Re: Topband: Conditions on 160m for ARRL Contest
I also read somewhere these are navigation beacons in North East-sea area. Anyone have a known explaining source for this? Their transmission consist of three T's; where the 3rd one is 20dB lower in output and can only be hrd when they are very loud. About 21 of these can be hrd on 160m, where indeed at about 1813 it seems the loudest. For an example see: https://www.flickr.com/photos/pa5mw/38528517942/in/album-72157688739777191/ 73 Mark PA5MW > Op 20 februari 2018 om 5:21 schreef Lee STRAHAN <k7...@msn.com>: > > Mike and others, > Those signals are NOT fishnet beacons. They are as one here said a version of > a navigation system similar to Hyperfix. The reason you hear three "dings" > Is that there are three transmitters for each one that transmit in sequence > and the electronics aboard ship measures the time of arrival for each pulse > providing harbor navigation. > How do I know this, I have heard them from the NW here in OR many times and > looked them up years ago. There have been at least two discussions about this > here on top-band reflector over the years. And as mentioned they NEVER ID. > They are also low power. > Mike I would suggest you Google Hyperfix. > Lee K7TJR OR > > -Original Message- > From: Topband [mailto:topband-boun...@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Mike Waters > Sent: Monday, February 19, 2018 5:09 PM > To: topband@contesting.com > Subject: Re: Topband: Conditions on 160m for ARRL Contest > > Google *fishnet beacons *and educate yourself, gentlemen! :-) > > 73, Mike > www.w0btu.com > _ > Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband > _ > Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Conditions on 160m for ARRL Contest
Correct Lee, if some have not heard them they need to check the receive antennas and plan for work in the spring. They were especially loud out here in KH6 back in 2008 etc when conditions over the pole were excellent, they boomed in before and at sunrise peaks. Occasionally via LP at sunset coming in over central/south America. 73 Merv K9FD/KH6 Mike and others, Those signals are NOT fishnet beacons. They are as one here said a version of a navigation system similar to Hyperfix. The reason you hear three "dings" Is that there are three transmitters for each one that transmit in sequence and the electronics aboard ship measures the time of arrival for each pulse providing harbor navigation. How do I know this, I have heard them from the NW here in OR many times and looked them up years ago. There have been at least two discussions about this here on top-band reflector over the years. And as mentioned they NEVER ID. They are also low power. Mike I would suggest you Google Hyperfix. Lee K7TJR OR -Original Message- From: Topband [mailto:topband-boun...@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Mike Waters Sent: Monday, February 19, 2018 5:09 PM To: topband@contesting.com Subject: Re: Topband: Conditions on 160m for ARRL Contest Google *fishnet beacons *and educate yourself, gentlemen! :-) 73, Mike www.w0btu.com _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Conditions on 160m for ARRL Contest
I fully understand that, Lee. My comment was directed towards others who were speaking of actual fishnet beacons. 73, Mike www.w0btu.com On Feb 19, 2018 10:21 PM, "Lee STRAHAN"wrote: Mike and others, Those signals are NOT fishnet beacons. They are as one here said a version of a navigation system similar to Hyperfix. The reason you hear three "dings" Is that there are three transmitters for each one that transmit in sequence and the electronics aboard ship measures the time of arrival for each pulse providing harbor navigation. How do I know this, I have heard them from the NW here in OR many times and looked them up years ago. There have been at least two discussions about this here on top-band reflector over the years. And as mentioned they NEVER ID. They are also low power. Mike I would suggest you Google Hyperfix. Lee K7TJR OR -Original Message- From: ... Mike Waters ... Google *fishnet beacons *and educate yourself, gentlemen! :-) _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Conditions on 160m for ARRL Contest
Mike and others, Those signals are NOT fishnet beacons. They are as one here said a version of a navigation system similar to Hyperfix. The reason you hear three "dings" Is that there are three transmitters for each one that transmit in sequence and the electronics aboard ship measures the time of arrival for each pulse providing harbor navigation. How do I know this, I have heard them from the NW here in OR many times and looked them up years ago. There have been at least two discussions about this here on top-band reflector over the years. And as mentioned they NEVER ID. They are also low power. Mike I would suggest you Google Hyperfix. Lee K7TJR OR -Original Message- From: Topband [mailto:topband-boun...@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Mike Waters Sent: Monday, February 19, 2018 5:09 PM To: topband@contesting.com Subject: Re: Topband: Conditions on 160m for ARRL Contest Google *fishnet beacons *and educate yourself, gentlemen! :-) 73, Mike www.w0btu.com _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Conditions on 160m for ARRL Contest
Google *fishnet beacons *and educate yourself, gentlemen! :-) 73, Mike www.w0btu.com _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Conditions on 160m for ARRL Contest
Clive Are these signals always audible with you? Here in Worcester there are nights when I can't hear them at all so I presumed they were from farther away than the Baltic. Tonight I can just detect the one you mentioned on 1804.9 and by 1813.1 the signal is up to S7. 73 Roger G3TQZ -Original Message- From: Clive GM3POI Sent: Monday, February 19, 2018 10:50 PM To: topband@contesting.com Subject: Re: Topband: Conditions on 160m for ARRL Contest I'd hazard a guess at UA1. They do start fairly close to the bottom of the US band (currently hearing one on a simple antenna on 1804.9 and they do go higher than has been mentioned 1825+. However the strength seems to tail off above 1818 or so. The important thing to remember is these can be loud in EU, often S9 here and they repeat at about every 0.82khz making the selection of an expedition run frequency or even a contest run qrg very important. If you are in the Pacific and you don’t make plans for these signals you may get lost in the QRM within EU. 73 Clive GM3POI -Original Message- From: Topband [mailto:topband-boun...@contesting.com] On Behalf Of k1zm--- via Topband Sent: 19 February 2018 22:30 To: f6...@yahoo.com; topband@contesting.com Subject: Re: Topband: Conditions on 160m for ARRL Contest Hello Gang I think these signals (which we call the "O O O" beacons because they send "DAH DAH DAH" - "DAH DAH DAH" over and over - are some kind of navigation beacons in the Eastern BALTIC. I have heard them starting as high in the band as 1818 (or so - maybe not a precise starting point) - and on a really good night I can hear the weaker ones down to as low as 1806 and 1803. (or so). On a really good evening this past week, I heard them (I think) as low as 1801 - but that is a really weak one. Curiously, they are not on the air every night - because there are often days at a time when they are not operational - or I would surely hear them - from where I am located. They have been on as long as I can remember - they were around in 1977 as I recall - when we all used to hang out and rag chew on 1812 SSB - the old guys from the nets of those days have mostly passed away now - EI8H, GD4BEG etc, - but a few are still with us including AA0RS (G3SZA) and Willem PA0HIP who now lives in DU as I recall. FWIW - BTW - based on how loud the UPPER ones are from 1814-1818 over here - I would think they must be at least 40db over S9 in WESTERN EU - and spaced every 3-4 kHz apart - they peak at about S9+5 or so here at VY2ZM, 73 jeff. Jeff Briggs DXing on the Edge: The Thrill of 160 Meters Available worldwide through BookBaby, Array Solutions, DX Engineering, Royal Society of Great Britain, & Amazon Original Message From: F6FYA via Topband <topband@contesting.com> To: topband <topband@contesting.com> Sent: Mon, Feb 19, 2018 9:10 pm Subject: Re: Topband: Conditions on 160m for ARRL Contest I'm a New member of the "Topband list"I agree with Roger for the QRM at the bottom of the band. I don't know what they are, fishnet or beacons, but it's getting very hard to call CQ on this part of the band. By the way, for me in the central west part of France, conditions was much better friday night. Working with vertical ant, 21 m, and beverage. So, sorry with my poor english, but a pleasure to read differents messages from the list's members. Jean-Paul / F6FYA.Envoyé de mon smartphone BlackBerry 10 sur le réseau Orange depuis La Touraine, Dpt 37. Message d'origine De: Roger KennedyEnvoyé: lundi 19 février 2018 14:34À: topband@contesting.comObjet: Topband: Conditions on 160m for ARRL ContestWell on Friday night I couldn't hear one single American station . . . eventhough I heard a couple of Southern Europe stations working a few.Saturday night conditions were better, but signals were well down on whatthey have been for the past few weeks.However, in the 3 hours I spent on the band (at different times in thenight) I did manage to work 61 American stations . . . including a few inBrazil and the Caribbean.For future reference, here in Britain there are about 6 Navigation Beaconsbetween 1810 and 1818 kHz (they sound like the old Decca HiFix) . . . thesemake copying weak signals VERY difficult, so a good idea to avoid this partof the band !Roger G3YRO_Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband_Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Conditions on 160m for ARRL Contest
Hi Jeff, I have never heard a beacon on 160 without a callsign, but I believe you. All the fishnet beacons do, the last I knew. And unless I missed it, no one in this thread mentioned that either. 73, Mike www.w0btu.com On Feb 19, 2018 4:30 PM, "k1zm--- via Topband"wrote: I think these signals (which we call the "O O O" beacons because they send "DAH DAH DAH" - "DAH DAH DAH" over and over - are some kind of navigation beacons in the Eastern BALTIC. ... _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Conditions on 160m for ARRL Contest
I'd hazard a guess at UA1. They do start fairly close to the bottom of the US band (currently hearing one on a simple antenna on 1804.9 and they do go higher than has been mentioned 1825+. However the strength seems to tail off above 1818 or so. The important thing to remember is these can be loud in EU, often S9 here and they repeat at about every 0.82khz making the selection of an expedition run frequency or even a contest run qrg very important. If you are in the Pacific and you don’t make plans for these signals you may get lost in the QRM within EU. 73 Clive GM3POI -Original Message- From: Topband [mailto:topband-boun...@contesting.com] On Behalf Of k1zm--- via Topband Sent: 19 February 2018 22:30 To: f6...@yahoo.com; topband@contesting.com Subject: Re: Topband: Conditions on 160m for ARRL Contest Hello Gang I think these signals (which we call the "O O O" beacons because they send "DAH DAH DAH" - "DAH DAH DAH" over and over - are some kind of navigation beacons in the Eastern BALTIC. I have heard them starting as high in the band as 1818 (or so - maybe not a precise starting point) - and on a really good night I can hear the weaker ones down to as low as 1806 and 1803. (or so). On a really good evening this past week, I heard them (I think) as low as 1801 - but that is a really weak one. Curiously, they are not on the air every night - because there are often days at a time when they are not operational - or I would surely hear them - from where I am located. They have been on as long as I can remember - they were around in 1977 as I recall - when we all used to hang out and rag chew on 1812 SSB - the old guys from the nets of those days have mostly passed away now - EI8H, GD4BEG etc, - but a few are still with us including AA0RS (G3SZA) and Willem PA0HIP who now lives in DU as I recall. FWIW - BTW - based on how loud the UPPER ones are from 1814-1818 over here - I would think they must be at least 40db over S9 in WESTERN EU - and spaced every 3-4 kHz apart - they peak at about S9+5 or so here at VY2ZM, 73 jeff. Jeff Briggs DXing on the Edge: The Thrill of 160 Meters Available worldwide through BookBaby, Array Solutions, DX Engineering, Royal Society of Great Britain, & Amazon Original Message From: F6FYA via Topband <topband@contesting.com> To: topband <topband@contesting.com> Sent: Mon, Feb 19, 2018 9:10 pm Subject: Re: Topband: Conditions on 160m for ARRL Contest I'm a New member of the "Topband list"I agree with Roger for the QRM at the bottom of the band. I don't know what they are, fishnet or beacons, but it's getting very hard to call CQ on this part of the band. By the way, for me in the central west part of France, conditions was much better friday night. Working with vertical ant, 21 m, and beverage. So, sorry with my poor english, but a pleasure to read differents messages from the list's members. Jean-Paul / F6FYA.Envoyé de mon smartphone BlackBerry 10 sur le réseau Orange depuis La Touraine, Dpt 37. Message d'origine De: Roger KennedyEnvoyé: lundi 19 février 2018 14:34À: topband@contesting.comObjet: Topband: Conditions on 160m for ARRL ContestWell on Friday night I couldn't hear one single American station . . . eventhough I heard a couple of Southern Europe stations working a few.Saturday night conditions were better, but signals were well down on whatthey have been for the past few weeks.However, in the 3 hours I spent on the band (at different times in thenight) I did manage to work 61 American stations . . . including a few inBrazil and the Caribbean.For future reference, here in Britain there are about 6 Navigation Beaconsbetween 1810 and 1818 kHz (they sound like the old Decca HiFix) . . . thesemake copying weak signals VERY difficult, so a good idea to avoid this partof the band !Roger G3YRO_Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband_Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Conditions on 160m for ARRL Contest
Hello Gang I think these signals (which we call the "O O O" beacons because they send "DAH DAH DAH" - "DAH DAH DAH" over and over - are some kind of navigation beacons in the Eastern BALTIC. I have heard them starting as high in the band as 1818 (or so - maybe not a precise starting point) - and on a really good night I can hear the weaker ones down to as low as 1806 and 1803. (or so). On a really good evening this past week, I heard them (I think) as low as 1801 - but that is a really weak one. Curiously, they are not on the air every night - because there are often days at a time when they are not operational - or I would surely hear them - from where I am located. They have been on as long as I can remember - they were around in 1977 as I recall - when we all used to hang out and rag chew on 1812 SSB - the old guys from the nets of those days have mostly passed away now - EI8H, GD4BEG etc, - but a few are still with us including AA0RS (G3SZA) and Willem PA0HIP who now lives in DU as I recall. FWIW - BTW - based on how loud the UPPER ones are from 1814-1818 over here - I would think they must be at least 40db over S9 in WESTERN EU - and spaced every 3-4 kHz apart - they peak at about S9+5 or so here at VY2ZM, 73 jeff. Jeff Briggs DXing on the Edge: The Thrill of 160 Meters Available worldwide through BookBaby, Array Solutions, DX Engineering, Royal Society of Great Britain, & Amazon Original Message From: F6FYA via Topband <topband@contesting.com> To: topband <topband@contesting.com> Sent: Mon, Feb 19, 2018 9:10 pm Subject: Re: Topband: Conditions on 160m for ARRL Contest I'm a New member of the "Topband list"I agree with Roger for the QRM at the bottom of the band. I don't know what they are, fishnet or beacons, but it's getting very hard to call CQ on this part of the band. By the way, for me in the central west part of France, conditions was much better friday night. Working with vertical ant, 21 m, and beverage. So, sorry with my poor english, but a pleasure to read differents messages from the list's members. Jean-Paul / F6FYA.Envoyé de mon smartphone BlackBerry 10 sur le réseau Orange depuis La Touraine, Dpt 37. Message d'origine De: Roger KennedyEnvoyé: lundi 19 février 2018 14:34À: topband@contesting.comObjet: Topband: Conditions on 160m for ARRL ContestWell on Friday night I couldn't hear one single American station . . . eventhough I heard a couple of Southern Europe stations working a few.Saturday night conditions were better, but signals were well down on whatthey have been for the past few weeks.However, in the 3 hours I spent on the band (at different times in thenight) I did manage to work 61 American stations . . . including a few inBrazil and the Caribbean.For future reference, here in Britain there are about 6 Navigation Beaconsbetween 1810 and 1818 kHz (they sound like the old Decca HiFix) . . . thesemake copying weak signals VERY difficult, so a good idea to avoid this partof the band !Roger G3YRO_Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband_Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Conditions on 160m for ARRL Contest
Hi Terry, 500 pf "doorknob" capacitors are not rated for carrying significant RF current. They work great in high impedance applications such as plate blocking capacitor but in low impedance circuits they carry much more RF current than they're capable of handling which heats them and causes extreme capacitance variation. Use an RF current rated transmitting mica capacitor, vacuum capacitor or air capacitor and you'll be good to go. 73 Frank W3LPL - Original Message - From: "terry burge" <k...@comcast.net> To: topband@contesting.com Sent: Monday, February 19, 2018 7:01:27 PM Subject: Re: Topband: Conditions on 160m for ARRL Contest I listened a bit on 40 and 80 mtrs last night and the night before on SSB. I thought conditions were practically non-existent on 80 especially. 40 wasn't much better. Turned the radio off again and worked on other things. Don't exactly see any reason for it on the propagation page since the sunspots have been at least a bit active (26,20,18, 15,12). Hoping for better conditions this coming weekend during the SSB contest on 160. I know that FT8 activity is likely to get some qrm around 1842 KHz. All this talk about inv-L's has got me wondering about adding a second one longer than my '1/4WL' one. But being so cold and the possibility of messing of the operation of what I have now has kept me from trying a longer inv-L. That and not being sure exactly how much and how high of voltage a variable capacitor I would need. I do have some 500pF 10KV doorknob cap I can parallel a variable cap with. And now hearing I might need longer radials. An acres and a half only allows only about one 160 meter antenna at a time along with my other ones. But the talk has me thinking. Terry KI7M > On February 19, 2018 at 8:22 AM W0MU Mike Fatchett wrote: > > > I worked CT, CT3, F, JA, Kh6, KL7, UA9 for non carib or SA contacts. I > missed much of the early Saturday night opening as I was gone. > > I was very happy to log the JA and UA9! Otherwise is was pretty poor. > 80 and 40 were pretty lousy too. > > W0MU > > > On 2/19/2018 2:21 AM, Roger Kennedy wrote: > > > > Well on Friday night I couldn't hear one single American station . . . > > > even > > though I heard a couple of Southern Europe stations working a few. > > > > Saturday night conditions were better, but signals were well down on what > > they have been for the past few weeks. > > > > However, in the 3 hours I spent on the band (at different times in the > > night) I did manage to work 61 American stations . . . including a few in > > Brazil and the Caribbean. > > > > For future reference, here in Britain there are about 6 Navigation Beacons > > between 1810 and 1818 kHz (they sound like the old Decca HiFix) . . . these > > make copying weak signals VERY difficult, so a good idea to avoid this part > > of the band ! > > > > Roger G3YRO > > > > > > _ > > Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband > > > > > _ > Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband > _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Conditions on 160m for ARRL Contest
Terry, You don't need a capacitor rated that high, as long as you don't make it much longer than 1/4 wave on 160. Ohm's Law is your friend, just use one of the formulas to calculate E from R and P. :-) 73, Mike www.w0btu.com On Feb 19, 2018 1:02 PM, "terry burge"wrote: ... All this talk about inv-L's has got me wondering about adding a second one longer than my '1/4WL' one. But being so cold and the possibility of messing of the operation of what I have now has kept me from trying a longer inv-L. That and not being sure exactly how much and how high of voltage a variable capacitor I would need. I do have some 500pF 10KV doorknob cap I can parallel a variable cap with. And now hearing I might need longer radials. An acres and a half only allows only about one 160 meter antenna at a time along with my other ones. _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Conditions on 160m for ARRL Contest
Conditions down here also in SE USA. I had over 150 Q in 62 countries doing an all out effort both nights. I did work G3YRO who was commenting on condition and someone mentioned the GM5A station on the water. They had decent signals both nights. Yes being near the coast makes more of a difference than what theory dictates I think. I have a friend that lives in a salt marsh with very minimal antennas and he hears 160 stuff that I never hear inland with a large selection of receiving antennas. The last 4 or 5 years have been down for me compared to years prior to that. Hopefully things will swing up next year as the flux has pretty much bottomed out. 73 Mike K4PI _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Conditions on 160m for ARRL Contest
I listened a bit on 40 and 80 mtrs last night and the night before on SSB. I thought conditions were practically non-existent on 80 especially. 40 wasn't much better. Turned the radio off again and worked on other things. Don't exactly see any reason for it on the propagation page since the sunspots have been at least a bit active (26,20,18, 15,12). Hoping for better conditions this coming weekend during the SSB contest on 160. I know that FT8 activity is likely to get some qrm around 1842 KHz. All this talk about inv-L's has got me wondering about adding a second one longer than my '1/4WL' one. But being so cold and the possibility of messing of the operation of what I have now has kept me from trying a longer inv-L. That and not being sure exactly how much and how high of voltage a variable capacitor I would need. I do have some 500pF 10KV doorknob cap I can parallel a variable cap with. And now hearing I might need longer radials. An acres and a half only allows only about one 160 meter antenna at a time along with my other ones. But the talk has me thinking. Terry KI7M > On February 19, 2018 at 8:22 AM W0MU Mike Fatchett wrote: > > > I worked CT, CT3, F, JA, Kh6, KL7, UA9 for non carib or SA contacts. I > missed much of the early Saturday night opening as I was gone. > > I was very happy to log the JA and UA9! Otherwise is was pretty poor. > 80 and 40 were pretty lousy too. > > W0MU > > > On 2/19/2018 2:21 AM, Roger Kennedy wrote: > > > > Well on Friday night I couldn't hear one single American station > . . . even > > though I heard a couple of Southern Europe stations working a few. > > > > Saturday night conditions were better, but signals were well down > > on what > > they have been for the past few weeks. > > > > However, in the 3 hours I spent on the band (at different times in > > the > > night) I did manage to work 61 American stations . . . including a > > few in > > Brazil and the Caribbean. > > > > For future reference, here in Britain there are about 6 Navigation > > Beacons > > between 1810 and 1818 kHz (they sound like the old Decca HiFix) . . > > . these > > make copying weak signals VERY difficult, so a good idea to avoid > > this part > > of the band ! > > > > Roger G3YRO > > > > > > _ > > Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband > > > > > _ > Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband > _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Conditions on 160m for ARRL Contest
Hmmm - I made about 35 QSOs on 160 on Friday night as S - while many QSOs were with Caribbean stations, I did get into the EU from Florida..worked G, GM, EI, EA6, CU, LX, I, OZ, CR, F, E7, 9A, and 5B4. I was running 1300 watts, though, through a 160m Windom, with no separate receive antenna. The larger issue for me was QRM, but I had trouble hearing stations that are usually QSA4 or QSA5, so I know conditions were not good...hope for better conditions next year.. 73 de Lee KX4TT _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Conditions on 160m for ARRL Contest
I'm a New member of the "Topband list" I agree with Roger for the QRM at the bottom of the band. I don't know what they are, fishnet or beacons, but it's getting very hard to call CQ on this part of the band. By the way, for me in the central west part of France, conditions was much better friday night. Working with vertical ant, 21 m, and beverage. So, sorry with my poor english, but a pleasure to read differents messages from the list's members. Jean-Paul / F6FYA. Envoyé de mon smartphone BlackBerry 10 sur le réseau Orange depuis La Touraine, Dpt 37. Message d'origine De: Roger Kennedy Envoyé: lundi 19 février 2018 14:34 À: topband@contesting.com Objet: Topband: Conditions on 160m for ARRL Contest Well on Friday night I couldn't hear one single American station . . . even though I heard a couple of Southern Europe stations working a few. Saturday night conditions were better, but signals were well down on what they have been for the past few weeks. However, in the 3 hours I spent on the band (at different times in the night) I did manage to work 61 American stations . . . including a few in Brazil and the Caribbean. For future reference, here in Britain there are about 6 Navigation Beacons between 1810 and 1818 kHz (they sound like the old Decca HiFix) . . . these make copying weak signals VERY difficult, so a good idea to avoid this part of the band ! Roger G3YRO _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Conditions on 160m for ARRL Contest
I worked CT, CT3, F, JA, Kh6, KL7, UA9 for non carib or SA contacts. I missed much of the early Saturday night opening as I was gone. I was very happy to log the JA and UA9! Otherwise is was pretty poor. 80 and 40 were pretty lousy too. W0MU On 2/19/2018 2:21 AM, Roger Kennedy wrote: Well on Friday night I couldn't hear one single American station . . . even though I heard a couple of Southern Europe stations working a few. Saturday night conditions were better, but signals were well down on what they have been for the past few weeks. However, in the 3 hours I spent on the band (at different times in the night) I did manage to work 61 American stations . . . including a few in Brazil and the Caribbean. For future reference, here in Britain there are about 6 Navigation Beacons between 1810 and 1818 kHz (they sound like the old Decca HiFix) . . . these make copying weak signals VERY difficult, so a good idea to avoid this part of the band ! Roger G3YRO _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Conditions on 160m for ARRL Contest
A casual S effort here. Worked only one EU (LZ2WO) on Saturday night local time. On 2/19/2018 2:21 AM, Roger Kennedy wrote: Well on Friday night I couldn't hear one single American station . . . even though I heard a couple of Southern Europe stations working a few. Saturday night conditions were better, but signals were well down on what they have been for the past few weeks. However, in the 3 hours I spent on the band (at different times in the night) I did manage to work 61 American stations . . . including a few in Brazil and the Caribbean. For future reference, here in Britain there are about 6 Navigation Beacons between 1810 and 1818 kHz (they sound like the old Decca HiFix) . . . these make copying weak signals VERY difficult, so a good idea to avoid this part of the band ! Roger G3YRO _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Conditions on 160m for ARRL Contest
I am very new on top band and only managed a handful of big guns on the east coast on Friday night so can't really compare. I did receive a message from the GM5A team who were on a beach with big verticals facing NA over saltwater and they managed 143 q's into 30 states on the Friday night. Unfortunately we can't all live on a beach. Regards Paul MM0ZBH On Monday, 19 February 2018, Ian Fuglerwrote: > Roger > > I think the beacons towards the bottom of the band are fishing nets (drift > nets) in eastern Europe/Asia. They are VERY loud on my east beverage. I > use 1812.60 to call CQ because that falls nicely in between the fishing net > signals. > > I only had a quick listen this weekend on 160m and agree that condx seemed > well down compared with the days running up to ARRL DX. > > 73, > > Ian G4IIY > > > > > > > > -Original Message- > From: Topband [mailto:topband-boun...@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Roger > Kennedy > Sent: 19 February 2018 09:22 > To: topband@contesting.com > Subject: Topband: Conditions on 160m for ARRL Contest > > Well on Friday night I couldn't hear one single American station . . . even > though I heard a couple of Southern Europe stations working a few. > > Saturday night conditions were better, but signals were well down on what > they have been for the past few weeks. > > However, in the 3 hours I spent on the band (at different times in the > night) I did manage to work 61 American stations . . . including a few in > Brazil and the Caribbean. > > For future reference, here in Britain there are about 6 Navigation Beacons > between 1810 and 1818 kHz (they sound like the old Decca HiFix) . . . these > make copying weak signals VERY difficult, so a good idea to avoid this part > of the band ! > > Roger G3YRO > > > _ > Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband > > --- > This email has been checked for viruses by AVG. > http://www.avg.com > > _ > Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband > _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Conditions on 160m for ARRL Contest
Roger I think the beacons towards the bottom of the band are fishing nets (drift nets) in eastern Europe/Asia. They are VERY loud on my east beverage. I use 1812.60 to call CQ because that falls nicely in between the fishing net signals. I only had a quick listen this weekend on 160m and agree that condx seemed well down compared with the days running up to ARRL DX. 73, Ian G4IIY -Original Message- From: Topband [mailto:topband-boun...@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Roger Kennedy Sent: 19 February 2018 09:22 To: topband@contesting.com Subject: Topband: Conditions on 160m for ARRL Contest Well on Friday night I couldn't hear one single American station . . . even though I heard a couple of Southern Europe stations working a few. Saturday night conditions were better, but signals were well down on what they have been for the past few weeks. However, in the 3 hours I spent on the band (at different times in the night) I did manage to work 61 American stations . . . including a few in Brazil and the Caribbean. For future reference, here in Britain there are about 6 Navigation Beacons between 1810 and 1818 kHz (they sound like the old Decca HiFix) . . . these make copying weak signals VERY difficult, so a good idea to avoid this part of the band ! Roger G3YRO _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband --- This email has been checked for viruses by AVG. http://www.avg.com _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband