Topband: Good condx
Last night from 04:30z till 05:38z 17 EU made it into the VE6WZ log. After answering Mike F5IN’s very loud CQ at around 0400z, I moved to 1821.8 and called CQ. Fortunately, the very high QRN from the midwest storm front was off the side of the NE Beverage and 9 circle array. Pointing straight East the QRN was horrible. Some of the signals where exceptionally strong…ON5FP, F5IN, G3PQA, DL5AXX, G3JMJ and F6ARC. Numerous RBN skimmers spotted my CQ's, but it seems like the activity level was less than usual. The band is still alive! Lets hope for less QRN tonight….and more activity. 73, de steve ve6wz. _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Topband: 80 meter 4-square
Hello Guys and Gals, I have been planning on building an 80 meter 4-Square around my 117' tower. I know it will likely require detuning the tower to make it 'invisable' to the 4-square so that is probably in the cards. Because of the difficulty of my particular location have to consider shifting the array a bit. Wondering if offsetting it from the tower a couple of feet to the east would matter? I've also thought about slightly orienting the 4-square instead of on N-S-E-W to turn it like 10 degrees where the north-south lineup of verticals would be more like 10 degrees - 190 degrees and the east west accordingly. The reason for this would be that the side hill to the NE where I have my one vertical has about 5 foot dropoff to the level ground. Basically I like in a gorge area with a seasonal creek through it but you deal with what you have of course. Any thoughts pro or con? Terry KI7M _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Topband: Wednesday 160m DX Activity Night
Well the band is still open for DX between NA and Europe, as shown when I come on and get some great reports from various RBN stations . . . But do I have any real contacts? No ! Because I guess there is no activity. Those of you (like me) who complain that these FT8 stations are not having REAL contacts ought to make the effort to come on the band and have some proper DX QSOs ! There were quite a few Europeans on last Wednesday, and over the weekend, all endlessly calling CQ DX but often with no replies. I know the Summer is coming . . . but I'm sure we can keep these Wednesday nights going for a few more weeks . . . so come on chaps! I myself will be on tomorrow night from around 00.30Z (which I guess is East coast sunset now) 73 Roger G3YRO _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Topband: Inv Vee mod question
Dear Topbanders, I am planning to place and Inv Vee for 160 on the top of the building where I have no much space so the arms end will be a little closer, no more than 24 mts apart. My question for those who can model it is: Could I get a better low angle or improve it performance to long distance if instead of just hanging it from a single point I run it horizontal from the center for 1m (3.3ft), or 2m or up to 4 mts (2 m each side) and from there hanging each side as usual?The reasoning beyond my question is that placing the slopping wire a little apart where max current is, perhaps less cancellation take place at the center, that could produce an improvement of some kind like decreasing the shoot angle or increasing a little bit Rin. If it doens`t work I could extend the top of the tower with PVC tube to gain up to 3 mts from 14 to 17m for the roof (from 46ft to 55ft) Many thanks in advance.. Eddie, LU2DKT _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband