[Elecraft] ARRL 160

2008-11-22 Thread Dale Putnam

I just received the 2007 ARRL 160 1st place Single op QRP WY section 
certificate...
The K2 does its best every day... 
And I don't even have the better antenna up yet. (again)(dog gone wind 
anyway)
Thanks to everyone responsible, and to all the good ears that make this 
possible. 
C U in the next test...
Listen for the "other" signals on the bands... not just the KILLER signals...
and the K2 does that very well.. indeed.--... ...-- Dale - WC7S in Wy
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[Elecraft] ARRL 160

2005-12-06 Thread J F
Greetings All,

I'd like to collect QSLs from everyone using an
Elecraft in the contest this past weekend. I managed
to work all 50 states and thought it would be really
neat it they were all Elecraft users. 

There are some really outstanding scores from K2 users
posted on 3830 already.

This was the first time I used the Rx Antenna feature
and it was invaluable.

Thanks to everyone for a great 'test!

73,
Julius
n2wn
K2/100 #3311
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Re: [Elecraft] ARRL 160

2008-11-23 Thread David F. Reed

Dale,

congratulations!  Very impressive.

73 de Dave, W5SV

Dale Putnam wrote:
I just received the 2007 ARRL 160 1st place Single op QRP WY section 
certificate...

The K2 does its best every day...
And I don't even have the better antenna up yet. (again)(dog gone 
wind anyway)
Thanks to everyone responsible, and to all the good ears that make 
this possible.

C U in the next test...
Listen for the "other" signals on the bands... not just the KILLER 
signals...

and the K2 does that very well.. indeed.

--... ...-- Dale - WC7S in Wy

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Re: [Elecraft] ARRL 160

2008-11-24 Thread Julius Fazekas n2wn

Congrats Dale!

There were, at least, two other K2s in the winner circle ;o)

Gene, KB7Q and I both placed in the Top 10 SOLP... My certificate was
waiting for me when I went home.

Look forward to logging you and many other QRPers this year as well.

A couple of suggestions for any new QRP Top Band Contesters:

1) Don't sign /QRP. It slows things down.

2) Don't repeat the 5NN exchange if asked for a repeat, particularly if band
conditions are poor.

3) Don't QRS, except as a last resort, a fast exchange is easier to catch if
there is a lot of QSB.

4) Do QSY around the guy you're calling if they don't come back to you. By
this I mean use your RIT or XIT as you may be out of the passband. This is
not unique to QRP, but can be to newbies. I usually run with my filters
pretty wide (700 hz or so), but still have folks call well out of that range
and they usually have decent signal.

5) Do try again. If someone is running, they will either come back to the
loudest signal or the distinct one by pitch. My hearing does better with
lower pitched signals. I've watched John, K4BAI, copy signals with ease ata
much higher pitch. This goes hand in hand with item 4. If not, check back on
your next sweep, when things slow down or on the second night of a contest
like ARRL 160 or CQ WW DX.

Running QRP is challenging and fun. It does require a bit more thought and
different strategies.

73,
Julius
n2wn

6) Don't underestimate your signal. Seriously, some QRP signals are
monstrous (no not just VY2ZM and his 4 Square Array hihi). Know your paths
and your openings. 

Dale Putnam wrote:
> 
> 
> I just received the 2007 ARRL 160 1st place Single op QRP WY section
> certificate...
> The K2 does its best every day... 
> And I don't even have the better antenna up yet. (again)(dog gone wind
> anyway)
> Thanks to everyone responsible, and to all the good ears that make this
> possible. 
> C U in the next test...
> Listen for the "other" signals on the bands... not just the KILLER
> signals...
> and the K2 does that very well.. indeed.--... ...-- Dale - WC7S in Wy
> _
> Proud to be a PC? Show the world. Download the “I’m a PC” Messenger
> themepack now.
> hthttp://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/119642558/direct/01/
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> 

-- 
View this message in context: 
http://n2.nabble.com/ARRL-160-tp1567274p1572087.html
Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com.

