Hi Folks,
I purchased an ICOM 746 and connected it to a ZS6BKW G5RV ZS80 dipole antenna.. I have the antenna about 25 to 30 feet in the air and running back to the radio through some Columbia RG-8 coax (100 ft).
Anyhow, when I'm in the 40 meter (7mhz) range, I'm picking up people all over the eastern USA..
So I went to try to pick up the NOAA stations.. there's one here in Flint, MI and another in White Lake (both are only 20 minute drive for me).. They're operating at 162.475 and I can't seem to hear a peep out of either of them.
I have not gotten any license yet so at this point, my ICOM 746 doesn't even have a mic plugged in as I'm just learning what all the buttons do.
Am I not able to hear these NOAA stations because my dipole isn't the right antenna for that high of a frequency? My calculations say that 162mhz is the 1.8 meter band..
Is this just an issue of getting the right antenna? I would have thought that since they are so close to me, and transmitting at 1000 watts, I should be able to hear something.
Thanks,
I purchased an ICOM 746 and connected it to a ZS6BKW G5RV ZS80 dipole antenna.. I have the antenna about 25 to 30 feet in the air and running back to the radio through some Columbia RG-8 coax (100 ft).
Anyhow, when I'm in the 40 meter (7mhz) range, I'm picking up people all over the eastern USA..
So I went to try to pick up the NOAA stations.. there's one here in Flint, MI and another in White Lake (both are only 20 minute drive for me).. They're operating at 162.475 and I can't seem to hear a peep out of either of them.
I have not gotten any license yet so at this point, my ICOM 746 doesn't even have a mic plugged in as I'm just learning what all the buttons do.
Am I not able to hear these NOAA stations because my dipole isn't the right antenna for that high of a frequency? My calculations say that 162mhz is the 1.8 meter band..
Is this just an issue of getting the right antenna? I would have thought that since they are so close to me, and transmitting at 1000 watts, I should be able to hear something.
Thanks,