Topband: Lack of 160M activity
Recent thunderstorm activity brought my antenna down. Given a decent weather day, it will be put back in the air at a greater height. 73 & Best DX Charlie WD5BJT See September 2006 CQ Magazine for a published work. www.qsl.net/wd5bjt _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Why no NA 160m Activity?
Hi Roger, We did QSO a couple of days ago but that doesn't change your question. It's a good question and there's been some important answers thus far. I can say that I haven't had as many people in your direction coming back to me as I did a few years ago. That might be because I need to replace some connections at the radial plate though they do seem good visually. I probably should replace coax between the coax box to the individual wire antennas (though I do want to migrate them all to one feed-point and bypass the remote switch). Or, the band might not be ready to give it up, yet. I do see a lot of FT8 here, done some on 160 myself but I rarely have seen any DX on 160, scarcer than hen's teeth for me anyway. Looking at my log, the only FT8 DX I have worked on 160 is VE, I'm guessing most others have the same results so I doubt it's FT8 that is the problem. I don't hear well at this QTH till later on in the season because of the RFI from arcing on train electrical lines next to me. When the band is quieter from the QRN, my directional antennas I have here really help pick out DX from the noise. I'm still a CW guy for DX, always will be, I suspect the 160 DXers will mostly be the same so keep listening for NA on CW. 73, Gary KA1J > > I know you guys in North America have a lot of Lightning & Static > problems in the summer . . . but surely that's all gone now? > > If so, why is there so little activity on CW from NA on Top Band? > > Every night there's usually a load of us Europeans on from your Sunset > time, calling CQ DX. > > The band is clearly open, from the RBN signal reports . . . but I'll > often come on for at least an hour, and lucky if I have 3 or 4 QSOs ! > And even then, it tends to be none of the big signals. > > What makes it even more frustrating is that there's usually LOADS of > people posting FT8 contacts on the 160m DX Cluster . . . but very few > proper CW Stations ! > > Roger G3YRO > > _ > Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband > _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Topband: lack of 160 activity
For many of us in NA we cannot put out any receive antennas until after the corn and beans have all been harvested which sometimes can be as late as mid November. Without those RX antennas DXing on 160 is useless. I'm still waiting for the farmer to take the corn down here. 73, gary --- This email has been checked for viruses by AVG. https://www.avg.com _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Topband: 160 Activity
QRN still at summer levels here in Ohio. Has been especially bad with the storms that have passed thru the south. The lightning static from them is single hop to most of the eastern US. de K8RYU _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Why no NA 160m Activity?
In my case, I set up a quick and dirty 160m antenna last year and it was so quick and dirty that it wouldn't work. I planned to put up a permanent one after I resided my house this summer but I didn't reside my house this summer...so...next year maybe? Sean WA1TE On Wed, Oct 17, 2018 at 2:53 PM Paul Kiesel via Topband < topband@contesting.com> wrote: > I listen for CW and FT8. My receive antenna is an unterminated BOG > which does a barely acceptable job for what it is. I often hear South > American, Pacific and Asian stations on CW, but rarely hear Europe. > I know my receive antenna is not up to the job, but there is not much > I can do about it because of my circumstances. I often hear big gun > W and VE stations working Europe like it's easy, but I hear European > stations very rarely... almost never. It's not that I don't try hearing. > There is no point in calling CQ EU if you can't hear EU stations. > There are other guys around here who experience the same thing. > We alert each other when there is an enhancement in propagation. In > our case, the auroral zone gets in the way. > > 73, Paul K7CW > > On Wed, 10/17/18, wrote: > > Subject: Re: Topband: Why no NA 160m Activity? > To: "Roger Kennedy" , > topband@contesting.com > Date: Wednesday, October 17, 2018, 10:35 AM > > Nothing against FT8 or FT8 > enthusiasts, but FT8 activity has certainly > siphoned off a lot of activity on CW, as many > of us have predicted and > feared. Anyone > doubting this just needs to tune the lower portion of the > > band then tune up the band and listen for a > moment. I, for one, will be > continuing my > activity on CW as I personally enjoy the audible and > visceral > connection with the person I'm > QSOing.73. . . . Dave, W0FLS > > -Original Message- > From: Roger Kennedy > Sent: > Wednesday, October 17, 2018 12:07 PM > To: topband@contesting.com > Subject: Topband: Why no NA 160m Activity? > > > I know you > guys in North America have a lot of Lightning & Static > problems > in the summer . . . but surely > that's all gone now? > > If > so, why is there so little activity on CW from NA on Top > Band? > > Every night > there's usually a load of us Europeans on from your > Sunset time, > calling CQ DX. > > The band is clearly open, from > the RBN signal reports . . . but I'll often > come on for at least an hour, and lucky if I > have 3 or 4 QSOs ! And even > then, it tends > to be none of the big signals. > > What makes it even more frustrating is that > there's usually LOADS of people > posting > FT8 contacts on the 160m DX Cluster . . . but very few > proper CW > Stations ! > > Roger G3YRO > > _ > Topband > Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband > > _ > Topband > Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband > > _ > Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband > -- Sent from my Motorola DynaTAC 8000X _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Why no NA 160m Activity?
In my case I have been listening every night the last few weeks between 2300 and 0200 and find it hard to pick out anything due to the S7 to S9 noise levels at my QTH. Not even worth calling CQ if I can't hear anything. I may experiment with a receive antenna this year but I don't live on acreage for 100's of feet of wire. Plus I have power lines on three sides of my yard. Heard a couple guys in 2/3 land work the OH0 last night - never heard him myself. I'm close to 80 countries on 160 and have been stuck there for about 3 years due to the circumstances with noise and limited room for an efficient RX ant. TomW3TA -Original Message- From: Roger Kennedy To: topband Sent: Wed, Oct 17, 2018 1:07 pm Subject: Topband: Why no NA 160m Activity? I know you guys in North America have a lot of Lightning & Static problems in the summer . . . but surely that's all gone now? If so, why is there so little activity on CW from NA on Top Band? Every night there's usually a load of us Europeans on from your Sunset time, calling CQ DX. The band is clearly open, from the RBN signal reports . . . but I'll often come on for at least an hour, and lucky if I have 3 or 4 QSOs ! And even then, it tends to be none of the big signals. What makes it even more frustrating is that there's usually LOADS of people posting FT8 contacts on the 160m DX Cluster . . . but very few proper CW Stations ! Roger G3YRO _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Why no NA 160m Activity?
I listen for CW and FT8. My receive antenna is an unterminated BOG which does a barely acceptable job for what it is. I often hear South American, Pacific and Asian stations on CW, but rarely hear Europe. I know my receive antenna is not up to the job, but there is not much I can do about it because of my circumstances. I often hear big gun W and VE stations working Europe like it's easy, but I hear European stations very rarely... almost never. It's not that I don't try hearing. There is no point in calling CQ EU if you can't hear EU stations. There are other guys around here who experience the same thing. We alert each other when there is an enhancement in propagation. In our case, the auroral zone gets in the way. 73, Paul K7CW On Wed, 10/17/18, wrote: Subject: Re: Topband: Why no NA 160m Activity? To: "Roger Kennedy" , topband@contesting.com Date: Wednesday, October 17, 2018, 10:35 AM Nothing against FT8 or FT8 enthusiasts, but FT8 activity has certainly siphoned off a lot of activity on CW, as many of us have predicted and feared. Anyone doubting this just needs to tune the lower portion of the band then tune up the band and listen for a moment. I, for one, will be continuing my activity on CW as I personally enjoy the audible and visceral connection with the person I'm QSOing. 73. . . . Dave, W0FLS -Original Message- From: Roger Kennedy Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2018 12:07 PM To: topband@contesting.com Subject: Topband: Why no NA 160m Activity? I know you guys in North America have a lot of Lightning & Static problems in the summer . . . but surely that's all gone now? If so, why is there so little activity on CW from NA on Top Band? Every night there's usually a load of us Europeans on from your Sunset time, calling CQ DX. The band is clearly open, from the RBN signal reports . . . but I'll often come on for at least an hour, and lucky if I have 3 or 4 QSOs ! And even then, it tends to be none of the big signals. What makes it even more frustrating is that there's usually LOADS of people posting FT8 contacts on the 160m DX Cluster . . . but very few proper CW Stations ! Roger G3YRO _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Why no NA 160m Activity?
The USA is a big country; four time zones. Sunset on the east coast is three + hours before our sunset here in AZ. By the time we have full darkness (~0100Z) you guys across the pond are all asleep. If you are up and on, we have three time zones of QRM and several more hops to deal with. Similarly, DX to the west often gives up before our sunrise when we get signal enhancement and a reduction of QRN from the east. Wes N7WS ps. Don't want to talk about FT8 On 10/17/2018 10:07 AM, Roger Kennedy wrote: I know you guys in North America have a lot of Lightning & Static problems in the summer . . . but surely that's all gone now? If so, why is there so little activity on CW from NA on Top Band? Every night there's usually a load of us Europeans on from your Sunset time, calling CQ DX. The band is clearly open, from the RBN signal reports . . . but I'll often come on for at least an hour, and lucky if I have 3 or 4 QSOs ! And even then, it tends to be none of the big signals. What makes it even more frustrating is that there's usually LOADS of people posting FT8 contacts on the 160m DX Cluster . . . but very few proper CW Stations ! Roger G3YRO _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Why no NA 160m Activity?
For my case it’s pretty simple. As long as the grass is growing and needs mowed, no 160M antennas. Typically Nov 1 is when I do the last mowing, and it takes several weeks afterwards to get everything up and running. 73 Mark K3MSB _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Why no NA 160m Activity?
Nothing against FT8 or FT8 enthusiasts, but FT8 activity has certainly siphoned off a lot of activity on CW, as many of us have predicted and feared. Anyone doubting this just needs to tune the lower portion of the band then tune up the band and listen for a moment. I, for one, will be continuing my activity on CW as I personally enjoy the audible and visceral connection with the person I'm QSOing.73. . . . Dave, W0FLS -Original Message- From: Roger Kennedy Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2018 12:07 PM To: topband@contesting.com Subject: Topband: Why no NA 160m Activity? I know you guys in North America have a lot of Lightning & Static problems in the summer . . . but surely that's all gone now? If so, why is there so little activity on CW from NA on Top Band? Every night there's usually a load of us Europeans on from your Sunset time, calling CQ DX. The band is clearly open, from the RBN signal reports . . . but I'll often come on for at least an hour, and lucky if I have 3 or 4 QSOs ! And even then, it tends to be none of the big signals. What makes it even more frustrating is that there's usually LOADS of people posting FT8 contacts on the 160m DX Cluster . . . but very few proper CW Stations ! Roger G3YRO _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Topband: Why no NA 160m Activity?
I know you guys in North America have a lot of Lightning & Static problems in the summer . . . but surely that's all gone now? If so, why is there so little activity on CW from NA on Top Band? Every night there's usually a load of us Europeans on from your Sunset time, calling CQ DX. The band is clearly open, from the RBN signal reports . . . but I'll often come on for at least an hour, and lucky if I have 3 or 4 QSOs ! And even then, it tends to be none of the big signals. What makes it even more frustrating is that there's usually LOADS of people posting FT8 contacts on the 160m DX Cluster . . . but very few proper CW Stations ! Roger G3YRO _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Gamma match success
I would echo Tim's remarks. I bought a bunch of Russian caps on EPAY for a 160 meter amplifier and they overheated and changed value. One blew up. They were horrible as a plate coupling cap. The seller advised me that they were only good for uncritical bypassing chores. Now I have a pile of caps that are only good for target practice. Dave K1WHS On 10/16/2018 5:55 PM, Tim Shoppa wrote: I would caution against using Russian military surplus doorknobs, or Chinese doorknobs, in a tuned circuit without understanding their dielectrics. I tried a couple and was very disappointed. With HEC 7.5kV doorknobs, you would want to make it out of values of 170pF or below. Below 170pF they have NPO characteristics. Tim N3QE On Tue, Oct 16, 2018 at 1:46 PM Herbert Schoenbohm < herbert.schoenb...@gmail.com> wrote: Unless you use LMR 600 or Andrew heliax a cap made from standard RG-8 or 213 has its limitations. eBay has a ton of high current fixed caps very close to the value you need. Some are from Ukraine (Russian military surplus) and are very inexpensive. You might also consider a home-brewed sandwich cap made from aluminum plates and Teflon insulation between them. This method of heavy duty fixed caps seems to be the vogue of many present amplifiers and tuners. Another alternative is to get a handful of 5KV doorknob caps at 100pf and add them in parallel or series until you come up with the value you need. Good luck Herb Schoenbohm, KV4FZ On Mon, Oct 15, 2018 at 5:18 PM Richard (Rick) Karlquist < rich...@karlquist.com> wrote: On 10/15/2018 10:43 AM, Tree wrote: I replaced the variable cap with a home made cap using RG8. I had one Sometimes, capacitors made from coax are lossy. I modeled your coaxial capacitor using Simsmith (very easy to do) and the Q turns out to be 340, if I did it correctly. So the coaxial capacitor gets a clean bill of health and probably doesn't have anything to do with your broad bandwidth. Rick N6RK _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Gamma match success
I had a cap like that in my Viewstar PT2500 that I bought new in 1985. After a second or two of transmitting - the power output dropped and I had to retune the loading control. Fixed it with a stack of 10,000 pf silver micas in series. I am going to transmit for a minute or two with full power and measure any temperature change on my coax capacitor to put to bed any concern about loss. Will report back. Tree N6TR On Wed, Oct 17, 2018 at 7:40 AM David Olean wrote: > I would echo Tim's remarks. I bought a bunch of Russian caps on EPAY for > a 160 meter amplifier and they overheated and changed value. One blew > up. They were horrible as a plate coupling cap. The seller advised me > that they were only good for uncritical bypassing chores. Now I have a > pile of caps that are only good for target practice. > > Dave K1WHS > > > On 10/16/2018 5:55 PM, Tim Shoppa wrote: > > I would caution against using Russian military surplus doorknobs, or > > Chinese doorknobs, in a tuned circuit without understanding their > > dielectrics. I tried a couple and was very disappointed. > > > > With HEC 7.5kV doorknobs, you would want to make it out of values of > 170pF > > or below. Below 170pF they have NPO characteristics. > > > > Tim N3QE > > > > On Tue, Oct 16, 2018 at 1:46 PM Herbert Schoenbohm < > > herbert.schoenb...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > >> Unless you use LMR 600 or Andrew heliax a cap made from standard RG-8 or > >> 213 has its limitations. eBay has a ton of high current fixed caps very > >> close to the value you need. Some are from Ukraine (Russian military > >> surplus) and are very inexpensive. You might also consider a > home-brewed > >> sandwich cap made from aluminum plates and Teflon insulation between > them. > >> This method of heavy duty fixed caps seems to be the vogue of many > present > >> amplifiers and tuners. Another alternative is to get a handful of 5KV > >> doorknob caps at 100pf and add them in parallel or series until you > come up > >> with the value you need. > >> > >> Good luck > >> > >> Herb Schoenbohm, KV4FZ > >> > >> On Mon, Oct 15, 2018 at 5:18 PM Richard (Rick) Karlquist < > >> rich...@karlquist.com> wrote: > >> > >>> > >>> On 10/15/2018 10:43 AM, Tree wrote: > >>> > I replaced the variable cap with a home made cap using RG8. I had one > >>> Sometimes, capacitors made from coax are lossy. I modeled your > >>> coaxial capacitor using Simsmith (very easy to do) and the Q turns out > >>> to be 340, if I did it correctly. So the coaxial capacitor gets a > clean > >>> bill of health and probably doesn't have anything to do with > >>> your broad bandwidth. > >>> > >>> Rick N6RK > >>> _ > >>> Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband > >>> > >> _ > >> Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband > >> > > _ > > Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband > > > > _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
