Texas Tower of Power
by Scott (WE5J)
February 14, Valentine’s Day. I’m off work a bit early, so what else better to do than slip off for a POTA activation! I had high hopes of making it to the park, but had to wait on the delivery service to drop off a work package so I could complete my tasks for the day. As luck would have it, they delivered just before 1pm then I was off to my client’s office then headed to Sheldon Lake State Park, US-3056.
I’ve activated here a few times, most recently at the top of the John Jacob observation tower. The tower overlooks the park, Houston skyline, and the San Jacinto monument from a height of 82 feet above ground. Four days prior, on the top platform using a KH1 with the stock whip and counterpoise dropped between floorboards. The results were amazing! I expected the activation would be okay, but 12 contacts in 18min is one of my fastest activations!
The KH1 is a 5 watt output transceiver at best, with a compromised antenna. No, it wasn’t power or a fancy antenna. This caused the hamsters to start spinning the wheels; why was this so successful? Propagation? Elevated radial? Height over terrain? It’s time to test!
Fast forward 4 days, I’m back atop the Tower of Power! This activation was planned to start at the top platform to, (a) get at least 10 contacts for a valid activation then (b) move to ground level to continue. Nothing like a little a/b pseudo-scientific testing to spice up an activation!
Unfortunately, it was (a.5) and (b) testing; a group was setting up for a surprise marriage proposal on the top platform, to give them space and be respectful I moved down to the middle level. I estimate this is 40’ above surrounding terrain which is still significant in Houston. As per the last activation, set up on the west side, drop the counterpoise wire (~20’) through the floorboards, and start calling CQ on 20m.
Two cycles of CQ and a Katy bar the door! 12 contacts in 13 minutes, the majority of RST’s 559 or 599. It was a madhouse! No major pileup, but the hunters just kept coming. I wanted to stay in the tower but was running short on time, during a lull I called QRT to move down to ground level.
Once on ground level about 400 yards from the tower, I respotted and started calling CQ. After about 5 minutes the first hunter was a nice surprise from Alabama, not a common state for me. No follow-on callers, so I called CQ again. And again. And again. After roughly 10 more minutes, a fine gentleman from Kansas called. I resumed a few more minutes of calling CQ before going QRT for the day.
While on the ground level, I moved to different locations within the picnic area, tried elevating the radial, holding the radio straight up or a 45* angle, all with no noticeable change in RBN spots or hunter activity. It was painfully obvious that ground level in Houston is not the most conducive for QRP plus a small, compromised antenna.
It was a great day to be out, great to play radio, and it was even more fun to scratch that scientific itch! I can say emphatically, without a doubt, height is might with QRP especially if you live in a low and flat elevation like Houston.
Now that I think a bit, more questions come to mind! Was the tower acting as some sort of reflector? Will it make a difference if I move to the Eastern platform? Is there another all-wood platform I can try? Looks like we have more testing to do!
Y’all be good! 72!
Scott (WE5J)
P.S. – If you drop a mechanical pencil from 30’ on to a hard surface, all your lead will shatter. Rendering the pencil useless. EDC Mini-Space Pen to the rescue!
Hi Scott-
What a cool location! Congratulations on your success there.
Yes- height really helps. We’re blessed with mountains here in New England. Some have paved roads to the summits, and you bet I take advantage of those My contact totals are especially good from those locations. 72- Dave, K1SWL
Thanks Dave! I expected elevated would be better, but wow! I do envy those who live in hilly to mountainous areas, but it was 80* yesterday. Everything is a compromise!
72 de WE5J
Scott
Perhaps by elevating, you are reducing loss due to “near-field” coupling with the ground, giving greater access to the nearby wetlands as a signal enhancing RF mirror.
That’s wild speculation, obviously, so I look forward to your continued research
72
Thanks Matt! I’m a construction project manager by trade but have always had a fascination with engineering. I plan to try a few different setups on the tower and I believe another nearby park has an observation tower too. I love CW along with figuring out the “why”.
72 de WE5J
Scott
I really like how you deployed the counterpoise. What was its length?
It would have been cool if you got the newly married couple to make a QSO.
Great job!
73,
Gene N3XUS
The counterpoise is about 21′ long. It was supposed to be the supplement length when running 30/40m but I’ve found it helps get a good match on the higher bands so I’ve stuck with it.
I was so focused on radio that I don’t even recall if couple even showed up. Haha.
72 de WE5J
Scott
*Bring extra pencils* Thanks for the tip Scott!
Great write up! I look forward to watching your next vid.
-Tim, W8TMI
Funniest part was watching it fall in slow motion! It blew off the railing, and I kid you not, fell perfectly horizontal then landed flat with only a small bounce. It was a sight to be seen!
I now carry two pencils in my kit and normally have the mini-space pen in my pocket too.
72 de WE5J
Scott
Jerry/k5sop
Nice to see a real pair of boots for a change.
Haha thanks Jerry! Those are my office boots which don’t get worn all that often but man I love them. My work boots are not quite as pretty.
72 de WE5J
Scott
Haha thanks Jerry! Those are my office boots which don’t get worn all that often, but man I love them! My work boots are not photo worthy.
72 de WE5J
Scott
Great activation Scott
I am looking into DX Engineering and HRO and the POTA Boots cannot be found
I cannot activate parks in Crocs anymore after this post
John VE3IPS
Thanks John! I have a new found appreciate for that park after a few activations. It’s well kept, ham friendly, and a quiet refuge on the east side of Houston.
I’d prefer not to trek around a park in those boots, but when POTA calls! Check out Tecovas, they ship. Lol
72 de WE5J
Scott
More testing is required to determine if the effect is due to elevation, or due to wearing ‘office boots’. I suspect the office boot effect is real.
You know what they say, dress for success!
72 de WE5J
Scott
I was surprised how well your setup worked on the tower. I’ve done some activations from motel balconies, and it always seems like it works very poorly. Wonder what the difference is?
All I can guess is the lack of local noise. It’s s1/2 at most up there and mostly free air around the counterpoise. Propagation also has a large impact.
I purchased a KH1 last fall and quickly sold it, this was during a very angry sun period as well. Now that I know much more and have the correct expectations, this is a specialist radio which is extremely impacted by its environment.
72 de WE5J
Scott
Nice experiments.
When you’re up in the tower, the antenna setup is somewhat closer to a center-fed vertical dipole.
When you’re on the ground, it’s still the same concept except the other end of the dipole is heating up the soil (well, 5 watts doesn’t heat much but you get the idea).
The ground-level installation, we attempt to emulate a Marconi antenna. https://bestengineeringprojects.com/marconi-antenna-counterpoise-and-radiation-pattern/
Unfortunately, the BEST Marconi efficiency is 30% with a ton of radials or over salt water.
But in reality, we’re still dealing with a dipole with half of it on the ground.
So, your results are as expected. Not just height but also the layout of the antenna.
This is not just my analysis. WA7ARK is a brilliant antenna expert who posts on QRZ.com daily, and this is what he shares.
Whereas a dipole is around 75-80% efficiency.
Thanks for the info Mark! I did have thoughts about the antenna system acting as a dipole but nothing to back it up. I’ll have to check out WA7ARK’s posting on QRZ.
72 de WE5J
Scott
Ahh, Houston. I loved the winters there. But so flat. On 4 July we used to go to the top of a local parking garage, from where we could see the fireworks displays in all the surrounding communities.
Excellent activation. Elsewhere in Texas, I struggled with Mother Neff SP (US-3042) and their strict guidelines about no wires in trees. A whip would have been perfect on top of the Rock Tower.
72 de Todd W2TEF
Flat like a pancake! I have an AX-1 kit for the KX2 which is super fast to setup and quite fun as well. It certainly is nice to have options.
72 de WE5J
Scott
Great experiment, it would have been interesting to see what the results would’ve been had you had time to go back up to midlevel again!
Good job.
I’m thinking of how to setup the KX2 and drop power to 1 watt in the same situation. Not sure how I’d do that just yet.
I love POTA but experimenting while doing POTA is the cherry on top!
72 de WE5J
Scott
My favorite local POTA park. Now you have me wanting to do an activation on top of the tower with my KX2 and AX1. I usually just drop into the entrance of the park for a quick activation….the ground does seem to “soak up” the signal in this area.
Do it! I want to know how it works for you and how you setup the radio and antenna. There is a lot of metal handrail and structure up there.
72 de WE5J
Scott
I think it was the boots! But seriously, was the body of water in front of the antenna/counterpoise when you had the best results?
It certainly could have helped! It’s a marshy area but all freshwater. It would be awesome to find a tower around Galveston to try the same experiment!
Do it! I want to know how it works for you and how you setup the radio and antenna. There is a lot of metal handrail and structure up there.
72 de WE5J
Scott