Re: Topband: Stew Perry (mis)adventures

[Bill Cromwell]

Hi,

When I got home from my Santa gig I got some supper for Mrs Claus and
myself then turned on the radios and laid out paper for logging and
duping. Then I shut the Ranger off again and took it apart ... two more
times. I found some loose screws while poking around inside with the
Ranger transmitting into the dummy load. Yeah... I used an insulated
stick to poke things. When I bumped one of the shields with the stick
the spurious oscillation changed. I had to remove other parts to get to
the loose screws. It took numerous tries to get the screws back in to
put the terminal strips and a tube socket back in place. Then I put in a
couple of hours with QRP power levels and managed 17 contacts working
through the crowds. The ole Kenwood receiver has a 250 Hz filter and I
was still hearing multiple stations in the passband.

The two hours in the Stew this morning were my first ever contacts on
top band. And the first time I've pushed RF into the first REAL antenna
at my new location. I'm gonna get some sleep and try some more just
before dawn.

73,

Bill  KU8H

___
UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK

Re: Topband: T-200 vs. T-300

[Guy Olinger K2AV]

Hi again, Carl

Unfortunately, there are a few pages out there that I do not wish to be on,
including some that say that everything has already been figured out, and
there is nothing new that will ever happen on 160.  There are some
persuasive reasons to be thinking outside of this 80 year old box that 160
meters has been in.

To be really truthful, I have finally settled on a suspicious view of
nearly everything 160 meters.  It has been remarkably useful to ask the
question "What if they are simply wrong, or there are substantial errors?"
 I will keep my own counsel, AND all the other published lists beside the
one published by Micrometals.  It's a free country and you are certainly
entitled to your viewpoints.

Good Luck and 73, Guy.

On Fri, Dec 16, 2011 at 11:14 AM, ZR  wrote:

> **
> As I said earlier it always pays to go to the manufacturers data first
> before relying upon and posting erroneous information. Micrometals explains
> the caveats for deviating outside of the basic frequency ranges.
>
> Try this and scroll to Radio Frequency Properties
> http://www.micrometals.com/materials_index.html
>
> BTW Mix 8 does not replace 6. However 7 was developed as the alternative
> to be more temperature stable in use for VFO's and other critical circuits
> thus the small diameters available.
>
> Note also that Mix 0 is just that, there is no iron powder, its just a
> phenolic donut and comes in handy at UHF
>
> Free software is also available to take the guesswork out especially when
> discussions get a bit confusing..
> http://www.micrometals.com/software_index.html
>
> We should all strive to be on the same page
>
> Carl
> KM1H
>
>
> - Original Message -
> *From:* Guy Olinger K2AV 
> *To:* ZR 
> *Cc:* rich...@karlquist.com ; topband@contesting.com ; 
> Martin
> *Sent:* Thursday, December 15, 2011 11:43 PM
> *Subject:* Re: Topband: T-200 vs. T-300
>
> #2 powdered iron at mu of 10 is the lowest mu of the powdered iron types
> listed with a frequency range that covers 160 meters (in some lists #2 is
> 2-30).  You can rest assured Jerry Sevick had the list below. In his 160
> meter comparison with #2 material, he tested 1,3,15 and 26. Number 6 really
> doesn't work under 10 MHz, as specified in other lists.  It's a "replaced"
> mix that has had problems.  Here's a composite list of powdered iron
> materials from various incomplete sources.
>
> 0 Mix (Tan) 100-300 MHz   u=1
> 1 Mix (Blue) 0.5-5 Mhz u=20
> *2 Mix* (Red) 1-30 MHz, high volume resist. u=10 [Alt list 2-30 Mhz]
> 3 Mix  (Gray) .05-.5 MHz, u=35
> *6 Mix* (Yellow) 1-50 MHz, similar to mix #2. u=8 [alt list 10-50 MHz,
> alt list use #8]
> 7 Mix   3-35 MHz, u=9 small cores only
> *8 Mix *(Yellow / Red) 1-50 MHz, replaces 6 mix. u=35
> 10 Mix   30-100 MHz, u=6
> 12 Mix   50-200 MHz, u=4
> 15 Mix   0.1-2 MHz, u=25
> *17 Mix* (Blue/Yellow) 50-200 MHz, good Q. u=3 [alt list u=4]
> *18 Mix* (Green/Red) u=55, Low Core Loss, Similar to 8 Mix
> *26 Mix* (Yellow/White) DC-800 KHz, great 60 Hz.
> EMI range. Line 'em up on speakers / AC wires u=75
> *40 Mix* (Green/Yellow) Power conversion similar to mix 26
> *52 Mix* (Green/Blue) DC-1 MHz, high perm. u=75
>
> 73, Guy.
>
> On Thu, Dec 15, 2011 at 10:50 PM, ZR  wrote:
>
>>
>> - Original Message - From: "Guy Olinger K2AV" <
>> olin...@bellsouth.net>
>> To: 
>> Cc: ; "Martin" 
>> Sent: Thursday, December 15, 2011 10:05 PM
>>
>> Subject: Re: Topband: T-200 vs. T-300
>>
>>
>>  Hi Rick,
>>>
>>> No magic.  Just the right stuff, for the FCP, anyway.
>>>
>>> To your particulars, when Jerry Sevick measured various ferrites, he
>>> measured the lowest loss at mu=40.  This was very low, as was the #2
>>> powdered iron at mu=10, the lowest of the powdered iron formulas.
>>>
>>
>> Since when is a 2 mix the lowest mu? It is ideal for QRO and HF since 6
>> and 7 mix arent made in QRO sizes and arent suitable at 160 anyway.
>>
>> Carl
>> KM1H
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>  So use
>>
>>>  of ferrites introduces a significantly reduced number of turns, with a
>>> much
>>> more coarse granularity of possible inductive values, that has to be
>>> worked
>>> out to use with the FCP, AND the behavior of the mu=40 core under highly
>>> reactive loads is not spec'd by the manufacturer. The ferrite will have
>>> far
>>> less radiating surface if it does heat up under extreme reactive load,
>>> AND
>>> the length of the parallel bifilar wires may not be enough to cover 160
>>> with the needed behavior in this app.
>>>
>>> But my admonition about no ferrites has more to do with my knowing that
>>> people have misc T240 and T200 form factor ferrites of ALL KINDS laying
>>> around, and want to use the one they just found down in the junk box,
>>> which
>>> does NOT have the material # or mu marked on it anywhere.  And these
>>> requests seem to pop up just before a contest, when most hope of getting
>>> the correct stuff before contest has gone by the wayside.  You will note
>>> that I have pounded in Amidon T300A-2 #2 powdered iron toroid or

