Re: Topband: TB season
On Sun, 2012-03-18 at 16:38 -0700, Jim F. wrote: > > > Hi Cecil, > I use a K1 running 5 watts on 160m from a condo with a wire off the deck into > the woods > and 'creative' radials. > > One day a miracle happened and KH7O was calling CQ and heard my signal > from NH and I was hooked. Don't know how it happened but he was there all > alone and we exchanged reports. > > Nothing like that has happened since :-)) But hope springs eternal.. > > 72 / 73 > > jim / W1FMR The trump statement (and I have seen it on this list).."propagation rules". No matter about beverages and rotatable 160 meter seven element quads at 1200 feet and 5 kw amps or qrp and a wet noodle. All of that comes in somewhere behind propagation. Obviously all those other things do matter. But this thread is about a season. Even when there is "slim pickins" there is still pickin's..but only if you're there and trying. I certainly can understand about removing the seasonal radials and even seasonal antennas. Somebody here has to get out so the farmer can get onto the field. Just fall back on your second string antenna system and work what you can. As for leaving QRP behind for summer operations I fully intend to do just that. I'm going to smoke the coax with six point five watts!! . I have been operating my Ranger on 160 at about 35 watts unless I am in an official QRP mode and dial it back to 5 (or less). That's what I have (and I have some more new parts to get it back on the air) so that's what I use. If I had a big amp I know I would be tempted to turn it ON. Top Band has me thinking about it. Better antennas first. 73, Bill KU8H ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
Re: Topband: TB season
Hi Cecil, I use a K1 running 5 watts on 160m from a condo with a wire off the deck into the woods and 'creative' radials. One day a miracle happened and KH7O was calling CQ and heard my signal from NH and I was hooked. Don't know how it happened but he was there all alone and we exchanged reports. Nothing like that has happened since :-)) But hope springs eternal.. 72 / 73 jim / W1FMR --- On Sun, 3/18/12, chacuff wrote: From: chacuff Subject: Re: Topband: TB season To: "Jim F." , "DAVID CUTHBERT" , j...@audiosystemsgroup.com, "GeorgeWallner" Cc: topband@contesting.com Date: Sunday, March 18, 2012, 4:20 PM Is that QRP QRO (100 watts +-) or real QRP...as in 5 watts or less...:-) Cecil K5DL - Original Message - From: "Jim F." To: "DAVID CUTHBERT" ; ; "GeorgeWallner" Cc: Sent: Friday, March 16, 2012 4:00 PM Subject: Re: Topband: TB season And QRPers will be carried around on peoples shoulders instead of being shunned and scorned :-)) Long live the Stew !!! We will all be in it. jim / W1FMR --- On Fri, 3/16/12, GeorgeWallner wrote: From: GeorgeWallner Subject: Re: Topband: TB season To: "DAVID CUTHBERT" , j...@audiosystemsgroup.com Cc: topband@contesting.com Date: Friday, March 16, 2012, 4:07 PM On Fri, 16 Mar 2012 09:09:21 -0600 DAVID CUTHBERT wrote: > I think we need a July contest. > Yes! A July Stew Perry. Unlike the other DX oriented contests, the SP'S scoring is "finely grained", so the scarecity of DX will not result in too much of an advantage to the few "summer-DX-capable" east/west-coasters. 73, George, AA7JV ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
Topband: Fwd: Re: Cushcraft MA-160
Dave, If you ground the top of the wire of a quarter-wave sloper to the tower and feed the bottom of the slant wire instead (assuming a ground rod and some radials laying on the ground at the feed point) you will IMHO do much better. Some matching may be required at the feed point but it may be no more than a series capacitor to remove the reactance of the wire. There my be a very slight bit of directivity in the direction of the slant wire, but the overall efficiency of this as a TB radiator may be significantly better even with a short tower of 50-60 feet. If the tower is more than 60 feet tall and with a beam on top I would suggest shunt feeding the tower with a cage feed again assuming you can have at least 4 or more radials on the ground even if you need to fold or bend the ends a bit to fit in your yard. All half slopers from metal towers do IMHO is try to backward excite the tower with RF. Losses can be high and performance is generally less than adequate. If you are able to shorten the slant wire to get your feed point closer to 50 ohms may also be beneficial and should also be considered. Good luck, Herb Schoenbohm, KV4FZ On 3/16/2012 10:57 PM, David Novoa, W4DN wrote: > Has anyone in this reflector installed a Cushcraft MA-160 short vertical > with a couple of elevated radials or the K2AV Folded Counterpoise? If > so, results? Any recommendations? I need to do something before the TB > season ends. My quarter-wave sloper doesn't work properly. > Thanks, > Dave, W4DN > > > ___ > UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
Re: Topband: QRP Politically Correctness Concern
