Ha! Caught you saying aluminum correctly!!! I like the setup. Here in the US we usually use Quikcrete for fence posts and the like. Plum the post, pour Quikcrete from the bag into the hole (no mixing) and pour water on top. Sets quickly but I wait 24hrs. Looking forward to the quad.
Cal I would have thought you would have a few friends over in the day or is that to come. Bring your own bottles lol. Looking forward to seeing it up and working hard like you. See you soon Alan from LUTON 💯😱👍
You'll love the four square Cal. I used to chat with a ham up in Canada who ran a full sized four square on 80 meters and his signal was outstanding into Florida. When he switched the pattern you could hardly hear him. It had great directivity. The phasing box is the key.
Very nice project Cal; can't wait to hear your signal booming into Arizona & the rest of N.A. The other nice thing about those concreted pipes in the ground is that now when you want to do a quick test of a new antenna, you pull down one corner put up and strap on the new one & you have an instant test rig where you can do A/B Ant. tests like crazy. By the way, wish my ground was that soft! We have caliche here in my part of the world... The stuff is like concrete! So you dig down about a foot to 18", and the next shovel drive bounces back up and rattles all the bones - not fun. Especially the next 2+ feet! 73 John N7GHZ
Great work callum ! getting measurements correct is key to good performance. Keep chasing that extra 3 DB . It can be a lot of fun learning and discovering stuff about radio . Cheers from NY !
Cal, I wish I could dig holes and bash pipe in with a clumpy. Hard as nails this neck of the woods. Mind you, whatever I do manage to stick in the ground here will be here forever even without concrete. Long weekend here this week "The Kings birthday weekend" We all know it isn't, but it is celebrated here. May take the opportunity to push up n 80m loop
Hello Callum Thank you for sharing as always . Your new antenna project looks marvellous , it's a lot of work & expense , but I'm sure that it is worth doing , if you can receive stations better on the new antenna then it's brilliant , presumably it will be your main antenna ? .
Yes, the main antenna - once it's developed.. I will probably start with a pair of DX Commander muiltiband verticals.. But a pair horizontal to give me a rotary dipole whilst I work this quad out!
@@DXCommanderHQ Thank you for your reply as always . I was just thinking that ideally the new antenna will be made by DX Commander , as in your good self , and if so it would be a brilliant new avenue , you can do it , you have the technology & you will make a fantastic job of it too .
I got a field for antennas like yours but am afraid to put in concrete footings in case planning decide that is permanent and not agricultural use.. Need to apply for change of use to Amenity land I've been told but I'm thinking if not permanent ??
Thinking about that 40m 4-square, this might be a silly question but will one of it's four directions be in the correct direction for grey line propagation to VK/ZL? 73 Ed.
@@DXCommanderHQ but I thought with grey line you fire the signal along the day/night divider. Long and short path is related to "normal" F2 propagation. Often to "get on the grey line" you will fire roughly N or S. With LP for VK (from here) I point due West and for SP due East (your directions will be a little different as you are further north and west). 73 Ed
How much do you charge to come out and do home install? Looks Great I'm excited to see the finished project? If all goes well will you be marketing it?
I use Google Earth for measurements and placement of new antennas, specially if you have some useful tall trees. Best mast is a fast growing tree, like pawlonia or eucaliptus.
I am very disappointed that you are putting up the DXE antenna, anyone with $$ &/or "connections" can do that. You were working with NJ4Z on a triangular array which I am following thru with. What's happened to John? 73 from New England to Old England, Mike K1FNX near Boston
Have you ever used k-post/Post-crete or similar to anchor guys? I’ve not. Thought about it. Easier than mixing cement. Also, you’re very lucky to have level ground - imagine trying to work out guy lengths otherwise!
