DTV Tropo 9/25/08

[NN2E]

Good tropo to Ar, Mo, Il, In, Ky, Tn, Tx, this morning.
Today's highlights...
New DTVs...
#176 KEMV 13 (6) Mountain View, Ar. 230 mi.
#177 KTHV 12 (11) Little Rock, Ar. 270 mi.
#178 KSPR 19 (33) Springfield, Mo. 250 mi.
#179 KOZK 23 (21) Springfield, Mo. 250 mi.
Best DTV DX, KTAL 15 (6) Texarkana, Tx. 420 mi.
73, Ed NN2E
Owner / Operator - Murphy's Law Test Site & Thunderstorm Proving Grounds

[Danny]

Congratulations, Ed, on receiving my local KTAL-DT-15. It won't be long before you log your 200th DTV.

I kind of feel like my hands have been tied since a tree from neighboring property knocked down my chicken-wired-screen P-5 dish in the spring. (We were blessed that we were not harmed and our house was not damaged worse than it was.) The dish was damaged, but we can fix it. Between my laziness and a lack of extra time, the dish is still down, and I just recently put up a CM 8-bay for the time being. Although I have a very large CM corner yagi in storage, I wanted to try something different. I considered a 91XG, but opted for the 8-bay due to the small size (compared to the dish), durability, and ease of installation. The 8-bay is OK, but it needs to be raised to a higher level on the mast.

[NN2E]

Thanks Danny,

KTAL-DT has become a semi-regular here. Even saw it with the indoor antenna while the big antennas were down.

I understand about the wind damage and the time & effort involved in getting the antennas installed. It took me something like six weeks to complete the new tower project. Had to repair both antennas...the parabolic's focal point was waaaay off so this required some careful bending and reshaping. I left the VHF out in the back yard and a deer stepped on it so it had to be fixed. The rotor needed to be repaired so I had to machine a new part to get it working properly. Had to install a couple of auger type earth anchors to be used as guy wire anchors. This took more than a week. Try cranking those things into clay soil that hasn't seen much rain. You'd almost have better luck screwing them into the sidewalk. Had to soak the ground, for several days, using the garden hose to soften the ground enough to get the anchors in. While all of this was going on a water pipe broke, under the kitchen sink, flooding the kitchen. And then there was Ike...75 mph winds took down trees and power lines all over western Ky. Power was off for 55 hours. You couldn't drive more than 100 yards without seeing another downed tree or utility pole along with crushed houses and cars. Throw in an odd thunderstorm or two and you can understand why the tower project took so long. I'm going to try installing the 3/4 inch hardline on the tower today.

I had a 5 ft parabolic at one time. I loaned (translation: I'm never gonna see it again) it to someone, years ago, and never got it back.

A Ham friend uses one of the 91XG UHF antennas and he really likes it. He's logged 70 DTVs since he put it up a few weeks ago.

As I type this I'm seeing DTVs from Memphis, Nashville, Bowling Green, Louisville, Evansville, St Louis, etc...the typical morning tropo stuff.

Good luck with your antenna project.
73, Ed NN2E
Owner / Operator - Murphy's Law Test Site & Thunderstorm Proving Grounds

[Danny]

Thanks Danny,

KTAL-DT has become a semi-regular here. Even saw it with the indoor antenna while the big antennas were down.

You certainly live in a better location for TV DX than most of us.

[NN2E]

Installed the 3/4 inch hardline on Friday.
Since logged new DTVs...
#180 KWBF-DT 44 (42) Little Rock, Ar. 270 mi.
#181 WTTK-DT 54 (29) Kokomo, In. 270 mi. (Thanks to Doug and Indy Steve)
#182 WJBK-DT 58 (2) Detroit, Mi. 470 mi
#183 WTVS-DT 43 (56) Detroit, Mi.
KTAL-DT has made a few more appearances this weekend. It's not quite a pest, yet.
Still need a few more trips up the tower. Hope to have it all finished by Monday night.
73, Ed NN2E
Owner / Operator - Murphy's Law Test Site & Thunderstorm Proving Grounds