Topband: CW Skimmer, PJ2T During 2009 CQWW 160 CW (w/Audio)
Based on feedback received, I've re-recorded the demo of CW Skimmer at PJ2T during the 2009 CQWW 160 CW Contest to include audio. The description is below. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uE7n3J9OAM8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uE7n3J9OAM8feature=youtu.be feature=youtu.be [VIEWING FULL-SCREEN RECOMMENDED] A demonstration of CW Skimmer, recorded during the 2009 CQWW 160 CW Contest at the PJ2T contest station on Curacao in the Southern Caribbean during sunrise in Central Europe. The receiver was a RFSPACE SDR-IQ and the antenna was a 1000-foot Europe Beverage. On the left is the Writelog Bandmap window, to the right are the CW Skimmer windows. This shows the spots made by CW Skimmer in just 2minutes 47 seconds, as if the receiver and CW Skimmer were first started at the beginning of the period shown. These spots were captured even while PJ2T was calling CQ and working stations (as you can see in the overload on the right window and hear in the audio). During the recording of the video, I selected some spotted stations on the CW Skimmer screen: DL1AUZ, MD4K, G4BJ, YU1LA, and PJ2T. This shows how even today, 4+ years later, I can listen in on any station in the recorded 192 KHz bandwidth of the CW Skimmer recording made in 2009! this is the technology in use by contest sponsors now to check operations of top scorers and suspected cheaters. A block diagram of the station configuration used during this 2009 contest at PJ2T is shown at: http://www.k8nd.com/Radio/CW_Skimmer/PJ2T_CW_Skimmer_CQ160CW_2009.jpg . The Afreet CW Skimmer is an invaluable contest tool for the Multi-Operator or Assisted class contester! 73, Jeff K8ND _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: CW Skimmer, PJ2T During 2009 CQWW 160 CW (w/Audio)
I guess the next step of development will be the abandonment of the operators. 73 Peter -Original Message- From: Topband [mailto:topband-boun...@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Jeffrey Maass K8ND The Afreet CW Skimmer is an invaluable contest tool for the Multi-Operator or Assisted class contester! _ Topband Reflector
Topband: The Sun That Did Not Roar (Article on Paucity of Sunspots in Current Cycle in NYT)
FYI: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/24/science/space/the-sun-that-did-not-roar.html?ref=global-home _ Topband Reflector
Topband: Free 160 RX Loop - So Cal.
I have a nice 5' on a side tunable coax loop that goes from below 160 to about 4.5 mzh. free to the taking can't ship There is also a KD9SV 160 PREAMP I modified to include the control of the loop and a switch for two different RX antennas, that is $70if you take the loop too. The Alliance HD-73 heavy duty rotor I used for the loop had a bad control box meter and switch so I modified it, different meter, etc. If interested $300 OBO Contact me off list and I'll email pictures or come by and check 'em out. Rick, N6PE === The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth. Website: http://www.qsl.net/n6pe/index.html _ Topband Reflector
Topband: Beverage antenna terminations
After recent night time thunder storm activity, two Beverage antennas lost some directivity. Termination resistors looked normal, but an ohmmeter checked reviled they had each gone hundreds of ohms higher. Replaced resistors and back to normal. 73 Bruce-K1FZ www.qsl.net/k1fz/bogantennanotes/index.html _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Beverage antenna terminations
What kind of resistors are you using? They shouldn't do that if you use the right type. - Original Message - From: Bruce k...@myfairpoint.net To: topband@contesting.com Sent: Tuesday, September 24, 2013 8:50 PM Subject: Topband: Beverage antenna terminations After recent night time thunder storm activity, two Beverage antennas lost some directivity. Termination resistors looked normal, but an ohmmeter checked reviled they had each gone hundreds of ohms higher. Replaced resistors and back to normal. 73 Bruce-K1FZ www.qsl.net/k1fz/bogantennanotes/index.html _ Topband Reflector - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2014.0.4117 / Virus Database: 3604/6694 - Release Date: 09/24/13 _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Beverage antenna terminations
They were supposed to be non-inductive carbon, but need to find something better like carbon film. - Original Message - From: Tom W8JI w...@w8ji.com To: Bruce k...@myfairpoint.net; topband@contesting.com Sent: Tuesday, September 24, 2013 2:55 PM Subject: Re: Topband: Beverage antenna terminations What kind of resistors are you using? They shouldn't do that if you use the right type. - Original Message - From: Bruce k...@myfairpoint.net To: topband@contesting.com Sent: Tuesday, September 24, 2013 8:50 PM Subject: Topband: Beverage antenna terminations After recent night time thunder storm activity, two Beverage antennas lost some directivity. Termination resistors looked normal, but an ohmmeter checked reviled they had each gone hundreds of ohms higher. Replaced resistors and back to normal. 73 Bruce-K1FZ www.qsl.net/k1fz/bogantennanotes/index.html _ Topband Reflector - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2014.0.4117 / Virus Database: 3604/6694 - Release Date: 09/24/13 _ Topband Reflector _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Beverage antenna terminations
Look at the Ohmite OX and OY series of resistors; they are pretty rugged under surge conditions and, as best I can measure, they are claimed to be non-inductive at HF. 73, geo - n4ua On Tue, Sep 24, 2013 at 10:46 PM, Bruce k...@myfairpoint.net wrote: They were supposed to be non-inductive carbon, but need to find something better like carbon film. - Original Message - From: Tom W8JI w...@w8ji.com To: Bruce k...@myfairpoint.net; topband@contesting.com Sent: Tuesday, September 24, 2013 2:55 PM Subject: Re: Topband: Beverage antenna terminations What kind of resistors are you using? They shouldn't do that if you use the right type. - Original Message - From: Bruce k...@myfairpoint.net To: topband@contesting.com Sent: Tuesday, September 24, 2013 8:50 PM Subject: Topband: Beverage antenna terminations After recent night time thunder storm activity, two Beverage antennas lost some directivity. Termination resistors looked normal, but an ohmmeter checked reviled they had each gone hundreds of ohms higher. Replaced resistors and back to normal. 73 Bruce-K1FZ www.qsl.net/k1fz/**bogantennanotes/index.htmlhttp://www.qsl.net/k1fz/bogantennanotes/index.html _ Topband Reflector - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2014.0.4117 / Virus Database: 3604/6694 - Release Date: 09/24/13 _ Topband Reflector _ Topband Reflector _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Beverage antenna terminations
They were supposed to be non-inductive carbon, but need to find something better like carbon film. Any resistor except a big wire wound is non-inductive on a low frequency like 160. What you want is a composition type resistor, either metal or carbon, to handle surges without changing value. The last thing you want is a film resistor, which is what you probably have right now. Carbon films or metal films increase in value after short duration high energy surges, because the surge blows part of the film layer away. _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Beverage antenna terminations
On 9/24/2013 6:05 PM, Tom W8JI wrote: They were supposed to be non-inductive carbon, but need to find something better like carbon film. Any resistor except a big wire wound is non-inductive on a low frequency like 160. What you want is a composition type resistor, either metal or carbon, to handle surges without changing value. The last thing you want is a film resistor, which is what you probably have right now. Carbon films or metal films increase in value after short duration high energy surges, because the surge blows part of the film layer away. Bruce, If you have any trouble finding the carbon composition resistors that Tom is recommending, Ohmite's OX/OY Series Ceramic Composition resistors are surge rated and readily available from various electronics distributors (i.e. Mouser, Digi-Key, etc): www.ohmite.com/cat/res_ox_oy.pdf 73, Mike W4EF.. _ Topband Reflector
Topband: Beverage antenna terminations
Thanks for all the termination resistor replies. Will look for Ohmite OX and OY series resistors. The resistors I had were supposed to be Carbon composition, but must not have been. Will discard remaining ones. Thanks again, 73 Bruce-K1FZ _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Beverage antenna terminations
Here you go: www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Ohmite/OY471KE I have never lost one of those to a nearby strike. 73, Mike www.w0btu.com _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Beverage antenna terminations
Bruce I lost several resistors on my WF until I started to use NTE 3 W Metal on the vertical Waller Flag and on the Horizontal WF I am using an array of 9 parallel/series. http://www.nteinc.com/resistor_web/pdf/threew.pdf Since that I never replaced it a single time in the last 4 years. The resistor has very low inductance but it is hard to find it, average price is near U$1. http://www.sourceresearch.com/store1/quickstore.cfm?ProductID=48700do=detai l Regards JCarlos N4IS -Original Message- From: Topband [mailto:topband-boun...@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Bruce Sent: Tuesday, September 24, 2013 10:46 PM To: Tom W8JI; topband@contesting.com Subject: Re: Topband: Beverage antenna terminations They were supposed to be non-inductive carbon, but need to find something better like carbon film. - Original Message - From: Tom W8JI w...@w8ji.com To: Bruce k...@myfairpoint.net; topband@contesting.com Sent: Tuesday, September 24, 2013 2:55 PM Subject: Re: Topband: Beverage antenna terminations What kind of resistors are you using? They shouldn't do that if you use the right type. - Original Message - From: Bruce k...@myfairpoint.net To: topband@contesting.com Sent: Tuesday, September 24, 2013 8:50 PM Subject: Topband: Beverage antenna terminations After recent night time thunder storm activity, two Beverage antennas lost some directivity. Termination resistors looked normal, but an ohmmeter checked reviled they had each gone hundreds of ohms higher. Replaced resistors and back to normal. 73 Bruce-K1FZ www.qsl.net/k1fz/bogantennanotes/index.html _ Topband Reflector - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2014.0.4117 / Virus Database: 3604/6694 - Release Date: 09/24/13 _ Topband Reflector _ Topband Reflector _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Beverage antenna terminations
Cut one open and look at it. You can tell right away what they are. - Original Message - From: Bruce k...@myfairpoint.net To: topband@contesting.com Sent: Wednesday, September 25, 2013 12:40 AM Subject: Topband: Beverage antenna terminations Thanks for all the termination resistor replies. Will look for Ohmite OX and OY series resistors. The resistors I had were supposed to be Carbon composition, but must not have been. Will discard remaining ones. Thanks again, 73 Bruce-K1FZ _ Topband Reflector - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2014.0.4117 / Virus Database: 3604/6694 - Release Date: 09/24/13 _ Topband Reflector
Topband: Double L antenna as an alternative for the radial-challenged?
Hi, I am looking into what it would take to put a decent 160m antenna up. I got many large trees, but also rather thick woods, and the radials are always something that I do not enjoy much. Also, I cannot see myself to do 16 radials. 4 elevated radials may be tough as well. Terrain is just not as easy to get around. Now, I am looking at options that do not require radials and still have a decent radiation angle for DX. I am looking at this antenna http://www.yccc.org/Articles/double_l.htm, the double L antenna. Has anyone experience with it? What is the pattern of it and can it be compared to a quarter wave vertical? I would assume since it somehow resembles a vertical dipole and therefore does not require any radials, that its efficiency should be much better than a quarter wave vertical with less than adequate number of radials... Are my assumptions correct, and are there any other gotchas? Thanks and cu soon on topband Andy, KU7T _ Topband Reflector
