[amsat-bb] SO-50 from the car

[Bill (W1PA)]

I tried an experiment today on the 1630Z pass .  My normal 
operating on SO-50
is a FT-530 (5W) to a standard Arrow...  that’s about 15W 
ERP, correct?

Today I tried a smaller, CJU antenna on RX (on the FT530), 
and my 45W mobile
on my stock 1/2 wave mobile antenna (looking for a quick and 
dirty set-up...
standing next to the car, mic through the window).

It was a 55 degree west pass for me.  I confirmed I had the 
correct tone set
and was on simplex and high power, and I could not hear my 
myself. Not even
near AOS and LOS (low on the horizon).

Was I subject to the null off the top of the mobile TX 
antenna? for those of you who
operate from your cars, what do you use for a TX antenna? 
Power?

(btw, the CJU was a bit of a disappointment....  usable, but 
not great)

Bill W1PA

(also btw, that was NOT me calling "CQ CQ 1 2 3" with no ID 
on that pass -- if it was
_you_ reading this email, please go back and read one of the 
FM satellite primers)