[WVDXA] The Famous W8TN I60-M Inverted-L (Clone) SCORES Again!

[W8TN - Clark]

Well, as you all know, a few weeks ago I helped Tim, KC8UHE, erect a "clone"
of the Famous W8TN 160-M Inverted-L antenna.  You can see the photos of this
antenna on my Blog here:

http://w8tn.blogspot.com/2008/01/kc8uhes-inverted-l-for-top-band.html

This is NOT a difficult antenna as it has a single vertical wire (Inverted-L
element) playing against a single elevated radial wire.  Tim has NO RF Choke
and NO vacuum variable capacitor, just the coax connected directly to
antenna.

Tonight he was playing with the CW Skimmer software that I mentioned in a
prior email and called me to tell me what he was hearing.  I got on my radio
and we compared what each could hear.  Tim's FT-1000MP MkV has NO CW filters
in it so I obviously could hear a lot better than he could.  However, before
he called me, he had just worked S51IV on 160-M !!  So, I tuned up on that
frequency and had a QSO (at 185 watts) with S51IV myself.

As we then tuned around the band, I had a decent signal on SV3RF.  But Tim
could barely copy him since he was just a touch below W1AW's code practice
and Tim had no CW filters.  But, after a bit of watching the CW Skimmer
program copy what was happening, Tim said he was going to call the guy.

Well, now that's what I call optimism!  Tim was only running 200-watts and
thought he could work GREECE on Top Band.  I had heard the SV3RF station
call several CQ's and although many loud stations answered him, he did not
seem to hear them.  I told Tim it was a waste of time to try working this
guy with just 200 watts.  But, when the SV3RF called CQ, Tim answered him
with his call twice.  Well, just as I figured, SV3RF went back to calling
CQ.  But, undaunted, when SV3RF finished that CQ, Tim dropped his call
(KC8UHE) twice on the frequency.

You can imagine my total surprise when I heard SV3RF come back with Tim's
FULL callsign and give him a 559 report!  Absolutely AMAZING!  Tim proceeded
to complete the contact with no problems.

So, it looks like the Famous W8TN Inverted-L antenna is not just a fluke
limited to my location.  CONGRATULATIONS Tim!  And welcome to the world of
CW DX'ing on Top Band.

Look out "Killer."


Clark, W8TN
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