I spent another fantastic evening on 80m from GS3PYE/P last night and was asked many times why we were putting out such a good signal. I thought I’d go out today and take some pictures which might help to explain it.
The antenna is a vertical, based on a Spiderbeam 18m pole, with lots of radials. It’s ‘planted’ in the lower lawn, just next to the stream which runs through the garden.
[](http://dx.camb-hams.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Arran-80-Full.jpg)80m vertical antenna
[](http://dx.camb-hams.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Arran-80-Radials.jpg)80m vertical antenna radials
[](http://dx.camb-hams.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Arran-80-Stream.jpg)80m antenna planted next to the stream
The antenna is great, but the view that the antenna has is fantastic. I took a walk up the hill behind the house this afternoon and took a panorama shot to show the whole 180 deg of water that we see from here to the west. I think this was a major factor when I worked so many US and Canadian stations on 80m on Monday night (using the Kenwood TS590S).
[](http://dx.camb-hams.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/80-Panorama.jpg)80m vertical antenna has a great view over the water
Last night I was using the Icom IC-9100 on 80m and had a huge pile-up. I called CQ once at the start, and then again after 3 hours – all the time in between was full of stations calling – great fun. I’m looking forward to having another go on 80m again tonight.
[](http://dx.camb-hams.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Arran-80-9100.jpg)IC-9100 was in operation on the 80m vertical last night