Re: Topband: Lightning QRN season?
On 08/12/2013 11:29 PM, Mike Waters wrote: Frankly, I think many hams are just too lazy (maybe disinclined is a better word) to try and copy weak signals buried in the noise. To me, that's what's the most fun about this hobby. That's why I loved working 144.2 MHz, the challenge. And I managed to work 30 states there from a section of Toledo, Ohio that had prolific power line noise. I love a good brain-vs-noise challenge too. That's what attracted me to VHF/UHF EME back in the day when it was done with CW. That's probably why I DX on 160 and 6 meters today. Everything in between is just too easy! All I can think of is, what a bunch of wimps. Sorry if that offended anyone, but what else can we say? :-) I'm disappointed. I had planned to remain active all summer on 160 this year. I thought I had a light summer on tap. Instead, what was to be minor work on my home turned into an all summer battle with both exterior walls of the ham shack being torn out and rebuilt, among other things. I've been completely off the air for some three months now. 73, Paul N1BUG _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Lightning QRN season?
Mike, I find the problem is that most operators today spend most of their time surfing the Web or chatting on varios social groups (like Yahoo Groups!). They gripe about lousy conditions or the lack of stations instead of just getting on the air and listening or giving a call. Like it or not, the Internet has changed our methods of communicating. Mike N2MS - Original Message - From: Mike Waters mikew...@gmail.com To: topband topband@contesting.com Sent: Tue, 13 Aug 2013 03:29:30 - (UTC) Subject: Re: Topband: Lightning QRN season? snip Frankly, I think many hams are just too lazy (maybe disinclined is a better word) to try and copy weak signals buried in the noise. To me, that's what's the most fun about this hobby. That's why I loved working 144.2 MHz, the challenge. And I managed to work 30 states there from a section of Toledo, Ohio that had prolific power line noise. All I can think of is, what a bunch of wimps. Sorry if that offended anyone, but what else can we say? :-) 73, Mike www.w0btu.com _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Lightning QRN season?
Sad, but true. Folks don't seem to listen much anymore. Seem to prefer being spoon-fed DX from Internet packet clusters. Charlie. K4OTV -Original Message- From: Topband [mailto:topband-boun...@contesting.com] On Behalf Of mstang...@comcast.net Sent: Tuesday, August 13, 2013 1:42 PM To: Mike Waters Cc: topband Subject: Re: Topband: Lightning QRN season? Mike, I find the problem is that most operators today spend most of their time surfing the Web or chatting on varios social groups (like Yahoo Groups!). They gripe about lousy conditions or the lack of stations instead of just getting on the air and listening or giving a call. Like it or not, the Internet has changed our methods of communicating. Mike N2MS - Original Message - From: Mike Waters mikew...@gmail.com To: topband topband@contesting.com Sent: Tue, 13 Aug 2013 03:29:30 - (UTC) Subject: Re: Topband: Lightning QRN season? snip Frankly, I think many hams are just too lazy (maybe disinclined is a better word) to try and copy weak signals buried in the noise. To me, that's what's the most fun about this hobby. That's why I loved working 144.2 MHz, the challenge. And I managed to work 30 states there from a section of Toledo, Ohio that had prolific power line noise. All I can think of is, what a bunch of wimps. Sorry if that offended anyone, but what else can we say? :-) 73, Mike www.w0btu.com _ Topband Reflector _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Lightning QRN season?
Unfortunatly that's right, but not for all. Before going on Internet, I always check 1802.5 to see if W1AW is coming through...and if I hear it, I move up and give some CQ's, otherwise I go back in the sack. For sure I can confirm that this season has been the worst one in over 20 years of Topband summer DXing. Not even any activity with Africa or South America ! 73 Luis IV3PRK I find the problem is that most operators today spend most of their time surfing the Web or chatting on varios social groups (like Yahoo Groups!). They gripe about lousy conditions or the lack of stations instead of just getting on the air and listening or giving a call. Like it or not, the Internet has changed our methods of communicating. Mike N2MS - Original Message - From: Mike Waters mikew...@gmail.com To: topband topband@contesting.com Sent: Tue, 13 Aug 2013 03:29:30 - (UTC) Subject: Re: Topband: Lightning QRN season? snip Frankly, I think many hams are just too lazy (maybe disinclined is a better word) to try and copy weak signals buried in the noise. To me, that's what's the most fun about this hobby. That's why I loved working 144.2 MHz, the challenge. And I managed to work 30 states there from a section of Toledo, Ohio that had prolific power line noise. All I can think of is, what a bunch of wimps. Sorry if that offended anyone, but what else can we say? :-) 73, Mike www.w0btu.com _ Topband Reflector _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Lightning QRN season?