To All: If I offended anyone with what was simply "having fun," as a muse" about "72, 73 and 74" I apologize. My post was not in any way intended to be negative toward anyone that cares to operate QRP or any other power level or if they have the desire or feel the need to let everyone know their power level by adding /QRP, /QLP, /QRO or sending 72, 73, 74, 88 or even 73s. Freedom of speech still prevails so if / "Something or 72" is important just have at it. 73, Jack -Original Message- From: topband-boun...@contesting.com [mailto:topband-boun...@contesting.com] On Behalf Of James Rodenkirch Sent: Sunday, March 18, 2012 6:03 PM To: w0...@nc.rr.com; j...@audiosystemsgroup.com; topband@contesting.com Subject: Re: Topband: QRP Politically Correctness Concern Dangcan we GET away from an over-indulgence/concern over what's "said" or "typed"? "72" is a form of radio shorthand that roughly translates as meaning "Best wishes QRP!" Been that way for a loong time, I do believe! Sheesh! Does all of this PC ever END > From: w0...@nc.rr.com > To: rodenkirch_...@msn.com; j...@audiosystemsgroup.com; topband@contesting.com > Date: Sun, 18 Mar 2012 17:56:29 -0400 > Subject: Topband: QRP Politically Correctness Concern > > I notice people using "72" on the reflector which I assume to be a > substitution for 73. > > By chance does 72 indicate "not so best wishes? > > In observance of proper etiquette on Gentleman's Band and also be > "Properly Politically Correct" in today's troubled times perhaps > the numbers and meanings listed below should be considered appropriate: > > QRP - 72 > Low Power - 73 > QRO: 74 > > 73 & sometimes 74, > Jack > > > > Great discussion on power and low power and QRP power and the affects Top > Band have on 'em all - appreciate the various views and discussions. 72 to > all, Jim R. K9JWV > > > > > > Date: Sun, 18 Mar 2012 14:14:26 -0700 > > From: j...@audiosystemsgroup.com > > To: topband@contesting.com > > Subject: Re: Topband: July Stew Perry Please > > > > On 3/18/2012 2:01 PM, James Rodenkirch wrote: > > > Sounds like you and others might not be so keen on burying your ears in > noise just to work a QRP puke like me, 'eh? > > > > I'm not keen on listening for hours and hours with no activity. I have > > recently taken up a new challenge -- working JT65A on 160M. There's JT65 > > activity almost every night at a dial frequency of 1838 kHz, which puts > > signals between about 1838.5 and 1840.5. The bandwidth of a signal is > > about 200 Hz, and stations spread out in that 2kHz bandwidth. It's not > > uncommon for me to decode five or six signals in that bandwidth when the > > band is hopping. The last couple of nights ZR1ADI has been on, and I > > heard a W1 work him. I heard him one of those nights and called him > > several times. > > > > JT65 is pretty easy to use with W6CQZ's JT65-HF software. The interface > > is just like RTTY AFSK or PSK, and W6CQZ maintains a reverse beacon > > server that you can set his software to send spots for everything you > > hear. If I call CQ around 0500Z or later I'll usually see between > > three and six spots of my signal from the east coast on every > transmission. > > > > 73, Jim K9YC CM87 > > ___ > > UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK > > ___ > UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK > > ___ > UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
Topband: TB season
For those of us having to roll our radials up each year the topband season is either over or in my case almost over. The deal with my XYL is that because the radials are on the backyard, I can roll them them out each Ocxtober but have to roll them up once the snow is gone. This year we had less then 20 inches of snow around here needless to say I have been dragging my feet on t h i s subject. But with temps in the 70s today, I am certianly on borrowed time. So n ext weekend the radials are probably going to have to get rolled up. But before then I 'm hoping to put a few the more SA stations in the log (wink wink nudge nudge...). Les, N1SV ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
Re: Topband: QRP Politically Correctness Concern
Dangcan we GET away from an over-indulgence/concern over what's "said" or "typed"? "72" is a form of radio shorthand that roughly translates as meaning "Best wishes QRP!" Been that way for a loong time, I do believe! Sheesh! Does all of this PC ever END > From: w0...@nc.rr.com > To: rodenkirch_...@msn.com; j...@audiosystemsgroup.com; topband@contesting.com > Date: Sun, 18 Mar 2012 17:56:29 -0400 > Subject: Topband: QRP Politically Correctness Concern > > I notice people using "72" on the reflector which I assume to be a > substitution for 73. > > By chance does 72 indicate "not so best wishes? > > In observance of proper etiquette on Gentleman's Band and also be > "Properly Politically Correct" in today's troubled times perhaps > the numbers and meanings listed below should be considered appropriate: > > QRP - 72 > Low Power - 73 > QRO: 74 > > 73 & sometimes 74, > Jack > > > > Great discussion on power and low power and QRP power and the affects Top > Band have on 'em all - appreciate the various views and discussions. 72 to > all, Jim R. K9JWV > > > > > > Date: Sun, 18 Mar 2012 14:14:26 -0700 > > From: j...@audiosystemsgroup.com > > To: topband@contesting.com > > Subject: Re: Topband: July Stew Perry Please > > > > On 3/18/2012 2:01 PM, James Rodenkirch wrote: > > > Sounds like you and others might not be so keen on burying your ears in > noise just to work a QRP puke like me, 'eh? > > > > I'm not keen on listening for hours and hours with no activity. I have > > recently taken up a new challenge -- working JT65A on 160M. There's JT65 > > activity almost every night at a dial frequency of 1838 kHz, which puts > > signals between about 1838.5 and 1840.5. The bandwidth of a signal is > > about 200 Hz, and stations spread out in that 2kHz bandwidth. It's not > > uncommon for me to decode five or six signals in that bandwidth when the > > band is hopping. The last couple of nights ZR1ADI has been on, and I > > heard a W1 work him. I heard him one of those nights and called him > > several times. > > > > JT65 is pretty easy to use with W6CQZ's JT65-HF software. The interface > > is just like RTTY AFSK or PSK, and W6CQZ maintains a reverse beacon > > server that you can set his software to send spots for everything you > > hear. If I call CQ around 0500Z or later I'll usually see between > > three and six spots of my signal from the east coast on every > transmission. > > > > 73, Jim K9YC CM87 > > ___ > > UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK > > ___ > UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK > > ___ > UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
Topband: QRP Politically Correctness Concern
I notice people using "72" on the reflector which I assume to be a substitution for 73. By chance does 72 indicate "not so best wishes? In observance of proper etiquette on Gentleman's Band and also be "Properly Politically Correct" in today's troubled times perhaps the numbers and meanings listed below should be considered appropriate: QRP - 72 Low Power - 73 QRO: 74 73 & sometimes 74, Jack Great discussion on power and low power and QRP power and the affects Top Band have on 'em all - appreciate the various views and discussions. 72 to all, Jim R. K9JWV > Date: Sun, 18 Mar 2012 14:14:26 -0700 > From: j...@audiosystemsgroup.com > To: topband@contesting.com > Subject: Re: Topband: July Stew Perry Please > > On 3/18/2012 2:01 PM, James Rodenkirch wrote: > > Sounds like you and others might not be so keen on burying your ears in noise just to work a QRP puke like me, 'eh? > > I'm not keen on listening for hours and hours with no activity. I have > recently taken up a new challenge -- working JT65A on 160M. There's JT65 > activity almost every night at a dial frequency of 1838 kHz, which puts > signals between about 1838.5 and 1840.5. The bandwidth of a signal is > about 200 Hz, and stations spread out in that 2kHz bandwidth. It's not > uncommon for me to decode five or six signals in that bandwidth when the > band is hopping. The last couple of nights ZR1ADI has been on, and I > heard a W1 work him. I heard him one of those nights and called him > several times. > > JT65 is pretty easy to use with W6CQZ's JT65-HF software. The interface > is just like RTTY AFSK or PSK, and W6CQZ maintains a reverse beacon > server that you can set his software to send spots for everything you > hear. If I call CQ around 0500Z or later I'll usually see between > three and six spots of my signal from the east coast on every transmission. > > 73, Jim K9YC CM87 > ___ > 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: July Stew Perry Please!!!!
JT65 certainly levels the playing field as far as us low power goof balls are concerned - I, personally, dislike the digital modes, for nowwhen I can't "work' with CW any longer I might cave in and give one of those modes a try... Great discussion on power and low power and QRP power and the affects Top Band have on 'em all - appreciate the various views and discussions. 72 to all, Jim R. K9JWV > Date: Sun, 18 Mar 2012 14:14:26 -0700 > From: j...@audiosystemsgroup.com > To: topband@contesting.com > Subject: Re: Topband: July Stew Perry Please > > On 3/18/2012 2:01 PM, James Rodenkirch wrote: > > Sounds like you and others might not be so keen on burying your ears in > > noise just to work a QRP puke like me, 'eh? > > I'm not keen on listening for hours and hours with no activity. I have > recently taken up a new challenge -- working JT65A on 160M. There's JT65 > activity almost every night at a dial frequency of 1838 kHz, which puts > signals between about 1838.5 and 1840.5. The bandwidth of a signal is > about 200 Hz, and stations spread out in that 2kHz bandwidth. It's not > uncommon for me to decode five or six signals in that bandwidth when the > band is hopping. The last couple of nights ZR1ADI has been on, and I > heard a W1 work him. I heard him one of those nights and called him > several times. > > JT65 is pretty easy to use with W6CQZ's JT65-HF software. The interface > is just like RTTY AFSK or PSK, and W6CQZ maintains a reverse beacon > server that you can set his software to send spots for everything you > hear. If I call CQ around 0500Z or later I'll usually see between > three and six spots of my signal from the east coast on every transmission. > > 73, Jim K9YC CM87 > ___ > UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
Re: Topband: July Stew Perry Please!!!!
On 3/18/2012 2:01 PM, James Rodenkirch wrote: > Sounds like you and others might not be so keen on burying your ears in noise > just to work a QRP puke like me, 'eh? I'm not keen on listening for hours and hours with no activity. I have recently taken up a new challenge -- working JT65A on 160M. There's JT65 activity almost every night at a dial frequency of 1838 kHz, which puts signals between about 1838.5 and 1840.5. The bandwidth of a signal is about 200 Hz, and stations spread out in that 2kHz bandwidth. It's not uncommon for me to decode five or six signals in that bandwidth when the band is hopping. The last couple of nights ZR1ADI has been on, and I heard a W1 work him. I heard him one of those nights and called him several times. JT65 is pretty easy to use with W6CQZ's JT65-HF software. The interface is just like RTTY AFSK or PSK, and W6CQZ maintains a reverse beacon server that you can set his software to send spots for everything you hear. If I call CQ around 0500Z or later I'll usually see between three and six spots of my signal from the east coast on every transmission. 73, Jim K9YC CM87 ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
Re: Topband: July Stew Perry Please!!!!
I understand your use of "dissallow" Jim --- this will be my first summer of operating Top Band, albeit at QRP levels ...I can crank it up to 20 watts max...after being shamed into operating after making a comment a couple of days ago about taking my top loading wires down for the summer and focusing on 40 and higher...much to my chagrin, heard from lots of reflector posts that we shouldn't do that..hang in there and all of that. Sounds like you and others might not be so keen on burying your ears in noise just to work a QRP puke like me, 'eh??!?!!?!? Jim R. K9JWV > Date: Sun, 18 Mar 2012 13:14:21 -0700 > From: j...@audiosystemsgroup.com > To: topband@contesting.com > Subject: Re: Topband: July Stew Perry Please > > On 3/18/2012 12:06 PM, James Rodenkirch wrote: > > disallow QRP operations > > The point was not to disallow QRP, but to observe that when noise levels > are high a QRP signal is not likely to be heard. > > Three important facts of life that every QRPer must firmly understand > are that 1) when you're running QRP the other station's receiving > system is doing 99% of the work, and 2) your success is limited by the > other station's noise level, and 3) 5W gives away 13dB ( two S-units) of > noise as compared to 100W and 25dB (four S-units) as compared to 1.5kW. > When you give that much away, you're only going to work guys in quiet > locations with Beverages. During a recent 160M contest a QRP VY2 called > me when I was running. He has a big antenna farm and I've got a good > Beverage pointed at him, and he was just barely readable. > > Another important consideration with QRP is that propagation between any > two points often varies by 30-40dB over the course of an evening. When > you're running QRO you can make Qs when propagation is well below peak, > while with QRP you've got to make your Q when conditions are just right, > and the other guy may have gone to bed by then. :) When I lived in > Chicago I ran WAE CW QRP. I couldn't work anyone when they were S5 -- I > had to wait until they were S9 or better. > > I've run some contests QRP, including some 160M events, but I'm not > enough of a glutton for punishment to do QRP on 160M during my summer. :) > > 73, Jim K9YC > ___ > UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
Re: Topband: TB season
"REAL QRP," Cecil - I just completed QRP WAS on Top Band! Love the excitement of workin' someone on 160 with QRP power! Jim R. K9JWV > From: chac...@cableone.net > To: j_fit...@yahoo.com; telegraph...@gmail.com; j...@audiosystemsgroup.com; > aa...@atlanticbb.net > Date: Sun, 18 Mar 2012 15:20:21 -0500 > CC: topband@contesting.com > Subject: Re: Topband: TB season > > Is that QRP QRO (100 watts +-) or real QRP...as in 5 watts or less...:-) > > Cecil > K5DL > - Original Message - > From: "Jim F." > To: "DAVID CUTHBERT" ; ; > "GeorgeWallner" > Cc: > Sent: Friday, March 16, 2012 4:00 PM > Subject: Re: Topband: TB season > > > And QRPers will be carried around on peoples shoulders > instead of being shunned and scorned :-)) > > Long live the Stew !!! > > We will all be in it. > > jim / W1FMR > > > > --- On Fri, 3/16/12, GeorgeWallner wrote: > > > From: GeorgeWallner > Subject: Re: Topband: TB season > To: "DAVID CUTHBERT" , j...@audiosystemsgroup.com > Cc: topband@contesting.com > Date: Friday, March 16, 2012, 4:07 PM > > > > > > On Fri, 16 Mar 2012 09:09:21 -0600 > DAVID CUTHBERT wrote: > > I think we need a July contest. > > > Yes! > > A July Stew Perry. Unlike the other DX oriented contests, > the SP'S scoring is "finely grained", so the scarecity of > DX will not result in too much of an advantage to the few > "summer-DX-capable" east/west-coasters. > > 73, > > George, AA7JV > ___ > UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK > ___ > 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: July Stew Perry Please!!!!
Meant to type...Oh yeah...NOW that comment sure musst lead one to believe that dd is trollin'! From: rodenkirch_...@msn.com To: telegraph...@gmail.com; k5oai@gmail.com CC: topband@contesting.com Subject: RE: Topband: July Stew Perry Please Date: Sun, 18 Mar 2012 13:06:04 -0600 Oh yeah...not that comment SURE must lead one to believe that dd is 'trollin'! Hah - what an absurd thought - disallow QRP operations in an event where a QRP station garners more points/weight than even the "heaviest/most high powered station? Oh yeah - we want some of that, not! Hi Hi > Date: Sun, 18 Mar 2012 12:06:54 -0600 > From: telegraph...@gmail.com > To: k5oai@gmail.com > CC: topband@contesting.com > Subject: Re: Topband: July Stew Perry Please > > Perhaps during the summer months we should forgo QRP. > > Dave WX7G > On Mar 18, 2012 11:29 AM, "Sam Morgan" wrote: > > > I know I tried very hard to participate last year, > > mother nature had it in for us here in WTX DM91sk > > > > if you check that list there were only two '5's listed > > one was in MS the other in KY > > > > but I'll for sure give it another try this year > > any Stew Perry test, any time, QRPers will be there > > if thunderstorms permit that is > > > > P.S. > > if you are a QRPer you know the Stew Perry > > is the ONLY contest 160m or anywhere, > > that we are treated with any respect by the rest of hamdom. > > You have it we will come! Nuff said > > -- > > GB & 73 > > K5OAI > > Sam Morgan > > > > On 3/18/2012 12:01 PM, Tree wrote: > > > Think of the June Stew as an activity night. No weekend is going to be > > > without conflicts - but maybe the die hard 160 types will show up and > > hand > > > out some QSOs. Here are the results from last year: > > > > > > http://web.jzap.com/k7rat/SummerStew2011.txt > > > > > > The top QSO total was 94 QSOs. Not a lot - but more than you would have > > > worked on most other evenings.:-) This was the first running of the > > > event - so hopefully, there will be a bit more activity the second time. > > ___ > > 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: TB season
Is that QRP QRO (100 watts +-) or real QRP...as in 5 watts or less...:-) Cecil K5DL - Original Message - From: "Jim F." To: "DAVID CUTHBERT" ; ; "GeorgeWallner" Cc: Sent: Friday, March 16, 2012 4:00 PM Subject: Re: Topband: TB season And QRPers will be carried around on peoples shoulders instead of being shunned and scorned :-)) Long live the Stew !!! We will all be in it. jim / W1FMR --- On Fri, 3/16/12, GeorgeWallner wrote: From: GeorgeWallner Subject: Re: Topband: TB season To: "DAVID CUTHBERT" , j...@audiosystemsgroup.com Cc: topband@contesting.com Date: Friday, March 16, 2012, 4:07 PM On Fri, 16 Mar 2012 09:09:21 -0600 DAVID CUTHBERT wrote: > I think we need a July contest. > Yes! A July Stew Perry. Unlike the other DX oriented contests, the SP'S scoring is "finely grained", so the scarecity of DX will not result in too much of an advantage to the few "summer-DX-capable" east/west-coasters. 73, George, AA7JV ___ 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: July Stew Perry Please!!!!
On 3/18/2012 12:06 PM, James Rodenkirch wrote: > disallow QRP operations The point was not to disallow QRP, but to observe that when noise levels are high a QRP signal is not likely to be heard. Three important facts of life that every QRPer must firmly understand are that 1) when you're running QRP the other station's receiving system is doing 99% of the work, and 2) your success is limited by the other station's noise level, and 3) 5W gives away 13dB ( two S-units) of noise as compared to 100W and 25dB (four S-units) as compared to 1.5kW. When you give that much away, you're only going to work guys in quiet locations with Beverages. During a recent 160M contest a QRP VY2 called me when I was running. He has a big antenna farm and I've got a good Beverage pointed at him, and he was just barely readable. Another important consideration with QRP is that propagation between any two points often varies by 30-40dB over the course of an evening. When you're running QRO you can make Qs when propagation is well below peak, while with QRP you've got to make your Q when conditions are just right, and the other guy may have gone to bed by then. :) When I lived in Chicago I ran WAE CW QRP. I couldn't work anyone when they were S5 -- I had to wait until they were S9 or better. I've run some contests QRP, including some 160M events, but I'm not enough of a glutton for punishment to do QRP on 160M during my summer. :) 73, Jim K9YC ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
Re: Topband: July Stew Perry Please!!!!
Oh yeah...not that comment SURE must lead one to believe that dd is 'trollin'! Hah - what an absurd thought - disallow QRP operations in an event where a QRP station garners more points/weight than even the "heaviest/most high powered station? Oh yeah - we want some of that, not! Hi Hi > Date: Sun, 18 Mar 2012 12:06:54 -0600 > From: telegraph...@gmail.com > To: k5oai@gmail.com > CC: topband@contesting.com > Subject: Re: Topband: July Stew Perry Please > > Perhaps during the summer months we should forgo QRP. > > Dave WX7G > On Mar 18, 2012 11:29 AM, "Sam Morgan" wrote: > > > I know I tried very hard to participate last year, > > mother nature had it in for us here in WTX DM91sk > > > > if you check that list there were only two '5's listed > > one was in MS the other in KY > > > > but I'll for sure give it another try this year > > any Stew Perry test, any time, QRPers will be there > > if thunderstorms permit that is > > > > P.S. > > if you are a QRPer you know the Stew Perry > > is the ONLY contest 160m or anywhere, > > that we are treated with any respect by the rest of hamdom. > > You have it we will come! Nuff said > > -- > > GB & 73 > > K5OAI > > Sam Morgan > > > > On 3/18/2012 12:01 PM, Tree wrote: > > > Think of the June Stew as an activity night. No weekend is going to be > > > without conflicts - but maybe the die hard 160 types will show up and > > hand > > > out some QSOs. Here are the results from last year: > > > > > > http://web.jzap.com/k7rat/SummerStew2011.txt > > > > > > The top QSO total was 94 QSOs. Not a lot - but more than you would have > > > worked on most other evenings.:-) This was the first running of the > > > event - so hopefully, there will be a bit more activity the second time. > > ___ > > 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: July Stew Perry Please!!!!
Perhaps during the summer months we should forgo QRP. Dave WX7G On Mar 18, 2012 11:29 AM, "Sam Morgan" wrote: > I know I tried very hard to participate last year, > mother nature had it in for us here in WTX DM91sk > > if you check that list there were only two '5's listed > one was in MS the other in KY > > but I'll for sure give it another try this year > any Stew Perry test, any time, QRPers will be there > if thunderstorms permit that is > > P.S. > if you are a QRPer you know the Stew Perry > is the ONLY contest 160m or anywhere, > that we are treated with any respect by the rest of hamdom. > You have it we will come! Nuff said > -- > GB & 73 > K5OAI > Sam Morgan > > On 3/18/2012 12:01 PM, Tree wrote: > > Think of the June Stew as an activity night. No weekend is going to be > > without conflicts - but maybe the die hard 160 types will show up and > hand > > out some QSOs. Here are the results from last year: > > > > http://web.jzap.com/k7rat/SummerStew2011.txt > > > > The top QSO total was 94 QSOs. Not a lot - but more than you would have > > worked on most other evenings.:-) This was the first running of the > > event - so hopefully, there will be a bit more activity the second time. > ___ > UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK > ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
Re: Topband: July Stew Perry Please!!!!
You can count me in as a QRP entry, Sam - yep, LUV the Stew...we QRPers are worth more 'bout that time than others. Hi Hi Jim R. K9JWV > Date: Sun, 18 Mar 2012 12:28:17 -0500 > From: k5oai@gmail.com > To: topband@contesting.com > Subject: Re: Topband: July Stew Perry Please > > I know I tried very hard to participate last year, > mother nature had it in for us here in WTX DM91sk > > if you check that list there were only two '5's listed > one was in MS the other in KY > > but I'll for sure give it another try this year > any Stew Perry test, any time, QRPers will be there > if thunderstorms permit that is > > P.S. > if you are a QRPer you know the Stew Perry > is the ONLY contest 160m or anywhere, > that we are treated with any respect by the rest of hamdom. > You have it we will come! Nuff said > -- > GB & 73 > K5OAI > Sam Morgan > > On 3/18/2012 12:01 PM, Tree wrote: > > Think of the June Stew as an activity night. No weekend is going to be > > without conflicts - but maybe the die hard 160 types will show up and hand > > out some QSOs. Here are the results from last year: > > > > http://web.jzap.com/k7rat/SummerStew2011.txt > > > > The top QSO total was 94 QSOs. Not a lot - but more than you would have > > worked on most other evenings.:-) This was the first running of the > > event - so hopefully, there will be a bit more activity the second time. > ___ > UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
Re: Topband: July Stew Perry Please!!!!
I know I tried very hard to participate last year, mother nature had it in for us here in WTX DM91sk if you check that list there were only two '5's listed one was in MS the other in KY but I'll for sure give it another try this year any Stew Perry test, any time, QRPers will be there if thunderstorms permit that is P.S. if you are a QRPer you know the Stew Perry is the ONLY contest 160m or anywhere, that we are treated with any respect by the rest of hamdom. You have it we will come! Nuff said -- GB & 73 K5OAI Sam Morgan On 3/18/2012 12:01 PM, Tree wrote: > Think of the June Stew as an activity night. No weekend is going to be > without conflicts - but maybe the die hard 160 types will show up and hand > out some QSOs. Here are the results from last year: > > http://web.jzap.com/k7rat/SummerStew2011.txt > > The top QSO total was 94 QSOs. Not a lot - but more than you would have > worked on most other evenings.:-) This was the first running of the > event - so hopefully, there will be a bit more activity the second time. ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
Re: Topband: July Stew Perry Please!!!!
A couple of comments. The June Stew is the weekend before field day. There is activity from the IARU on 160 meters as multipliers count once per band. I remember having some fun there for the first 5 or 10 minutes of the contest back when there was a bit more activity from the South Pacific. Also - quite easy to work a few JAs if they are around. The east coast guys can even work some of the HQ multipliers that we can't hear on the west coast. Maybe some dedicated activity hours? Maybe like 0400-0800 UTC or something (which leaves out some people obviously). Don't expect to work KL7. Think of the June Stew as an activity night. No weekend is going to be without conflicts - but maybe the die hard 160 types will show up and hand out some QSOs. Here are the results from last year: http://web.jzap.com/k7rat/SummerStew2011.txt The top QSO total was 94 QSOs. Not a lot - but more than you would have worked on most other evenings. :-) This was the first running of the event - so hopefully, there will be a bit more activity the second time. Tree N6TR On Sun, Mar 18, 2012 at 9:31 AM, DAVID CUTHBERT wrote: > I beleive there is the issue holding the June Stew on Field Day; there will > not be many serious efforts on top band. > > Do we need four hour top band contests or an occasional QSO party? > Something less formal than a full blown contest? > > Dave WX7G > > On Sun, Mar 18, 2012 at 9:24 AM, Jim Brown >wrote: > > > On 3/18/2012 6:55 AM, Steve London wrote: > > > Hence, my suggestion to make the already-popular, all-HF-band, SSB/CW, > > IARU HF > > > contest the summer 160 meter event. > > > > The problem with that approach is that no one attempting a serious > > effort in IARU is going to be on 160M. > > > > 73, Jim K9YC > > ___ > > 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: July Stew Perry Please!!!!
IARU HF contest isn't Field Day. They are two weeks apart. On 03/18/2012 10:31 AM, DAVID CUTHBERT wrote: > I beleive there is the issue holding the June Stew on Field Day; there will > not be many serious efforts on top band. > > Do we need four hour top band contests or an occasional QSO party? > Something less formal than a full blown contest? > > Dave WX7G > > On Sun, Mar 18, 2012 at 9:24 AM, Jim Brownwrote: > >> On 3/18/2012 6:55 AM, Steve London wrote: >>> Hence, my suggestion to make the already-popular, all-HF-band, SSB/CW, >> IARU HF >>> contest the summer 160 meter event. >> >> The problem with that approach is that no one attempting a serious >> effort in IARU is going to be on 160M. >> >> 73, Jim K9YC >> ___ >> 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: July Stew Perry Please!!!!
I beleive there is the issue holding the June Stew on Field Day; there will not be many serious efforts on top band. Do we need four hour top band contests or an occasional QSO party? Something less formal than a full blown contest? Dave WX7G On Sun, Mar 18, 2012 at 9:24 AM, Jim Brown wrote: > On 3/18/2012 6:55 AM, Steve London wrote: > > Hence, my suggestion to make the already-popular, all-HF-band, SSB/CW, > IARU HF > > contest the summer 160 meter event. > > The problem with that approach is that no one attempting a serious > effort in IARU is going to be on 160M. > > 73, Jim K9YC > ___ > UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK > ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
Re: Topband: July Stew Perry Please!!!!
On 3/18/2012 6:55 AM, Steve London wrote: > Hence, my suggestion to make the already-popular, all-HF-band, SSB/CW, IARU HF > contest the summer 160 meter event. The problem with that approach is that no one attempting a serious effort in IARU is going to be on 160M. 73, Jim K9YC ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
Re: Topband: July Stew Perry Please!!!!
On 3/18/2012 9:55 AM, Steve London wrote: > On 03/17/2012 08:12 PM, Jim Brown wrote: >> On 3/17/2012 6:34 PM, Guy Olinger K2AV wrote: >>> Four 24 hour Stew's a year is a good deal, at the equinoxes and the >>> soltices. >> While I LOVE the concept of the Stew, it seriously lacks critical mass, >> even in the main event in December. As a result, I always finding >> myself taking frequent breaks during the evening and going QRT from >> boredom by 1 am or so. >> >> It has seemed to me that adding the July and October runnings of the >> Stew are even more poorly attended, and have also served to dilute >> interest in the Dec event. While I'd love to see topband activity >> spread around the calendar, far more effort is needed to get more folks >> to participate. > Hence, my suggestion to make the already-popular, all-HF-band, SSB/CW, IARU HF > contest the summer 160 meter event. The ITU zones that make up the exchange > don't provide quite the same geographic granularity as grid squares, but they > can still be used to provide a distance-based metric. > > 73, > Steve, N2IC > In most competition whether major or minor league sports or even NASCAR or > Indie races the importance or a warm up is very crucial to the outcome in > most cases. Herb, KV4FZ ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
Re: Topband: July Stew Perry Please!!!!
On 03/17/2012 08:12 PM, Jim Brown wrote: > On 3/17/2012 6:34 PM, Guy Olinger K2AV wrote: >> Four 24 hour Stew's a year is a good deal, at the equinoxes and the >> soltices. > > While I LOVE the concept of the Stew, it seriously lacks critical mass, > even in the main event in December. As a result, I always finding > myself taking frequent breaks during the evening and going QRT from > boredom by 1 am or so. > > It has seemed to me that adding the July and October runnings of the > Stew are even more poorly attended, and have also served to dilute > interest in the Dec event. While I'd love to see topband activity > spread around the calendar, far more effort is needed to get more folks > to participate. Hence, my suggestion to make the already-popular, all-HF-band, SSB/CW, IARU HF contest the summer 160 meter event. The ITU zones that make up the exchange don't provide quite the same geographic granularity as grid squares, but they can still be used to provide a distance-based metric. 73, Steve, N2IC ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
Re: Topband: Well, where is everybody???
I have a new batch of caps and some resistors to put into my 160 transmitter. When I get them in there I'll be looking in the mornings and late evenings, too. It seems my chunk of wire in the trees favors west. I might cheat and use all 40 watts! 73, Bill KU8H On Sun, 2012-03-18 at 07:30 -0600, James Rodenkirch wrote: > So, lots of chat here 'bout not giving up on Top Band in the spring and > summer months - e.g., kick off an addiiton Stew Perry event or two, keep > looking for stations 'cuz there'll be others on, yadda, yadda. > > So, been on the air the last couple of mornings (yes, I knowthat's not a > LONG time to collect meaningful data) and here are my findings: > > 1) one CW station heard yesterday A.M. calling CQ DX (not good news for us > QRP types buthey, I called him AND he came back to my call - that doen't > happen often, trust me!). Called CQ for about 10 to 15 minutes on and > offnuthin' heard. > > 2) heard zero stations CW stations this morningcalled CQ for some period > of time (ten minutes or better, on and off) but no replies. P.S. know I > was radiating a signal as I was 19 to 22 db above the noise level at a > reverse beacon network receiver over in Reno. > > 3) heard multiple SSB rag chews going on - not into SSB that much and most of > the rag chews involved multiple stations on the various frequencies so expect > there's a plethora of "buddies" that get on in the morning to say hi and > catch up on "things" > > I'll keep operating as time permits in the mornings...and eveningsmaybe > might could hear other CW operators from out this way; I certainly have no > illusions of grandeur as far as working DX or stations east of, say, CO and > NM during these "un peak times" butcan't believe there aren't SOME > western state ops out there who are in the mood to get on the air on Top Band > and just chat, a little or a lot! > > 72, Jim (I'll keep the CW fires stoked on Top Band as much as possible for a > peanut whistle strength signal) Rodenkirch, K9JWV > > > > ___ > UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
Topband: Well, where is everybody???
So, lots of chat here 'bout not giving up on Top Band in the spring and summer months - e.g., kick off an addiiton Stew Perry event or two, keep looking for stations 'cuz there'll be others on, yadda, yadda. So, been on the air the last couple of mornings (yes, I knowthat's not a LONG time to collect meaningful data) and here are my findings: 1) one CW station heard yesterday A.M. calling CQ DX (not good news for us QRP types buthey, I called him AND he came back to my call - that doen't happen often, trust me!). Called CQ for about 10 to 15 minutes on and offnuthin' heard. 2) heard zero stations CW stations this morningcalled CQ for some period of time (ten minutes or better, on and off) but no replies. P.S. know I was radiating a signal as I was 19 to 22 db above the noise level at a reverse beacon network receiver over in Reno. 3) heard multiple SSB rag chews going on - not into SSB that much and most of the rag chews involved multiple stations on the various frequencies so expect there's a plethora of "buddies" that get on in the morning to say hi and catch up on "things" I'll keep operating as time permits in the mornings...and eveningsmaybe might could hear other CW operators from out this way; I certainly have no illusions of grandeur as far as working DX or stations east of, say, CO and NM during these "un peak times" butcan't believe there aren't SOME western state ops out there who are in the mood to get on the air on Top Band and just chat, a little or a lot! 72, Jim (I'll keep the CW fires stoked on Top Band as much as possible for a peanut whistle strength signal) Rodenkirch, K9JWV ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
