Re: Topband: 160 power
I don't disagree. I guess my main point is that the lack of Rx/Tx "balance" in my station is so obvious that the improvement in Rx is by far the most important. Once I improve my "ears" with the Rx array it will be interesting to see what I would need to do next, and whether further expenditure of $ should go toward expansion of Rx or Tx capability. If better Tx is the next step, then I'm sure 1500W will help; but I'd be interested in finding out whether going to a better Tx ant is next. If you look at cost/db then the amp is the winner I think. I would have to go to a phased vertical array to significantly improve the Tx antenna. I have the real estate, but I suspect cost may be a significant factor. Don't know what it is about Top Band but it seems to require just a bit more of everything (skill, excellent receiver, antennas, station design, etc) to be successful. Hope I'm still improving all of the above well into old age. I have noticed quite a bit more 160m activity this winter and dxpeditions seem to be concentrating more on 80 and 160. I expected to get 5 or 10 new ones on 160m this winter and just make DXCC but have 22 new ones. Even if conditions aren't actually significantly improved perhaps the anticipation of same has markedly increased activity. Either way I'm having a great time. Mike KD8RQE In a message dated 3/22/2017 11:55:35 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, rstea...@hotmail.com writes: Mike says: I wonder if 1500W would make a difference when I can hear better. I doubt it. What? Mike, 1500 watts is 5 db more signal than you have now. If you can hear better, such that you aren't getting out well enough why would you think 5 db more wouldn't benefit you? 5 db is HUGE. You have down lots and lots of radials, to make your transmitting antenna more efficient. Yes, by all means 5 db more transmit signal will be ... wait, I already said that. Rick K2XT _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Topband: 160 power
I've been on 160m for a little over 3 years and have 115 confirmed. Antenna is an inverted L with the vertical portion up 60' with 60 120' radials and 30 60' radials. QTH is in the middle of the Black Hole of DX in southern MI. I run 500W max. It is very clear to me that my main limitation is Rx. Bottom line is if I can hear them I can work them 99% of the time, even in large pileups. On the other hand, if the pileup is not huge I've made it through pileups QRP regularly to the Caribbean, KH6, and KH7, & SA, although it takes a bit more time and finesse. I realize that I'm an alligator and don't call CQ with 500W. A Hi-Z 8 element array is this summer's project. I wonder if 1500W wiould make a difference when I can hear better. I doubt it. I think the next quantum leap in performance would be a 2 or more element vertical TX array and diversity RX with beverages added to the Hi-Z, and suspect the diversity RX will add more capability than the upgrade in TX. I'm looking forward to the next few years in sunspot minimum on Top Band. Mike KD8RQE _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: VP8STI 160 Meter Path
I'm in southern Michigan, just 10 miles north of the Indiana border. I have an inverted L with the vertical portion up 65' and 90 radials of which 60 are 120'. I could hear them, but not well enough to hear my call at 0100Z and 0200Z. At 0400Z they were 1-2 S units above my noise and I worked them 1st call--listening and panadapter showed few others calling. 30 minutes later I heard them on 75m SSB and worked them 1st call. A few minutes later I worked them on 40 CW after a couple of calls when both nights before I was unable to work them on 40 through the EU and W1-4 wall. Very strange, usually the "Black Hole of DX" is quite deep here, but for once propagation worked well for me. A VERY nice night on the low bands. 73 Mike KD8RQE In a message dated 1/21/2016 1:24:12 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, daraym...@iowatelecom.net writes: The whole band opening last night from NA to VP8STI on TB was rather bizarre. The opening started in earnest with big signals coming first in Maine. The guys in 1 land reported signals rivaling "locals." The opening then started moving slowly and selectively southward. Guys in 2 land and then 3 land started working them next and then into 5 land. As the was opening into 5 land it also began opening westward, but again, selectively. Stations in 8 and 9 land were hearing and working them but not everywhere. I sat here in Iowa for over three hours with virtually nothing from them at all. Finally about 0400 I began hearing them. They slowly improved and, at 0424z I put my call in and was answered immediately. They continued to build here peaking to S5-S6 around 0445z. After that they slowly faded and were gone here before their SS. The opening appeared to be very limited and, in some places, non-existent in 4 land. A handful in 4 land made it, several using HWF for RX. Several big stations reported hearing little or no signal. It seemed odd to be listening to them here with S5 signals and the guys in the far SE and FL had none (and they are 1200 or 1500 miles closer). But perhaps the most bizarre thing of all was K4SV and W4ZV having to listen to the NORTH to hear them with apparently no signal from the direct path. It would be interesting to know what mode of propagation that was. All in all it was an odd night. Nevertheless, a LOT of NA stations made it into the log. Joy for many but frustration remained for quite a few. Antennas here a full size ground mounted four square for TX and Hi-Z 8 circle optimized for 160. 73. . . Dave, W0FLS, in Iowa - Original Message - From: "Joel Harrison" To: "topband" Sent: Wednesday, January 20, 2016 11:15 PM Subject: Topband: VP8STI 160 Meter Path > Tonight on 160 VP8STI had a good signal. Here in Arkansas their signal > arrived from the NE from around 0115z until around 0200z peaking around 5 > dB above my noise floor. Around 0200z they went "QRX" for a few minutes. > When they returned their sig was much weaker and finally faded. > > As the evening went on their sig returned around 0330z here and was in and > out of the noise, still peaking to the NE and somethings shifting E to SE. > Right About a half hour before their SR the signal peaked to the SE and > remained their until they faded into the sunrise. > > Best signal level here was 10 dB above my noise floor. > > Just wanted to pass that on for the folks (K9LA, W4ZV, etc) that keep > track of these paths for us. > > 73 Joel W5ZN > > > www.w5zn.org > > _ > Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband > _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Topband: K5P 160m run
What a run K5P has had on 160 the last 2 nights! I run an inverted L with the vertical portion up 65" and 90 radials of which 60 are 120'. It's not a bad Tx ant, but not so hot on Rx, and I need a bit better Wx to put up the Hi-Z array I bought. I usually hear stations in the pacific for 30- 60 min before my sunrise here in the black hole of DX in southern Michigan and they are only workable for 15-30 min. These guys were workable for hours prior to my sunrise (worked them @ 0530 EST, 1030Z, 2.5h before sunrise, 550 W) and I heard them for an hour after when most stations fade within minutes after sunrise. Impressive. Mike KD8RQE _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Topband: RG6 Coax and F connectors
I'm putting in a Hi-Z Rx array for 160m and at the suggestion of Lee K7TJR bought coax and F connectors at 3 Star, Inc http://www.3starinc.com/. Purchased 1000' of flooded direct bury quad shield RG6 (F677TSEF) for $70 and compression F connectors for $0.28 apiece (PPC EX6WS). Thought this might be of value to others installing similar arrays. Hope to get this in by the Stew. I have 77 worked on 160 on my inverted L in 2 years of Top Band operating and I sure hope this gets me to 100 (and 9 band DXCC), maybe even yet this season. :) Hope to pull Eugene RA0FF and others out of the noise one morning--I can hear you are there, just not quite good enough to hear my call. Good luck and Happy Holidays to all. 73 Mike KD8RQE _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
