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Call Sign : 26-CT-4805 Posts : 56 Times Thanked : 2 Join date : 2023-03-28 QTH or Location : Peterborough, UK Equipment Used : President McKinley EU or K-PO DX5000 plus + Thunderpole Galaxy 5/8 or Full Wave Delta Loop. Age : 53
Subject: Thunderpole Galaxy 5/8 antenna now operational Sat May 11, 2024 4:21 pm
Hi All, I've had a busy Saturday afternoon!! I now have a Thunderpole 5/8 Galaxy Antenna in the air and it's only taken me a year to achieve that! This antenna is in addition to my full wave delta loop and replaces my Sirio Signal Keeper. I used the shorter of the two supplied tuning tips set slightly shorter than the mark indicated to bring the minimum SWR to a slightly higher frequency than usual.
The SWR is as follows:- CEPT CH1 1:1.8 CEPT CH40 1:1.1.2 UK CH1 1:1.1 UK CH40 1:1.3
Given I'm usually at the top end of the CEPT block on LSB and sometimes UK FM this seems OK for my needs. I suppose 1:1.8 is usable so I'll live with it.
With my Delta loop the SWR is very flat and covers both the CEPT and UK FM bands and more with an SWR of less then 1:1.2.
When I first switched on the radio with the Thunderpole Antenna connected I heard some people talking at good signal strength but now the UK FM is dead and there's no DX to be heard on the usual CEPT CH38 LSB so I'll just have to be patient before I can put this new bit of kit to the test.
Good DX!!!
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GaryWilson CT Directors
Call Sign : 26-CT-1836 Ham 2E0GGQ Posts : 4450 Times Thanked : 382 Join date : 2019-06-27 QTH or Location : Redcar, North Yorkshire. Equipment Used : Radios & Wires & Stuff! Age : 59
Subject: Re: Thunderpole Galaxy 5/8 antenna now operational Sat May 11, 2024 10:27 pm
Nice one Lynton, it's got to be an improvement over the Signal Keeper, hopefully conditions improve soon. Good luck.
Best 73 Gary.
Lynton likes this post
Lynton Contributor
Call Sign : 26-CT-4805 Posts : 56 Times Thanked : 2 Join date : 2023-03-28 QTH or Location : Peterborough, UK Equipment Used : President McKinley EU or K-PO DX5000 plus + Thunderpole Galaxy 5/8 or Full Wave Delta Loop. Age : 53
Subject: Re: Thunderpole Galaxy 5/8 antenna now operational Sun May 12, 2024 6:11 pm
Gary, Thanks!!!! Yes I do seem to be hearing more "locals" than usual but as yet not much in the way of DX.
Regards
GaryWilson likes this post
Northern Crusader Major contributor
Call Sign : M0GVZ / 26CT1760 Posts : 536 Times Thanked : 35 Join date : 2019-11-13 QTH or Location : IO94SA Equipment Used : Icom 7300, TS480, President McKinley, Albrecht AE6110, CRT Mike Age : 54
Subject: Re: Thunderpole Galaxy 5/8 antenna now operational Sun May 12, 2024 9:46 pm
1.8:1 SWR isn't going to be killing anything and you'd notice no benefits from getting it lower. Enjoy.
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Lynton Contributor
Call Sign : 26-CT-4805 Posts : 56 Times Thanked : 2 Join date : 2023-03-28 QTH or Location : Peterborough, UK Equipment Used : President McKinley EU or K-PO DX5000 plus + Thunderpole Galaxy 5/8 or Full Wave Delta Loop. Age : 53
Subject: Re: Thunderpole Galaxy 5/8 antenna now operational Sun May 12, 2024 10:47 pm
Indeed!!! It'd be nice to see it a little lower but I'm certainly not going to stress about it, I just need the DX conditions to pickup now. There were some Italians and French on LSB at the top end of the CEPT block today and into the evening but so far no Americans whatsoever. The USA and Canada were regulars on the delta loop but that was before the solar storm so I am not at all concerned that i'm not hearing them on the Thunderpole.
Cheers
GaryWilson likes this post
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