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RE: [Elecraft] ARRL 160

2008-11-24 Thread Dale Putnam

Very good points, Julius, 
  One of the mistakes that I make, and I hear being made is the feeling of not 
being able to be heard.
That just works against us. Qro has the "advantage" of thinking powerful.. qrp, 
knows the power is in 
the operator and the props. Now.. we also know we can't control the props.. 
so.. the best we can do is take 
advantage of, and use to the best the props as they are. The second most 
important tool that we all have
is the quality of operator... if you aren't as good as you want to be.. then 
that is correctable... but we 
must not "feel" poor op... feel GOOD op.. 
  One doesn't have to work through a pile, with out learning a lot.. how did 
the successful ones do it different?
How did they get through and you didn't? How did you and they didn't.. and one 
thing to note... as you get better
take a not of how many QRO ops you pass it is a real blast to blow through 
the pileup, leaving stations calling, by being there at the right time, and 
with the exact set of skills to getter done. 
  Oh.. and one last thing one may not assume that all signals are 
reciprical. He is loud, therefore I am loud.. ok... he is weak, therefore I 
will be weak to him... not true.. 
he is loud, I am weak... WHAT??
He is weak, I may be loud, if his beam is looking the other way and you say 
no one has beams on the low bands? 
Don't assume that one either... or I will miss you, and so will a number of 
other ops. --... ...-- Dale - WC7S in Wy>
_
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RE: [Elecraft] ARRL 160

2008-11-24 Thread Jim Brown
On Mon, 24 Nov 2008 17:46:54 -0700, Dale Putnam wrote:

>one may not assume that all signals are reciprical. He is loud, 
>therefore I am loud

This is especially true on 160M (and to some extent on 80M) where so 
many operators are fairly omni on transmit but may be highly 
directional on RX. This happens a lot early in the evening west 
coast time -- the East Coast is listening to EU Beverages and loops, 
and even though they're S7 to S9 here on the west coast, they can't 
hear us calling. 

Also remember that many of us have a lot more noise than others. I 
often have to run legal power to work a guy in a city who's giving 
me S7 with only 100 watts. 

73,

Jim K9YC


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RE: [Elecraft] ARRL 160

2008-11-25 Thread Julius Fazekas
Dale,

You make some great points on propagation, worth keeping in mind this weekend...

Just did some propagation plots and 80M looks like it will be the place to 
be... Good chance to add to your DXCC totals.

Ya say no one has a beam on the low low bands, you know 80 and 160?

I know there are a couple JA stations with 3 elements on 80M, but check out 
pages 35 and 36 here: http://www.helsinki.fi/~korpela/PU/PU3_2008.pdf

5 (yes, five) full size elements on 80

AND

3 (!) full size elements on 160!!!

many probably have logged OH8X in past contests, but these monsters should open 
up a whole new bunch of opportunities for folks with less than competitive 
antennas on 160/80!

Julius Fazekas
N2WN

Tennessee Contest Group
TnQP http://www.tnqp.org/

Elecraft K2/100 #3311
Elecraft K2/100 #4455
Elecraft K3/100 #366


--- On Mon, 11/24/08, Dale Putnam <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

> From: Dale Putnam <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Subject: RE: [Elecraft] ARRL 160
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], "elecraft@mailman.qth.net" 
> Date: Monday, November 24, 2008, 7:46 PM
> Very good points, Julius, 
>   One of the mistakes that I make, and I hear being made is
> the feeling of not being able to be heard.
> That just works against us. Qro has the
> "advantage" of thinking powerful.. qrp, knows the
> power is in 
> the operator and the props. Now.. we also know we can't
> control the props.. so.. the best we can do is take 
> advantage of, and use to the best the props as they are.
> The second most important tool that we all have
> is the quality of operator... if you aren't as good as
> you want to be.. then that is correctable... but we 
> must not "feel" poor op... feel GOOD op.. 
>   One doesn't have to work through a pile, with out
> learning a lot.. how did the successful ones do it
> different?
> How did they get through and you didn't? How did you
> and they didn't.. and one thing to note... as you get
> better
> take a not of how many QRO ops you pass it is a real
> blast to blow through the pileup, leaving stations calling,
> by being there at the right time, and with the exact set of
> skills to getter done. 
>   Oh.. and one last thing one may not assume that all
> signals are reciprical. He is loud, therefore I am loud..
> ok... he is weak, therefore I will be weak to him... not
> true.. 
> he is loud, I am weak... WHAT??
> He is weak, I may be loud, if his beam is looking the other
> way and you say no one has beams on the low bands? 
> Don't assume that one either... or I will miss you, and
> so will a number of other ops. --... ...-- Dale - WC7S in
> Wy>
> _
> Color coding for safety: Windows Live Hotmail alerts you to
> suspicious email.
> http://windowslive.com/Explore/Hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_hotmail_acq_safety_112008
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RE: [Elecraft] ARRL 160

2008-11-25 Thread Adam Koczarski

> -Original Message-
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:elecraft-
> [EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Julius Fazekas
> Sent: Tuesday, November 25, 2008 5:53 AM
> To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net; Dale Putnam
> Subject: RE: [Elecraft] ARRL 160
> 
> Dale,
> 
> I know there are a couple JA stations with 3 elements on 80M, but check
> out pages 35 and 36 here:
> http://www.helsinki.fi/~korpela/PU/PU3_2008.pdf
> 

My buddy VE7SZ in Canada has a nice 80m Yagi. Only 3 elements though. Still
bigger than the lot I live on!  :)

Forth picture from the top here:
http://ka7ark.com/STOC/2006CanSTOC2/CanSTOC_2006.htm


Adam - ka7ark


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Re: [Elecraft] ARRL 160

2005-12-06 Thread Tom Althoff
If anyone needs a QSL from Orange County, NY for the ARRL 160M test (or any
other QSO's for that matter) send SASE and I'll get one out to you.

