Topband: Visalia 2012 Topband Dinner
Hi There I've never been to Visalia and would like to try to go this year. Can someone please advise the contact person for the Topband Dinner out there. I am looking for (2) tickets if any are still available. Also is it Friday night? I suspect so as the convention banquet is held on Sat night. Any 'alp ?? Tks for the assistance - replies to k...@aol.com pse. 73 JEFF VY2ZM/HTML ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
Topband: Antenna adventures
Hi, So today it's chilly and raining (36 F - no wind - light rain). I'm taking advantage of Murphy's Antenna Corollary - the one stating the inverse (perverse?) relationship between pleasant (or poor) antenna erecting/repair weather and finished antenna performance. I am hoping to have an antenna that will work for me on 160 and 80 meters and the station configured to do so in time for the Stew Perry event this weekend. Right now I just can't get my modest loop to load on either of those bands (too small). It seems to work okay on 40 meters through 10 meters even if it's not the greatest antenna in the world. It's been better than NO antenna at all. I'm putting up somewhere between 130 and 160 feet of end fed wire with a single counterpoise on the ground 130 feet long and obviously using a tuner. The wire isn't going as high as I want it but it's going up. Later (Spring?), with some young blooded help I can get the wire higher. I'm presently climbing trees (YIKES!) and installing electric fence insulators. I'm taking a break to dry off and warm up. I've never ever had a cold or pneumonia but I AM getting older (mid 60s) and I really want to take a pass on those pleasures. I'll post again if I survive and get the new antenna on the air on either band. Later I'll be clearing some undergrowth and maybe get more accurate measurements of distances between various trees on my small lot. Antennas and receivers are the two most important parts of a ham station. A transmitter is not unimportant but is way down the food chain. The weak link in MY station is the antennas. I'm getting focused on that and putting up something quick to get on the air and make improvements later. 73, Bill KU8H ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
Topband: A request
When posting a message to the list - it would be nice for everyone to include their callsigns. Thanks. Tree N6TR ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
Topband: The antenna is UP!
Hi, I survived the adventure in the trees. I left some droop in the wire to allow for trees to move in the wind. At the far end of the wire I added a screen door spring just in case it gets a little too tight. Time will tell if I eyeballed that right. The wire can slide in the fence insulators I installed so I am hoping the whole affair will stay up through winter. I have a counterpoise wire laying on the ground. Oh yeah..the antenna has passed some initial tests. I found on-air signals on 40 through ten meters and so far it works as well as or better than my 100 foot loop. I tried loading it on 80 meters but the transmitter I have on line at the moment seems to have some issues on 80, even with a good 50 ohm dummy load. Ain't it great running vintage gear. I plan to use my Johnson Ranger in the Stew so I'll move that up and try it on the new antenna. The Johnson has some issues on 40 and up but works fine on 160 and 80. It would be great if I can get on 80 and 160 tonight. The outdoor water sports part of this adventure is now over!! I'm warm and dry again. 73, Bill KU8H ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
Topband: Need MS and VA QSOs and QSLs for QRP WAS on 160 meters!
I sure could use a sked with someone located in VA and MS as those are two of the closer states I need to work and confirm for QRP WAS on 160 meters (get those two and I'll only have 7 more states to go, albeit all of them are on the east coast and conditions haven't been very good lately for even hearing any east coast stations out here in s/w Utah with my not so good antenna system). So, anyone in MS or VA who'd like to try a sked this evening or, perhaps, tomorrow morning let me know. Thank you! 72, Jim Rodenkirch, K9JWV ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
Topband: W1BB equipment photos
Fellow Topbanders, This past summer I was in Rhode Island for my son's wedding and had time for a visit to the New England Museum of Wireless and Steam in East Greenwich. What a treat that was. Bob, W1NTE, gave me a great guided tour of the marvelous collection of radio history, including the Massie PJ station, which was moved from the original Point Judith, RI location to the museum site. One of the displays in the PJ station building has some of the original W1BB equipment and related memorabilia. Here are two sites you might appreciate, especially if you will be participating in the 16th Stew Perry Topband Distance Challenge this coming weekend. The museum web site: http://newsm.org/ A pair of photos I took in the W1BB corner of the PJ station: https://picasaweb.google.com/115693317429195427637/WirelessMuseumPJStation Hope to work you in the Stew. Gus Hansen KB0YH ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
Topband: Some Success
Hello Topbanders, Thanks to everyone who responded to my query for help regarding my shunt fed tower. I did configure an Omega match. I do notice that the BW is much narrower using the Omega match compared to the single series capacitor. Once I get all the to antenna work completed, I will probably look for the sweet spot again and use only the series cap. Until then, the Omega match certainly seems to work. I'm also considering changing out the piece of RG8X that I use for the shunt arm and replacing it with a 3 or 4 wire cage. Any suggestions on spacers to use for configuring the cage? Have a great Holiday and once again, thanks for the collective wisdom. 73, Bob K3UL ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
Re: Topband: A request
Tree wrote: When posting a message to the list - it would be nice for everyone to include their callsigns. Thanks. Tree N6TR And also your location, especially if it conflicts with the number in your callsign, or you are selling a tower, etc. Rick N6RK Galt, CA ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
Re: Topband: Some Success
Bob: I made my two-wire cage out of 1/2 inch PVC and fittings. See photos of a three-wire install at http://nidxa.org/kb9cry_shunt_fed_tower.htm . Both Phil and I used wire ties to fix the PVC in place on the tower rungs, etc. 73 de Gene Smar AD3F - Original Message - From: Bob Garrett rgarre...@comcast.net To: TOPBAND@CONTESTING.COM Sent: Wednesday, December 14, 2011 5:26 PM Subject: Topband: Some Success Hello Topbanders, Thanks to everyone who responded to my query for help regarding my shunt fed tower. I did configure an Omega match. I do notice that the BW is much narrower using the Omega match compared to the single series capacitor. Once I get all the to antenna work completed, I will probably look for the sweet spot again and use only the series cap. Until then, the Omega match certainly seems to work. I'm also considering changing out the piece of RG8X that I use for the shunt arm and replacing it with a 3 or 4 wire cage. Any suggestions on spacers to use for configuring the cage? Have a great Holiday and once again, thanks for the collective wisdom. 73, Bob K3UL ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
Re: Topband: W1BB equipment photos
I have a 1947 picture of W1BB's station on my web page at: http://n7rk.com/w6bam.html You will find it at the bottom of the page. I scanned this from the original photo which I have but don't recall where I got it from. 73, Dave N7RK -- *** Dave N7RK Boatanchors Home Page: http://n7rk.com Phoenix, Arizona *DXCC Honor Roll**WAZ#22 - 75 Meter SSB* ex-XE2/N7RK, N7RK/ZB2, VK2ERK, ZM0AJN, WB6NRK, WN6IWX Boatanchor and Antique Radio Collector ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
