2. Ham Radio

Peavine Peak, NV (W7/WC-011) SOTA Activation - 12/18/2011

Dec 18, 2011 activation of Peavine Peak for ham radio's Summits On The Air activity.
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HFTA output for a beam heading of 75 degrees, comparing my low antenna (in red) to a dipole antenna over flat ground and up 1/2 wavelength (in blue). My antenna outperforms the dipole by several dB at low takeoff angles thanks to the downsloping terrain. Low takeoff angles are best for long-distance communications. The bar graph along the bottom shows the relative probability of signals from the U.S. arriving at various takeoff angles. My antenna was running roughly North-South (maximum signal to the East-West) so these comparisons are valid. However, my antenna was in the inverted-V configuration as opposed to a flattop dipole, so the terrain effects may not have been quite as significant as shown here (i.e., my antenna may not perform quite as well as shown).
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HFTA output for a beam heading of 75 degrees, comparing my low antenna (in red) to a dipole antenna over flat ground and up 1/2 wavelength (in blue). My antenna outperforms the dipole by several dB at low takeoff angles thanks to the downsloping terrain. Low takeoff angles are best for long-distance communications. The bar graph along the bottom shows the relative probability of signals from the U.S. arriving at various takeoff angles. My antenna was running roughly North-South (maximum signal to the East-West) so these comparisons are valid. However, my antenna was in the inverted-V configuration as opposed to a flattop dipole, so the terrain effects may not have been quite as significant as shown here (i.e., my antenna may not perform quite as well as shown).

HFTAOutputMyAntennaVsDipoleUpHalfWavelengthOverFlatGround75Degrees

  • Final log book - page 1. All contacts on CW (Morse code).
  • Final log book - page 2. All contacts used CW (Morse code). I called CQ on 20m SSB (voice) after the last contact shown, but received no responses.
  • Starting back down, my vehicle is the little dot on the main road way out there.
  • On the way down and not far from the top. My hat didn't even blow away, A successful mission!
  • Topo map showing the big dirt and gravel Peavine Road (green), my parking spot, and the GPS track of my hike from there to and from the peak (turquois dashed lines). The red line is an intermediate ATV trail and the yellow line is a somewhat scary extension of it. That's normally how I reach the peak, riding all the way over from Truckee, but SOTA rules require that you hike for at least the last 100 vertical feet. Based on the topo map contours, it looks like I hiked about 200 vertical feet. The coordinates of the peak are 39.58667 N, 119.93194 W.
  • This is the same area as shown in Google Earth.
  • The Google Earth view zoomed in. The "splotch" of turquois is my Garmin Foretrex 401 wrist-mounted GPS tracking me moving around the operating position. The dark blue line is a track from a previous ATV ride.<br /> <br /> Thanks to all who worked me and 73 (best regards) until next time on some other summit!
  • Terrain profile along a beam heading of 60 degrees. This heading is for New England and Eastern Canada.
  • HFTA output for a beam heading of 60 degrees, comparing my low antenna (in red) to a dipole antenna over flat ground and up 1/2 wavelength (in blue). My antenna outperforms the dipole by several dB at low takeoff angles thanks to the downsloping terrain. Low takeoff angles are best for long-distance communications. The bar graph along the bottom shows the relative probability of signals from the U.S. arriving at various takeoff angles. My antenna was running roughly North-South (maximum signal to the East-West) so these comparisons are valid. However, my antenna was in the inverted-V configuration as opposed to a flattop dipole, so the terrain effects may not have been quite as significant as shown here (i.e., my antenna may not perform quite as well as shown).
  • Terrain profile along a beam heading of 75 degrees. This heading is for most of the U.S.
  • HFTA output for a beam heading of 75 degrees, comparing my low antenna (in red) to a dipole antenna over flat ground and up 1/2 wavelength (in blue). My antenna outperforms the dipole by several dB at low takeoff angles thanks to the downsloping terrain. Low takeoff angles are best for long-distance communications. The bar graph along the bottom shows the relative probability of signals from the U.S. arriving at various takeoff angles. My antenna was running roughly North-South (maximum signal to the East-West) so these comparisons are valid. However, my antenna was in the inverted-V configuration as opposed to a flattop dipole, so the terrain effects may not have been quite as significant as shown here (i.e., my antenna may not perform quite as well as shown).
  • Terrain profile along a beam heading of 90 degrees. This heading is for the southeastern U.S.
  • HFTA output for a beam heading of 90 degrees, comparing my low antenna (in red) to a dipole antenna over flat ground and up 1/2 wavelength (in blue). My antenna outperforms the dipole by several dB at low takeoff angles thanks to the downsloping terrain. Low takeoff angles are best for long-distance communications. The bar graph along the bottom shows the relative probability of signals from the U.S. arriving at various takeoff angles. My antenna was running roughly North-South (maximum signal to the East-West) so these comparisons are valid. However, my antenna was in the inverted-V configuration as opposed to a flattop dipole, so the terrain effects may not have been quite as significant as shown here (i.e., my antenna may not perform quite as well as shown).
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