Tom K2TA
K2/AT/100  #1117

Tom Althoff
PO Box 1259
Greenwood Lake, NY 10925

- Original Message - 
From: "J F" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: 
Sent: Tuesday, December 06, 2005 7:38 AM
Subject: [Elecraft] ARRL 160


> Greetings All,
>
> I'd like to collect QSLs from everyone using an
> Elecraft in the contest this past weekend. I managed
> to work all 50 states and thought it would be really
> neat it they were all Elecraft users.
>
> There are some really outstanding scores from K2 users
> posted on 3830 already.
>
> This was the first time I used the Rx Antenna feature
> and it was invaluable.
>
> Thanks to everyone for a great 'test!
>
> 73,
> Julius
> n2wn
> K2/100 #3311
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[Elecraft] ARRL 160 & Rx antenna

2005-12-06 Thread Able2fly
 
Julius,
 
Would you (or anyone) please elaborate on the use  of an Rx antenna? 
 
Thanks
Bill  K3UJ


This was  the first time I used the Rx Antenna feature
and it was  invaluable.

Thanks to everyone for a great  'test!

73,
Julius
n2wn
K2/100 #3311


 
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RE: [Elecraft] ARRL 160 & Rx antenna

2005-12-06 Thread Don Wilhelm
Bill,

Often low efficiency antennas make great low noise receiving antennas -
example is a multiturn loop which can be quite directional, but transmit
efficincy would be almost 'zip'.  Another example is traveling wave antennas
such as the Beverage - which also are directional, but the efficiency is low
and therefore unsuitable for transmitting.

By using the K2 Rant, one can automatically select the Rx antenna on any
band separate from the selection of the transmitting antenna.

This is often used with great success on 160 (and 80 meters) where a low
noise directional antenna is used for receiving and a vertical is used for
transmitting.

73,
Don W3FPR

> -Original Message-
>
> Julius,
>
> Would you (or anyone) please elaborate on the use  of an Rx antenna?
>
> Thanks
> Bill  K3UJ
> 
>
> This was  the first time I used the Rx Antenna feature
> and it was  invaluable.
>
> Thanks to everyone for a great  'test!
>
> 73,
> Julius
> n2wn
> K2/100 #3311
>
>

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Re: [Elecraft] ARRL 160 & Rx antenna

2005-12-06 Thread Bill Coleman


On Dec 6, 2005, at 8:27 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:


Would you (or anyone) please elaborate on the use  of an Rx antenna?


The fundamental problem on the low bands is the high noise level. A  
good transmitting antenna can often have S6-9 noise, or worse. It's  
hard to hear weak signals with all that noise.


As W8JI would put it, the characteristics of a good transmitting  
antenna and a good receiving antenna aren't the same. A transmitting  
antenna should have gain in a particular direction (and angle) in  
order to place the most signal into the target area. For receive, at  
least until you get into the upper VHF region, gain isn't really  
important. The problem is noise -- you can pick up the ambient noise  
on the band with barely any antenna at all -- all that gain just  
brings more noise into the radio.


For receive, the important thing isn't gain, but antenna pattern. An  
antenna with a good pattern will ignore noise (and QRM) from  
directions outside the target area. Less noise means better signal to  
noise ratio. Signals that aren't audible on the transmitting antenna  
are then audible on the receiving antenna.


There are many designs for effective low-band receiving antennas.  
These are quite lossy, having gain 20-30 dB below that of a  
transmitting antenna. Examples include Beverage antennas, Flags,  
Pennants, EWEs, K9AY loops. Despite being lossy, they can have quite  
sharp patterns, especially the Beverage antenna.




Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASELMail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!"
-- Wilbur Wright, 1901

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Re: [Elecraft] ARRL 160 & Rx antenna

2005-12-06 Thread Mark Schreiner

Bill and others,

The explanations by Don & Ron were as always right on and very helpful.  
I already knew the answers but enjoyed reading the replies anyway.  I 
still have questions, though, too, so please continue to read on (we get 
there eventually). 

I would like to point out a couple of resources for more info on the 
topic.  First is a book by John Devoldere, ON4UN called "80m DXing", 
oops, sorry, I'm showing my age, it is now called "Low Band DXing" or 
"Antennas and Techniques on Low Band DXing".  I did a quick Google 
search and guess I should pick up a more up to date version of the 
book.  The copy I have is from 1978 and was an excellent resource at 
that time.  Recently looking through it some info is obviously dated 
(comparison of different radios now considered to be "vintage" although 
still excellent rigs even compared to today's newer radios, such as the 
Drake R4B/C, Kenwood TS820, Collins  S-Line/KWM2, Signal One CX7, 
Collins R390, Heath SB101, etc) while other information is timeless 
(theoretical and practical info on the antennas for the most part as 
well as operating practices).  It gives lots of great info on these 
subjects with practical examples from a time honored expert. 

Another book that is about 10 years newer for the copy I have which is a 
2nd edition, although it looks like the latest release that is still 
available is the 3rd edition, but I'm not sure when it came out, is 
called "The Beverage Antenna Handbook" by Victor Misek, W1WCR.  This 
book includes topics on single wire Travelling Wave Antennas & multiple 
wire Steerable Wave Antennas.  As is the case for most ham related books 
it is mostly practical and only moderately theoretical.


Both of the above examples require a bit of real estate, or at least a 
cooperative neighbor.  I convinced my neighbor at one time that the wire 
I proposed to run out onto his property was only used for Rx and I 
guaranteed to him that *it* would not cause interference.  This 
negotiation worked and my neighbor and I still have a good relationship 
to this day (long after I've moved away, although my moving away is not 
the reason for our good relationship these days!).  I've seen other 
installations that have also taken advantage of a "good neighbor 
policy".  Try it, it works! 

Other Rx antennas that are popular lately and work almost as well 
without nearly as much real estate which you should be able to find more 
info on the web include the EWE Array or K9AY loops.  I'm currently 
investigating the latter along with a small magnetic loop (oh, I thought 
it was small for 160m at about 12' diameter, maybe I should make it 
smaller yet!).


Okay, now for the questions that I have.  Having recently worked several 
stations surprisingly easily with my K2 at 5W during the recent Top Band 
contests (both the ARRL as well as the less active QRP ARCI a few days 
before) I am intrigued with possibilities of a Rx Only antenna.  I know 
the old saying that "You gotta hear 'em before you can work 'em" surely 
applies, however, I think that especially when running QRP the station 
on the other end has much more work to be able to hear your signal, so 
they need to likely have an even better Rx station than you have.  There 
were several stations which I couldn't work that had moderate (not 
strong and not weak) signals during this past weekend.  Maybe if they 
had better Rx antennas I could have worked them.  I tried several 
different times hoping that conditions maybe had improved.  Generally 
this was on Friday night while at my QTH Saturday night didn't seem as 
good.  However, my questions (finally) are these:  If I have a great Rx 
only antenna won't I be able to hear many more stations that I probably 
won't be able to work?  Okay, so there is a possibility that some of 
those stations will also have great Rx antennas and so between the two 
of us we may be able to work where previously I may not have been able 
to hear (and hence work) them.  But does anyone have any experience with 
this and care to comment?  I'm not trying to gather this information to 
discourage the attemps, just looking for some practical experience on 
this as part of a "reality check".  I have only so far worked one 
European station and heard very few on 160m, but my experiences on 160m 
with the K2 are just beginning.  The guy I worked in Greece was using a 
1000' Beverage for the USA (one and the longest of 4 that he had total) 
and I think was running about 800W.  With my Carolina Windom at about 
45' that I used on both Tx & Rx I was barely able to copy him initially, 
then as his signal finally improved so that I could copy so-so, good 
enough to copy his callsign after enough times of him calling CQ or a 
few people now and again answering him (while there was several big 
pileups a few kHz above).  Finally when I was sure of his call I called 
him and he came back and fairly quickly the QSO was in the logbook!  I 
remember giving him a 55

Re: [Elecraft] ARRL 160 & Rx antenna

2005-12-07 Thread Bill Coleman


On Dec 7, 2005, at 12:17 AM, Mark Schreiner wrote:

If I have a great Rx only antenna won't I be able to hear many more  
stations that I probably won't be able to work?


Yes.

I wasn't running QRP in the ARRL 160m contest, I was running a full  
100 watts from the K2/100. Still, there were several stations I could  
not contact, even though they had pretty good signals into my area.  
W7SE in WY was one of them. I heard him both nights, and spend  
several minutes calling him, but barely got any response from him.