Heck, got on 160 yesterday morning and called CQ -- had a nice chat with W7CB near San Luis Obispo, CAwonderful copy on both ends, he with a KW and me with 30 watts. Go figure - two guys on Top Band at the same time IN the summer!! Albeit not DX, will wonders never cease?!?!?! Jim R. K9JWV From: charlie-cunning...@nc.rr.com To: mstang...@comcast.net; mikew...@gmail.com Date: Tue, 13 Aug 2013 14:07:10 -0400 CC: topband@contesting.com Subject: Re: Topband: Lightning QRN season? Sad, but true. Folks don't seem to listen much anymore. Seem to prefer being spoon-fed DX from Internet packet clusters. Charlie. K4OTV -Original Message- From: Topband [mailto:topband-boun...@contesting.com] On Behalf Of mstang...@comcast.net Sent: Tuesday, August 13, 2013 1:42 PM To: Mike Waters Cc: topband Subject: Re: Topband: Lightning QRN season? Mike, I find the problem is that most operators today spend most of their time surfing the Web or chatting on varios social groups (like Yahoo Groups!). They gripe about lousy conditions or the lack of stations instead of just getting on the air and listening or giving a call. Like it or not, the Internet has changed our methods of communicating. Mike N2MS - Original Message - From: Mike Waters mikew...@gmail.com To: topband topband@contesting.com Sent: Tue, 13 Aug 2013 03:29:30 - (UTC) Subject: Re: Topband: Lightning QRN season? snip Frankly, I think many hams are just too lazy (maybe disinclined is a better word) to try and copy weak signals buried in the noise. To me, that's what's the most fun about this hobby. That's why I loved working 144.2 MHz, the challenge. And I managed to work 30 states there from a section of Toledo, Ohio that had prolific power line noise. All I can think of is, what a bunch of wimps. Sorry if that offended anyone, but what else can we say? :-) 73, Mike www.w0btu.com _ Topband Reflector _ Topband Reflector _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Lightning QRN season?
Keep that up, Jim, and you may hear some KH6 or other Pacific islands in the morning. Years ago, I worked VK3 one summer morning, when I didn't have time to tune up the amp and didn't want to alert other locals who were just down the band. Stick with it! 73, Charlie, K4OTV -Original Message- From: Topband [mailto:topband-boun...@contesting.com] On Behalf Of James Rodenkirch Sent: Tuesday, August 13, 2013 2:57 PM To: Charlie Cunningham; mstang...@comcast.net; 'Mike Waters' Cc: 'topband' Subject: Re: Topband: Lightning QRN season? Heck, got on 160 yesterday morning and called CQ -- had a nice chat with W7CB near San Luis Obispo, CAwonderful copy on both ends, he with a KW and me with 30 watts. Go figure - two guys on Top Band at the same time IN the summer!! Albeit not DX, will wonders never cease?!?!?! Jim R. K9JWV From: charlie-cunning...@nc.rr.com To: mstang...@comcast.net; mikew...@gmail.com Date: Tue, 13 Aug 2013 14:07:10 -0400 CC: topband@contesting.com Subject: Re: Topband: Lightning QRN season? Sad, but true. Folks don't seem to listen much anymore. Seem to prefer being spoon-fed DX from Internet packet clusters. Charlie. K4OTV -Original Message- From: Topband [mailto:topband-boun...@contesting.com] On Behalf Of mstang...@comcast.net Sent: Tuesday, August 13, 2013 1:42 PM To: Mike Waters Cc: topband Subject: Re: Topband: Lightning QRN season? Mike, I find the problem is that most operators today spend most of their time surfing the Web or chatting on varios social groups (like Yahoo Groups!). They gripe about lousy conditions or the lack of stations instead of just getting on the air and listening or giving a call. Like it or not, the Internet has changed our methods of communicating. Mike N2MS - Original Message - From: Mike Waters mikew...@gmail.com To: topband topband@contesting.com Sent: Tue, 13 Aug 2013 03:29:30 - (UTC) Subject: Re: Topband: Lightning QRN season? snip Frankly, I think many hams are just too lazy (maybe disinclined is a better word) to try and copy weak signals buried in the noise. To me, that's what's the most fun about this hobby. That's why I loved working 144.2 MHz, the challenge. And I managed to work 30 states there from a section of Toledo, Ohio that had prolific power line noise. All I can think of is, what a bunch of wimps. Sorry if that offended anyone, but what else can we say? :-) 73, Mike www.w0btu.com _ Topband Reflector _ Topband Reflector _ Topband Reflector _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Lightning QRN season?
Tonight was a perfect example of that. N2RK called CQ DX for the longest time, and he had a great S/N ratio from multiple stations on the RBN, including GW8IZR. I spotted him on the cluster, and so did HK1MW (Good copy northen Colombia). He was two or three S-units above the lightning QRN here, but perfectly Q5. *But no answers from anyone.* Frankly, I think many hams are just too lazy (maybe disinclined is a better word) to try and copy weak signals buried in the noise. To me, that's what's the most fun about this hobby. That's why I loved working 144.2 MHz, the challenge. And I managed to work 30 states there from a section of Toledo, Ohio that had prolific power line noise. All I can think of is, what a bunch of wimps. Sorry if that offended anyone, but what else can we say? :-) 73, Mike www.w0btu.com On Wed, Jul 24, 2013 at 11:44 AM, Guy Olinger K2AV olin...@bellsouth.netwrote: The persistence of easily more than half a year of loud QRN in the evenings on 160, perhaps 3/4 of the year, has generated the *expectation* that no one is on. The expectation of activity is what generates activity. The band is clearly open to some degree at various times any night, even in July. A lot of people will get on for the summer Stew Perry, and various summer contests will get contestants on 160 for multipliers. There is an expectation of activity at certain times known to many contestants. The summer 160 starved can get on 160 for the NCCC Thursday night tests, but will have to take the time to know when the participants come down to 160 for a few minutes of a very short contest. An unexpectedly quiet summer night on 160 with no expectation of activity, will be just that -- a quiet night. _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Lightning QRN season?
Well said, Jim! Sounds like that syndrome you mention might be related to *Topband Disease* ;-) The link to that is now 404, but I have it copied to http://www.w0btu.com/160_meters.html near the bottom. I only completed the best 160m station that I have ever had (by completing a legal limit 160m amp) just two weeks before the lightning QRN season took hold this spring. I had a lot of fun with 1500w feeding my inverted-L and listening on Beverages here for a short time. Can you say, chomping at the bit? ;-) 73 Mike On Sat, Jul 27, 2013 at 12:35 PM, Jim GM jim.gmfo...@gmail.com wrote: Sounds to me you were on track before your post. If your hearing all that well, I think you have what most of us have...waiting for the band to open syndrome. _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Lightning QRN season?
- Original Message - From: Mike Waters mikew...@gmail.com To: topband topband@contesting.com Sent: Friday, July 26, 2013 3:33 PM Subject: Re: Topband: Lightning QRN season? On Wed, Jul 24, 2013 at 4:26 PM, ZR z...@jeremy.mv.com wrote: I would think that with optimized F/R for your Beverages that at least one path would be somewhat quiet. They do indeed sometimes help reduce the QRN from some thunderstorms, particularly if they are in a nearby state (higher angle) and perpendicular to the desired direction. But they are only 580' (1λ on 160 and a 3 dB beamwidth of 90 degrees). And I do have one Beverage that seems to have a degraded F/B ratio, and I need to go out there and check it out. What I need are longer Beverages. I could put up 900' Beverages in some directions here. Or better yet, two parallel Beverages staggered end-fire, if it's practical to do that and still have them bi-directional. Try loading coils or other methods to double the electrical length. Try BOG's or near BOG's Crank in as much front end attenuation as practical to reduce the static effect on the crystal filters. I can switch up to 30dB in plus bypass the first preamp in the TS-950SD. Also use the notch filter to lower the backround noise. When the going gets tuff the tuff get going. I was on 160 AM for a few hours last eve and QSO's out to 300-450 miles was good copy with stations at the 100W level at both ends. Northern Maine, Buffalo, WPA, and others were worked with ... 100W ... It seems that your part of the country generally has less lightning in the evenings lately, according http://www.intellicast.com/Storm/Severe/Lightning.aspx which I check daily. It varies and I dont know how sensitive that site is to very localized and short lived storm cells which are very common in this area . I guess I'm just too impatient. I was hoping someone would reply to my original question with something to the effect of it is reasonable to expect a few days per month with no lightning in the USA beginning around the third week of August, but I realize that was just wishful thinking. I was able to finish my legal limit amplifier only two weeks before the QRN really began, and it never let up (at least in the evening, when I am most active) for a single day so far. So, I'm really anxious to see what the possibilities are from this QTH with the new amp, the inverted-L, and the two bi-directional Beverages. 73, Mike www.w0btu.com Maximize the receiving capability and dont fight Mother Nature! Carl KM1H 07/26/13 _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Lightning QRN season?
