Ed wrote:
Jay wrote in
k.net:

I put the ball to a metal grinder and I could easily see an outer F
layer and then the E layer. I couldn't find a D layer, but it was
dark outside and there's not supposed to be a D layer at night. Neat
how antenna's can be manufactured to do that.

Just passed my tech and General on Sunday so I'll be on the bands as
soon as I find out my callsign and get an ionsphere for my antenna. I
destroyed the old one on the grinder and I hear you need a good
ionsphere to shoot good skip and hear far away stations. Reception has
been really ****ty lately without the ionsphere. I looked through the
last 4 issues of QST and I couldn't find anyone selling ionsphere's.
Where can I get one, or do I have to buy a whole new antenna?


You don't need a new one. The old one probably got stuck in your coax
by back-feed when you were grinding. Just get an RF brush and give your
coax a few swipes and the ionosphere should pop right back out!

Don't forget the electron grease.

--
Britney Spears' Guide to Semiconductor Physics
http://britneyspears.ac/lasers.htm

Jay wrote:

I put the ball to a metal grinder and I could easily see an outer F
layer and then the E layer. I couldn't find a D layer, but it was dark
outside and there's not supposed to be a D layer at night. Neat how
antenna's can be manufactured to do that.

Just passed my tech and General on Sunday so I'll be on the bands as
soon as I find out my callsign and get an ionsphere for my antenna. I
destroyed the old one on the grinder and I hear you need a good
ionsphere to shoot good skip and hear far away stations.



So how'd you do on the CW portion of the test?

sc

Slow Code wrote:
Jay wrote:



So how'd you do on the CW portion of the test?
well enough he claims

whcih means you should be happy for him he passed the code test

sc

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TROLL-O-METER

No, it's the Eye-Off-Sphere :-)

"Jay" wrote in message
k.net...
I put the ball to a metal grinder and I could easily see an outer F layer
and then the E layer. I couldn't find a D layer, but it was dark outside
and there's not supposed to be a D layer at night. Neat how antenna's can
be manufactured to do that.

Just passed my tech and General on Sunday so I'll be on the bands as
soon as I find out my callsign and get an ionsphere for my antenna. I
destroyed the old one on the grinder and I hear you need a good ionsphere
to shoot good skip and hear far away stations. Reception has been really
****ty lately without the ionsphere. I looked through the last 4 issues of
QST and I couldn't find anyone selling ionsphere's. Where can I get one,
or do I have to buy a whole new antenna?

Thanks, Jay

"Stan Shankman" wrote in message
...
No, it's the Eye-Off-Sphere :-)



Hey! I like that!

73, Steve, k9DCi

Jay wrote:
I put the ball to a metal grinder and I could easily see an outer F layer
and then the E layer.

Hehhhhhh

That little ball is a magnet. It's what actually attracts and catches
those snippets of radio wave that are hovering all around you.

See? That's why coat-hangers never work as antennas.



And supposedly aluminium can be used to amplify certain wavelengths.
Which is why tin-foil wads on the ionosphere also improve reception.

--
Steph (Bridge and Tunnel for Sale) Weil

SW,

Coat Hanger make great Antenna for Walking About.

Leave the Coat Hanger in the Coat.

Put the Coat-on.

Put a Radio in the Breast-Pocket of the Coat.

Attach a short little Wire from the Radio to the CoatHanger.

You Got Radio ! ~ RHF
[ But it can be a Pain-in-the-Back :-]

its actually the anti-ion-sphere if you want to get technical.