during the modelling with 4NEC2 I set the distance of the diagonal wires to 3 mm at the crossing point. Consequently, I never positioned the real antenna wires in front and behind the pole but always on the same side, just kept apart by the wire insulation.
My feeding coax is fixed the whole way down behind the pole by rubber straps in order to minimise interference with the antenna. My choke is enclosed in the box in the middle of the dipole.
Last Sunday I activated Goorooyaroo VK1/AC-036, a former military training and firing range which has transformed to Goorooyaroo Nature Reserve. Entry to the nature reserve is at own risk!
Local authorities have established a safe 4wd management track to the summit, however access is on foot. I didn’t hear of any exploding Kangaroos or Emus.
The ascent is 160m over 2 km taking 45 minutes. Ambient temperature was minus 2 degrees C at 8:00 am local time.
36 QSOs on 144.200 MHz SSB ranging from 8 km to 302 km. Notable 2m Dx contacts were John VK2WJ 302 km, Geoff VK3SQ 299 km, Greg VK2EXA 256 km and Chris VK2DO 99 km.