Topband: Stew Perry (mis)adventures

[Bill Cromwell]

Hi,

The Stew Perry fun started without me. A couple of days ago my only
viable 160 meter transmitter, my Johnson Ranger, exhibited signs of
"illness" - some kind of unwanted oscillation somewhere within. I tried
to get another transmitter coupled to the receiver and quickly realized
there is no way to spot the TX (the Tx half of a mostly SSB
transceiver). I've been in the Johnson Ranger again ever since. I found
it is possible to tune the frequency of the oscillation with the drive
level, driver tuning, and to some lesser extent with the plate tuning
(TPTG mode). But..if I approach the proper drive level setting from the
NO drive level (increasing drive level) as opposed to deceasing from too
much drive, I don't have the problem - at least not on 160 or 80 meters.
I am ordering suitable bypass caps, especially for all of the screen
circuits along with new 6CL6 tubes. The tubes check out okay in the tube
tester but we all know that is not all telling. I have no subs at the
moment so I will be limping along when I get done with my Santa gig this
evening. I'll be running in the QRP category at the 5 watt level.
Keeping the power level down will hopefully help with the Ranger
surviving the Stew.

A few months ago I had the VFO working pretty well on the bands 40
meters and higher but the instability there has returned. The Ranger
will be getting a lot more TLC in the next few weeks. More caps (I
already changed out some of them), resistance checks and replacement,
etc. The front panel is in great shape but the cabinet will need some
matching paint. There is ONE quarter size chunk of paint missing on the
top near the front...was like that when I got it more than 20 years ago.

I hope to work some of you in the Stew this evening. TX - Johnson
Ranger. RX - Kenwood R-599. I wonder why the 'matching' transmitter
sitting there beside the R-599 does NOT have 160 meters! Maybe the
Ranger will be more fun.

73,

Bill  KU8H



___
UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK

Re: Topband: EK0HBN QSL Information

[Mike Greenway]

It looks like a busted call for IK0HBN who is active on 160..73

-Original Message- 
From: Herb Schoenbohm 
Sent: Saturday, December 17, 2011 10:54 AM 
To: TopBand List 
Subject: Topband: EK0HBN QSL Information 

Please does any member of this list have any information on the QSL 
route for EK0HBN?  QRZ.com comes up em,pty and LOTW deson't have any 
uploads.


*Call sign* *Worked* *Date/Time* *Band* *Mode* *Freq* *QSL*
Details  KV4FZ 
EK0HBN 2010-12-18 23:56:18 160M CW 1.82603 
Details  KV4FZ 
EK0HBN 2010-12-18 23:56:00 160M CW 1.826 



Please send me anything you might have on this new one for me.


