Hello

[davenlr]

Hi, Im Dave from North Little Rock, Arkansas. Been DXing for about 40 yrs. Made my first "DX" antenna out of coat hangers when I was 10. Have a Ham License, but dont use it much anymore.

For UHF Im using a Televes DAT75 with a Channel Master 7777. On the VHF high side, I am using a Winegard 10 ele yagi to the same preamp. DX receiver is a Pansat 9200HD, and Dish converter box. Also have a Zeinith converter box connected to a CM Quantum "Deepest Fringe UHF, Fringe VHF" for occasional low band openings, also using a CM 7777.

Havent started DXing FM yet, but just bought an Insignia HD Radio tuner, and am using it with a rod whip antenna for listening to locals.

[NN2E]

Hi Dave, and welcome to the forum.
KLRT and KARZ make good propagation benchmarks for me. They can be seen almost every day.
KATV, KTHV and KETS turn up during good tropo events.
I'm in the west end of Kentucky.
73, Ed NN2E
Owner / Operator - Murphy's Law Test Site & Thunderstorm Proving Grounds

[Mike-CT]

Welcome Dave! Glad to have you with us!

[davenlr]

Hi Dave, and welcome to the forum.
KLRT and KARZ make good propagation benchmarks for me. They can be seen almost every day.
KATV, KTHV and KETS turn up during good tropo events.
I'm in the west end of Kentucky.
73, Ed NN2E
Owner / Operator - Murphy's Law Test Site & Thunderstorm Proving Grounds

Wow, I am shocked. I would have suspected KATV and KLRT would be the two you would get the best. KARZ is a surprise, since its lower on the tower than KARK (32) which isnt even on your list.

Ive never logged Kentucky (or Cape G) since moving to North Little Rock. Memphis used to be a daily grab when I lived in the flats east of town, but since moving to the hilly region, even though I am 200 feet higher, I have some 1edge ridges surrounding me that are about 100 feet higher than my antenna... Boy a 70' tower would be handy, if the prices ever come down.

My best direction is Texas. Have logged almost all the Houston DTVs.

[davenlr]

Welcome Dave! Glad to have you with us!

Thanks Mike.

[Danny]

Welcome, Dave.

What is your most-distant catch with the DAT75? How high above ground level is that antenna?

Keep us posted about your DX.

[NN2E]

...."KARZ is a surprise, since its lower on the tower than KARK (32) which isnt even on your list."....

Unfortunately channel 32 is clogged up with my #2 pest WPSD Paducah.

73, Ed NN2E
Owner / Operator - Murphy's Law Test Site & Thunderstorm Proving Grounds

[davenlr]

Welcome, Dave.

What is your most-distant catch with the DAT75? How high above ground level is that antenna?

Keep us posted about your DX.

Well, Im on a hill at 450', but there is a ridge east and west of me thats 550', and one to the north thats 600', so I might as well be in a hole :)

The DAT75 works great, however. I believe Houston is the farthest Tropo Ive picked up with it. I have picked up ch 6 from Miami back in analog days on the Quantum, think thats the farthest overall, unless Phoenix, Az is farther (havent checked). The antenna is 35' up on a roof tripod. I have a 15' roof mount tripod Im thinking of putting up there, but currently, Its ground mounted for the Quantum. The trees are at least 20-30 feet higher than the antenna also, so I really need about a 70' tower to clear the trees, and close to 100' to actually clear the surrounding ridges, neither of which I can afford :)

When I lived in NE Arkansas (Blytheville) I happend to be home during a DUCT, which was my first and only one so far. Was picking up Milwaukee, Wi all the way to Detroit, Mi stations (analog). There was literally stations on every channel. I even managed a 2M Milwaukee repeater contact on 146.91 using my 1 watt HT with stock antenna standing out in the back yard. It lasted about 4 hours, and was the most exciting thing Ive ever seen.

[w9wi]

When I lived in NE Arkansas (Blytheville) I happend to be home during a DUCT, which was my first and only one so far. Was picking up Milwaukee, Wi all the way to Detroit, Mi stations (analog). There was literally stations on every channel. I even managed a 2M Milwaukee repeater contact on 146.91 using my 1 watt HT with stock antenna standing out in the back yard. It lasted about 4 hours, and was the most exciting thing Ive ever seen.

That'll happen again. Believe it or not.

I grew up in Milwaukee and used to be a member of the .91 repeater club. Don't think we ever worked Arkansas on the repeater though! I think the repeater may be at the same site as WMYX 99.1. Have heard that FM station down here.

We get Milwaukee tropo about every other year or so here in the Nashville area.

[davenlr]

When I made that contact (believe it was in 1978), the repeater was located on a large hill in New Berlin on Hy 15 (which is now I-43? or something close). I grew up in Mukwonago, about 10 mi S of Waukesha.