There's certainly a danger in being a "rabbit" station (All ears, no  
mouth) when you use a good Rx antenna. The thing with the low bands  
is that it is usually the noise that limits what you can work. Guys  
will hear you, but you won't be able to copy them. (In retrospect,  
maybe some of those guys are running QRP)


With my Carolina Windom at about 45' that I used on both Tx & Rx I  
was barely able to copy him initially, then as his signal finally  
improved so that I could copy so-so, good enough to copy his  
callsign after enough times of him calling CQ or a few people now  
and again answering him (while there was several big pileups a few  
kHz above).


Some 15 or so years ago, when Packet was very, very new, I remember  
logging in to a local packetcluster node and seeing spots for  
stations on 160m. I switched to my 300 foot long, 15 foot high random  
wire and tried to chase some of the spots. I tried several, but could  
hear nothing. Finally, I saw one spot with the notation "LOUD!!!".  
This guy, I could just barely hear.


My problem wasn't that I needed a good receiving antenna -- I just  
needed a good 160m antenna. That Carolina windom may be a pretty good  
compromise all-band antenna, but its not going to be very effective  
for 160m, particularly at just 45 feet high. (That's what 13m?)


So, while it may be interesting and educational to put up a receiving  
antenna, my advise to you would be to try and put up a more effective  
160m antenna. One of the more popular simple antennas is the Inverted- 
L. 140 feet of wire, running vertically as high as you can and then  
horizontally. Fed against as many 100 foot (or so) radials as you can  
lay down, it would be a pretty effective antenna.


Horizontal antennas aren't that effective for 160m. W8JI has made a  
long study of this. In addition to several verticals, he also has a  
300 foot high full size dipole for 160m. 300 feet may seem high, but  
consider that it isn't even 90m tall. It's just over 1/2 wavelength  
high -- which is where dipoles start to become really effective  
antennas. Tom has related that he almost never finds the dipole to be  
more effective than the verticals for DX, except for some really  
oddball openings around sunrise.


The key dimension for any horizontal antenna is the height above  
ground in wavelengths. That Carolina windom probably started to  
really shine on 20m and higher. It's just not practical to place 160m  
antennas this high. Hence - verticals.


It was about a 15 to 20' vertical with a large loading coil about  
2/3 of the way up.  Not sure where this was supposed to work but I  
put it on a homebrew tripod sitting on a 2nd floor porch and ran a  
single #8 or #10 ground wire (Aluminum from RatShack) to a copper  
ground rod made of 4 to 6' of 3/4" copper pipe.


That's the thing about antennas -- EVERYTHING WORKS. Even dummy loads  
can be used to make contacts. But you'll work a lot of stuff a lot  
easier with more effective antennas.



Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASELMail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!"
-- Wilbur Wright, 1901

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Re: [Elecraft] ARRL 160 & Rx antenna

2005-12-08 Thread J F
 However, my questions (finally) are these: 
> If I have a great Rx 
> only antenna won't I be able to hear many more
> stations that I probably  won't be able to work?

Maybe not many more, but certainly more if your Tx
antenna is lacking. That would be the case no matter
your power level.

Okay, so there is a
> possibility that some of 
> those stations will also have great Rx antennas and
> so between the two 
> of us we may be able to work where previously I may
> not have been able 
> to hear (and hence work) them.  But does anyone have
> any experience with 
> this and care to comment?

Sure, my previous 160M setup I used the vertical for
Rx and Tx. I though I worked KL7 (an very hopeful ESP
QSO) but it wasn't solid and I doubt he really worked
me. Using a decent Rx antenna and the same vertical, I
now have a solid QSO. I heard 8Q7 on 80M with a Rx
antenna, just could crack the pileup with 100W and
keep my rate up. Propagation is a big factor. Many
DXpeditions report one way propagation, and I'm sure
you've experienced it as well when someone is booming
in, yet hears few if any SS.
  
The guy I worked in
> Greece was using a 
> 1000' Beverage for the USA (one and the longest of 4
> that he had total) 
> and I think was running about 800W.  With my
> Carolina Windom at about 
> 45' that I used on both Tx & Rx I was barely able to
> copy him initially, 
> then as his signal finally improved so that I could
> copy so-so, good 
> enough to copy his callsign after enough times of
> him calling CQ or a 
> few people now and again answering him (while there
> was several big 
> pileups a few kHz above).

This is great DX, sounds like propagation was on your
side most of all. Timing is everything as well, that
window of opportunity may only have lasted 5 to 15
minutes!

Catch you in the next one...
73,
Julius
n2wn
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