Thanks,


Herb Schoenbohm, KV4FZ

___
UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
___
UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK

Topband: The Stew is Cooking

[Lew Sayre]

Yo TopBander,
 The gong was gonged this morning atop the skyscraper housing The
Boring Amateur
Radio Club at 1500Z signalling the start of the 16th running of The Stew
Perry TopBand
Challenge.  Exchanges were made, smoke was let out, equipment was cursed-
in short
a very good start.
If you want to read the information and rules about this contest then
drive your browser to:
 http://jzap.com/k7rat/stew.html
   Late last evening after returning from toiling in the mines I found
several more  TopBanders had
been stricken with excellent ideas for plaques for the Stew Perry Radio
Combatants.  Their
cerebral and financial exercises have been added to the list of Stalwarts
below.  Peruse the list
and pick out your category to work toward.


Call  Category
KL7RA  "Top Number of QSOs"
North Pole Contest Club  "To be determined by Club"
TF4M "Longest DX" (2 stations, each gets 1
plaque)
W0UCE  " Top Score USA/S-O/LP/single wire for Tx &
Rx"
KR2Q "Golden Log" (Top # of QSOs w/o a bust)
K7FL  "Top Score 100% Search & Pounce"
N7UA  "Top Score High Power"
N2KW "Highest rate X 1 hour w/o bust" (Speed
Demon)
K6ND  "K6SE Memorial-Top Score World"
NA0Y  "Top Score USA"
F8BPN"Top Score EU- Low Power"
EI4HQ "Perhaps you were Irish and didn't know
it"
  (Top # of calls with sequential "EI" in them)
N9ADG"Top Score Asia"
AA6VB"Top Score base loaded vertical < 60' tall"
AA6VB"Top Score Big City/Little Pistol-City>50K
runniing <100W"
KH6LC "VK-ZL Challenge- Top Score VK-ZL"
W2GD Team"Top # NA + SA QSOs by EU station
W0RI   "Top Score West of Mississippi River"
K7CA   "Top Score Southern Hemisphere"
K7CA   "Top Score Japan"
TF3KX  "Aurora Borealis Award"- Top Score N of
60 deg North geomagnetic latitude
GMCC  (1)"Top Score S/O, Hi-Power Colorado or
Wyoming"
GMCC   (1)   "Top Score S/O, Low Power Colorado or
Wyoming"
N5IA"Most Grid Squares Worked"
N0TT"Youngest USA Op > 100 QSOs"
AC8AP "Top Score QRP"
AC8AP "Longest DX QRP"
KI7Y " Top Score World- 2X1 Call"
K1EP"Top Score YL Operator
VE9AA  (2)"Eastern VE Op and a wire"
TF4M "Top Score Mobile" (vehicle must be
able to move)
K9JWV/WC7S"Top Score USA QRP West of Mississippi"
W7RH"Top Score SO/LP CQ Zone 3"
N7MAL   "To be determined by Club"- Tnx Mal!
VK6VZ"Top Score N. Hemisphere
station working S. Hemisphere stations"
   (Winner gets official Flying Doctors of VK Baseball hat rather than
plaque)
   1)GMCC is the Grand Mesa Contest Club
   2)  Top Score Atlantic Canada at legal CW power level in Canada (750W
CW in Canada), but must be a single wire,
shunt fed tower or dipole/ inverted V. (No 4 squares, loops, phased arrays,
curtains or yagis). No gain antennas in other words.
(Dipoles accepted however). Also no RX Beverages, K9AY arrays or RX
antennas of any kind. Just a man and his wire.
This area would include VE1, VE9, VY2, VO1, VO2, CY0 and CY9

   When you send in your log to our staff of highly trained expert log
checkers,
who have had all of their vaccinations,  please indicate in the comments
what plaque
or plaques you are competing for. A few are obvious but some are not. The
Boring
Amateur Radio Club does not possess clairvoyance or mind reading abilities,
so
specify what plaque you have been striving toward.
I know you are not on the TopBand because it is still light outside but
when you
fire up your RF box today remember to have fun and listen for the weak ones.
   Thank you for your participation and time!
73 and I remain,
   Lew   W7EW
The Boring Amateur Radio Club Wrapper
w7ew(at)arrl(dot)net
___
UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK

Re: Topband: Stew Perry

[Brian Moran]

Had a few minutes to get on before this morning before doing usual Saturday kid 
driving -- worked some domestic, some HK6, and then was pleased to hear (but 
not work) RA4LW. Maybe later!

