for the counter effect on uplink to the Bird.

A dual Bander may be cumbersome to switch over with button pressings. Mostly dual Bander has single port for Antenna to use Dual Band antenna.

With Rubber Duck dual Band Antenna is ok for short duration of a pass when the going is good on high angle of elevation to a QTH for a short duration in the pass.

Even a ‘J’ or slim jim can be used as a dual Band Antenna because UHF is the 3rd Harmonic of VHF eg., 145 * 3 =435MHz

However a well tuned antenna to a frequency will give the best performance in Reception and Transmission. One can check it for self and understand it on Reception.

1. Since the Birds passed from North to South (~) in the daytime of the day and from South to North (~) in the evening/night of the day.
2. Birds angle of Elevation to a QTH will vary from Low angle of elevation to overhead pass.
3. It is better to have a ‘J’ or slimjim of omni directionall for Low/medium angle pass of Bird (one who does not have the rotator facilities). The Vertical Antenna cannot sense the signal from the Bird passing on High angle or over head.
4. If you are an experimenter keep the ‘J’ or slimjim horizontally between start azimuth to end azimuth. Keep their ends East & West. You can find the quality of Reception & Transmission to Birds.
5. Considering the climate (weather) and other obstacles etc, it is better to keep a omni directional Antenna one for VHF (2 mtr) another for UHF (70 cm) and two more antennas kept horizontally ends pointing East & West (eg., Dipole) for High Angle Elevation Pass. Change the antennas accordingly for the purpose.
6. Once the interest increases one can go for all beams with Azimuth/elevation angle rotators etc for Long Distance QSO (ie Dx)
7. No need to push more than 10 Watts. If pumped with High power then you are going to smugging Low power stations.
8. Even if you put 100 Watts the Birds gives out only milliwatts, 1 or 2 watts only. So your equipments should be good enough and able to receive weak signals.
9. Might is Right Hi Hi Hi
10. Many other Factors are there still…….

Courtesy : OM Guru, VU2GUR

VU2YAM interview in Vanitha TV :

YL Yamini, VU2YAM, AAO, NIAR interview telecasted in "SAKSHI" programme of VANITHA TV on 4th Feb 2010.

The programme video is available in You tube at the following links :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIYibD61tbw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNqZKxI9lZ4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBVgolRtiB0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTEDzpymtOk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXuy8BtJrHw

Courtesy : NIAR