[Lowfer] Voice from past

[Peter Barick]

>>> w1tag@charter.net 09/09/03 12:01PM >>>

>Be nice to me, or I'll start using TWO strands of 30 gauge wire.

>JA
----------------------------------------
All,

Which brings to mind the great retro story in the cur. Lowdown, From
The Archive: 1990 "Finding Lowfer Beacons," by Dave Raney. Recommended
reading for one and all, both for the practical know-how and the then
state-of-the-art goings-on. Ha, the one thing those of that era have in
common with us is the quest for the killer antenna. But Dave does
mention strands of no. 30 for a minimal ground plane.

So where is this Dave? Maybe he hasn't made the leap to the Web. Gee
back then they talked of "receiving" LowFERS as in hearing via CW and
the discourgement some got by not being able to do so. This was before
the Web (not the Internet) and the guys actually tuned analog receivers
hunting for signals and communicated by phone, mail, or ham modes. No
Argo sissies were they, hardy types with castiron ears in constant
battle with PLC noise and drifting equipment. He did mention that vfo
control was possible by "dividing down," so some digital stuff was
available. But doing it with a dsp tool? Yeeks.

Another point of current interest: Loops and the need for a GP. He
states they do need one, but more for noise pickup control, if a loop is
placed near the ground. He also strongly suggested torroidal coupling to
bust noise loops. Mentioned that buried ground radials diminsish
effectiveness, and that the best ground plane is that from chicked wire
("Buck, b-b-buck"!), one for him doubled his tx current!

Some of the personal references were unknown except for that of
near-local Bryce Anderson, whom he seemed to test against.

Good to see this historical component to LowFERing. Thanks Lowdown.

Peter