Re: Topband: I4EAT Fausto SK
I'm so sorry to hear the news of Fausto's death, especially since it came from this damnable Covid-19. Rest in Peace, Fausto. 73, Dave K8MN On 3/31/2021 04:00 PM, Ryszard Tymkiewicz wrote: So bad news...Fausto was always very friendly and it was great to compete with him in DXing..Its difficult to understand it... such a great loss. RIP Fausto 73 Rys SP5EWY W dniu 31.03.2021 o 18:45, Paolo Zaffi pisze: Guys, with great sadness I must inform you that Fausto I4EAT passed away today due to COVID. He was a good friend and great DX'er not only on low bands but also on VHF. We will miss him. Regards. Paolo I4EWH _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: CQ Zones
Do me a favor, Glenn; read what you just sent and then look into a mirror. Dave K8MN On 3/9/2021 08:45 PM, Glenn Wyant wrote: And you decide whether any of us deserve to follow our own preferences! We don't need you as a dumb ass wanna be leader. Sent from my iPhone On Mar 9, 2021, at 18:25, Martin Kratoska wrote: Glenn (VA3DX), BRAVO, I applaud! So you claim the privilege to decide who should leave and who is allowed to stay. And you will do it for ALL members of the list. You are a brilliant character. The life with you must be a marvel. Stay safe, 73 Martin, OK1RR Dne 09. 03. 21 v 21:23 Glenn Wyant napsal(a): And Martin there is no need for you stay here. Obviously you don't need us , you are so much better than us ft8 Cw ssb rtty etc etc ops Glenn VA3DX Sent from my iPhone On Mar 9, 2021, at 11:40, Martin Kratoska wrote: Bob et al, all these rules can be preprogrammed into SV5DKL's robot which can "do the QSO". Otherwise I can tell my dog where to paw, he would be possibly a better FT8 "operator" than mine. There is no need of ears, hands, brain or any knowledge. All the task can be robotized. This does DEFINITELY NOT qualify as ham radio. I am very sorry that I don't have any better news for you. 73, Martin, OK1RR P.S. Any FT8 yes/no dispute is meaningless, at least in this mailing list, isn't? Dne 09. 03. 21 v 17:19 Chortek, Robert L. napsal(a): Actually, it is ham radio. Have you spent any time with the mode? For example, 1. Have you identified a country you need for a bond slot or ATNO? 2. Have you determined the best time of year, time of day, and band to see if a station from that country is on? 3. Have you searched the decodes daily for a station from that country? 4. After spending days hunting that DX, have you FINALLY managed to be there when the propagation was favorable? 5. Have you then, after all that, called that DX and made the contact? If that does not qualify as ham radio, I’m not sure what does. 73, Bob/AA6VB Robert L. Chortek On Mar 9, 2021, at 8:04 AM, ok1tn wrote: [External Email] FT4 FT8 is just a computer game. It's not a ham radio OK1TN -- 73 Slavek Zeler -- Původní e-mail -- Od: Chortek, Robert L. Komu: Joe Subich, W4TV Datum: 9. 3. 2021 16:31:21 Předmět: Re: Topband: CQ Zones THANK YOU JOE! That pretty much captures the debate. 73, Bob/AA6VB Robert L. Chortek On Mar 9, 2021, at 7:27 AM, Joe Subich, W4TV wrote: [External Email] Oh PLEASE! You sound just like AM phone operators when SSB came along. And spark operators when CW started to replace it. The first DX was nothing more than single letters ... 73, ... Joe, W4TV On 2021-03-09 10:10 AM, Karel Matousek wrote: I agree wit Martin OK1RR. I cannot endorse FT4, FT8 for the ARRL DXCC Program. IMHO, this should NEVER be allowed unless qualified in a separate rules category! Karel OK1CF __ Od: "Martin Kratoska" Komu: topband@contesting.com Datum: 09.03.2021 15:37 Předmět: Re: Topband: CQ Zones Oh, FT8 should be proclaimed as illegal for DXCC (WAZ, WAS etc.) in mixed categories. This "mode" should be counted completely separated from traditional modes like CW or SSB. 73, Martin, OK1RR Dne 09. 03. 21 v 15:16 Ian Fugler napsal(a): Hi, Dave Zone 23 - JT5DX will be your man. He is active in contests and puts out a good signal. Zone 24 - will be more of a challenge. I have worked XX9D and a couple of BY stations. But you may need to use FT8 for the BY stations, since they seem strongly to prefer that mode. 73 and GL! Ian G4iiY _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: 30-Foot Vertical
