Re: Topband: Good Conditions or Just Activity?
I was able to copy OE3DIA last night. Any time W6 can copy EU, conditions are at least "good". He had a huge pileup going and I didn't work him, although I only called for a few minutes. (If I had worked him, then I would say "great" conditions, HI.) BTW, I was copying on the TX vertical. No RX antennas at this time. Rick N6RK On 12/1/2017 2:39 AM, Roger Kennedy wrote: Well I came on 160 when I got in from a gig last night, around 23.30Z . . . And ended up working 35 NA stations! Including across to Texas and several Midwest states . . . brilliant! However . . . was it good conditions? Or just the fact that a lot of stations were active? I note that my reports from RBN stations were just the same as usual . . . yet when calling CQ DX it often results in NO replies! And the stations I worked last night weren't particularly strong - only one just peaked S9, whereas the "big signals" historically would be much stronger than that, when conditions are good. (I also came on again just before sunrise . . . and as I've noted before, NO Sunrise Peak! Didn't hear any Europeans work any DX at this time . . . and my RBN reports were way down) Roger G3YRO _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: 160 inverted L radials question
One way to use the current radial field would be to erect a 30 foot piece of freestanding aluminum tube right in the center of the radial field and connect a wire to the top of the short vertical for the remaining length. The wire will have to slant away from the radial field but a substantial part of the antenna , carrying significant current, will be vertical. This is the approach I use on my 80 meter elevated ground plane. The first 23 feet is aluminum tubing and the remaining 44 feet slants toward limb on a very tall 85 foot dead ash tree. It works very well. 73, Dennis W0JX _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Good Conditions or Just Activity?
It was the best opening I have heard since getting on FT8. I have missed plenty of nights though. Here is a map of what was decoded. That would be calls I decoded and stations that decoded my call. It is interesting to see the opening in this manner. I did not stay up long enough to catch the JA opening. Those were stations I heard with the array pointed at EU so they must have been decent signals. I tuned CW and did not hear any of the DX spotted. W0MU On 12/1/2017 3:39 AM, Roger Kennedy wrote: Well I came on 160 when I got in from a gig last night, around 23.30Z . . . And ended up working 35 NA stations! Including across to Texas and several Midwest states . . . brilliant! However . . . was it good conditions? Or just the fact that a lot of stations were active? I note that my reports from RBN stations were just the same as usual . . . yet when calling CQ DX it often results in NO replies! And the stations I worked last night weren't particularly strong - only one just peaked S9, whereas the "big signals" historically would be much stronger than that, when conditions are good. (I also came on again just before sunrise . . . and as I've noted before, NO Sunrise Peak! Didn't hear any Europeans work any DX at this time . . . and my RBN reports were way down) Roger G3YRO _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Good Conditions or Just Activity?
I forgot the link to the map https://i.imgur.com/EnylEMd.png On 12/1/2017 3:39 AM, Roger Kennedy wrote: Well I came on 160 when I got in from a gig last night, around 23.30Z . . . And ended up working 35 NA stations! Including across to Texas and several Midwest states . . . brilliant! However . . . was it good conditions? Or just the fact that a lot of stations were active? I note that my reports from RBN stations were just the same as usual . . . yet when calling CQ DX it often results in NO replies! And the stations I worked last night weren't particularly strong - only one just peaked S9, whereas the "big signals" historically would be much stronger than that, when conditions are good. (I also came on again just before sunrise . . . and as I've noted before, NO Sunrise Peak! Didn't hear any Europeans work any DX at this time . . . and my RBN reports were way down) Roger G3YRO _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Just not the results I'm used to.
The band was open to EU at least on FT8 from Colorado last night. It is the first opening I have been around for. I worked about 7 stations but it took real 160m power even with FT8 most signals were -12 to -22 -24. I was thrilled. I still do not believe my circle array has been working right. I just have not had time to work on it with our business move which is now finished. W0MU On 11/30/2017 10:36 PM, Gary Smith wrote: I'm just not getting the results I had when the 160M antenna was put up some 7-8 years ago, not as good as last year either. I tried running QRP on 160 this evening, lots of pre-contest activity and only made three contacts and they were relatively local. I've always considered how well I do running QRP as evidence how my system is doing. The 35-40 (I don't recall the exact #) 130' radials are still connected, instead of 360' of the regular coax from previous years, I now have 7/8" hardline up to the remote switch. I just replaced the 160 antenna when it came down after sustained winds. Watt meter is showing the expected output & SWR is 1.78 at 1.8300 Not asking for answers, surely just has to be the conditions but I keep wondering if I need to address something. Good luck in the contest and have fun! 73, Gary KA1J _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Good Conditions or Just Activity?
Hi Roger I would suspect activity. This weened during the CQ WW CW contest our club worked 86 countries on 15M. We were running 100W into a 3 element beam. Nice openings to Africa and a delightful long path opening to the Pacific around 2100Z Saturday. The sun spot number was 0. I commented to my team mates that if there was no contest I doubt you would have heard any activity on 15M. Looking forward to this weekend’s festivities…..I heard you calling CQ last evening but a bunch of stations answered so I moved on down the band. 73 Mark K3MSB On Dec 1, 2017 9:03 AM, "Roger Kennedy" wrote: > > Well I came on 160 when I got in from a gig last night, around 23.30Z . . . > > And ended up working 35 NA stations! Including across to Texas and several > Midwest states . . . brilliant! > > However . . . was it good conditions? Or just the fact that a lot of > stations were active? > > I note that my reports from RBN stations were just the same as usual . . . > yet when calling CQ DX it often results in NO replies! > > And the stations I worked last night weren't particularly strong - only one > just peaked S9, whereas the "big signals" historically would be much > stronger than that, when conditions are good. > > (I also came on again just before sunrise . . . and as I've noted before, > NO > Sunrise Peak! Didn't hear any Europeans work any DX at this time . . . and > my RBN reports were way down) > > Roger G3YRO > > > _ > Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband > _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Good Conditions or Just Activity?
I was happy to work two “new to me” European callsigns on 160M last night and heard many of the EU topband regulars warming up for this weekends contest. Seemed decent enough conditions to me. 80M seemed particularly good last night to Asiatic Russia. Tim N3QE > On Dec 1, 2017, at 5:39 AM, Roger Kennedy > wrote: > > > Well I came on 160 when I got in from a gig last night, around 23.30Z . . . > > And ended up working 35 NA stations! Including across to Texas and several > Midwest states . . . brilliant! > > However . . . was it good conditions? Or just the fact that a lot of > stations were active? > > I note that my reports from RBN stations were just the same as usual . . . > yet when calling CQ DX it often results in NO replies! > > And the stations I worked last night weren't particularly strong - only one > just peaked S9, whereas the "big signals" historically would be much > stronger than that, when conditions are good. > > (I also came on again just before sunrise . . . and as I've noted before, NO > Sunrise Peak! Didn't hear any Europeans work any DX at this time . . . and > my RBN reports were way down) > > Roger G3YRO > > > _ > Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Topband: Just not the results I'm used to.
I'm just not getting the results I had when the 160M antenna was put up some 7-8 years ago, not as good as last year either. I tried running QRP on 160 this evening, lots of pre-contest activity and only made three contacts and they were relatively local. I've always considered how well I do running QRP as evidence how my system is doing. The 35-40 (I don't recall the exact #) 130' radials are still connected, instead of 360' of the regular coax from previous years, I now have 7/8" hardline up to the remote switch. I just replaced the 160 antenna when it came down after sustained winds. Watt meter is showing the expected output & SWR is 1.78 at 1.8300 Not asking for answers, surely just has to be the conditions but I keep wondering if I need to address something. Good luck in the contest and have fun! 73, Gary KA1J _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: FT8 discussion
Many people on Top Band want to work DX. Some use digital modes. Remember there are countries outside the USA (that have different band plans). Not everyone has the full 1800 - 2000 kHz to use. For example, inn VK we have 1800 - 1875 kHz only. 73, Luke VK3HJ -Original Message- From: Chuck Dietz Sent: Thursday, November 30, 2017 12:09 PM To: Mike Waters ; Tree Cc: topband Subject: Re: Topband: FT8 discussion I know this has been “Discussed Out,” but I just want to ask why the window is in the 1840 area instead of the 1990 area? _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Topband: Good Conditions or Just Activity?
Well I came on 160 when I got in from a gig last night, around 23.30Z . . . And ended up working 35 NA stations! Including across to Texas and several Midwest states . . . brilliant! However . . . was it good conditions? Or just the fact that a lot of stations were active? I note that my reports from RBN stations were just the same as usual . . . yet when calling CQ DX it often results in NO replies! And the stations I worked last night weren't particularly strong - only one just peaked S9, whereas the "big signals" historically would be much stronger than that, when conditions are good. (I also came on again just before sunrise . . . and as I've noted before, NO Sunrise Peak! Didn't hear any Europeans work any DX at this time . . . and my RBN reports were way down) Roger G3YRO _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: FT8 qrm & Bandplanning History on 160m
The 160 m Band Plan was only fairly recently formalised in Australia, a decade or so ago. We have 1800 - 1875 kHz, with the CW sub-band 1810 - 1840 kHz. The digital narrow band modes seem to have established themselves on 1838 here with no great problems, but there are few users of the band here. At their recent meeting, IARU Region III directors agreed to consider how to bring the Region III band plans into closer alignment with the Region I and II band plans. It will be revisited at the next Region III Conference next year. (From TAC Notes by John VK3KM, in December AR). So this is being looked at in IARU. It would be worthwhile contacting your IARU rep with constructive direction regarding Band Plans for 160 m. From time to time I am irritated by someone testing their AM transmitter in the evening on 1825 kHz. There is an AM net in Melbourne at 11 am local on that frequency. Had there been any DX of interest around that frequency, I may have cause for complaint, but there generally isn't! I turned off the radio and disconnected antennas here last weekend, due to thunderstorms. I will be doing the same this weekend for the same reason. We have a major weather event forecast for the east coast over the next three days. I have asked my local sawmill about Gopher Wood. 73, Luke VK3HJ _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: 160 inverted L radials question
Hi, Jimmy, If the question is whether laying a single 30 foot wire on the ground from a vertical feedpoint at the ground to the radial center is lossy, it is. For At least two reasons. First, a single wire carrying max antenna current is laying on the ground for 30 feet. Second, without the low net field device of the vertical wire against radial wires eminating from the feedpoint, the lowest ten to twenty feet of vertical loses with an unmitigated induction of lossy ground underneath. For both the issue is heavy induction causing ground loss. Either pull the vertical wire at a slant from the center of the existing radial field, put down a new radial field or go to an elevated counterpoise at 8 feet or higher. Given the simplicity of an FCP, and that it has worked well at KP2M, that might free resources for other reconstruction without a compromise related lossy cost involved. 73, Guy K2AV On Wed, Nov 29, 2017 at 9:08 AM, StellarCAT wrote: > Hi folks:Iam in the process to reinstall an inverted L antenna. Due to the > category 5 hurricane that passthru the island of ST.CROIX usvi i loss 2 > towers > and antennas.one of the towers use to support and inverted L antenna for > 160 with radials all over the tower. I will reinstall the inverted L on a > different location about 25 or 30 feet away from the original location.my > question is could i use the same radials from the previous location just > running one wire attach to the radial system to the new inverted Lground > section? > ThanksKP2BH/Jimmy > _ Jimmy,The replies you are getting seem a bit over the > top ... forgive me for saying that to those that replied “it won’t work”. > We’re talking about160 here – so 30’ is what, 0.06 WL’s! I’d do it if that > is what you can do ... and add to it in the opposite direction... I doubt > seriously thatyou’re going to see any real disadvantage to doing it in this > manner. You’ll have decreased losses where you have the more denseground > field unless you can add to it going in the direction you’re moving it in > which case it won’t really make that much difference. Gary K9RX > _ > Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband > -- Sent via Gmail Mobile on my iPhone _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
