Re: Topband: elevated radials, etc

[Rich Dailey]

I suppose I'm 'Mr. Bad Example' of how to not think too much about my 160m
inverted L. Verily I have spent way more time trying to figure out how I
was going to get the wire as high as I could, and the horizontal portion as
short as possible (HINT: at my age, climbing gaffs bad, crossbow good). The
result is about 85' up to a tree limb (6-8' from the tree trunk), then out
horizontally to the east for the rest. For ground radials, each season I
lay out six quarter wavelengths (roughly) of old computer CAT cable with
all the wires soldered together on both ends. I literally pull them out
across the pasture (once the cows are gone for the winter), and loosely tie
them to fiberglass stakes at the ends to keep them somewhat straight. With
the height of the grass, they are what I would guess to be 6-8 inches
'suspended' over the dirt.

We have a LOT of deer; each hunting season this place becomes a refuge for
them. Rarely do I have a deer trip over a ground radial enough for me to
have to do anything about it. I'll go so far as saying they get to know
they are there, and walk around, or jump over them.  The only recurring
deer trouble I had was when I had my beverages at 6'. Raising them to 7-8'
solved that completely. Not a single deer issue for the past two 160m
seasons.

The inverted L works wonderfully as my xmit antenna, and is very tolerable
on rx, using a noise antenna and mfj-1025.  Six radials laying on the
ground works for me.
And no, they do not come together in a perfect ring surrounding the
feedpoint. I use a giant split nut about 8 inches away from the vertical
wire to which they are all attached and placed under a tupperware
container. The whole thing is happy with 1kw, although I most typically run
100-200 watts.

I'm sure I have horrible interactions between my L's, the beverages, and
maybe even the 5-circle a bit.  But it is still fun, and I adore 160m, and
BCB dx'ing. Even during the peak, such as it is.

I do enjoy reading the threads here, but rarely chime in. Thanks to all who
are diving deep on these topics. Heck of a knowledge base here. Many tnx to
VE6WZ, et al. for your contributions that stoke the magic fire of this band.

And many tnx to all for the Rudy Severns info. I remembered coming across
that several years back, but lost in the bookmarks.

~ tu de N8UX
_
Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector

Re: Topband: QRM Eliminator

[Rich Dailey]

A lil late to the bar regarding this thread, but my first phasing type rotten 
qrn reducer was an iteration of W1FB's 'QRN Squasher'
that he wrote about around 1996. In 1997 I also bought (and use to this day) 
the mfj-1025. Both devices have worked great for me
on 160/80/40m, with an edge toward the mfj when using two beverages.

https://www.google.com/search?q=w1fb+qrn+squasher

de N8UX


- Original Message -
From: "Pete Smith N4ZR" 
To: "topband" 
Sent: Sunday, October 9, 2022 10:23:27 PM
Subject: Re: Topband: QRM Eliminator

Funny (I guess) - we have Chinese manufacturers cloning a Russian design.

73, Pete N4ZR
Check out the new Reverse Beacon Network
web server at.
For spots, please use your favorite
"retail" DX cluster.

On 10/9/2022 12:35 PM, K4SAV wrote:
> This link shows a schematic of this thing. (Assuming it's the same as 
> the packaged version.)
> https://tinyurl.com/3pkvzdft
>
> Jerry, K4SAV
>
> On 10/9/2022 10:59 AM, Tree wrote:
>> Looks like there is a low cost version of the ANC-4 and MFJ-1026 type of
>> noise eliminator available on Amazon of all places.
>>
>> Search for QRM Eliminator.  Cost is around $60.
>>
>> These are useful if you have a single point noise source.   I do not 
>> have
>> one of these units but was "reading the mail" on someone talking 
>> about it
>> on 40M SSB and they seemed to think it worked well.
>>
>> And he had a good point - if you don't like it - you can send it back 
>> for a
>> full refund!
>>
>> Tree N6TR
>> _
>> 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: Poor 160m DX Propagation

[Rich Dailey]

Yes, Rotten QRN. Yes, Rotten Lightning bursts. Yes, Solar conditions.
But many of us are lured away from 160 to 15, 10 and 6. Some of our ears
are somewhere else other than 160 when the SF goes up.
I love the band, but sometimes it's hard to resist the stronger DX, and
smaller gain antennae. :-)

Rich, N8UX



- Original Message -
From: "David Raymond" 
To: "topband" 
Sent: Wednesday, April 20, 2022 1:31:44 PM
Subject: Re: Topband: Poor 160m DX Propagation

As we've said before, many of us in NA are fighting not just QRN but 
significant attacks from lightning.  There a lot of us that are 
essentially shut down for the season, my self included  (four square 
elements are now grounded and the 8 circle is decommissioned).  I'm 
still QRV somewhat with a 1/4 wave sloping vertical with elevated 
radials but deaf as a post much of the time.

73. . . Dave, W0FLS

On 4/20/2022 11:11 AM, Henk Remijn PA5KT via Topband wrote:
> https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/en/solar-activity/solar-cycle.html
>
>
> Op 20-4-2022 om 11:51 schreef Roger Kennedy:
>> Propagation on 160m between this part of Europe and North America 
>> seems to
>> have been really
>> poor for several weeks now . . .
>>
>> RBN reports from across the pond are typically 20dB down on normal 
>> most of
>> the time . . . and hear very few NA stations on the band.
>>
>> Not sure why that is . . .
>>
>> Roger G3YRO
>>
>>
>>
>> _
>> 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: Skirted vertical antennas for MF broadcast

[Rich Dailey, N8UX]

So top hats are now skirts.😉~ N8UX
_
Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector

Re: Topband: 8Q7WM Z-22 in VE6

[Rich Dailey]

Congratulations Steve! And thanks for making these diversity reception 
recordings available.
Rich, N8UX


- Original Message -
From: "VE6WZ_Steve" 
To: "topband" 
Sent: Monday, February 28, 2022 3:14:48 PM
Subject: Topband: 8Q7WM Z-22 in VE6

Well, today a miracle happened.
I worked 8Q7WM on 160m CW for a new DXCC and Z-22.
His signal peaked at about 1415 z or so.  My SR at 1430z.

First of all, I owe thanks to Bob W7RH for spotting 8Q7WM this morning on 160m.
For the last few months, I have been lazy and sleeping in.  This morning I got 
up about 25 min before my sunrise and checked the band.
I saw Bob's spot for the 8Q7 on 1821, and thought, “well, I will never hear 
him, but I my as well check”

I was so shocked when I heard his CQ that I almost fell out of my chair.
His signal was arriving at the usual skew path that most of SE Asia arrives, 
somewhere between Japan path at 320 deg. and direct west at 270 deg.
The direct path to 8Q7 from VE6 is virtually straight north polar at 352 deg.

Here are a few recordings I made of his signal.
If you decide to listen to these, don't even bother without headphones, he is 
weak. Really weak.
These recordings are in stereo diversity, in the Left ear is the phased 
Beverage pair, in the Right ear is the 9 circle .
Both RX are set direct west, although he was also copyable on the JA rx too.

While the amp was warming up I recorded this CQ:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fHNBaTs-JDKPTLHDuhRtRAxWrEpMYvzj/view?usp=sharing
 


Next Kevin VK6LW called, and I recorded his 2-way QSO:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EaHEhGU3UQk9YwGpmawdFBjC1b23aPKn/view?usp=sharing
 


After Kevin finished, the amp was warm so I called.
I am actually embarrassed about my calling.  I was so stunned that I could copy 
him, I was messing up my reports, and sending my call way too many times.
I think it's clear that I was doubling with him, and I almost ruined my own QSO.
He went into a QSB fade right when I called, so I wasn't sure he had my call 
correct, so I think he was unsure I had confirmed.
AT 2:05 he sends VE6WZ?
I resend my call and report,
At 2:40 he sends VE6WZ 5NN,
I CFM and at 3:05 8Q7 sends CFM.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eibREmwj9BzNH2I-gPa14rTdOqMLlorV/view?usp=sharing
 


Here he is QRZ? with Dennis, ZL1AZ and JI1DCW calling:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Nz6GX62Ba1gw22R__jpcjbHHnb8QGoNt/view?usp=sharing
 


The band has remained very poor and the EU trans-polar path has not opened for 
a few weeks.
Working Z 22, which is a direct polar path I never would have imagined, but of 
course the opening was a skew path, completely avoiding the AU !

Thanks to Karel OK2WM for pulling me out, and for setting up an excellent TX on 
the beautiful beach in the Maldives.

Good luck to the other WC guys.  It seems Karel and Vlad will be there till 
March 8.

73, de steve ve6wz
_
Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
_
Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector

Re: Topband: VE6WZ DIY 9-circle combiner board with on board chokes

[Rich Dailey]

Thanks for your continuing work on this Steve. I'm currently using the dual 
core/ RG179 transformer designs enclosed in pvc, with short equal jumpers to 
your last combiner/amp design (just using it 
as a N.S.E.W. 5-circle this winter). I may take one of my spare combiner boards 
and build it up, cutting in the Murata devices on the five inputs, and mount it 
in a plastic enclosure. I do like having the onboard preamp. This is certainly 
a $$$ saving option, and reduces the F connections! 
tnx... Rich, N8UX 
_
Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector

Topband: W1FV 9-Circle Feedline & control Line Chokes?

[Rich Dailey]

Homebrewing a 9-circle vertical array, and I'm looking for opinions from other 
9-circle users on 
what chokes you're using on the feedlines (rg-6) at the switch box, and on the 
control line. I can go the 
binocular core route with rg-174, as per W1FV's article, but would prefer the 
simplicity of several turns through a snap-on choke. 
tnx! 
73 de Rich, N8UX 
_
Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector

Re: Topband: Bill N4AR; killed in auto accident

[Rich Dailey, N8UX]

Prayer for Mary and the family, as well as the passenger's family. N4AR de N8UX
 Original message From: Dan Flaig NP2J  Date: 
11/24/21  4:05 PM  (GMT-05:00) To: Topband@contesting.com Subject: Topband: 
Bill N4AR; killed in auto accident Dan to inform that Bill N4AR ex: K4GSU was 
killed in an auto accident.I understand his wife servived but is injured.Info 
relayed to me by N8DXBill was an amazing operator.He had what must of been the 
largest antenna farm anywhere at one time.Two many towers to count.Found 
memories of picnics hosted by Bill on Sunday of Dayton Hamventions weekends. 
Always a gracious host.You will be missed73Dan K8RF / 
NP2J_Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - 
Topband Reflector
_
Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector

Re: Topband: CQ160M contest last year and this year

[Rich Dailey]

I had no way to know it, but DG is a 160 poet.

de N8UX

On 1/24/2021 11:36 AM, Doug Grant wrote:

I was looking over last year's results to get in the mood for next weekend.
Calliope, the muse of epic poetry, must have been in the area because
limericks began flowing.

Here you go...if you aren't mentioned, perhaps you will make the
post-contest version...

73,

Doug K1DG
---

Last year ZM and LZ went to JT


_
Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector

Re: Topband: Broadside vs end-fire phasing of RX ants: MFJ-1026?

[Rich Dailey]

This was a timely video for me Steve - tnx!
I am experimenting with phasing my North beverage (400'). I am 
restricted in that direction, but have plenty
of room to the east for a parallel 400 footer. I may try something close 
spaced for my N/NW bev also.
Will be trying different options, including using an MFJ-1026 (poor 
man's NCC-2, I'm hoping) to adjust phasing.


Anyone else using the 1025/1026 noise cancelling device as a phasing unit?

tnx es 73 de Rich, N8UX



On 12/1/2020 11:59 AM, VE6WZ_Steve wrote:

Here is a YouTube video I uploaded a few days ago that explains the difference 
between end-fire and broadside phasing.

I show how this principle is applied to Beverage pairs in either end-fire 
en-echelon configuration or broadside configuration and I discuss the pros-cons 
of each.
4Nec2 models are shown to explain the RDF and FB differences of each 
configuration.

Some very high RDF RX antennas that combine both end-fire and broadside arrays 
are presented such as en-chelon end-fire pairs phased broadside, and two 
broadside phased 3 el end-fire vertical arrays.

https://youtu.be/fQFdUdXw1mU 

73, de steve ve6wz
_
Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector



_
Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector

Re: Topband: WWDXC Top-Band Anthology

[Rich Dailey]

Thanks for the info Ward. I have volume one, but wasn't aware of any others.
I was browsing my shelves recently, and found myself re-reading volume 
one cover to cover,
as I first did in '98-'99. Back then I could only dream of what it must 
be like to hear on
160m with beverages, and work dx there. Over two decades later (read, 
two decades older), I'm
now able to do it. All the lowband books and articles are much more 
relevant to my operating today.


tnx es 73 de N8UX.

On 11/11/2020 5:48 PM, Ward Silver wrote:

Hi all,

Interesting that these should pop up again after so many years!  They were
published in 1998 and 1999, IIRC.

I don't have the electronic files on my current system.  They may be on
floppies upstairs in a box somewhere :-)  Unlikely that they are in PDF
format but maybe.  I'll eventually get a chance to look and see what is
stashed away.  At any rate, neither volume (there were two) is currently
available.

73, Ward N0AX
_
Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector



_
Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector

Topband: WWDXC Top Band Anthology Question

[Rich Dailey]

Quick question: Was there more than 1 volume of the Western Washington 
DX Club's


Top Band Anthology (1998) published? I don't see much mention of this 
anthology on the interwebs.


Volume One was/is good reading. I was sorting my shack library, and got 
to wondering if there were any more.


Thanks,

de Rich, N8UX.


_
Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector

Re: Topband: Broadside phased Beverages-Observations

[Rich Dailey]

Thanks for this info Steve. I've been considering phasing a pair of 
shorter Beverages to the North.
Question not directly related to phasing: On your wires that cross 
paths, how much vertical spacing are you putting

between them?

Tnx de Rich, N8UX

On 10/19/2020 12:34 PM, VE6WZ_Steve wrote:

Here are some observations comparing broadside phased Beverage pairs and single 
wires, and the effect of AZ alignment on target DX.
Does a 21 degree AZ change in Beverage orientation make a difference?


_
Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector