>>The FSL antennas were never designed to compete with large, single-loop wire antennas in wide open spaces. Their unique advantage is the ability to provide high-gain, low noise transoceanic reception with a "footprint" of only one cubic yard. No single-loop wire antennas can match them in that aspect. In the special environment of sheer ocean side cliffs, the FSL's apparently tap into a previously unknown cliff-side transoceanic propagation boost, which can boost their performance up to astonishing levels. Last year at both Cape Perpetua (near Yachats, OR) and at "Rockwork" (near Cannon Beach, OR), an 8" FSL was providing S/N pegging reception of 2.5 kW New Zealand stations on a PL-380 Ultralight radio. This setup was used to provide reception of 5 DU's that were not in the Grayland Master Log-- mostly at very strong levels. At the sheer ocean side cliffs, the FSL's also receive some measure of back-side signal rejection, due to the solid rock surfaces (which were blasted out by dynamite). All of the traditional DXpedition antennas will not fit at these special sites, which is why there is currently intense interest in FSL antenna experimentation.<<
Gary, I was not down playing your setup you have used on the OR coast. The antenna is very effective and you have logged a lot of great DX. But for me, the EWE out here seems to work the best on what I have tried. I used a K9AY several years back and the EWE outperformed the K9AY. Living in a swampy area where we always have a high water table makes a difference for the good grounds needed for the EWE. John Bryant used to mention that the EWE never worked well in OK. We all use what we can to get the best DX. The DX World has sure changed from the 60s/70s. 73, Patrick Patrick Martin Seaside OR KGED QSL Manager _______________________________________________ IRCA mailing list IRCA@hard-core-dx.com http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org To Post a message: irca@hard-core-dx.com