The CW paddle proved irresistable

[AJ1G]

Tom - I checked reversebeacon.net for any 40 CW CQ hits from K1JJ recently - saw you lit up a few EU skimmers with nominal 40 plus dB SNRs back on the 2nd.  In comparison, around the same time, my 5W from the Tacoma mobile was getting into some EU skimmers at around 10 dB SNR.  You must have had some  big high F/B ratio on your antenna, there were no stateside skimmer hits coincident with your 40 over SNRs in EU.  In comparison, I will always get a lot of  stateside hits with higher SNRs  on this side of the pond from the Tacoma QRP mobile when I am also getting into EU.  I have seen occasional 20 plus DB SNRs from the mobile on 40 from EU skimmers. 

Would be interesting to try some skimmer strapping shootouts some time, where a bunch of competing stations send some CQs around the same time on about the same frequency, and see what numbers come back.

[Steve - K4HX]

I'd call these fairly high F/B antennas.   

http://amfone.net/Amforum/index.php?topic=21151.msg149453#msg149453

[K1JJ]

Very interesting about the skimmer stuff, Chris. I never knew that was available.  It seems everything we do on the air is recorded these days... :-)    I mean, a wide band recording is all it takes to archive everything.

An average 2el Yagi is good for 15 dB f-b.  When they are in a stack, they can model out to 20-25 dB f-b, depending on tuning. (like a curtain array)    I have a 3el 40M wire Yagi that is behind this array beaming SW. It has a f-b upwards of -55 dB sometimes. When I switch to SW, the Euros cannot hear me. It is probably because of the double reflector system of the stack and the 3el Yagi.  It just worked out that way, not planned.

Huzman and I have had some fun times on 40M ssb working tandem into Eu. He has up a very good performing 2 el delta loop system and a great location into a lake and swamp ground path.


T

[AJ1G]

Lately when I have been operating mobile from the Tacoma (parked) I have been watching the hits come back on reversebeacon.net on my iPhone while I am CQing.  More often then not, I will get a big bunch of hits right after my initial standard 3X3 CQ format goes out.  Gives you an appreciation of how sensitive data scanners are to be able to find  such a tiny needle of data (i.e. CQ CQ CQ) from all the other stuff  in the haystack.