During my 1988-1989 stint as J52US in Guinea-Bissau and 1990-1991 stay as 9L1US, I made loads of QSO's in pile-ups and contests with a modified Butternut HF-2V.?? I bought larger tubing for the top section and moved the top-loading wires higher.?? The antenna then worked well on 160 and 80 and was not resonant on 40m.?? In both places the antenna was high--on top of a five story building with radials running on the roof and running down several stories to warehouse roof in Guinea-Bissau and on the flat roof of a three story apartment building atop one of the highest hills overlooking Freetown in Sierra Leone.?? In both places I had a tri-bander on several sections of tower on the roofs as well. I made contacts from Helsinki in the mid-1980's with the same antenna (stock) but without as much success and again in the mid-1990's with it modified per the African variant but on the roof of a two-story building. You might do pretty well with some top-loading wires and perhaps you could use a mast to give it a little more height. 73, Dave K8MN On 04-Jun-19 19:14, Mark - N5OT wrote: Hi Roy - you mean for 160 meters??? I think there are plenty of credible ways to cobble odd pieces of tower together to make a useful antenna, especially if climbing it is never something you need to do, and if it crashed to the ground it's not that big a deal. If you're asking if a 30 foot vertical can be made to be useful on 160 meters, I think, depending on the definition of "useful" the answer can definitely be YES and I can think of a whole lot of QSOs that have been made with verticals about that tall. 73 - Mark N5OT On 6/4/2019 8:41 AM, Roy Morgan wrote: Hello Topbanders, I have three 10-fot sections of triangular steel tower, about 8 inches on a side. Is it practical for me to make a useful vertical with these, either bottom fed or gamma matched? Thanks for advice or experience. Roy Morgan K1LKY since 1958 k1lk...@gmail.com _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector --- This email has been checked for viruses by AVG. https://www.avg.com _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: W7LR
Thanks for sharing the information, Tree. 73, Dave K8MN On 01-Dec-18 16:01, Tree wrote: Many of you have probably noticed that W7LR has not been in the pileups during the past year. I visited Bob exactly a year ago and Cobi as well - Cobi had reached 100 years. Bob is close behind. Cobi passed away on April 1st and Bob has moved into an assisted living facility around the same time. His station is QRT. I chatted with him yesterday and it was good to hear his voice. If anyone is interested in sending Bob a note - I can provide the address. Tree N6TR _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector --- This email has been checked for viruses by AVG. https://www.avg.com _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: PY1RO
Thanks for sharing the news, Herb. I had the pleasure of working Rolf from home as well as all of my African stops. Dave K8MN On 06-May-18 19:54, Herbert Schoenbohm wrote: Devasting news about Rolf Rasp PY1RO. I went to his home in Niteroi across the harbor from Rio de Janeiro in 1965 with a steamer trunk loaded with some Drake Twins to get on the air on top band. Before he was licensed. Rolf was an ardent SWL who had logged Stew Perry, W1BB many times. We used his friend PY1NFC to get on the air and was able to contact Stew and a few others for a new one. (I think also Wal, W8LRL and Ernie, K1PBW) Rolf Rasp was a true Topband champion and he will be truly missed by all of us. Herb Schoenbohm, KV4FZ, PY1ZAI, W0VXO etc. On Wed, May 2, 2018 at 8:01 PM, Roger Parsons via Topband < topband@contesting.com> wrote: From the Daily DX today: "PY1RO, Rolf Rasp, passed away yesterday after suffering from a heart attack. He had heart problems for several years. PY1RO was very active on Topband and the Magic Band (160 and 6 Meters). Rolf put on DXpeditions to PY0DVG, ZX0VG, PY1RO/0, PY0FN, PY1RO/5N2, PY0RO, ZX0FOC and PY0TM as well being a DXpedition team member at PW0T and PW2M. He was a member of FOC (# 1237). Our condolences to his wife Sonia and the rest of the Rasp family." I was saddened to read of Rolf's death. He was an important part of 160m history for many years. Roger VE3ZI _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband --- This email has been checked for viruses by AVG. http://www.avg.com _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Kostas' point
Do they keep DXCC records and listings? Do they keep contesting records? Sure they do. Have individuals been disqualified from DXCC? From a contest? You bet they have! If technology is making it impossible to tell if someone is cheating, why bother to participate? Just make your own certificate on your PC, print it and buy postage stamps at your local post office. When you work another 25 countries, paste a postage stamp on your homemade award. It'll be just as valid as a DXCC certificate. Operating skill is supposed to count for something. Breaking the rules isn't. Dave K8MN On 18-Jan-18 15:00, Jeff Blaine wrote: Another fellow pressed me on this. What I should have said - that perhaps is more clear - goes like this. 1. Worry about your own operation --> because you can control it. 2. No point to worry about the other guy --> because you almost certainly have no control over it. 3. Point #2 does not in any way detract from what your personal views are. Point #2 is NOT saying anything about the "rightness" of any ham operation practice. If the guy asked me "can i use my web sdr to hear you better?" - Sure, I'm going to say "let's do it the old school way." But they don't ask... And I would be willing to bet they don't advertise either. I'm just going to log the QSO and move on to the next contact. Point #2 is is simply a reflection of my personal belief that time wasted worrying about things for which I have no ability to significantly influence is wasted time - and the clock is ticking for all of us. 73/jeff/ac0c alpha-charlie-zero-charlie www.ac0c.com On 18-Jan-18 7:46 PM, Dave Heil wrote: So this is sort of like Olympic doping or other amateur endeavors where they keep score? Dave Heil K8MN On 18-Jan-18 05:38, Jeff Blaine wrote: There is no real point of worrying about what the other guy is using. We only can control our personal operation, and really have to leave the other end of the Q to manage theirs. 73/jeff/ac0c alpha-charlie-zero-charlie www.ac0c.com --- This email has been checked for viruses by AVG. http://www.avg.com _ 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: Kostas' point
So this is sort of like Olympic doping or other amateur endeavors where they keep score? Dave Heil K8MN On 18-Jan-18 05:38, Jeff Blaine wrote: There is no real point of worrying about what the other guy is using. We only can control our personal operation, and really have to leave the other end of the Q to manage theirs. 73/jeff/ac0c alpha-charlie-zero-charlie www.ac0c.com --- This email has been checked for viruses by AVG. http://www.avg.com _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: WKYW on 1810kc
James Brown doing "Please, Please, Please, Please" S-9 to 10 db over about 30 miles south of Wheeling WV. 73, Dave K8MN Cameron, WV --- This email has been checked for viruses by AVG. http://www.avg.com _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Topband: xxx
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Re: Topband: strange propagation
I think it means that you've been talking to someone in the Department of Agriculture. Vague claims do not prove a point. Dave Heil K8MN On 15-Jan-16 13:10, Louis Parascondola via Topband wrote: There you have it folks. And guess what, The US government is very aware of RHR and is very impressed with the concept. Know what that means? _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Topband: Fwd: Re: Future propagation ?
Forwarded Message Subject: Re: Topband: Future propagation ? Date: Sun, 6 Dec 2015 19:08:35 + From: Dave Heil <k...@frontiernet.net> To: k...@myfairpoint.net See: http://www.britannica.com/science/harmattan This dust from the Sahara is a yearly event and I have no doubt that some of it ends up off the East Coast. Even with windows closed and masking tape on the seams, I'd wake up in the middle of the night, coughing and choking, in Guinea-Bissau when the Harmattan arrived. 73, Dave Heil K8MN On 04-Dec-15 16:29, K1FZ-Bruce wrote: Watching NOVA on PBS last night. Diving into Blue water "sink holes". Found evidence indicated that iron rich sand from the very dry Sarah Desert had blown across the Atlantic to the Bahama Island region. (possibly related to previous global warming period ?) Wondering, if this takes place again, will this semi conductive material give us a leg up on propagation to Africa, and beyond ? (;>)) 73 Bruce-K1FZ www.qsl.net/k1fz/beverage_antenna.html _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2015.0.6176 / Virus Database: 4477/2 - Release Date: 12/04/15 _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: The Remote Question..
Bill, There was no competition among those who walked to school, no matter what the distance. There were no awards, annual listings, pins, certificates, plaques or such. The internet is akin to telephones and cable television more than to amateur radio. If you're making your way to Topband DXCC with stations on both coasts and receivers/antennas on various continents, you are not operating in the spirit of the awards. 73, Dave Heil K8MN On 7/12/2015 3:00 PM, Bill Cromwell wrote: Hi Mike, There really is a difference among all the people who walked to school and back every school day for 12 years or so. Some of them lived across the street and others lived ten miles away, uphill both ways evil grin. I do see that somebody who did all of a DX challenge from their home location has more bragging rights than somebody who did parts of it over the internet. This message was done in part with the internet. Doing it all by radio would be *more* fun. 73, Bill KU8H _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Fwd: PQ0T active in 160
As did PW0T in 2005. I don't know how many 160m QSOs they made but I worked and confirmed them. 73, Dave K8MN On 2/15/2015 18 27, Dick Grolleman wrote: ZY0T did work some 160m in October 2009. 119 QSOs : EU 79; NA 32; SA 8 I was lucky with that one. Maybe ask PY1NB what he used for antenna on TB. They were only on for 4 days. 73 de Dick PA3FQA _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Deployable radials for 80/160M
That seems a little too much work when Lowe's sells 500 foot spools of insulated #14 for $45. 73, Dave K8MN On 6/24/2014 19 46, Herb Schoenbohm wrote: I found a great source for radial wire at home Depot where they have 100' rolls of 14-2 packaged for under $40. Two conductors are insulated and one of course is not after the easy job of striping them across a bench jig or simple having a second person hold a pocket knife while you pull the conductors apart you end up with 300 feet of higher quality ground radial material. 2 each 100 foot insulated radials due to the VF are very close to 1/4 wave consideration and the the shorter 100 foot bare doesn't hurt either. This of course brings up the issue of mixing bare and insulated wire in any ground system so I use the bare conductor for other 80 and 40 verticals. Yet the sum of the three wires is cheaper than buying them individually it seems. _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: and KDKA
On 9/15/2013 13 13, Mike(W5UC) Kathy (K5MWH) wrote: Hi Jim: For Years I have believed that WSM, 650, was in that category. Goodness knows, We can't miss the GRAND OLE OPRY 73, Mike, W5UC Regarding these stations, Wikipedia is your friend: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clear-channel_station - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2013.0.3408 / Virus Database: 3222/6667 - Release Date: 09/15/13 _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: W4BPD Archive
And here's another Gus Browning tribute page: http://www.oocities.org/capecanaveral/1641/gusbrowning.html 73, Dave K8MN On 7/28/2013 23 08, donov...@starpower.net wrote: An archive of W4BPD's writings about his early life and Dxpeditions is on this page: http://springfieldsc.us/W4BPD.htm The detailed index and reprinted articles are here: http://springfieldsc.us/Archive%20page.htm#Post%20index 73 Frank W3LPL _ Topband Reflector - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2013.0.3349 / Virus Database: 3209/6527 - Release Date: 07/28/13 _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: F fitting adaptors
Debco Electronics in Cincinnati has them. I believe the price is around $2.95. 73, Dave Heil K8MN On 12/4/2012 03 24, Bruce wrote: When using a Ameritron remote antenna switch with SO-239 fittings, does anyone know a supplier for female F fitting to PL-259 adaptor ? Thanks, 73 Bruce-K1FZ ___ Topband reflector - topband@contesting.com - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2013.0.2793 / Virus Database: 2634/5930 - Release Date: 12/01/12 - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2013.0.2793 / Virus Database: 2634/5930 - Release Date: 12/01/12 ___ Topband reflector - topband@contesting.com
Re: Topband: THE ITINERANT 160 METER ANTENNA PROJECT
Just to make certain that we're on the same page, I'm writing of the Radio Handbook, the one Bill Orr edited. It was a Radio Magazine handbook, perhaps later CQ Magazine and finally published by Sams. That was the one filled with linear amplifier articles for both HF and VHF. I think more of Bill's articles appeared in CQ than QST. 73, Dave K8MN On 8/3/2012 13 49, Tom W8JI wrote: The claim was made in the last several editions of the Radio Handbook in describing a TV twinlead folded Marconi for 160m. I believe the idea was not in QST, because at that time QST had good technical editing. There were very few gross technical gaffs in QST back then. As I recall, the idea originally appeared in either 73 or CQ Magazine. This illustrates the danger of non-peer reviewed technical articles. I personally know of at least a half-dozen AM BC stations that invested money in converting to folded unipoles, and a company in Texas started producing antennas based on that silly idea. http://www.w8ji.com/radiation_resistance.htm 73 Tom ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2012.0.2197 / Virus Database: 2437/5174 - Release Date: 08/03/12 - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2012.0.2197 / Virus Database: 2437/5174 - Release Date: 08/03/12 ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
Re: Topband: QRP Question
On 12/12/2011 16 58, W0UCE wrote: Maybe and experienced QRP OP can answer a question for me and please note the question is not intended to anger anyone or start a flame. I would just like to learn something - Why? So here is the question: Why do some using QRP continually send /QRP after a CQ, their call or a contest exchange? In a contest I don't care if the station I work is QRP, LP or QRO - a QSO is a QSO. The same when calling CQ or during a rag chewing - Why send /QRP? To me it makes no more sense than someone sending /100w, /LP, /1500w or /QRO after their call. 73, Jack Jack, I've had folks ask me to identify them as /QRP when QSLing them. I tell them that I have to way to tell if they were QRP or not. Only they hold the key to that. Dave Heil K8MN - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2012.0.1873 / Virus Database: 2102/4676 - Release Date: 12/12/11 ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