I would think that with optimized F/R for your Beverages that at least one path would be somewhat quiet. I was on 160 AM for a few hours last eve and QSO's out to 300-450 miles was good copy with stations at the 100W level at both ends. Northern Maine, Buffalo, WPA, and others were worked with the 1949 Viking I at 100W and also 1949 era HQ-129X with the 180' high inverted V. Reports using the vertical were weaker and with a lot of deep QSB except for the stations out to 50 miles or so. With a good part of SA being to the S/SE from here Ive heard the occassional LU, PY, etc on CW while keeping enough of the SW and W T storm static at bay. Cranking in the selectivity further improves the SNR. Carl KM1H - Original Message - From: Mike Waters mikew...@gmail.com To: topband topband@contesting.com Sent: Tuesday, July 23, 2013 10:03 PM Subject: Re: Topband: Lightning QRN season? I appreciate the replies and insight. Let me add some details I should have included in my original question. What I really wanted to know was, When do you think that QRN might let up a little, to the point when we might expect to have a relatively quiet night here and there? So far, we have gone many weeks with not one single evening of quiet, making DX --and most good stations on the east and west coast-- all but impossible to hear over the lightning crashes. Beverages _at both ends of the path_ helps, but that's not often the situation lately. I haven't listened on 160 every night, but ever since sometime in May (I forget exactly) I have been daily checking the Intellicast real-time lightning map at www.intellicast.com/Storm/Severe/Lightning.aspx . And there has not been a single evening on 160 since then when there was not a lot of lightning over the continental USA. I did manage to have some SSB ragchews late last night with some very strong stations in the Midwest, but the QRN never dropped below S9 even though the lightning was some distance away. 73, Mike www.w0btu.com On 7/23/2013 12:26 AM, Mike Waters wrote: Anyone have a guesstimate as to when the QRN will begin letting up a little on 160? _ Topband Reflector - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 10.0.1432 / Virus Database: 3204/6014 - Release Date: 07/23/13 _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Lightning QRN season?
Thanks, Don. I do check real-time lightning maps daily, but I have never seen this site. I'll have to study it more soon, but it more or less seems to show what we already know: that lightning can occur in any month. Based on all the replies so far, it seems that my question falls into the category of wishful thinking. :-) 73, Mike www.w0btu.com On Tue, Jul 23, 2013 at 8:57 AM, Don Kirk wd8...@gmail.com wrote: HI Mike, The following website has numerous animations that show Lightning Flash Density (based on NASA data), and the top most animation provides pretty good insight into lightning activity throughout the year. Based on this animation it looks like Dec and Jan are the best in the US with Nov Feb second best, with October and March third best (various ways to evaluate the graphics) and suspect the results of this animation comes as no surprise to you based on your 160 meter hands on experience. http://www.seiswaves.com/cappelluti/docs/anims/exeter/ When outside the months of October through March I just look at a real time lightning map to see if it's worthwhile to go into the shack and turn the radio on, and the URL for the map I use is as follows : http://www.lightningstorm.com/explorer.html I use the real time lightning map regardless of time of year to help me understand noise conditions on 160 meters. I suspect most folks in North America would say noise levels start getting low in October and start getting bad in March on 160 meters which falls in line pretty good with the animation map I mentioned above. 73, Don (wd8dsb) On Tue, Jul 23, 2013 at 12:26 AM, Mike Waters mikew...@gmail.com wrote: Anyone have a guesstimate as to when the QRN will begin letting up a little on 160? 73, Mike www.w0btu.com _ Topband Reflector _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Lightning QRN season?
On Wed, Jul 24, 2013 at 4:26 PM, ZR z...@jeremy.mv.com wrote: I would think that with optimized F/R for your Beverages that at least one path would be somewhat quiet. They do indeed sometimes help reduce the QRN from some thunderstorms, particularly if they are in a nearby state (higher angle) and perpendicular to the desired direction. But they are only 580' (1λ on 160 and a 3 dB beamwidth of 90 degrees). And I do have one Beverage that seems to have a degraded F/B ratio, and I need to go out there and check it out. What I need are longer Beverages. I could put up 900' Beverages in some directions here. Or better yet, two parallel Beverages staggered end-fire, if it's practical to do that and still have them bi-directional. I was on 160 AM for a few hours last eve and QSO's out to 300-450 miles was good copy with stations at the 100W level at both ends. Northern Maine, Buffalo, WPA, and others were worked with ... 100W ... It seems that your part of the country generally has less lightning in the evenings lately, according http://www.intellicast.com/Storm/Severe/Lightning.aspx which I check daily. I guess I'm just too impatient. I was hoping someone would reply to my original question with something to the effect of it is reasonable to expect a few days per month with no lightning in the USA beginning around the third week of August, but I realize that was just wishful thinking. I was able to finish my legal limit amplifier only two weeks before the QRN really began, and it never let up (at least in the evening, when I am most active) for a single day so far. So, I'm really anxious to see what the possibilities are from this QTH with the new amp, the inverted-L, and the two bi-directional Beverages. 73, Mike www.w0btu.com _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Lightning QRN season?
They do indeed sometimes help reduce the QRN from some thunderstorms, particularly if they are in a nearby state (higher angle) and perpendicular to the desired direction. But they are only 580' (1λ on 160 and a 3 dB beamwidth of 90 degrees). And I do have one Beverage that seems to have a degraded F/B ratio, and I need to go out there and check it out. The top of this page shows what a highly directive antenna with clean pattern sounds like in summer: http://www.w8ji.com/dx_sound_files.htm _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Lightning QRN season?
On 07/23/2013 10:03 PM, Mike Waters wrote: I appreciate the replies and insight. Let me add some details I should have included in my original question. What I really wanted to know was, When do you think that QRN might let up a little, to the point when we might expect to have a relatively quiet night here and there? So far, we have gone many weeks with not one single evening of quiet, making DX --and most good stations on the east and west coast-- all but impossible to hear over the lightning crashes. Beverages _at both ends of the path_ helps, but that's not often the situation lately. I haven't listened on 160 every night, but ever since sometime in May (I forget exactly) I have been daily checking the Intellicast real-time lightning map at www.intellicast.com/Storm/Severe/Lightning.aspx . And there has not been a single evening on 160 since then when there was not a lot of lightning over the continental USA. I did manage to have some SSB ragchews late last night with some very strong stations in the Midwest, but the QRN never dropped below S9 even though the lightning was some distance away. 73, Mike www.w0btu.com Hi Mike, I haven't heard a lot on 160 meters mostly due to lack of activity. I listen more in the early morning hours just before and through morning twilight and sunrise. A few times the band has been astonishing quiet - checked to be sure I was on the antenna and not on the dummy load. At night I am on 80 and 40 meters (and sometimes 20) but when I try 160 there is a more QRN than in the mornings. I mostly hear the SSB ragchew nets and little CW. When the ARRL gets on they are always in here quite loud but still no other CW stations. I should be able to easily hear lower powered stations if any were on. 73, Bill KU8H _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Lightning QRN season?
Mike, The band has been open frequently in the morning to VK/ZL. Several of us are on almost every morning checking propagation with VK3ZL and others. The band is open a lot, but activity is low. I checked the log and have made contact with VK3ZL 29 days since the beginning of May with signals ranging from 339 to 579 (peaked at 569 this AM). Dan, W5XZ, may have made more qsos. Many other days signals have been present but unreadable in the noise. On the other hand, evening propagation to Europe has been the poorest I remember. Only a few contacts (G3JMJ IV3PRK). I was traveling and missed most of the contests, so don't know about activity then. Here is the (not very long) list of dx from my log from the beginning of May. VK3ZL VK4MA PJ6/K4UEE T46C KG4RX KH6AT KH6ZM KV4FZ G3JMJ IV3PRK ZL3IX I have also heard VK3IO, OA4TT, and HK. Dick, K4IQJ .. _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Lightning QRN season?
The persistence of easily more than half a year of loud QRN in the evenings on 160, perhaps 3/4 of the year, has generated the *expectation* that no one is on. The expectation of activity is what generates activity. The band is clearly open to some degree at various times any night, even in July. A lot of people will get on for the summer Stew Perry, and various summer contests will get contestants on 160 for multipliers. There is an expectation of activity at certain times known to many contestants. The summer 160 starved can get on 160 for the NCCC Thursday night tests, but will have to take the time to know when the participants come down to 160 for a few minutes of a very short contest. An unexpectedly quiet summer night on 160 with no expectation of activity, will be just that -- a quiet night. If anything, the length of QRN season has become longer over the decades, sometimes pushing bad nights into December and January. Global warming? It's antenna building and fixing time. 73, Guy. On Wed, Jul 24, 2013 at 7:57 AM, Richard Jaeger k4...@mindspring.comwrote: Mike, The band has been open frequently in the morning to VK/ZL. Several of us are on almost every morning checking propagation with VK3ZL and others. The band is open a lot, but activity is low. I checked the log and have made contact with VK3ZL 29 days since the beginning of May with signals ranging from 339 to 579 (peaked at 569 this AM). Dan, W5XZ, may have made more qsos. Many other days signals have been present but unreadable in the noise. On the other hand, evening propagation to Europe has been the poorest I remember. Only a few contacts (G3JMJ IV3PRK). I was traveling and missed most of the contests, so don't know about activity then. Here is the (not very long) list of dx from my log from the beginning of May. VK3ZL VK4MA PJ6/K4UEE T46C KG4RX KH6AT KH6ZM KV4FZ G3JMJ IV3PRK ZL3IX I have also heard VK3IO, OA4TT, and HK. Dick, K4IQJ .. _ Topband Reflector _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Lightning QRN season?
The persistence of easily more than half a year of loud QRN in the evenings on 160, perhaps 3/4 of the year, has generated the *expectation* that no one is on. The expectation of activity is what generates activity. The band is clearly open to some degree at various times any night, even in July. From here, it's quite possible to work JA's and almost everywhere where there is overlapping darkness during Summer. Even daylight paths sometimes appear with skews. That's why the first WAC of the season thing always puzzled me, because there really is not a specific season. It's just when people get on. _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Lightning QRN season?
Probably in early September when the frontal systems causing the intense QRN are significantly altered by the polar air masses pushing them south of your QTH by 500 miles or so. Herb Schoenbohm, KV4FZ On 7/23/2013 12:26 AM, Mike Waters wrote: Anyone have a guesstimate as to when the QRN will begin letting up a little on 160? 73, Mike www.w0btu.com _ Topband Reflector _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Lightning QRN season?
I was going to suggest mid October for sure... Sent from my iPad On Jul 23, 2013, at 8:20 AM, Herb Schoenbohm he...@vitelcom.net wrote: Probably in early September when the frontal systems causing the intense QRN are significantly altered by the polar air masses pushing them south of your QTH by 500 miles or so. Herb Schoenbohm, KV4FZ On 7/23/2013 12:26 AM, Mike Waters wrote: Anyone have a guesstimate as to when the QRN will begin letting up a little on 160? 73, Mike www.w0btu.com _ Topband Reflector _ Topband Reflector _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Lightning QRN season?
I saked my magic 8 Ball and says Cannot Predict Now -- Jim K9TF _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Lightning QRN season?
I appreciate the replies and insight. Let me add some details I should have included in my original question. What I really wanted to know was, When do you think that QRN might let up a little, to the point when we might expect to have a relatively quiet night here and there? So far, we have gone many weeks with not one single evening of quiet, making DX --and most good stations on the east and west coast-- all but impossible to hear over the lightning crashes. Beverages _at both ends of the path_ helps, but that's not often the situation lately. I haven't listened on 160 every night, but ever since sometime in May (I forget exactly) I have been daily checking the Intellicast real-time lightning map at www.intellicast.com/Storm/Severe/Lightning.aspx . And there has not been a single evening on 160 since then when there was not a lot of lightning over the continental USA. I did manage to have some SSB ragchews late last night with some very strong stations in the Midwest, but the QRN never dropped below S9 even though the lightning was some distance away. 73, Mike www.w0btu.com On 7/23/2013 12:26 AM, Mike Waters wrote: Anyone have a guesstimate as to when the QRN will begin letting up a little on 160? _ Topband Reflector
Topband: Lightning QRN season?
Anyone have a guesstimate as to when the QRN will begin letting up a little on 160? 73, Mike www.w0btu.com _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Lightning QRN season?
Soon if you are in North America, where the inter tropical convergence zone is near its closest approach and beginning to move south. Be happy you don't have to receive in the tropics. The inverted vee here at 40m has been repaired (failure of new coax center conductor) and the 8 circle rx elements are up. I want to observe the paddy for flooding before I put the preamps out there but plan to be QRV on top band by the fall season. 73 Bob HS0ZIA From: Mike Waters mikew...@gmail.com To: topband topband@contesting.com Sent: Tuesday, July 23, 2013 11:26 AM Subject: Topband: Lightning QRN season? Anyone have a guesstimate as to when the QRN will begin letting up a little on 160? 73, Mike www.w0btu.com _ Topband Reflector _ Topband Reflector
