Re: Topband: N5J Live Stream?
I've had good luck with Sea Foam fuel treatment on my boat. It sits for months during the FL summer in the hot sun.73,Gary K9GS Original message From: Wes Stewart via Topband Date: 8/12/24 2:47 PM (GMT-06:00) To: Richard Karlquist Cc: j...@audiosystemsgroup.com, topband@contesting.com, GEORGE WALLNER , Topband Subject: Re: Topband: N5J Live Stream? Sta-Bil On Monday, August 12, 2024 at 12:31:27 PM MST, Richard Karlquist wrote: FWIW, I use "Star Tron" stabilizer in my EU2000. I use it once a year for Field Day and have had no trouble with it at all.I don't even run the tank dry (let alone drain the carburetor bowl), just replenish it with new gas right before each FD.What stabilizer did you use that went bad?---Rick Karlquist N6RKOn 2024-08-11 17:31, Wes Stewart via Topband wrote: Hi George, Thanks for the info on the generators. MY EU2000 just sits and the gas goes bad, despite the additives. The EU22i looks really nice, except _Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: B7P
I agree about BG2AUE. He hears very well. I worked him on 80 in December 2017.73,Gary K9GS Original message From: John Kaufmann via Topband Date: 4/4/24 9:59 AM (GMT-05:00) To: topband@contesting.com Subject: Re: Topband: B7P It is also my experience that stations in China and Southeast Asia in general do not hear well at all on the low bands. One exception is BG2AUE. I have worked him multiple times on 80m CW from my QTH in the Boston area. He hears extremely well on 80. Every single time I've worked him there, he's been very weak but he's always answered me immediately. I've also seen him spotted a few times on 160 but have yet to hear him there. That's an extremely difficult path from W1 on 160. In fact, zone 24 is one of the two remaining zones I need for 160 WAZ, the other zone being 26.73, John W1FV_Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: PLease!
I have got to the point that I ignore those unquoted posts.73,Gary K9GS Original message From: Pete Smith N4ZR Date: 2/1/22 3:10 PM (GMT-05:00) To: topband@contesting.com Subject: Re: Topband: PLease! Amen, Mel. My favorites (ha) are the people who don't include *any* context in their replies.73, Pete N4ZRCheck out the new Reverse Beacon Networkweb server at<http://beta.reversebeacon.net>.For spots, please use your favorite"retail" DX cluster.On 2/1/2022 2:05 PM, Mike Waters wrote:> Thank you, Mel. This needed to be said. :-)>> On Tue, Feb 1, 2022, 1:00 PM MEL CRICHTON wrote:>>> Folks... when you reply to a post PLEASE do not include the entire>> digest in your reply just the message, or even better just the line>> or paragraph, that you are responding to. I could not find the new stuff>> inside all the old attachments in the last digest.>>>> Sorry to be a griper Not my usual cheery self today>>>> Mel KJ9C>>>>>> _>> 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: Balloon Supported Vertical
Use Hydrogen!73,Gary K9GS Original message From: W7TMT - Patrick Date: 11/8/21 4:54 PM (GMT-05:00) To: Mark - N5OT , TopBand List Subject: Re: Topband: Balloon Supported Vertical Regarding the helium…Be advised the gas used by the party stores these days is almost always a mixture and not pure helium. That’s means considerably less lift. You’ll likely need to source the good stuff from a industrial gas supplier.W7TMTFrom: Topband on behalf of Mark - N5OT Sent: Monday, November 8, 2021 1:17:53 PMTo: TopBand List Subject: Re: Topband: Balloon Supported VerticalBeen There Done ThatYou might want to figure the weight of what you have to lift. One wouldthink it was, like, duh, you make a wire vertical and fill a balloonfull of helium and ... but it turns out you need to be careful about theweight of the wire and insulators and you need to project how muchhelium you can use and how much lift you will need and ... all that.Just saying all that because the last thing you want to find out is,after you've got it all together, you just can't get it up in the air.I seem to recall I needed more like a 3 or 4 foot balloon to lift mine.And be careful of the sticker shock on the gas. I thought it was a lotof money 20 years ago. Rumor has it, it has not gone down in price.The first one worked well until I had a bad wind.The second one had some kind of corona arc off the top of the wire whichpopped the (relatively expensive) balloon after only a couple minutes oftesting it out. Or something. It popped on a clear calm day but underFull Power.Anyway, that wrecked my day. I decided it wasn't fun any more and havebeen using more conventional 160 meter verticals since.I think we wrote it up in the NCJ but don't remember and have sleptsince then.Oh sorry, you asked where to get the balloons. I think I got mine froma party supply store. It was not mylar.Note - Googling reminds me of these facts:Helium can lift 1 gram per litre.A balloon 2 feet in diameter will contain 118 litres of helium.That will lift 118 grams of antenna, = 4.1 ounces.132 feet of bare #18 solid copper wire weighs 10.4 ounces.A 2 foot balloon filled with helium will not lift a 160 vertical made of#18 wire, not to mention any extra line or insulators, etc.But a 4 foot balloon will lift a little over 2 pounds.Now I'm having nightmares again.73 - Mark N5OTOn 11/8/2021 2:48 PM, Dick Bingham wrote:> Greetings All>> I want to try a balloon supported Vertical for 160.> Any advice on sources for balloons? Mylar material> and diameters up to 2-feet would be my choice.>> 73. Dick/w7wkr at CN97uj> _> 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: Balloon Supported Vertical
OKI get to tell my funny balloon story.One local, who shall remain nameless, put up a balloon supported vertical for 160 M.It worked well the first night and after sunrise the crew (it was a multi-op) took it down in anticipation of using it again the second night.So what to do with an inflated balloon? It was decided to bring in into the basement for safekeeping. It was tight but doable down the stairs. One of the ops tried to wiggle past the balloon along the wall.It was cold outside, Wisconsin winter, and the Helium expanded in the warm basement pinning him against the wall. :))After everyone stopped laughing they punctured the balloon to free him. Luckily they had some spares.I think there was some alcohol involved.73,Gary K9GS Original message From: Dick Bingham Date: 11/8/21 3:48 PM (GMT-05:00) To: topband@contesting.com Subject: Topband: Balloon Supported Vertical Greetings AllI want to try a balloon supported Vertical for 160.Any advice on sources for balloons? Mylar materialand diameters up to 2-feet would be my choice.73. Dick/w7wkr at CN97uj_Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: steppir control wire
Here it is:https://consumer.steppir.com/shop/parts/antennas/conductor-cable/73,Gary K9GS Original message From: terry burge Date: 4/23/20 5:56 PM (GMT-06:00) To: topband@contesting.com, terry burge Subject: Topband: steppir control wire Hi folks,My steppir 3 element is not changing from 20 meters. I need to find a source for 12-strand control wire but my searches so far has found everything but. Where is a good source. Steppir antenna's site does not seem to have a catalog for parts with their new site. I miss being able to change bands but since I tried moving the control cables around on the ground it's messed things up.Help! Need 200' of 12 strand antenna control wire.TerryKI7M_Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: 8 vs 4 direction 4-SQ?
73,Gary K9GS Original message From: S57AD Date: 3/19/20 4:15 PM (GMT-06:00) To: john.kaufm...@verizon.net Cc: Gary K9GS , TopBand List Subject: Re: Topband: 8 vs 4 direction 4-SQ? If I were younger, if I had enough resources and huge real estate, I wouldgo for 8-circle BSEF array, which is even simplier than 4-square (just twophases involved)...73 Mirko, S57ADV V čet., 19. mar. 2020 ob 22:11 je oseba John Kaufmann via Topband napisala:> For signals that arrive from directions that are in between the main lobe> headings of a 4-square, you will lose up to a few dB of S/N compared to> having 8 directions. Whether that matters to you is purely a personal> performance vs. complexity/cost decision. If 90% of what you work is> covered by 4 directions, then 4 directions may be good enough. If you> don't want to give up any performance in any direction, then go for 8> directions. There is no right or wrong answer.>> 73, John W1FV>> -Original Message-> From: Topband [mailto:topband-bounces+john.kaufmann=> verizon@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Gary K9GS> Sent: Thursday, March 19, 2020 3:11 PM> To: topband@contesting.com> Subject: Topband: 8 vs 4 direction 4-SQ?>> A couple of companies, LBS and RemoteQTH, have started selling 8 direction> 4- SQ controllers.I'm trying to understand if this would be worthwhile. My> reasoning is that the main lobe is so broad you have the in-between 45> degree directions covered anyway. Thoughts?73,Gary K9GS> _> Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband> Reflector>> _> Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband> Reflector>-- Mirko S57AD_Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Topband: 8 vs 4 direction 4-SQ?
A couple of companies, LBS and RemoteQTH, have started selling 8 direction 4- SQ controllers.I'm trying to understand if this would be worthwhile. My reasoning is that the main lobe is so broad you have the in-between 45 degree directions covered anyway. Thoughts?73,Gary K9GS _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: 160m vertical saltwater grounding
I'm thinking Scarborough Reef?73,Gary K9GS Original message From: Stan Stockton Date: 1/8/20 6:25 PM (GMT-06:00) To: Robert Fanfant Cc: topband@contesting.com Subject: Re: Topband: 160m vertical saltwater grounding How big is the land area?Stan, ZF9CW> On Jan 8, 2020, at 4:30 PM, Robert Fanfant wrote:> > > Am looking to activate a location with very limited space surrounded by ocean. Think of a small rock surrounded by saltwater/ocean. The vertical will be a tall 60’+ fiberglass pole and made to resonate on 160m. I would like a way to reduce the required space of the 160m antenna radial field due to the limited physical space available. The vertical will be located at the waters edge, or even possibly over the oceans surface. At the feed point, will be a choke designed for 160m. We should also assume maximum power of 1.5KW being fed into the vertical and the activation will be for a 2 week duration of time.> > One idea that came up is to use a floating piece of conductive material as the verticals counterpoise. Specifically, a thin conductive plate designed to float on the oceans surface. From the antenna’s feed point, will be a short length of ground wire say about 6’ long, to this conductive plate.> > Question(s):> > 1. Is it possible to just use the ocean as the ground plane / counterpoise ? That is, can this idea work?> 2. If so,> * How do I determine the required square footage/size of the plate?> * What material should be used as the conductive plate? (Nickel, copper, aluminum, etc..? )The thought here is to make this plate as light as possible, yet effective. It will need to last the duration of the activation (~2 weeks) in/on saltwater, it needs to handle 1.5KW at the feed point, and likely exposed to air and saltwater as it floats on the ocean surface.> > -rob N7QT> > > > Sent from Mail<https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for Windows 10> > _> 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: Problems with inv L on pier over salt water
Thank you Grant...you said it better than I. The important thing is to keep the wire out of the water.Robert,If you were to use 1 or 2 radials suspended above the water, could you support the ends using some pipe or mast driven into the bottom or wedged between some rocks? It just has to be above the water a couple feet, taking into account waves and the tide. 73,Gary K9GS Original message From: Grant Saviers Date: 1/8/20 4:58 PM (GMT-06:00) To: Topband@contesting.com Subject: Re: Topband: Problems with inv L on pier over salt water Important facts about salt water are the attenuation of a wire submerged 10" at 1MHz is -87db and at 4S/m the conductivity is 10,000,000 times less than copper wire.Putting a single radial in a lossy medium doesn't work very well, whether it is dirt or saltwater. Radials elevated in low loss air work very well, especially over salt water. They should not connect to the water just as elevated radials over land should not be grounded.Modeling shows that one elevated radial over salt water has a few db skew in the pattern but with 5 to 6 dbi very low angle peak gain. With two radials the pattern is nearly perfectly symmetric.These are the far field benefits of the ~1000x higher than earth conductivity of salt water, so the salt water needs to extend out 5 or so wavelengths.Grant KZ1WOn 1/8/2020 12:41, Ignacy Misztal wrote:> There was a report from an expedition where the radials in water did not> work well but over water did. Over salt water, one radial (counterpoise) is> enough and more do not add performance.> I used Expert 1.3k with a tuner. The amp turned itself off hundreds of> times over the past few years due to wrong antenna or something going> wrong, with no consequence. The way it should be.> > Ignacy, NO9E> > On Wed, Jan 8, 2020 at 2:35 PM Rik van Riel wrote:> >> On Wed, 2020-01-08 at 12:01 -0600, Cecil wrote:>>> I’m far from an expert but if you were over salt water I would have>>> placed the counterpoise in the water.>>>> Word of the day: skin depth>>>> Having the counterpoise over the water means the antenna>> current goes through the (copper) counterpoise, of known>> resistance.>>>> Dropping the counterpoise into the water might mean that>> the current will be split between the counterpoise and the>> water, at an unknown (and changing with the waves and tides)>> proportion.>>>> That could be better.>> It could also be worse.>>>> Could it damage the antenna tuner, if it changed>> too quickly? Who knows?>>>> Now what might make some sense is to have a few>> shorter wires come down from the feedpoint and>> into the water, to add additional paths for the>> current, without impeding the path through the>> counterpoise.>>>> I have no idea how much that could help, though.>>>> -->> All Rights Reversed.>>> _> 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: Problems with inv L on pier over salt water
Hi Cecil,No...you don't want your counterpoise in the water. The reason is that RF does not penetrate very far into salt water.The only exception would be if the water was only a few inches deep like in a salt marsh.73,Gary K9GS Original message From: Cecil Date: 1/8/20 12:01 PM (GMT-06:00) To: Ignacy Misztal Cc: Topband@contesting.com Subject: Re: Topband: Problems with inv L on pier over salt water I’m far from an expert but if you were over salt water I would have placed the counterpoise in the water.I’d be curious what others think.Great experience though...CecilK5DL> On Jan 8, 2020, at 11:07 AM, Ignacy Misztal wrote:> > I would like to share my experiences with 160m operations during the SP> contest last December.> > My rental house in St George Isl FL had a 140 ft pier over the bay. Also a> power line to the end of the pier raising questions about RFI.> > I set inv L at the end of the pier with 40ft Spiderpole, 70ft horizontal> and 70ft radial on the pier. Horizontal with 24 gauge enameled wire for> low weight, and the rest with 18 ga THHN. Matching was with a transformer> on FT140-61 and coil on T200-2. Minimal SWR at 1.84.> > One hr before the sunset the EU was booming. RFI was pretty high but the> signals even stronger. I tried to use KX3 and Expert 1.3k combination, but> SWR become very unstable causing the Expert to turn off. I was looking for> culprits but could not find anything. Frustrated, I was forced to use> FT-891 at 100W.> > The setup was still pretty good as several EU answered my CQ.> > The next day I noticed that the radial on the pier that was touching> underneath (salt water sprayed) had melted insulation. Apparently this> caused sparcing and then variations in SWR.> > I relocated the radial away from the pier, over the bay. The resonance> moved from 1.84 to 1.96, and the impedance at resonance reduced from 40 to> 25 ohms. So the pier (or power line) was loading the antenna, surely> generating losses. Operating with a KW was no longer a problem.> > Here are my lessons:> 1. 40ft Spiderpole is enough for highly efficient inv L over salt water.> 2. Beware of insulated wire touching anything and especially wet and salty> at high power.> 3. Even with problems, the performance of an antenna over salt water is> terrific.> 4. Matching units do not have to be big.> 5. With good antenna, $550 FT-891 is OK.> > Ignacy, NO9E> _> 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: 160 portable vertical
If you can get the antenna over or near saltwater it will make a huge difference. 73,Gary K9GS Original message From: Wes Date: 8/7/19 5:09 PM (GMT-06:00) To: topband@contesting.com Subject: Re: Topband: 160 portable vertical He will probably hear as well as he's heard using QRP.I still use the TX inverted-L on receive and think that I have general parity between hearing and being heard running only 500W (7-10 dB below my neighbors).Wes N7WSOn 8/7/2019 2:02 PM, W0MU Mike Fatchett wrote:> and then you need to be able to hear the people calling so you will want some > kind of receiving antenna.>> On 8/7/2019 11:13 AM, Mike Smith VE9AA wrote:>> Hi Pat,>>>>>> Your #1 friend will be 127' of vertical(ish) wire (ie: inverted L) and a few>> ground radial wires or better still 3-4 raised radials and a tall palm tree,>> otherwise I am afraid you'll be sorely disappointed in any kind of short>> compromise (loaded) antenna with summer (QRN) condx and QRP and/or LP (K2 is>> 15w, correct?).>>>>>> There's no getting around physics and you're going to be very weak and a>> full sized antenna is going to be your best bet to being heard.>>>>>> GL>>>>>> Mike VE9AA>>>>>> Planning on going to some island in the Caribbean this December. Unless I>> find>>>> a friendly ham, will bring along my Elecraft k2 and operate qrp or lp.>> Looking>>>> for ideas on an easy to setup small vertical antenna to bring.>>>>>> N8vw>>>>>>>> Mike, Coreen & Corey>>>> Keswick Ridge, NB>>>>>> _>> 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: Need for capacitor
Hi Dave, Take a look here: https://www.alpharfsystems.com/?s=75+pF&submit=Search They have both the individual caps, now 18 kV, and the 5 capacitor assembly. Good luck 73, Gary K9GS Original message From: daraym...@iowatelecom.net Date: 12/28/18 3:16 PM (GMT-06:00) To: topband@contesting.com Subject: Topband: Need for capacitor Greetings topbanders. . . While CQing early this morning I began noticing a faint but troubling smell in the shack. It smelled like over heated wiring or electrical components. It continued to get stronger as I realized the odor was coming from the Alpha 99 amp. Indeed, a few moments later it tripped out. I dug into it this afternoon and discovered a leaky 75 pF/6 kV cap which is one of five such caps in a parallel bank that is pulled in on the band switch to achieve tank resonance only on 160m. I have removed the bad cap making the amp operational once again with the air variable tuning cap making up the lost C (and there’s still a little C to spare on the air-variable). After some searching I cannot find a 75 pF/6 kV cap. Mouser does not have anything even close in terms of the high voltage rating (hopefully I didn’t something). The closet thing Newark has is 47 pF which I have ordered. I’m guessing the 47 pF is probably OK but how important is equal current distribution across the five caps? Maybe I don’t need to be concerned about it? If I really do need the correct 75 pF/6 kV cap does anyone have ideas of a source? Replying privately is fine. See you all in the Stew. 73. . .Dave, W0FLS _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Ultimate antenna launcher....
Thanks for posting Peter..that's awesome. Still not sure how I'd explain this thing to a police officer while on my way to put up antennas. 73, Gary K9GS Original message From: Peter Bertini Date: 12/28/18 10:16 AM (GMT-06:00) To: topband@contesting.com Subject: Topband: Ultimate antenna launcher This is a manly solution for launching antennas... just load a frozen carp and you can cast your antenna line 300 yards! If the carp gets stuck in a tree, the birds will take care if it. https://www.facebook.com/InTheKnowInnovationAOL/videos/1912747892351198/?fref=gs&dti=13909010799&hc_location=group _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: new style PL-259's with screw on back INSTRUCTIONS
Can you provide a link so we know what you are talking about? 73, Gary K9GS Original message From: terry burge Date: 12/4/18 8:45 PM (GMT-06:00) To: topband@contesting.com, terry burge Subject: Topband: new style PL-259's with screw on back INSTRUCTIONS Hello guys and gals, I just bought 10 of these from China. Free shipping if you don't mind waiting a couple of weeks. Anyway I'm not exactly the best soldering guy on the block and would like to know if there is some webpage that shows how to install these new style coax connectors. They sort of look like RG-6 style with the strange tube for separating he center lead from the coax. The ones I did not use vs. the screw down ones (old style I think). But of course these are larger for RG-8, LMR-400, RG-213, etc. I'm thinking they will probably be more reliable. Hoping anyway. So can anyone help with this? Don't even know if they have a 'different' designation that PL-259's. Terry KI7M _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Antenna Tuners
As a point of reference, in the product manual for the Palstar auto tuner, they do mention developing a remote version of their auto tuner. PALSTAR will off er a fully remote version of the base version in the near future. However, in certain cases where there is DC power available at a reasonable distance you can operate this base version in the AUTO MODE. Other functions would of course not be available. I have e-mailed Palstar but, to date, they have not responded. I would love it if someone would come up with a high power, fully weatherized, remote tuner. On 2/15/2016 4:26 AM, Larry wrote: I have started looking at tuners myself and was mainly interested in auto tuners. There are some that claim to handle the legal limit except for RTTY. I have a Dentron MT3000A manual tuner and it doesn't seem to care. OTOH most of my antennas usually don't need a tuner as I have had solid state rigs since the early 1980's and they are not as tolerant of an SWR above 2:1. I recently switched to a solid state amp which is much more touchy about SWR than the radios. I am thinking the auto tuner may make the amp a bit happier. The choices are few however. 73, Larry W6NWS On 2/14/2016 10:11 PM, Robert Harmon wrote: Jim, You are undoubtedly going to get a variety of recommendations on a tuner. I guess the first thing to decide is if you really want an automatic tuner. Secondly it if you are going to use balanced line or not. And last but not least power level you will be using. I have a Palstar AT5K which works very well. Rated for our legal limit then some. Easy to tune up and takes full limit easily. It is a manual tuner though. I used a Dentron MT-2000 for years and it had switchable taps on the inductor. There were places where I couldnt get a nice match, needed another tap, hihi. My preference now is the rotary inductors like the Palstars. You can dial in a great match all the time, no switch settings to contend with. Bob K6UJ On 2/14/16 6:30 PM, Jim Murray via Topband wrote: Hello all,Would you have any recommendations for antenna tuners? Have been looking at the automatics, Palstar, Mfj, LDG At-1000Proii etc.. Have been using an old Dentron which doesn't have very close markings on the dials and getting tired of turning and adjusting. Another option would be another manual such as the At2k with more precise settings. I do quite of bit of band hopping and even on 160 my Inv. L is perfect on 1.830 but doesn't like going very far either up or down, hence the need for a little tuner loss. The automatics look pretty appealing but would appreciate any opinions from the group.Thanks Jim/k2hn _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband -- 73, Gary K9GS Greater Milwaukee DX Association: http://www.gmdxa.org Society of Midwest Contesters: http://www.w9smc.com CW Ops #1032 http://www.cwops.org _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Topband: VP8SGI tonight on 160M
The team from VP8SGI just announced that they will be on 160M tonight http://dxnews.com/vp8sgi-south-georgia/ -- 73, Gary K9GS Greater Milwaukee DX Association: http://www.gmdxa.org Society of Midwest Contesters: http://www.w9smc.com CW Ops #1032 http://www.cwops.org _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: shared apex loop array
Thank you Tony! On 11/10/2015 8:35 PM, Anthony Scandurra wrote: Here's the correct URL: http://www.contestuniversity.com/attachments/W3LPL_Receiving_Antennas_2014.pptx 73, Tony K4QE On Tue, Nov 10, 2015 at 9:26 PM, Jim Murray via Topband < topband@contesting.com> wrote: Sri can't seem to get these links to work. This is listed on Google then follow receiving antennas, etc. Last try- hopefully it works. W3LPL - Contest University www.contestuniversity.com/.../W3LPL_Receiving_Antennas_2014.pptx - - Receiving Antennas - or - What happened to the. Beverages at K3LR and W3LPL? directive antennas for small lots; higher performance for larger lots; very high ...Regards,jim/k2hn _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband -- 73, Gary K9GS Greater Milwaukee DX Association: http://www.gmdxa.org Society of Midwest Contesters: http://www.w9smc.com CW Ops #1032 http://www.cwops.org _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: shared apex loop array
Thanks Jim... You have to remove the three ... from the address. Unfortunately, the same problem with being unable to read the PP slide. Must be a problem in the original recording. On 11/10/2015 8:26 PM, Jim Murray via Topband wrote: Sri can't seem to get these links to work. This is listed on Google then follow receiving antennas, etc. Last try- hopefully it works. W3LPL - Contest University www.contestuniversity.com/.../W3LPL_Receiving_Antennas_2014.pptx - - Receiving Antennas - or - What happened to the. Beverages at K3LR and W3LPL? directive antennas for small lots; higher performance for larger lots; very high ...Regards,jim/k2hn _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband -- 73, Gary K9GS Greater Milwaukee DX Association: http://www.gmdxa.org Society of Midwest Contesters: http://www.w9smc.com CW Ops #1032 http://www.cwops.org _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Shared Apex Loop Array
Does anyone know if there is another source available for this besides YouTube? The PowerPoint slides are unreadable except when they are zoomed in (briefly). On 11/10/2015 4:46 PM, Jim Murray via Topband wrote: CTU 2014 - Session 6 Part 1 - Low Band Receive Antenna Discussion Q&A - W3LPL | | | | | | | | | | | CTU 2014 - Session 6 Part 1 - Low Band Receive Antenna... | | | | View on www.youtube.com | Preview by Yahoo | | | | | hi all annyone ever did test this setup?How does it perform in reality? may someone test it ore coud see the difference to HI-Z ore Beverage Antennas? Anny Info vy welcome Best wishes Frank DL8YHR.DE Frank, Try this. There are also more videos on the subjectRegards,Jim/k2hn _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband -- 73, Gary K9GS Greater Milwaukee DX Association: http://www.gmdxa.org Society of Midwest Contesters: http://www.w9smc.com CW Ops #1032 http://www.cwops.org _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: BOG question
Does the length of a BOG scale linearly? In other words, 100' for 80M? On 10/1/2015 5:09 PM, Mike Waters wrote: I fully agree, Chuck. I forget the actual length, but IIRC, 200' is a commonly used length on 160. 400' or 500' of wire on the earth is much too long to work right on most types of ground. 73, Mike www.w0btu.com On Thu, Oct 1, 2015 at 4:06 PM, Chuck Hutton wrote: Frank: I believe there is a large influence of height above ground on VF. ... The influence of height on VF is very very pronounced. _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband -- 73, Gary K9GS Greater Milwaukee DX Association: http://www.gmdxa.org Society of Midwest Contesters: http://www.w9smc.com CW Ops #1032 http://www.cwops.org _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: VE1PZ
Or maybe a busted call? VE1ZZ?? On 3/19/2015 6:01 PM, Roger D Johnson wrote: I see VE1PZ is one of the few that worked the E3! Who is he? I've never heard him on Top band. Is this another remote contact? 73, Roger _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband -- 73, Gary K9GS Greater Milwaukee DX Association: http://www.gmdxa.org Society of Midwest Contesters: http://www.w9smc.com CW Ops #1032 http://www.cwops.org _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Radial Wire
Thanks for all the great information. I appreciate your experience. My current installation is in the woods, not in a clear field. I, unfortunately, won't have the luxury of burying the wire. I'll have to lay it on the surface with staples holding it down. Not much foot traffic to contend with but there are a lot of deer, squirrels and various wildlife to contend with. This is to replace an existing radial field. The majority of the wire used was the old 5 or 8 conductor ribbon style rotor cable that was separated into individual strands. I've found many broken strands and the poor insulation hasn't weathered well. Of course I'll leave the old radial field in place and just lay the new ones on top. As others have mentioned the 16 ga stranded dog fence stuff looks pretty rugged. On 10/22/2014 9:35 PM, Tom W8JI wrote: Thank you very much for this source. I was just looking this week for wire prices. I want to buy quite a lot for next summer's antenna project. The nice thing is he's close enough I'll probably pick it up and save shipping. BTW...any thoughts on solid vs stranded? I do like to use insulated wire as I think it lasts longer. I was thinking 16 or 18 ga. When I did AM broadcast work, we would pull solid wire out of all sorts of stations built in the 1920's and 30's in all types of soil. Unless it was actually cut, it would be good. In my own Ham stuff, I primarily use #16 bare copper bus (which is soft drawn) wire. It lasts longer than I ever keep a house unless physically cut. If I pull some up after several years in the ground, it just barely shows light surface corrosion. I install mine with a plow on a tractor. I can pull a six inch deep radial, or any depth I want, at a few MPH. I have never broken a #16 wire pulling it into the ground. I have never seen one fail from lightning. I personally would stay away from stranded copper, and would especially stay away from aluminum, steel, or steel cored wire (watch what you buy). Any solid copper #16 or larger, especially soft drawn, will last a lot longer than most of use ever will. I would not be afraid of anything solid copper and #16 or larger size. If you never plan on long term direct soil exposure, never plan on soldering it later for an alteration or repair without doing a lot of cleaning work, and never plan on silver soldering, stranded copper is also OK. I use stranded insulated #14 on my 40M 4 square stuff because it is surface wire. The aluminum wire I installed several years ago on that system is falling apart, but the insulated stranded copper is still good. -- 73, Gary K9GS Greater Milwaukee DX Association: http://www.gmdxa.org Society of Midwest Contesters: http://www.w9smc.com CW Ops #1032 http://www.cwops.org _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Radial Wire
Frank, Thank you very much for this source. I was just looking this week for wire prices. I want to buy quite a lot for next summer's antenna project. The nice thing is he's close enough I'll probably pick it up and save shipping. BTW...any thoughts on solid vs stranded? I do like to use insulated wire as I think it lasts longer. I was thinking 16 or 18 ga. On 10/22/2014 1:17 PM, donov...@starpower.net wrote: iwc2carl on ebay is my favorite supplier of bulk wire. He's very reliable, consistently less expensive (including shipping) than the retail stores and electrical wholesalers, ships in a few days and you can't beat the convenience of delivery direct to your door. He almost always accepts an offer of 90% of his asking price. http://www.ebay.com/sch/iwc2carl/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from= For radials I typically use 1000 foot reels of 16 AWG stranded for $50.00 per reel plus ten dollars for shipping. 73 Frank W3LPL - Original Message - From: "Jim Brown" To: topband@contesting.com Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2014 6:42:03 PM Subject: Topband: Radial Wire On 6/26/2014 2:24 PM, Bill Wichers wrote: You can get solid thhn. Some codes even require it, but it is much less common. I've seen Home Depot stock it before. Solid #12 and #14 THHN on 500 ft spools is stocked by every Home Depot and Lowes store I have visited. They even offer a discount (10% on 5 or 6 spools, I think). I prefer #14 solid because it seems to remain in place a bit better than stranded. I would use #18 if it were widely available at good prices. 73, Jim K9YC _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband -- 73, Gary K9GS Greater Milwaukee DX Association: http://www.gmdxa.org Society of Midwest Contesters: http://www.w9smc.com CW Ops #1032 http://www.cwops.org _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Fw: Remote pre-amp power source
Hello Bruce, You might also try a nearby marine equipment dealer. They make solar charging systems for keeping boat batteries charged and also for sailboat electronics. On 9/25/2014 6:36 PM, k1fz wrote: Thanks to all for all the good information. Appreciate the help. Planning to run the preamp only in darkness with the help of a photo electric cell and light/sunlight. 73 Bruce-K1FZ www.qsl.net/k1fz/bogantennanotes/index.html Ah if runing 24/7. And if your use is mostly during the winter, take into account that days are shorter and sometimes not very bright. _ _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband -- 73, Gary K9GS Greater Milwaukee DX Association: http://www.gmdxa.org Society of Midwest Contesters: http://www.w9smc.com CW Ops #1032 http://www.cwops.org --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.com _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Big tower
I haven't seen this yet. It's about an hour North of my QTH in SE Wisconsin. It has been all over the news. Hard to imagine 680 yards of concrete. On 9/6/2014 5:08 PM, Carl wrote: So who will be the first to build this for that 160M 3 el yagi and maybe a 5 el for 80 at some lower height? There has to be a few with that much money and huge ego. http://mortenson.wistia.com/medias/tejnwpitig Carl _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband -- 73, Gary K9GS Greater Milwaukee DX Association: http://www.gmdxa.org Society of Midwest Contesters: http://www.w9smc.com CW Ops #1032 http://www.cwops.org --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.com _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Using 80m 1/4 vertical on 160
Hello Mike, There are a couple of guys in IL that have 80M zero-five verticals with a vacuum relay at the top. The relay switches in a top loading wire to make an inverted L/T antenna for 160M. They run the control wires down the inside of the tubing. On 6/2/2014 10:09 PM, W0MU Mike Fatchett wrote: Thanks all for the comments. I am putting up a single DXE 80m 1/4 vertical. I can put out the proper radials. I will have to add some longer ones for 160. Now to figure out switching in and out 160 and the matching. Mike W0MU On 6/1/2014 10:49 PM, W0MU Mike Fatchett wrote: Is this worth trying? _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband -- 73, Gary K9GS Greater Milwaukee DX Association: http://www.gmdxa.org Society of Midwest Contesters: http://www.w9smc.com CW Ops #1032 http://www.cwops.org _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Topband: Passive Receive Antenna Splitter
Can anyone point me to a design for a splitter for sharing a Beverage antenna between two receivers? This is for Field Day so these are not optimized Beverages by any means. Just want to allow the 80/40M stations to share antennas. Nothing fancy. My thoughts are to just use a CATV "2-Way" splitter at the output of the Beverage matching transformer and run separate feed-lines to each radio. I'm pretty sure these things work down to 1 MHz but have not measured them. I can use the pre-amp in the radio (K3) to compensate for the loss. Thoughts? -- 73, Gary K9GS Greater Milwaukee DX Association: http://www.gmdxa.org Society of Midwest Contesters: http://www.w9smc.com CW Ops #1032 http://www.cwops.org _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: TO7CC
Operating as W1AW/9 I worked them at 0135Z Saturday night on 80M. They had a pretty good signal. They were operating high in the band, 3555. On 2/14/2014 11:21 AM, Jim Brown wrote: Has anyone heard or worked these guys on 80 or 160? 73, Jim K9YC _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2014.0.4335 / Virus Database: 3705/7094 - Release Date: 02/14/14 _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: DX Summit connection problems
This one is relatively new but I've been using it quite a bit: http://dxfor.me/ <http://dxfor.me/> Some great tools, alarms, statistics and the DX calendar are great features. On 2/9/2014 8:02 PM, Eddy Swynar wrote: On 2014-02-09, at 5:21 PM, Herb Schoenbohm wrote: I use DX-Summit at times to monitor topand activity. But for some reason the connection is rejected via my normal ISP. However when I use by Android on ATT there is no problem connection. The same ability to connect is via another computer hooked to a different IP address. One local ISP is blocked and the other isn't. I just hope someone can help me with this as there must be some simple solution. On the DX Summit site I can not find a "help" or "contact" person to send my problem to. Thanks, Herb Schoenbohm, KV4FZ _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband Hi Herb, I gave up on the DX Summit YEARS ago... Suddenly I couldn't post spots, & simply gave-up trying to find help. Found refuge in this site, however: http://www.sk6aw.net/cluster/ Maybe you will, too...! ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband -- 73, Gary K9GS Greater Milwaukee DX Association: http://www.gmdxa.org Society of Midwest Contesters: http://www.w9smc.com CW Ops #1032 http://www.cwops.org _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Steady Carrier on 80 CW
I was going to make the same comment. I would think that very high in the band, above 3575, would make a LOT more sense. On 11/8/2013 7:22 AM, Lennart Michaelsson wrote: Hi all, Just curious: How come that people operate Ham beacons in a bandsegment that we have agreed to be used for DX traffic only? What is the purpose? 73 Len SM7BIC " The beacon that you mention (what I assume I'm hearing around 3.500.9 this morning between 1130 to 1200 UTC) is on a lower frequency (approximately 0.9 Khz lower) than what I was previously hearing, it's much weaker than what I had been hearing, and it's heading is much different from my previous measurements. Using my 3 pennants I would say the signal from what I assume is the w4hbk beacon is a little West Of South from my location (my first estimate this morning put it around 190 degrees, and QRZ.com says w4hbk is 186 degrees from my location), and this is much different than my previous measurements that typically were from 128 to 140 degrees and 150 degrees at the most)" Just FYI, Don (wd8dsb) _ Topband Reflector _ Topband Reflector -- 73, Gary K9GS Greater Milwaukee DX Association: http://www.gmdxa.org Society of Midwest Contesters: http://www.w9smc.com CW Ops #1032 http://www.cwops.org _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Fixed capacitor source needed (150pf 5KV)
Hello Herb, My favorite place for doorknob caps is Max-Gain Systems. http://www.mgs4u.com/index.html Taking a quick look I see they have some 200 pF 7.5 Kv doorknobs. If you don't see what you want, call. They often have parts not on their web page. On 10/3/2013 9:45 AM, Herb Schoenbohm wrote: I have a Drake MN2700 so I can at least get the amp to work above 1870Khz during contests. The tuner used some fixed flat 150pf 5KV capacitors to switch in from the front selector as increased capacity is need to make the tuner work. I can't find any door knob substitutes at that value in my junk box. I am thus looking for a source for these values but so far have not found anything that I can use as a substitute. I presume I could make some out of sections of RG-8 mini roller up in a coIl but before I try this I am searching for a door knob source. I have some 500pf at 5KV and three of them in series might be close enough but i still need the correct values. If any reader to this knows of other ATU manufactures that use the copper teflon flat capacitor in their units maybe could order 150 pf 5KV from them. Your help on this would be appreciated. Herb, KV4FZ _ Topband Reflector -- 73, Gary K9GS Greater Milwaukee DX Association: http://www.gmdxa.org Society of Midwest Contesters: http://www.w9smc.com CW Ops #1032 http://www.cwops.org _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Fw: Are stacked verticals feasible?
Hello Ray, I have a DX-Engineering 8040VA-1 vertical. This is a ~57 foot vertical with a small hat assembly to tune at the low end of 80. There is a trap for 40M. http://www.dxengineering.com/parts/dxe-8040va-1 DX Engineering offers an optional 30M add-on kit which is a 1/4 wave wire on 30M, spaced 8" (?) from the main vertical. The 30M wire is simply attached to ground at the antenna base and it floats at the top. http://www.dxengineering.com/parts/dxe-8040-30aok In other words, the 30M added wire is not driven directly and forms a parasitically driven element. Think "sleeve dipole". Anyway, it works extremely well on 80-40-30M. I wonder if something like this would work in your situation? It would greatly simplify the feed system. The bandwidth is very good on all bands too. You could probably try it without having to take anything down...it's all at the base of the antenna. On 9/7/2013 1:48 PM, Ray Benny wrote: My experience with 80/160m verticals on the same structure: I have a 70 ft tall irrigation pipe vertical with two 50 ft top hat wires for 160m. My radial field is 110 radials most about 135 ft long. I also have 4 - 8 ft ground rods around it for lightning grounding purposes. To match, I use a coil at the base and tap up to match, and tap down from the top to resonate. The band width is only 50 Kz though. The antenna works great on 160m, I work most of the DX I hear. To make this structure work on 80m, I added a insulated #10 drop wire about 14 inches away at the 60 foot level. This wire is not attached to the 70 ft vertical but goes into my matching system that has a second coil for 80m matching/loading. I tap it the same way as the 160m load/matching coil. But, in order to match it on 80m* I have to ground* the 70 ft irrigation vertical at the base. This vertical wire works great on 80m but is rather narrow banded too, maybe 60 Kz max. I do not use any computer modeling, so I don't know what it would reveal about my system. Ray, N6VR Chino Valley, AZ On Sat, Sep 7, 2013 at 7:33 AM, Guy Olinger K2AV wrote: The short story on a low band collinear supported by or close to a tower is that it depends like everything on the details. One really needs to literally model any long linear metallic conductor within a wavelength. Also with typical towers stuck in a blob of concrete, and the bottom usually into some degree of dirt below the concrete, it will be very hard to characterize what the model should specify at the base of any tower as a connection to dirt. It will be necessary to include in the model a topping yagi's mast and boom and lowest band elements farthest from the mast. If an inverted vee off the tower doesn't have it's coax shield grounded to the tower at the top followed by a balun effective on the collinear frequency, then the coax plus the vee may be a major detuning influence. Again, literal modeling of everything. The very common answer is that the idea gets dropped after modeling, and seeing how much interaction there is, getting into detuning of towers, blocking low band common mode current on coax + inverted vees, etc. Tricky, tricky, and not simple, unless the area was constructed with the low band stuff in mind from the get-go. It can be done, but not without modeling. A lot of the interactions are counter-intuitive, and don't make themselves apparent until all the nasty modeling math is run. You can get lucky with what you already have in place, but you can't see it with your intuition. 73 and good luck, Guy On Sat, Sep 7, 2013 at 1:31 AM, Bob Kupps wrote: Say Paul I am going to try the same setup except ground the 80m vertical as a close (5') coupled radiator and see what the feed impedance of the 160 vertical is on 80. It models well... On 09/06/2013 09:26 AM, ZR wrote: I would think that at 6-12' spacing from the tower it would minimize interaction on 160 or 80? I don't know, Carl. I'll leave it to the experts. What I do know is I have made several attempts to erect a vertical for 80 meters near my 160 meter tower, using the same radial system. At 10 foot spacing from the tower, the base resistance of an 80 meter quarter wave vertical was less than 5 ohms. That to me suggests significant interaction with the tower. At 5 foot spacing the base resistance was less than 2 ohms! I don't have the data handy but I seem to recall having to adjust the length considerably from a quarter wavelength to cancel a reactive component. 73, Paul N1BUG _ Topband Reflector _ Topband Reflector _ Topband Reflector _ Topband Reflector -- 73, Gary K9GS Greater Milwaukee DX Association: http://www.gmdxa.org Society of Midwest Contesters: http://www.w9smc.com CW Ops #1032 http://www.cwops.org _ Topband Reflector
Topband: Fwd: Re: Desktop Power Supply Brand/Noise Question
I think Pete meant to send this to the list. if not, my apologies Pete. Original Message Subject:Re: Topband: Desktop Power Supply Brand/Noise Question Date: Sun, 21 Jul 2013 09:52:25 -0400 From: Pete Smith N4ZR To: garyk...@wi.rr.com I did exactly what Gary suggests to clean up the power supply on my homebuilt octo-core machine (back when it was a dual core Pentium hi). Corcom is one of several brands - even the best costs only ~$10. I had to do a little surgery on the IEC connector hole in my cheapo supply, but it was worth it!. 73, Pete N4ZR Check out the Reverse Beacon Network at http://reversebeacon.net, blog at reversebeacon.blogspot.com. For spots, please go to your favorite ARC V6 or VE7CC DX cluster node. On 7/20/2013 5:11 PM, Gary K9GS wrote: Hi Clay, One thing you might want to check. See if you can get inside the power supply...disconnect it first. Take a look on the PCB near the power connector. There may be a space on the PCB where you can install a power line filtersomething like a CorCom or similar. Sometimes they leave them out on some models to save money. If you Google CorCom you find info on the different models...just be sure to get the correct ratings. They also sell filters with built-in IEC connectors. An IEC connector is what the power cord plugs into. you may be able to get one that works. On 7/20/2013 9:27 AM, Clay Melhorn wrote: Hello to the group.I recently built an AMD quadcore machine I intend to eventually replace my trusty XP Pro machines. Foolishly got in a hurry to complete the build and purchased a PS from a local shop.It supplies the power required without issue, I have discovered why the price was so good.Jim Brown will love this one, virtually no RFC filtering, you get what you pay for and I know betterjust didn't realize the noise from 40m and down would be SO intense particularly on a Delta pennantthat points back toward the shack's general direction. The XP machines are very quiet.Live and learn. Question: Looking at another "good deal" how do the COOLER MASTER PS's rate for RFC filteringor are there others brand I should be looking at? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171031&nm_mc=EMC-EXPRESS072013&cm_mmc=EMC-EXPRESS072013-_-EMC-072013-Index-_-PowerSupplies-_-17171031-L04B Will likely not waste time trying to make a Cadillac out of the Yugo I purchased. Thankyou in advance, Clay Melhorn N9IO Bonfield, ILWebmaster: KARS - Kankakee Area Radio Society - W9AZ http://www.w9az.com/ _ Topband Reflector -- 73, Gary K9GS Greater Milwaukee DX Association: http://www.gmdxa.org Society of Midwest Contesters: http://www.w9smc.com CW Ops #1032 http://www.cwops.org _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Desktop Power Supply Brand/Noise Question
Another couple of points. About 10 years ago, at a local ham-fest, there was a guy selling brand new Lambda power supplies. They were adjustable from 10-15 V and he had models ranging from 20-50 amps. They were switching supplies. I couldn't pass these up and bought 7 or 8 of them. They were a bit on the noisy side RF wise...nothing horrible but enough to be noticeable. I ended up wiring in some CorCom line filters that I had around the house and it completely removed the noise. I've used these supplies for years including being used on a number of different DX-peditionsthey are light and fairly small. This fix worked just great. The CorCom filters are frequently seen at ham-fests and surplus outlets although you can buy them new through component distributors like Digi-Key and Mouser. There are many models and they differ in mainly two categories. Voltage/Current capacities and the mechanical connections for bringing line voltage in and out. The most common have Fast-On type spade terminals or solder posts but I've seen many variations. On 7/20/2013 4:11 PM, Gary K9GS wrote: Hi Clay, One thing you might want to check. See if you can get inside the power supply...disconnect it first. Take a look on the PCB near the power connector. There may be a space on the PCB where you can install a power line filtersomething like a CorCom or similar. Sometimes they leave them out on some models to save money. If you Google CorCom you find info on the different models...just be sure to get the correct ratings. They also sell filters with built-in IEC connectors. An IEC connector is what the power cord plugs into. you may be able to get one that works. On 7/20/2013 9:27 AM, Clay Melhorn wrote: Hello to the group.I recently built an AMD quadcore machine I intend to eventually replace my trusty XP Pro machines. Foolishly got in a hurry to complete the build and purchased a PS from a local shop.It supplies the power required without issue, I have discovered why the price was so good.Jim Brown will love this one, virtually no RFC filtering, you get what you pay for and I know betterjust didn't realize the noise from 40m and down would be SO intense particularly on a Delta pennantthat points back toward the shack's general direction. The XP machines are very quiet.Live and learn. Question: Looking at another "good deal" how do the COOLER MASTER PS's rate for RFC filteringor are there others brand I should be looking at? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171031&nm_mc=EMC-EXPRESS072013&cm_mmc=EMC-EXPRESS072013-_-EMC-072013-Index-_-PowerSupplies-_-17171031-L04B Will likely not waste time trying to make a Cadillac out of the Yugo I purchased. Thankyou in advance, Clay Melhorn N9IO Bonfield, ILWebmaster: KARS - Kankakee Area Radio Society - W9AZ http://www.w9az.com/ _____ Topband Reflector -- 73, Gary K9GS Greater Milwaukee DX Association: http://www.gmdxa.org Society of Midwest Contesters: http://www.w9smc.com CW Ops #1032 http://www.cwops.org _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Desktop Power Supply Brand/Noise Question
Hi Clay, One thing you might want to check. See if you can get inside the power supply...disconnect it first. Take a look on the PCB near the power connector. There may be a space on the PCB where you can install a power line filtersomething like a CorCom or similar. Sometimes they leave them out on some models to save money. If you Google CorCom you find info on the different models...just be sure to get the correct ratings. They also sell filters with built-in IEC connectors. An IEC connector is what the power cord plugs into. you may be able to get one that works. On 7/20/2013 9:27 AM, Clay Melhorn wrote: Hello to the group.I recently built an AMD quadcore machine I intend to eventually replace my trusty XP Pro machines. Foolishly got in a hurry to complete the build and purchased a PS from a local shop.It supplies the power required without issue, I have discovered why the price was so good.Jim Brown will love this one, virtually no RFC filtering, you get what you pay for and I know betterjust didn't realize the noise from 40m and down would be SO intense particularly on a Delta pennantthat points back toward the shack's general direction. The XP machines are very quiet.Live and learn. Question: Looking at another "good deal" how do the COOLER MASTER PS's rate for RFC filteringor are there others brand I should be looking at? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171031&nm_mc=EMC-EXPRESS072013&cm_mmc=EMC-EXPRESS072013-_-EMC-072013-Index-_-PowerSupplies-_-17171031-L04B Will likely not waste time trying to make a Cadillac out of the Yugo I purchased. Thankyou in advance, Clay Melhorn N9IO Bonfield, ILWebmaster: KARS - Kankakee Area Radio Society - W9AZ http://www.w9az.com/ _ Topband Reflector -- 73, Gary K9GS Greater Milwaukee DX Association: http://www.gmdxa.org Society of Midwest Contesters: http://www.w9smc.com CW Ops #1032 http://www.cwops.org _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Ferrite Source
About a year ago I purchased 65 of these cores from Arrow. The cost was $3.84/ea. To be fair, these were purchased through my employer and we do a significant amount of business with Arrow. I did this as a group buy for my local DX club and some friends. On 6/5/2013 7:16 AM, Don Kirk wrote: Dean, I purchase the 2.4" O.D. 31 mix cores (Fair-Rite part number 2631803802) from Arrow Electronics, and the single quantity pricing is currently $4.83 per part. Shipping is $8.00, but the low piece price more than makes up for the shipping cost. Arrow Electronics is a Fair-Rite distributor, and they typically are the lowest price I can find from a Fair-Rite distributor. 73's Don (WD8DSB) On Tue, Jun 4, 2013 at 6:29 PM, wrote: Hi Folks A month or so ago, I inquired of the reflector , for a source for 31 material ferrite cores. Many responded both on and off the reflector. I thank you all for your input. You can be sure I checked out your suggestions. From my point of view the very best suggestion was Kreger Components 1360 Roanoke BLvd Salem, VA 24153. Or on the web at www. krege rcomponents.com Phone is 540 389 6565. I talked to "Sherry" on my first contact. She is the inside sales manager. I found her to be easy to work with, and happy to be involved with a small lot purchase. What is small you ask? Their webpage indicates a hundred dollar minimum. My order was about 225 dollars. It was a combined order with another local ham. They have a very extensive stock and update their catalog every day, so you wont run into out of stock replies. Specifically? The large type 31 core, we commonly know as FT240-31 is priced at $6.25 each in small lots. Thats the cheapest I found anywhere. Communications were excellent. Shipping was ultra quick and very well packed. It arrived today. Kreger Componets was first suggested by Charlie Cunningham . Several others followed on and confirmed their great reputation ..as Im doing . 73 Dean W5PJR Tijeras, NM All good topband ops know how to put up a beverage at night. _ Topband Reflector All good topband ops know how to put up a beverage at night. _ Topband Reflector -- 73, Gary K9GS Greater Milwaukee DX Association: http://www.gmdxa.org Society of Midwest Contesters: http://www.w9smc.com CW Ops #1032 http://www.cwops.org All good topband ops know how to put up a beverage at night. _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: New 160M high performance receiving antenna at W3LPL
This topic made me curious to see what was on Google Maps: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=40%C2%B02'57%22N+88%C2%B022'50%22W&ie=UTF8&ll=40.049563,-88.380675&spn=0.01636,0.038409&hnear=0x880ccc1bf72e2559:0x257eb5f56359d600,%2B40%C2%B0+2'+56.91%22,+-88%C2%B0+23'+15.98%22&gl=us&t=h&z=15 (may have to do some cut and pasting of the link. Looks like not much left although the "circle" is still well defined for some reason. On 2/5/2013 8:35 PM, Gary K9GS wrote: Or there's this one in Champaign, IL at the University of Illinois. http://www.ece.illinois.edu/about/history/wullenweber/index.asp It's been several decades since I've been out there and up close. In the early 80s it was already in considerable dis-repair. On 2/4/2013 12:53 PM, donov...@starpower.net wrote: Hi Lee, You can save yourself lots of engineering effort if you simply make yourself a copy of this one: https://maps.google.com/maps?q=40+43+24+n,+141+19+44+e&hl=en&ll=40.72308,141.328892&spn=0.003313,0.006968&sll=40.723876,141.329155&sspn=0.026507,0.055747&t=k&z=18 My former employer (then Sylvania, now General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems) installed it in 1966 at Misawa Air Base, Japan. I believe its still exists, but its probably no longer in use due to technical obsolesence, high maintenance costs and unavailability of spare parts. An identical array installed at Elmendorf Air Base, Alaska is also still in existence as far as I know. Maybe you can purchase one of them! Many copies of the original 40 element German "Wullenwever" array were built all over USSR shortly after World War II, some may still exist. Among other things, they tracked the 10 and 20 MHz Sputnik beacons that some of us recall. 73 Frank W3LPL Original message Date: Mon, 4 Feb 2013 10:13:55 -0800 From: "Lee K7TJR" Subject: New 160M high performance receiving antenna at W3LPL To: "Robert McGwier" , "Frank Donovan" Cc: "Topband" Hello Bob and all, Yes I agree on the issue of needing the stable impedance from the elements to drive the passive systems. I still have some questions in my mind about the radials and here is why. I have made many field tests where I measured the actual phase and amplitude differences between two receiving elements where one is held constant and parameters around the other were changed such as ground rods, radials, and such. Both were receiving signal from an equidistant transmitted source. What I can tell you for sure about this is that with a Hi-Z system the phase and amplitude shifts become quite unstable when radials are used. I do not know this to be a fact with loaded elements but I have seen evidence of some received signal shift due to the presence of the radials to the element. This test really opened my eyes about received signals and what objects might affect them. I have plans to buy the NEC4 engine and do some more field tests using another technology that should give me more answers. It is these minute details that prevent us from making these RX antennas even smaller. There is no doubt that the state of the art is advancing in receiving antenas with all the work that is and has gone on. I am confident that what we are presently doing is not perfect and I expect the state of the art still has a ways to go. There have been many man years of work by many people. I hesitate to name calls but a few notables are K6SE, W7IUV, W8JI, K9AY, W3LPL, W5ZN, W1FV, NX4D, N4IS, AA7J, K1LT and many many others that I apologize for not having the space here or personal memory at the moment to mention. There are more man years of work to do. I still covet the 96 element Wullenwever antenna invented around 1940! Lee K7TJR >The issue is getting sufficient ground radials so that changing soil conditions: dry season, wet season, etc have minimal impact on the impedance which is the easiest measurement of the changing conditions. Joel and I did measurements several times and when he was near drought he found he had to add radials to stabilize the performance. Once done, his system has been stable since. Great news on both of you successfully deploying. Bob >N4HY _ Topband Reflector -- 73, Gary K9GS Greater Milwaukee DX Association: http://www.gmdxa.org Society of Midwest Contesters: http://www.w9smc.com CW Ops #1032 http://www.cwops.org _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: New 160M high performance receiving antenna at W3LPL
Or there's this one in Champaign, IL at the University of Illinois. http://www.ece.illinois.edu/about/history/wullenweber/index.asp It's been several decades since I've been out there and up close. In the early 80s it was already in considerable dis-repair. On 2/4/2013 12:53 PM, donov...@starpower.net wrote: Hi Lee, You can save yourself lots of engineering effort if you simply make yourself a copy of this one: https://maps.google.com/maps?q=40+43+24+n,+141+19+44+e&hl=en&ll=40.72308,141.328892&spn=0.003313,0.006968&sll=40.723876,141.329155&sspn=0.026507,0.055747&t=k&z=18 My former employer (then Sylvania, now General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems) installed it in 1966 at Misawa Air Base, Japan. I believe its still exists, but its probably no longer in use due to technical obsolesence, high maintenance costs and unavailability of spare parts. An identical array installed at Elmendorf Air Base, Alaska is also still in existence as far as I know. Maybe you can purchase one of them! Many copies of the original 40 element German "Wullenwever" array were built all over USSR shortly after World War II, some may still exist. Among other things, they tracked the 10 and 20 MHz Sputnik beacons that some of us recall. 73 Frank W3LPL Original message Date: Mon, 4 Feb 2013 10:13:55 -0800 From: "Lee K7TJR" Subject: New 160M high performance receiving antenna at W3LPL To: "Robert McGwier" , "Frank Donovan" Cc: "Topband" Hello Bob and all, Yes I agree on the issue of needing the stable impedance from the elements to drive the passive systems. I still have some questions in my mind about the radials and here is why. I have made many field tests where I measured the actual phase and amplitude differences between two receiving elements where one is held constant and parameters around the other were changed such as ground rods, radials, and such. Both were receiving signal from an equidistant transmitted source. What I can tell you for sure about this is that with a Hi-Z system the phase and amplitude shifts become quite unstable when radials are used. I do not know this to be a fact with loaded elements but I have seen evidence of some received signal shift due to the presence of the radials to the element. This test really opened my eyes about received signals and what objects might affect them. I have plans to buy the NEC4 engine and do some more field tests using another technology that should give me more answers. It is these minute details that prevent us from making these RX antennas even smaller. There is no doubt that the state of the art is advancing in receiving antenas with all the work that is and has gone on. I am confident that what we are presently doing is not perfect and I expect the state of the art still has a ways to go. There have been many man years of work by many people. I hesitate to name calls but a few notables are K6SE, W7IUV, W8JI, K9AY, W3LPL, W5ZN, W1FV, NX4D, N4IS, AA7J, K1LT and many many others that I apologize for not having the space here or personal memory at the moment to mention. There are more man years of work to do. I still covet the 96 element Wullenwever antenna invented around 1940! Lee K7TJR >The issue is getting sufficient ground radials so that changing soil conditions: dry season, wet season, etc have minimal impact on the impedance which is the easiest measurement of the changing conditions. Joel and I did measurements several times and when he was near drought he found he had to add radials to stabilize the performance. Once done, his system has been stable since. Great news on both of you successfully deploying. Bob >N4HY _ Topband Reflector -- 73, Gary K9GS Greater Milwaukee DX Association: http://www.gmdxa.org Society of Midwest Contesters: http://www.w9smc.com CW Ops #1032 http://www.cwops.org _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Outing The Scofflaws...
An interesting aside When PT0S was on 80M last night there was a W0 with a wide raspy signal. He was quite loud here in WI. He was calling about 8 up and his signal was so bad he was covering up the transmit frequency of the PT0. I sent him a courteous e-mail and he responded this morning that while he was transmitting on 80M his amp was tuned for 160M. So sometimes a gentle notice does some good. Not sure if that would have the same effect if it was intentional. On 11/12/2012 12:03 PM, Michael Tope wrote: Good advice, Mike. In fact, that's why I followed up my initial post with the suggestion that I had know way of knowing that the previously named offender was the actual perpetrator of the bad operating. In hindsight it would have been better to contact him privately and pass on my observations. Mea culpa. 73, Mike W4EF... On 11/12/2012 9:36 AM, mstang...@comcast.net wrote: Michael, Good advice. Remember to contact the potential offender off-list. Mike N2MS - Original Message - From: Michael Tope To: topband@contesting.com Sent: Mon, 12 Nov 2012 17:27:01 - (UTC) Subject: Re: Topband: Outing The Scofflaws... For illegal power, there is not much you can do unless, as you say, you are in the shack watching it. For bad operating you can diplomatically mention to the offender that your heard someone using their call and using very poor operating techniques (specifics supplied) and that you figured that they would want to know about it. This avoids the direct accusation by giving them the benefit of the doubt, but it does send the message that the observed behavior( regardless of the perpetrator) is totally unacceptable. I think any person with a conscience will eventually get the message that they need to clean up their act. For a person with no conscience, you can hope they find another hobby. 73, Mike W4EF ___ Topband reflector - topband@contesting.com ___ Topband reflector - topband@contesting.com -- 73, Gary K9GS Greater Milwaukee DX Association:http://www.gmdxa.org Society of Midwest Contesters:http://www.w9smc.com CW Ops #1032http://www.cwops.org ___ Topband reflector - topband@contesting.com
Re: Topband: Outing The Scofflaws...
Since I sort of started this with my post last night... I don't think that public humiliation is going to fix this problem. As others have pointed out, there is too much of a potential for abuse with people deliberately signing others callsigns, etc. I think the best is peer pressure from locals who know who the culprit is. I'd be willing to speculate that in most cases the operator causing the deliberate interference is known to local hams. If it is someone you know.say something privately and constructively. Everyone makes an occasional error. Heck, I've inadvertently forgot to hit the split button on my K3 after turning on the sub receiver. That's really easy to do. In fact, one of the things about the K3 that I think can cause problems if you're not careful is when you're set for split, say on 160M and QSY to another band. When you go back to 160M the K3 remembers the frequency and the split but the split is turned OFF. Always look before you transmit. On 11/12/2012 10:00 AM, Eddy Swynar wrote: Here's an idea that I'll toss up into the air as a (possible) first step in bringing a few of these lawless characters to heel: Maintain some sort of an open-to-all web page that is frequented by would-be future DX'peditions that contains a master list of the call signs of those habitual displayers of stupid behaviour and poor decorum in pile-ups. "Members" of this select "club" would have earned their posting ONLY if their repeated crass procedures were duly noted and recorded by no less than THREE previous DX-peditions, and/or TEN "domestic" listeners attempting to get through in a pile-up... I think that such numbers would effectively rule-out the possibility of error, especially such numbers as might be posted by actual past DX-peditions. >From the sound of things, DX-peditions are fast going the route of the lawless wild, wild west anymore. How long will it be before those who go through all of the considerable financial & logistical hurdles in mounting such forays in the far flung corners of the world might finally throw up their hands in disgust & say that all of the work is simply not worth it...? If anyone has any better suggestions for improvement, let's hear them...after all, we Hams are supposed to take considerable pride in our being a "self-policing" lot---so what are we waiting for...? ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _______ Topband reflector - topband@contesting.com -- 73, Gary K9GS Greater Milwaukee DX Association: http://www.gmdxa.org Society of Midwest Contesters: http://www.w9smc.com CW Ops #1032 http://www.cwops.org ___ Topband reflector - topband@contesting.com
Re: Topband: PT0S
Tonight PT0S was on 80M...big pile-up. Then went to 160 with a good signal. At the same time they were on 160 they also showed on 80M again. This time the 80M op was clearly not the same one as before. At about the same time HA8RM reported the 'bad" 80M station was S9 +20 in EU. I checked 160 at the same time and they were still there. A little later they went QRT on 160M and went back to 80M. This time the same good op as earlier. I worked them both with the "good" op and the "bad" op on 80. Hopefully one of those QSO's will be a good one. I hope they are able to upload logs.WFWL in the meantime. On 11/11/2012 9:28 PM, Bob K6UJ wrote: I know the feeling! Not sure if you are in the log... Hope you made it ! I havent been successful yet with making a contact but there is still a week to go. It is great to see a DXPedition put emphasis on 160 and 80 for a change ! 73, Bob K6UJ On Nov 11, 2012, at 7:04 PM, Gary Smith wrote: An ATNO! No question on line logs are a benefit to the chase, definitely saves the need for "insurance QSOs" and the resultant QRM and loss of needed contacts by those QRMed out of the game. There was a large amount of QRN tonight when I worked PT0S and and with that, it'll be nice to see the on-line log just to be sure. Gary KA1J They are reporting very limited i-net access, so it could be awhile . -Original Message- From: Topband [mailto:topband-boun...@contesting.com] On Behalf Of John Harden Sent: Sunday, November 11, 2012 1:37 PM To: topband@contesting.com Subject: Topband: PT0S Does anyone have info on when the PT0S logs will be up on the internet? ___ Topband reflector - topband@contesting.com - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2012.0.2221 / Virus Database: 2441/5388 - Release Date: 11/11/12 ___ Topband reflector - topband@contesting.com ___ Topband reflector - topband@contesting.com ___ Topband reflector - topband@contesting.com -- 73, Gary K9GS Greater Milwaukee DX Association: http://www.gmdxa.org Society of Midwest Contesters: http://www.w9smc.com CW Ops #1032 http://www.cwops.org ___ Topband reflector - topband@contesting.com
Re: Topband: 1810 spur status and resolution
Very interesting and well done. Was it ever discovered what was actually causing the spurious signal? In other words, what did the station engineer do that caused the signal to disappear? Rudy is awesome too! On 10/17/2012 7:00 PM, Don Kirk wrote: Full and final details on the recent spurious signal and how it was located can be found on the following website. http://sites.google.com/site/wgymsignal/ 73's Rick K2XT & Don WD8DSB ___ Remember the PreStew coming on October 20th. http://www.kkn.net/stew for more info. -- 73, Gary K9GS Greater Milwaukee DX Association: http://www.gmdxa.org Society of Midwest Contesters: http://www.w9smc.com CW Ops #1032 http://www.cwops.org ___ Remember the PreStew coming on October 20th. http://www.kkn.net/stew for more info.
Re: Topband: Propagation to Conway Reef
Tom is correct. It's probably unlikely that they're going to be on 160M at their sunsetthey're going to be on other bands and their operating pattern, so far, has confirmed this. I would guess that the time your most likely to work them is 1 or 2 hours before your sunrise with sunrise +/- 30 minutes being the peak time. On 9/30/2012 1:43 PM, Tom W8JI wrote: So, it looks like there is a window of about 6 hours of darkness. Any time in that window is a chance. I have also read that there is sometimes an increase in signal strength during the terminator. It's not clear to me if that means the terminator at the DX location or my QTH. Either one. There are also peaks we miss that are not at either terminator. They may not be as frequent, but they are there at odd times during darkness. When I had daily skeds with VK3ZL and ZL3REX, we would frequently have peaks only during off times. Assuming 3D2C is transmitting on 160 throughout that period of 6 hours, when am I more likely to work them? When they are on. :-) ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK -- 73, Gary K9GS Greater Milwaukee DX Association: http://www.gmdxa.org Society of Midwest Contesters: http://www.w9smc.com CW Ops #1032 http://www.cwops.org ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
Re: Topband: Wideband Balun...?
I think what you want is an un-un...not a balun. It doesn't sound like there are any balanced elements in your system. Perhaps something like this: http://www.balundesigns.com/servlet/the-Ununs/Categories On 8/28/2012 1:29 PM, Eddy Swynar wrote: > Good Day All, > > I am thinking of incorporating a homebrewed 4:1 balun as part of a transmatch > that I have here, which was designed to feed coaxial cable-fed antennas > only... > > Is there really & truly such a thing as an air core 4:1 balun that will cover > the entire spectrum from 1.8- to 29.7-MHz...? I've looked & I've repeatedly > searched on the internet, but can not quite come up with such an animal. > Maybe the frequency range of such a beast is far too great for any practical > design... > > Anyone have any leads in this regard...? > > Thanks in advance, & vy > > ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ > ___ > UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK > -- 73, Gary K9GS Greater Milwaukee DX Association: http://www.gmdxa.org Society of Midwest Contesters: http://www.w9smc.com CW Ops #1032 http://www.cwops.org ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
Topband: Radials through heavy brush (Was:Radials over a stone wall)
Here's how I lay radials in the woods with heavy brush. I have a ~15 foot long piece of wooden oak stairway handrail. The kind you see for basement stairs. It's about 2 inches in diameter and has a flat on one side so it's D shaped in cross section. With the flat facing down, cut a bevel on each end at a ~30-45 degree angle to the flat. Looking from the side it looks kinda like this: <___> In each end I screw in a small screw eye. To lay a radial, lay the handrail on the ground, flat side down, and tie the radial to either screw eye. If there is a lot of "stuff" to go through that's close to the ground it's easier to tie the radial to the trailing screw eye. Then, keeping the flat on the ground use the handrail like a needle to thread it under/through the brush. You can sometimes give it a good push and it will go right through. This is where it helps to have a longer/heavier handrail. Then I work my way around the brush pile and get to the end of the handrail. Then just untie the wire. I usually tie the end of the wire to a 3-4 inch long nail and just push the nail into the ground to hold the end in place. The length of the handrail also helps to keep the radials evenly spaced. You can keep the end closest to the antenna aligned with the base and use the previously laid radial as a guide to keep things even. Wear a long-sleeved shirt or your arms will look like you were in a cat fight. Around here (Wisconsin) our brush is typically "Buckthorn" which is covered with 1/4 inch long very sharp thorns This works really well for me...YMMV On 8/10/2012 11:26 AM, Bill Wichers wrote: > > I use a wire pulling tool called a "creep-zit" to pull radials under > fallen trees and logs in the woods. It works great. I basically just > take one of the 6 foot long fiberglass rods (each of which is a little > over 1/8" diameter), tape the radial to one end, and then I can push it > under fallen debris easily. With a little practice you can even get > around hidden obstructions in the ground this way. > >-Bill > > -- 73, Gary K9GS Greater Milwaukee DX Association: http://www.gmdxa.org Society of Midwest Contesters: http://www.w9smc.com CW Ops #1032 http://www.cwops.org ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
Re: Topband: Spark gaps
Sorry...couldn't resist http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g23GiivXC78 On 7/27/2012 4:31 PM, kd9sv wrote: > Silly me, and to think they were probably referring to "Carbon Steel Balls" > not Carbon balls...de gary > > -Original Message- > From: topband-boun...@contesting.com [mailto:topband-boun...@contesting.com] > On Behalf Of donov...@starpower.net > Sent: Friday, July 27, 2012 5:26 PM > To: topband > Subject: Re: Topband: Spark gaps > > This link shows the base of a typical AM broadcast tower, with two hard > steel balls used as lightning protection. At kilowatt power levels its not > unusual to use a credit card to set the gap. > > http://www.thebdr.net/articles/steel/twrs/LimitingStatic.pdf > > 73 > Frank > W3LPL > > > > Original message >> Date: Fri, 27 Jul 2012 16:29:15 -0400 >> From: "Tom W8JI" >> Subject: Re: Topband: Spark gaps >> To: "Mike Waters" , "topband" >> >>> Man, I don't know, Dave. How long have they been selling those carbon >>> balls >>> for that purpose? >> I've never seen a carbon ball in a lightning gap application. I'd have to >> see a few after being in action a long time before trusting them. >> >> Broadcast stations use hard metallic balls, as do electrical substations > and >> other applications where the peak voltage is near gap voltage. Polished >> round gaps have more consistent breakdown. >> >> If there is a great deal of headroom between operating and breakover >> threshold, a pointed gap works OK. >> >> ___ >> UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK > ___ > UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK > > ___ > UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK > -- 73, Gary K9GS Greater Milwaukee DX Association: http://www.gmdxa.org Society of Midwest Contesters: http://www.w9smc.com CW Ops #1032 http://www.cwops.org ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
Re: Topband: 7O6T - Tonight
Thanks for the information Bernie. Believe me I'm not trying to kill the messenger or anything but this is precisely the problem with some Dx-peditions. At this time of year, in New York city, sunset is at 0004Z. 99.9% of the continental US is in sunlight when the 7O is leaving 80M. This is great if you live in EU...you get to work the 7O on 80M during hours of darkness. Even if I could hear the 7O at 2345Z, over an hour before my sunset, there is no way to work them through the EU stations calling. Good luck to all chasing the 7O on top-band. On 5/13/2012 2:18 PM, Bernie McClenny, W3UR wrote: > Tonight's op on 160 meters from 7O6T will be RL3FT, Yuri. He will also > be doing some 80 meter SSB and CW in between the JA sunrise (2100Z) and > the US Sundown (2345Z). So far about 200 US stations have been worked > on Topband. > > 73 > Bernie > > > Bernie McClenny, W3UR > The Daily DX - The Weekly DX > Get a free two weeks of The Daily DX and The Weekly DX > http://www.dailydx.com/trial.htm > Follow The Daily DX on Twitter - https://twitter.com/#!/dailydx > > > > _______ > UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK > -- 73, Gary K9GS Greater Milwaukee DX Association: http://www.gmdxa.org Society of Midwest Contesters: http://www.w9smc.com CW Ops #1032 http://www.cwops.org ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
Re: Topband: E51M
This is frustrating too from the US Midwest Herb. It happens all the time. Equally frustrating are stations in AF working EU & East Coast NA all evening and never standing by for Midwest stations. It's usually very difficult to get through the EU curtain. Or, if the do ask for EU and East Coast to stand by, then they listen for W6 & W7 only. NA is a big continent. Since I'm on a rollthe other frustrations are Asian and Pacific Rim stations, like XX for example, that only show up after my SR and work NA West Coast On 4/4/2012 6:00 PM, Herb Schoenbohm wrote: > No problem with that Cliveand I sure can wait till 0600. > Unfortunately some EU operator DXpeditions in the Pacific do exactly > that with EU only until they see the grey line hits the continent, go > QRT, and then come back at 11:00 after my SR to work the NA big guns. > This is exactly what happens so often and it is very frustrating. Most > apparently don't realize that much of the Eastern Caribbean is East of > 64 degrees WL and much closer to the Equator at 17.7 NL. This practice > is a real bummer for me. > > > Herb. KV4FZ > > On 4/4/2012 4:45 PM, Clive GM3POI wrote: >> Herb, Looking from an EU point of view. You will realise that the whole of >> EU will lose propagation at about 06z. You then have about six hours before >> sunrise , surely enough time. >> Our 160m available time will be from there SS at 0445z until our >> Sunrise 0530z that is a total of 45 minutes against your likely six hours. I >> think it highly reasonable IF they were QRV, to say EU only. >> 73 Clive GM3POI >> >> -Original Message- >> From: topband-boun...@contesting.com [mailto:topband-boun...@contesting.com] >> On Behalf Of Herb Schoenbohm >> Sent: 04 April 2012 19:06 >> To: topband@contesting.com >> Subject: Re: Topband: E51M >> >> Jim, >> >> E51M operation has super signals on all high bands but their interest >> does not seem to be in 160 at all. I have asked them countless times >> and was told yesterday that there is some difficulty in getting up an >> antenna.. The SSB tent said they a have even sent over two of their crew >> to help out. The SSB crew is very friendly and easy to work. On CW >> however this morning they were on 14 CW and spent 6 hours sending E51M >> up EU and the same was being sent on 18 Mhz as well for about the same >> amount of time. It is very frustrating when a rare DXpedition is in >> here 599 plus for hours and refuses to work the America's. I just hope >> if they ever get on the lower bands that NA will even have a chance. >> >> My question is why should any portion of the world be locked out for >> long periods of time from calling for a new country.. Sure I have faced >> time and time again trying in vain to break a EU wall on 160. This was >> recently the case with 3C0E working Eu's for hours on TB and not a >> chance to NA at all. So my suggestion is to have at least a few minutes >> to QSX for NA under these circumstances instead of just raising a total >> blockade lasting over the whole path opening. And in the case where a >> DX-pedition ops want to disfavor some geographic location in deference >> to his buddies back in Europe, why not at least allow for a short open >> window from time to time? >> >> Herb Schoenbohm, KV4FZ >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> On 4/4/2012 12:40 PM, Jim WA9YSD wrote: >>> >>> Check out E51M on the call search for E51M updates are posted there. >>> >>> Latest post: >>> 4.02.12 2257 Z >>> I spoke to the Team Leader about 30 minutes ago. Because the sat. phone is >> still too noisy, we spoke on 12 meters. Here are the two matters he related >> to me; The Six meter station is available and ready to make QSOs. If >> anyone is hearing them on six, or wants to give it a try, call one of the >> stations operating on the low band frequencies and ask for some one to go to >> the six meter station. The antenna for 160 meters is still being worked on. >> Stay tuned for that band to be QRV >>> Good Evening , >>> Leon, (K2EWB) >>> >>> Stay on course, fight a good fight, and keep the faith. Jim K9TF/WA9YSD >>> ___ >>> UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK >> ___ >> UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK >> >> >> >> >> === >> Email scanned by PC Tools - No viru
Re: Topband: Amazing Video of an extremely large circular array
There was also one of these at the University of Illinois that was decommissioned in the early 80s. I've seen this thing up close and there were even rumors of some of the W9YH club members hooking a radio to this thing. I've always wondered if it's still there. Worth a look the next time I'm down that way. http://www.ece.illinois.edu/about/history/wullenweber.html On 2/10/2012 9:55 AM, James Rodenkirch wrote: > Yep - one of 'dem can be seen down in San Diego, at the southern tip of > Cornado and at the northern tip of Imperial Beach - the "site" is, if I > understand it correctly, now owned and operated by the Sealsdon't get too > close! > > Here's a pic from some years back: > http://www.californiacoastline.org/cgi-bin/image.cgi?image=200604964&mode=big&lastmode=sequential&flags=0&year=2006 > > 72, Jim Rodenkirch, K9JWV > > > > > >> From: w0...@nc.rr.com >> To: topband@contesting.com >> Date: Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:30:10 -0500 >> CC: donov...@starpower.net >> Subject: Re: Topband: Amazing Video of an extremely large circular array >> >> Frank: >> >> >> >> I think the antenna in the video is a former Soviet Union "Cold War" version >> of a German Wullenweber also known as a Circularly Disposed Antenna Array >> (CDAA) >> >> >> >> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wullenweber >> >> >> >> 73, >> >> Jack >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> Anyone want to try to build one? >> >> >> >> 73 >> >> Frank >> >> W3LPL >> >> ___ >> >> UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK >> >> ___ >> UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK > > ___ > UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK > -- 73, Gary K9GS Check out K9NS on the web: http://www.k9ns.com Greater Milwaukee DX Association: http://www.gmdxa.org Society of Midwest Contesters: http://www.w9smc.com ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
Topband: Transmit and receive coax in same conduit?
Is it OK to run the transmit and receive coax feed-lines together in the same conduit? Anything to watch out for? I suspect this could be a problem if there were common mode currents on either of the coax shields? -- 73, Gary K9GS Check out K9NS on the web: http://www.k9ns.com Greater Milwaukee DX Association: http://www.gmdxa.org Society of Midwest Contesters: http://www.w9smc.com ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
Re: Topband: 4W6A
Hello Jorge, SR= 2127 SS= 0931 Good Luck! On 9/18/2011 11:43 AM, Jorge Diez - CX6VM wrote: > great Merv!... > > anyone know the SS/SR of them? > > 73, > Jorge > CX6VM > > -Mensaje original- > De: topband-boun...@contesting.com [mailto:topband-boun...@contesting.com] > En nombre de Merv Schweigert > Enviado el: Domingo, 18 de Septiembre de 2011 01:11 p.m. > Para: topband@contesting.com > Asunto: Topband: 4W6A > > I was doing my morning routine calling CQ on 1822.5 at 1550Z just > before sunrise, heard several times someone tune up, send some VVV > etc. on my freq so I continued to call CQ. heard the tuner again, > and this time he started calling CQ just a little down freq. Was 4W6A. > He said QSX up so went up 1 and called, had to call several times > before he finally came back. There was some QSB but he was about > 579 here, not as strong as expected as on the other bands he is very > strong. > I heard a couple JA, UA0, KH6 calling him up 1 and he was having a > hard time working any one, he stayed maybe 10 mins and left. > I hope that there was just some local QRN or something. > Anyway they are active at least on top band. GL 73 Merv K9FD/KH6 > ___ > UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK > > ___ > UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK > -- 73, Gary K9GS Check out K9NS on the web: http://www.k9ns.com Greater Milwaukee DX Association: http://www.gmdxa.org Society of Midwest Contesters: http://www.w9smc.com ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
Re: Topband: Fence "ground screen" instead of wire radials?
Hello Guy and sorry for the very late reply, I should have given more detail on my, admittedly poor radial system. It is pretty sparse, consisting of only ~20 1/4 wavelength radials not very well distributed. I'm sure that the poor radial system and distribution account for the changes in bandwidth I saw when I installed the ground screen. The reduction in bandwidth that I saw was ~10%. Since the antenna is tuned for the low end of the band it was not a problem, just an observation. The current antenna is being replaced with a 57 ft DX-Engineering 80M vertical. Assuming the weather cooperates this fall I plan on re-installing the ground screen and adding additional radials to get me up to 40-60 radials. So back to my original questions. When using insulated radials, does it make a difference if the ground screen is below or on top of the radials and is there any need to bond the radials to the ground screen, besides at the base of the antenna? On 9/5/2011 4:03 PM, Guy Olinger K2AV wrote: > Am I correct in reading your text to mean that you laid out FOUR > twenty-five foot stretches of two foot wide chicken wire and that > noticeably changed the bandwidth of the antenna? If that's not > right, please enlighten me and ignore the following. > > From everything I can summon to evaluate that, honestly, it speaks > poorly of the radials you already had installed, for whatever reason. > In a good, dense radial system, the chicken wire should make no > difference, particularly since you are talking about 1/10 wave chicken > wire radials. > > Given your WAY better than normal experience with deterioration of the > chicken wire, Try COVERING THE GROUND (e.g. dense) out to 25 feet with > the chicken wire, using the same source and treatment of the chicken > wire. Think quite a few of us would want to know what happens. > > Average of the stories I've heard about chicken wire on the ground > were didn't last the year or gone with rust in two. Fairly quick > degradation in over-the-air results. Some folks put it down new every > August or September. > > 73, Guy > > On Sun, Sep 4, 2011 at 11:04 PM, Gary K9GS <mailto:garyk...@wi.rr.com>> wrote: > > The timing of this topic couldn't be better. I was doing some major > rework on my 80M vertical this weekend. The old style radial system > consisted of radials made from insulated wire with a chicken wire > ground > screen layered on top. > > I've often wondered if it makes any difference if the ground screen is > on top of the insulated radials or if the radials can be on top of the > ground screen? > > Since the radials are insulated, should they be bonded to the ground > screen anywhere besides at the base of the antenna? > > BTW..at my QTH in SE Wisconsin, the galvanized chicken wire > survives the > elements quite well. About three years ago I was at Home Depot > and they > happened to have a special on 25 ft rolls of 2 ft wide chicken > wire. I > figured, what the hell and bought 4 rolls. I also bought some > galvanized steel "strapping" which consisted of a 4 foot long piece of > ~1 1/2" flat stock with 5/16" inch holes every 3/4". I cut these > into 2 > foot long pieces to match the width of the chicken wire, folded > over the > chicken wire several times and sandwiched the folded chicken wire > between the two pieces of strapping and bolted the strapping , > with the > chicken wire in between, together. Before assembling the > "sandwich" I > liberally gooped everything with Penetrox. > > Then I bolted the sandwiched chicken wire to my radial plate and > rolled > the chicken wire out on top of the insulated radials. > > Does it work? I can't answer that scientifically but I can say > that the > bandwidth of my antenna narrowed a little. Meaning I'm heading in the > right direction. > > Today when I rolled up the chicken wire after three years it was > almost > like new, still shiny. Despite being in the woods, covered with > grass, > leaves twigs, etc and getting rained on and covered with snow > every winter. > > On 9/4/2011 1:50 PM, ZR wrote: > > - Original Message - > > From: "Herb Schoenbohm" <mailto:he...@vitelcom.net>> > > To:mailto:topband@contesting.com>> > > Sent: Saturday, September 03, 2011 4:30 AM > > Subject: Re: Topband: Fence "ground screen" instead of wire radials? > > > > > >> On 9/2/2011 6:06 PM, Brian
Re: Topband: Fence "ground screen" instead of wire radials?
The timing of this topic couldn't be better. I was doing some major rework on my 80M vertical this weekend. The old style radial system consisted of radials made from insulated wire with a chicken wire ground screen layered on top. I've often wondered if it makes any difference if the ground screen is on top of the insulated radials or if the radials can be on top of the ground screen? Since the radials are insulated, should they be bonded to the ground screen anywhere besides at the base of the antenna? BTW..at my QTH in SE Wisconsin, the galvanized chicken wire survives the elements quite well. About three years ago I was at Home Depot and they happened to have a special on 25 ft rolls of 2 ft wide chicken wire. I figured, what the hell and bought 4 rolls. I also bought some galvanized steel "strapping" which consisted of a 4 foot long piece of ~1 1/2" flat stock with 5/16" inch holes every 3/4". I cut these into 2 foot long pieces to match the width of the chicken wire, folded over the chicken wire several times and sandwiched the folded chicken wire between the two pieces of strapping and bolted the strapping , with the chicken wire in between, together. Before assembling the "sandwich" I liberally gooped everything with Penetrox. Then I bolted the sandwiched chicken wire to my radial plate and rolled the chicken wire out on top of the insulated radials. Does it work? I can't answer that scientifically but I can say that the bandwidth of my antenna narrowed a little. Meaning I'm heading in the right direction. Today when I rolled up the chicken wire after three years it was almost like new, still shiny. Despite being in the woods, covered with grass, leaves twigs, etc and getting rained on and covered with snow every winter. On 9/4/2011 1:50 PM, ZR wrote: > - Original Message - > From: "Herb Schoenbohm" > To: > Sent: Saturday, September 03, 2011 4:30 AM > Subject: Re: Topband: Fence "ground screen" instead of wire radials? > > >> On 9/2/2011 6:06 PM, Brian Machesney wrote: >>>> Thanks to NI0C for reminding me that this info was presented by NC0B >> Chicken wire or rabbit wire make an inexpensive alternative to an >> expanded copper mesh ground screen. Just roll it out in multiple >> directions from the tower base and tack it to the ground on top of the >> grass. The grass will grow through it in a short period and it will be >> invisible. that is easier than rolling up the sod for sure. The only >> problem is the connection but since the actual tower is most likely >> galvanized steel there isn't an issue of dissimilar metal just figuring >> out how to making a convenient connection via a galvanize steel bus with >> similar jumpers to the actual tower. Soldering is not possible and cad >> weld is expensive. Tinned copper braid jumpers with the proper >> preparation can work and galvanized steel angle brackets as well. > > I used 4' x 50' rabbit mesh (2x4") that was welded, then galvanized and then > plastic dipped for over 10 years at a prior QTH. It was purchased that way > at a garden store. > > Galvanizing is very easy to solder to with just normal rosin solder and all > I did was run some stranded #12 copper to the #6 copper ring at the base of > the shunt fed tower. A bit of spray autobody undercoating sealed the mesh > solder connections. > > Prior to this there were 60 radials, 60-135' long and performance was fair. > With the 4 sections of mesh on top of them it became a pileup buster and > contest winner. > > Carl > KM1H > > > > > ___ > UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK > -- 73, Gary K9GS Check out K9NS on the web: http://www.k9ns.com Greater Milwaukee DX Association: http://www.gmdxa.org Society of Midwest Contesters: http://www.w9smc.com ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
Re: Topband: soldering radials
Hello Jorge, There is very little current flowing in each radial wire so the wire size matters very little. In your example you would be much better off with the 120 radials than 40. Keep in mind though that 120 radials is way too many and a waste of wire. For a great discussion on radials see: http://www.antennasbyn6lf.com/design_of_radial_ground_systems/ There are a lot of other great articles on this site as well. See you on the air.. On 8/18/2011 8:13 AM, Jorge Diez - CX6VM wrote: > Thanks all for the answers... > > I am working on collection the materials for the project, so all feedback is > very important for me, thanks. > > Just was thinking, is the same or better to have 120 radials of AWG18 than > 40 radials of AWG8? What´s the idea? This is the same amount of copper, but > the distribution over the ground is different. > > 73, > Jorge > CX6VM/CW5W > > > > -Mensaje original- > De: topband-boun...@contesting.com [mailto:topband-boun...@contesting.com] > En nombre de Jon Zaimes AA1K > Enviado el: Miércoles, 17 de Agosto de 2011 05:42 a.m. > Para: topband@contesting.com > Asunto: Re: Topband: soldering radials > > Jorge, > > Perhaps your friend's concern was that the solder joints would corrode > with time and galvanic action. Some have suggested using silver solder > to avoid this problem. > > I used just regular solder when doing radials on my 160-meter parasitic > array a dozen years ago and haven't observed any problem with corrosion. > But this may vary from climate to climate and with varying soil conditions. > > A simple and cheap method I have used for some verticals is to drive a > short scrap of copper pipe into the ground at the base of the vertical, > and use an all-stainless hose clamp to clamp the wires to this pipe. No > solder required. > > 73/Jon AA1K > > On 8/15/2011 8:12 PM, Jorge Diez - CX6VM wrote: >> Hello, >> >> >> >> a friend told me to not solder radials to the vertical ring/plate and >> between them if I am installing an array, like a 4 square. That´s because >> can catch some noise. >> >> >> >> That´s true? >> >> >> >> If yes, how can I solder them? Also if I use a DXE plate to atacch the >> radials, I need to solder the wire to terminals, so what type of solder > may >> I use? >> >> >> >> Do you have a type/model (or ebay link) to see what to use? >> >> >> >> Thanks, >> >> Jorge >> >> CX6VM/CW5W >> >> ___ >> UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK >> > ___ > UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK > > ___ > UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK > -- 73, Gary K9GS Check out K9NS on the web: http://www.k9ns.com Greater Milwaukee DX Association: http://www.gmdxa.org Society of Midwest Contesters: http://www.w9smc.com ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
