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© 2010 Arctic Diamonds - TF4M
The great Arctic King is built right on the edge of the sea.
This accounts for his extremely strong signal and low angle of radiation towards more than half of the horizon.
In addition, the salt water impregnates the ground around the King and ensures excellent ground conductivity and very low ground losses.
I would like to clarify that the Arctic King is only used for transmitting – I receive with an array of Beverage antennas ranging from 170 meters to 400 meters long in various directions.
I would also like to clarify that the downward angles of the top radial wires and the in-land angle as well, were dictated by the shape of the small peninsula that the Arctic King is built on and on the availability of large wooden poles.
Slightly better performance would have resulted if it had been possible to have the top radials horizontal and in-line.
Such poles are not easy to come by in Iceland, in fact the King – the 27m pole – is the largest pole in Iceland.
The Beverage antenna pointing towards Japan is the shortest Beverage in my arsenal – 170 meters long.
I intend to build a larger Beverage towards Japan to decrease the beam width and reduce the noise level even further.
Today there is a light breeze and I took some photos of the King.
I called CQ on 160 meters between 1700 and 1800 local time, still in daylight and was called by 9M2AX and we had the first QSO between West Malaysia and Iceland on Top Band to the best of my knowledge.
I was also called by Jack, VE1ZZ and 24 QSOs were made with Japan during this fine hour.
One or more of the JA stations was QRP.
You may listen to the contacts:
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Kyo, JR9OPJ made a recording of our QSO
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I later called CQ between 1945 and 2051 leading up to JA sunrise with another 54 JA stations being worked for a total of 78 JA stations worked in one day.
Considering that working Japan from Iceland on 160 meters was considered impossible until I built my antennas, I am quite pleased.
The highlight of the evening was when VK6ANC called immediately followed by VK6VY.
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JA3FYC who worked me with only 5 Watts, sent me a recording of the QSO
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I would like stations who call me using QRP to understand that I do not log their calls with /QRP.
I would also prefer they do not indicate QRP with their call signs as this makes things harder than necessary.
It is difficult enough to pull the call signs out of the noise, without the added complexity of /QRP, when stations call with low power.
All recordings on my website may be downloaded if desired from tf4m.com/audio
Initial testing indicated a problem with the King. My Emtron DX-3 amplifier would fault above a power level of approximately 700W.
I fired up the Harris KW amplifier and was able to determine that there was a problem.
Inspection of the feedpoint box showed that the antenna wires had made near contact with the control wires and there had been a small fire inside the box.
I dressed all leads and replaced coax jumpers to the box and between the isolation transfomer and the UNUN transformer for good measure, with freshly made new cable.
I sealed the feedpoint box for the winter and now everything works properly.
I think conditions are poor now, even so the Arctic King provided me with 70 QSOs to Japan and one QSO to Australia on the first day of operation.
I am amazed to put it mildly.