Brian N9ADG




 From: Sante - IK0HBN 
To: topband@contesting.com 
Sent: Saturday, December 17, 2011 8:15 AM
Subject: Topband: Stew Perry
 
Ah well,
let's start 16th edition and a prayer that propagation bring us CQ 
zone 12 this year (CE1/K7CA), missed for 3 consecutive years.
Copy all you during this event from JN62.
Ciao
Sante

___
UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
___
UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK

Topband: Stew Perry

[Sante - IK0HBN]

Ah well,
let's start 16th edition and a prayer that propagation bring us CQ 
zone 12 this year (CE1/K7CA), missed for 3 consecutive years.
Copy all you during this event from JN62.
Ciao
Sante

___
UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK

Re: Topband: EK0HBN QSL Information

[Herb Schoenbohm]

Yes that is probably my mistakeas if there was Armenia on 160 many 
would know about it.  I recall working IK0HBN many times and was 
probably to tired at the time to make the distinction.  IK0HBN shows up 
on the N1MM check but EK0HBN does not.  Lesson learnedor as the song 
goes "What a difference a *dit* made, Twenty four little hoursor 
in this case a single short static crash.


Thanks or Bah Hum-Bug...whatever.

Herb Schoenbohm, KV4FZ,







On 12/17/2011 11:58 AM, Barry N1EU wrote:
> Herb, is there any chance that was IK0HBN you worked?
>
> 73, Barry N1EU
>
> On Sat, Dec 17, 2011 at 3:54 PM, Herb Schoenbohm  wrote:
>> Please does any member of this list have any information on the QSL
>> route for EK0HBN?  QRZ.com comes up em,pty and LOTW deson't have any
>> uploads.
>>
>>
>> *Call sign* *Worked**Date/Time* *Band*  *Mode*  
>> *Freq*  *QSL*
>> Details   
>> KV4FZ
>> EK0HBN  2010-12-18 23:56:18 160MCW  1.82603
>> Details   
>> KV4FZ
>> EK0HBN  2010-12-18 23:56:00 160MCW  1.826
>>
>>
>>
>> Please send me anything you might have on this new one for me.
>>
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>>
>> Herb Schoenbohm, KV4FZ
>>
>> ___
>> UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
> ___
> UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK

___
UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK

Re: Topband: EK0HBN QSL Information

[Sante - IK0HBN]

Hi Herb
yes it was me, IK0HBN...
ciao
Sante


At 16.54 17/12/2011, Herb Schoenbohm wrote:
>Please does any member of this list have any information on the QSL
>route for EK0HBN?  QRZ.com comes up em,pty and LOTW deson't have any
>uploads.
>
>
> *Call 
> sign* *Worked**Date/Time* *Band*  *Mode*  *Freq*  *QSL*
>Details  KV4FZ
>EK0HBN  2010-12-18 23:56:18 160MCW  1.82603
>Details  KV4FZ
>EK0HBN  2010-12-18 23:56:00 160MCW  1.826
>
>
>
>Please send me anything you might have on this new one for me.
>
>
>Thanks,
>
>
>Herb Schoenbohm, KV4FZ
>
>___
>UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK

___
UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK

Re: Topband: EK0HBN QSL Information

[Barry N1EU]

Herb, is there any chance that was IK0HBN you worked?

73, Barry N1EU

On Sat, Dec 17, 2011 at 3:54 PM, Herb Schoenbohm  wrote:
> Please does any member of this list have any information on the QSL
> route for EK0HBN?  QRZ.com comes up em,pty and LOTW deson't have any
> uploads.
>
>
>        *Call sign*     *Worked*        *Date/Time*     *Band*  *Mode*  *Freq* 
>  *QSL*
> Details          KV4FZ
> EK0HBN  2010-12-18 23:56:18     160M    CW      1.82603
> Details          KV4FZ
> EK0HBN  2010-12-18 23:56:00     160M    CW      1.826
>
>
>
> Please send me anything you might have on this new one for me.
>
>
> Thanks,
>
>
> Herb Schoenbohm, KV4FZ
>
> ___
> UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
___
UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK

Topband: EK0HBN QSL Information

[Herb Schoenbohm]

Please does any member of this list have any information on the QSL 
route for EK0HBN?  QRZ.com comes up em,pty and LOTW deson't have any 
uploads.


*Call sign* *Worked**Date/Time* *Band*  *Mode*  *Freq*  
*QSL*
Details  KV4FZ 
EK0HBN  2010-12-18 23:56:18 160MCW  1.82603 
Details  KV4FZ 
EK0HBN  2010-12-18 23:56:00 160MCW  1.826   



Please send me anything you might have on this new one for me.


Thanks,


Herb Schoenbohm, KV4FZ

___
UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK