Re: Topband: 160 FT8

[Joe Subich, W4TV]

On 2/19/2024 10:22 PM, n...@comcast.net wrote:
> Yes, I can earn  a 80m CW DXCC,  80m PHONE DXCC, 80m DIGITAL DXCC,

What makes you say that?

I have reviewed the DXCC rules, the DXCC (paper) application, the
Online DXCC Application, and the LotW DXCC Application and in none
of them do I find *any* reference to mode endorsements for *any*
of the single band DXCC Awards.  The only reference to endorsements
for the single band DXCC are for number of "countries" and that
applies to all single band awards.

Rule 5 speaks to the matter of endorsements for single band awards
and the only difference between 160/80/VHF/UHF and 40-10 is the
steps at which endorsement stickers are issued.

73,

   ... Joe, W4TV


On 2/19/2024 10:22 PM, n...@comcast.net wrote:

Yes, I can earn  a 80m CW DXCC,  80m PHONE DXCC, 80m DIGITAL DXCC,

BUT NOT  160M CW DXCC !

Whatever you call it,  it is not right, not is no fair. PHONE I used my voice, 
CW I used my skills, FT* YOU used your PC.

Who will be the first  to claim # 300 on 160m FT*.

No shame on that!

73;s
N4IS





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Re: Topband: 160 FT8

[n4is]

Yes, I can earn  a 80m CW DXCC,  80m PHONE DXCC, 80m DIGITAL DXCC, 

BUT NOT  160M CW DXCC !

Whatever you call it,  it is not right, not is no fair. PHONE I used my voice, 
CW I used my skills, FT* YOU used your PC.

Who will be the first  to claim # 300 on 160m FT*.

No shame on that!

73;s
N4IS

-Original Message-
From: Topband  On Behalf Of 
Joe Subich, W4TV
Sent: Monday, February 19, 2024 10:01 PM
To: topband@contesting.com
Subject: Re: Topband: 160 FT8



On 2/19/2024 9:30 PM, Tree wrote:

> But I do disagree with that statement.  You still used your ears with 
> SSB.
Go back even further ... when Phone came along.  Where was the
skill in phone (compared to CW)?   FT8 may be the modern Phone.

73,

... Joe, W4TV


On 2/19/2024 9:30 PM, Tree wrote:
> Agree that this is getting old.
> 
> "Go back and research the transition from AM to SSB.  It’s much the same."
> 
> But I do disagree with that statement.  You still used your ears with SSB.
> 
> Tree N6TR
> 
> On Mon, Feb 19, 2024 at 6:10 PM Cecil acuff  wrote:
> 
>> FT8 is here to stay….and there will be others!
>>
>> Go back and research the transition from AM to SSB.  It’s much the same.
>> Complain as you will….if you cling to CW as the only valid mode of 
>> communications on Top Band, you will fail.  You are willing to 
>> sacrifice RTTY to FT8 just recently… in an effort to justify your 
>> position….to no avail.  Technology moves forward….you stay behind.  
>> All modes are valid and there is nothing you can do to halt it.
>>
>> AM, SSB, CW, RTTY, Digital modes including FT8….all valid. Doesn’t 
>> matter if you used a bug or a laptop…all valid.
>>
>> Fight about remote ops…a much more productive fight!…..that’s if you 
>> must fight!
>>
>> This discussion is getting old….
>>
>> Cecil
>> K5DL
>>
>>



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Re: Topband: 160 FT8

[Joe Subich, W4TV]

On 2/19/2024 9:30 PM, Tree wrote:


But I do disagree with that statement.  You still used your ears with
SSB.

Go back even further ... when Phone came along.  Where was the
skill in phone (compared to CW)?   FT8 may be the modern Phone.

73,

   ... Joe, W4TV


On 2/19/2024 9:30 PM, Tree wrote:

Agree that this is getting old.

"Go back and research the transition from AM to SSB.  It’s much the same."

But I do disagree with that statement.  You still used your ears with SSB.

Tree N6TR

On Mon, Feb 19, 2024 at 6:10 PM Cecil acuff  wrote:


FT8 is here to stay….and there will be others!

Go back and research the transition from AM to SSB.  It’s much the same.
Complain as you will….if you cling to CW as the only valid mode of
communications on Top Band, you will fail.  You are willing to sacrifice
RTTY to FT8 just recently… in an effort to justify your position….to no
avail.  Technology moves forward….you stay behind.  All modes are valid and
there is nothing you can do to halt it.

AM, SSB, CW, RTTY, Digital modes including FT8….all valid. Doesn’t matter
if you used a bug or a laptop…all valid.

Fight about remote ops…a much more productive fight!…..that’s if you must
fight!

This discussion is getting old….

Cecil
K5DL






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Re: Topband: 160 FT8

[Tree]

Agree that this is getting old.

"Go back and research the transition from AM to SSB.  It’s much the same.  "

But I do disagree with that statement.  You still used your ears with SSB.

Tree N6TR

On Mon, Feb 19, 2024 at 6:10 PM Cecil acuff  wrote:

> FT8 is here to stay….and there will be others!
>
> Go back and research the transition from AM to SSB.  It’s much the same.
> Complain as you will….if you cling to CW as the only valid mode of
> communications on Top Band, you will fail.  You are willing to sacrifice
> RTTY to FT8 just recently… in an effort to justify your position….to no
> avail.  Technology moves forward….you stay behind.  All modes are valid and
> there is nothing you can do to halt it.
>
> AM, SSB, CW, RTTY, Digital modes including FT8….all valid. Doesn’t matter
> if you used a bug or a laptop…all valid.
>
> Fight about remote ops…a much more productive fight!…..that’s if you must
> fight!
>
> This discussion is getting old….
>
> Cecil
> K5DL
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
> > On Feb 19, 2024, at 5:46 PM, Bob Kile  wrote:
> > The discussion goes on. In case one hasn't noticed we are in a solar
> maximum. I work what I can when I can and get sleep unlike "Charlie Fox".
> >
> > FT8 for me is a tool. If I call CQ for a few minutes on FT8 in 15
> minutes I can see world wide with it's  thousands of stations using PSK
> Reporter the current state of propagation.
> >
> > Last evening after the contest I ran JTDX in SWL mode over night. The so
> called dead band yielded 41 unique call signs in EU. About half would have
> been workable on CW. This was with my antenna stuck beaming 90 degrees
> which normally would be pointing at 25 degrees.
> >
> > In these crap conditions to work new ones you need to pull out all the
> tools such as low noise RX antennas, spectrum and waterfall displays,
> spotting and even FT8. While I'm not an advocate of FT8 it certainly has
> it's place and to work DX it takes some savvy by not just calling CQ and
> having the program auto answer the strongest of the group calling.
> >
> > Dxpeditions these days cost piles of money. Very few can fork out $25K
> of personal funds to go  or attempt to go to some remote piece of dirt in
> the middle of nowhere. They run on donations from clubs, manufacturers,
> retailers and  individuals. The more contacts they make the better chance
> of recouping some of the real costs.
> >
> > I saw in one post a negative comment about Rig in a Box. With all the
> hot air from "Save the World" fanatics it has become extremely difficult to
> permission to operate from many  places  that 20 years ago was possible.
> >
> > As a Ham operator for 58 years now and I go with the flow. I see many
> new faces and at some point they will mature into what what we perceive is
> ham radio if we give them a chance. I prefer not to be the last guy calling
> CQ with a sign posted  "when done please turn off the lights".
> >
> > 73
> >
> > Bob W7RH
> >
> > --
> > W7RH DM35OJ
> >
> >
> > If it's true that our species is alone in the universe, then I'd have to
> say the universe aimed rather low and settled for very little. George Carlin
> >
> >
> > _
> > Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband
> Reflector
>
> _
> Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband
> Reflector
>
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Re: Topband: 160 FT8

[Cecil acuff]

FT8 is here to stay….and there will be others!

Go back and research the transition from AM to SSB.  It’s much the same.  
Complain as you will….if you cling to CW as the only valid mode of 
communications on Top Band, you will fail.  You are willing to sacrifice RTTY 
to FT8 just recently… in an effort to justify your position….to no avail.  
Technology moves forward….you stay behind.  All modes are valid and there is 
nothing you can do to halt it.

AM, SSB, CW, RTTY, Digital modes including FT8….all valid. Doesn’t matter if 
you used a bug or a laptop…all valid. 

Fight about remote ops…a much more productive fight!…..that’s if you must fight!

This discussion is getting old….

Cecil
K5DL






Sent from my iPad

> On Feb 19, 2024, at 5:46 PM, Bob Kile  wrote:
> The discussion goes on. In case one hasn't noticed we are in a solar 
> maximum. I work what I can when I can and get sleep unlike "Charlie Fox".
> 
> FT8 for me is a tool. If I call CQ for a few minutes on FT8 in 15 minutes I 
> can see world wide with it's  thousands of stations using PSK Reporter the 
> current state of propagation.
> 
> Last evening after the contest I ran JTDX in SWL mode over night. The so 
> called dead band yielded 41 unique call signs in EU. About half would have 
> been workable on CW. This was with my antenna stuck beaming 90 degrees which 
> normally would be pointing at 25 degrees.
> 
> In these crap conditions to work new ones you need to pull out all the tools 
> such as low noise RX antennas, spectrum and waterfall displays, spotting and 
> even FT8. While I'm not an advocate of FT8 it certainly has it's place and to 
> work DX it takes some savvy by not just calling CQ and having the program 
> auto answer the strongest of the group calling.
> 
> Dxpeditions these days cost piles of money. Very few can fork out $25K of 
> personal funds to go  or attempt to go to some remote piece of dirt in the 
> middle of nowhere. They run on donations from clubs, manufacturers, retailers 
> and  individuals. The more contacts they make the better chance of recouping 
> some of the real costs.
> 
> I saw in one post a negative comment about Rig in a Box. With all the hot air 
> from "Save the World" fanatics it has become extremely difficult to 
> permission to operate from many  places  that 20 years ago was possible.
> 
> As a Ham operator for 58 years now and I go with the flow. I see many new 
> faces and at some point they will mature into what what we perceive is ham 
> radio if we give them a chance. I prefer not to be the last guy calling CQ 
> with a sign posted  "when done please turn off the lights".
> 
> 73
> 
> Bob W7RH
> 
> --
> W7RH DM35OJ
> 
> 
> If it's true that our species is alone in the universe, then I'd have to say 
> the universe aimed rather low and settled for very little. George Carlin
> 
> 
> _
> Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector

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Re: Topband: 160 FT8

[Bob Kile]

The discussion goes on. In case one hasn't noticed we are in a solar 
maximum. I work what I can when I can and get sleep unlike "Charlie Fox".


FT8 for me is a tool. If I call CQ for a few minutes on FT8 in 15 
minutes I can see world wide with it's  thousands of stations using PSK 
Reporter the current state of propagation.


Last evening after the contest I ran JTDX in SWL mode over night. The so 
called dead band yielded 41 unique call signs in EU. About half would 
have been workable on CW. This was with my antenna stuck beaming 90 
degrees which normally would be pointing at 25 degrees.


In these crap conditions to work new ones you need to pull out all the 
tools such as low noise RX antennas, spectrum and waterfall displays, 
spotting and even FT8. While I'm not an advocate of FT8 it certainly has 
it's place and to work DX it takes some savvy by not just calling CQ and 
having the program auto answer the strongest of the group calling.


Dxpeditions these days cost piles of money. Very few can fork out $25K 
of personal funds to go  or attempt to go to some remote piece of dirt 
in the middle of nowhere. They run on donations from clubs, 
manufacturers, retailers and  individuals. The more contacts they make 
the better chance of recouping some of the real costs.


I saw in one post a negative comment about Rig in a Box. With all the 
hot air from "Save the World" fanatics it has become extremely difficult 
to permission to operate from many  places  that 20 years ago was possible.


As a Ham operator for 58 years now and I go with the flow. I see many 
new faces and at some point they will mature into what what we perceive 
is ham radio if we give them a chance. I prefer not to be the last guy 
calling CQ with a sign posted  "when done please turn off the lights".


73

Bob W7RH

--
W7RH DM35OJ


If it's true that our species is alone in the universe, then I'd have to say 
the universe aimed rather low and settled for very little. George Carlin


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Re: Topband: 160 FT8

[Steven Daniel]

So Rino, how do you really feel about FT8 and its cousins?
Steve, NN4T
Sent from my iPhone

> On Feb 19, 2024, at 12:32 PM, Salvatore Borace  wrote:
> 
> I want if stop comment on this reflector about qso on that shit mode,
> really not know what Is the satisfaction when your PC make this qso, so i
> preferred lost my ears on weak cw signal.
> Rino IK7JTF
> _
> Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector


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Topband: 160 FT8

[Salvatore Borace]

I want if stop comment on this reflector about qso on that shit mode,
really not know what Is the satisfaction when your PC make this qso, so i
preferred lost my ears on weak cw signal.
 Rino IK7JTF
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Re: Topband: 160 Contest - EU Opening

[Steve Harrison]

On 1/29/2024 2:22 PM, ars.k...@gmail.com wrote:

The second night had the surprise strong EU opening from 0520 - 0610Z.


(Saturday night only): My first was CT9ABO at 0430, then nothing until 
0559 with OK1DOL and then DK6WL at 0603. Then after a bit, I worked S57Q 
at 0620, then my last Euro was CR6K at 0730. Assuming NA7TB is in 
Scottsdale, AZ, and I'm in 29 Palms, CA, then I'm about 200 miles just 
about due west of you. Hard to believe propagation would be so 
spotlighted on such a low frequency as 1800 - 1850 kHz; but there you 
are. I don't exactly recall when I heard HA8RE as strong as he was.


I can't help but wonder what W8KA managed to snag and when, as he also 
has a potent 8-circle array. K6NR, in Parks, AZ, would be just about 
halfway and slightly north between Scottsdale and myself, while W8KA 
would be around halfway between Scottsdale and Parks, I think. Isn't 
ND7K well to your southeast by some 150+ miles? I drove through Safford 
awhile back watching for humungous towers but I guess they're well off 
the beaten track in the desert or on one of the mountains nearby?


I wonder when/if the LA, Orange county, and SD guys heard/worked Europe??

Last year, I worked HG8DX, MW5B, and DR4A between 0430 and 0452Z; I 
don't recall whether I heard but unsuccessfully called other Euros last 
year. Next year, I'll have to try to make a "Heard Log" of this schtuff  8-)


Steve, K0XP



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Topband: 160 Contest - EU Opening

[ars.ky7m]

I was operating on the M/S team at NA7TB where we have the Milt Jensen
designed 8-Circle and Beverage farm.  The first night was very disappointing
with only one EA and Bob at MU5E in the log.  The second night had the
surprise strong EU opening from 0520 - 0610Z.  I logged 20 EU stations
(including DR5X).  The loudest was OM7M sounding like a local.  It was sad
to have the EU propagation shut down again to Arizona for the remainder of
the night.  I counted 13 new mults from the opening so it certainly helped
our final score.  Conditions to EU were better last year on both nights.

 

Lee, KY7M

 

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Topband: 160 meter report

[Mark Lunday]

Heard but could not get through to OK1CF @ 0010 UTC.  Long QSB from 559 down to 
the noise level.

Worked OH0Z at 0005 UTC.

Checked back in at 0430 UTC and signals were barely audible amid QSB.





Mark Lunday, WD4ELG
Greensboro, NC  FM06be
wd4...@arrl.net
http://wd4elg.blogspot.com
SKCC #16439  FISTS #17972  QRP ARCI #16497

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Re: Topband: 160 м

[uy0zg via Topband]

Here are just two masterpieces (see files).

---
Nick, UY0ZG
http://www.topband.in.ua

uy0zg via Topband писал 2023-10-13 19:38:

Hello people!
Tonight there is a holiday in Europe - the WEBSDR festival.

 Many don't even disguise themselves. The best of the best 
gathered. I

myself do not work as an FT.
But it’s interesting to look at the circus.
 Look at the file.
--
Nick, UY0ZG
http://www.topband.in.ua
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Re: Topband: 160 Retirement VO1HP

[Guy Olinger K2AV]

Well, for a long time, a 160 test was not complete without VO1HP in the
log. But I certainly do understand the WX and related strains up there. My
brother lived in St Johns for a while. One of my nieces is a “Newfie”.
 (She lives in Atlanta burbs now. )

Frank was a contributor in the early days getting FCP going. Particularly
in solutions to support L’s bend with a tower.

Good luck Frank. See you on 80m.

73, Guy K2AV

On Tue, Sep 12, 2023 at 3:46 PM Frank  wrote:

> The time has come to downsize my operations. I  thought I would let my
> Topband friends know that I have retired from 160M and will not appear on
> the band this season.  Yesterday I took down my lowband tower which
> supported an inverted L and FCP at my remote site.  The  "L" has been
> coiled and ready to pass on to a younger addict!  I thank Guy K2AV for his
> development work on the Folded Counterpoise. The FCP has proven to be very
> effective for me.
>
>  I have 77 turns on my coil and will not have to worry about the 100kmph+
> winds, snows and ice of our Newfoundland winter,  battering away at my
> overhead wires. I have 238 DXCC confirmed and have thoroughly enjoyed 160M
> since my first QSO with Bob Kavanaugh VE1AXT in 1974. (Recently SK VE3OSZ)
> There was one interruption of about 10 years in the 1980's when family and
> professional duties combined with a lack of real estate kept me off the
> band.
>
> My forward focus will be on completion of 5BWAZ.  I need 4 Zones on 80M and
> Zone 23 on 10M.
>
> All the best to you Topbanders!
>
> 73
> Frank VO1HP
>
>
> <
> https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email_source=link_campaign=sig-email_content=webmail
> >
> Virus-free.www.avast.com
> <
> https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email_source=link_campaign=sig-email_content=webmail
> >
> <#DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2>
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>
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Topband: 160 Retirement VO1HP

[Frank]

The time has come to downsize my operations. I  thought I would let my
Topband friends know that I have retired from 160M and will not appear on
the band this season.  Yesterday I took down my lowband tower which
supported an inverted L and FCP at my remote site.  The  "L" has been
coiled and ready to pass on to a younger addict!  I thank Guy K2AV for his
development work on the Folded Counterpoise. The FCP has proven to be very
effective for me.

 I have 77 turns on my coil and will not have to worry about the 100kmph+
winds, snows and ice of our Newfoundland winter,  battering away at my
overhead wires. I have 238 DXCC confirmed and have thoroughly enjoyed 160M
since my first QSO with Bob Kavanaugh VE1AXT in 1974. (Recently SK VE3OSZ)
There was one interruption of about 10 years in the 1980's when family and
professional duties combined with a lack of real estate kept me off the
band.

My forward focus will be on completion of 5BWAZ.  I need 4 Zones on 80M and
Zone 23 on 10M.

All the best to you Topbanders!

73
Frank VO1HP



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Topband: 160, 80 and 40 Meter Inverted L Tuning

[Bill Smith via Topband]

I put up a 160-meter Inverted L in my backyard with traps for 80 and 40 meters. 
 The vertical section is up about 35 feet with 31 feet of wire between the 
80-meter and 40-meter trap.  From the 80-meter trap to the end of the antenna 
is 60 feet of wire.  It is hung as a sloping U.  At the end of the U bend in 
the wire is a 4-inch pulley.  It's the best I can do with my small yard.  I 
have tried various lengths of a counterpoise as well as my radial field with no 
luck.  
From my VNA
80 Meters at 3.850 MHzSWR-11.5Smith Chart- 26.7ohms 372pfResistance- 50 
ohmsReactance- S11x100 -111 ohmsSWR at 4.000 MHz is 12.6
160 Meters at 1.9000 MHzSWR- 32Smith Chart- 1.648 ohms 473 
microhenriesResistance- S21x100- 50 ohmsReactance- S11x100- 10.04 ohmsSWR at 
2.000 MHz is 50
I obviously have a lot of research yet to do but wanted to see if these results 
make sense or not.  Any ideas on the best way to tune this?
73,Bill KO4NR
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Topband: 160 ain't dead yet.

[Roger Kennedy]

Well to me conditions are good if the DX stations that will peak over S9 are
that strong . . . if they are S5-6 then conditions are poor, and if they are
very weak or not there at all, then conditions are bad.

The same goes when looking at my own RBN reports . . . if I am 30dB above
the noise then conditions are good . . . just 10dB they are poor . . . less
than that or nothing, then they're bad.

As a general rule, I find that if NA East Coast signals are very strong,
then you will also hear Mid West or even West Coast stations.

Although sometimes propagation can be very selective . . . certain areas (on
both sides of the pond) will occasionally have very good propagation between
them, but very little elsewhere.

And every now and then 160m conditions will be so good that propagation is
good EVERYWHERE . . . I remember a couple of years ago where I worked Japan,
Korea, South Africa, but also South American Stations and right across to
the West Coast, all on the same night !

Roger G3YRO



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Re: Topband: 160 ain't dead yet.

[Raymond Benny]

Did work an F5 last night, 0445z on 160m FT8.
Have not heard EU on CW lately, but only briefly tune 160m.

Ray,
N6VR, W7YA on FT8
Arizona

On Fri, Feb 24, 2023, 3:39 AM Henk PA5KT via Topband 
wrote:

> Roger,
>
> It is a matter of definition of what you call Good conditions.
>
> To me the average conditions are if I hear eastern states in the VE1,
> VE2, W1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9 call areas..
>
> Conditions are good when I also hear VE3, W0, W4, W5.
>
> Conditions are very good if I can hear all of North America.
>
> During the CQ160 contest conditions were above average as I heard all
> east coast states and some Midwest.
>
> This weekend I only heard VE1, VE2, eastern VE3, W1, W2, W3 and NC and
> FL. To me that qualifies as bad.
>
> It looks like the polar activity absorbed everything west of W3.
> Additional to that signals were below average.
>
> 73 Henk PA5KT
>
> Op 23-2-2023 om 10:21 schreef Roger Kennedy:
> >
> > It's always fascinating how very localised DX Propagation can be on Top
> > Band, I noted how several Europeans said that propagation to NA was very
> > poor over the weekend, whereas I found it pretty good.
> >
> > 73 Roger G3YRO
> >
> >
> > _
> > Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband
> Reflector
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>
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Re: Topband: 160 ain't dead yet.

[Henk PA5KT via Topband]

Roger,

It is a matter of definition of what you call Good conditions.

To me the average conditions are if I hear eastern states in the VE1, 
VE2, W1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9 call areas..


Conditions are good when I also hear VE3, W0, W4, W5.

Conditions are very good if I can hear all of North America.

During the CQ160 contest conditions were above average as I heard all 
east coast states and some Midwest.


This weekend I only heard VE1, VE2, eastern VE3, W1, W2, W3 and NC and 
FL. To me that qualifies as bad.


It looks like the polar activity absorbed everything west of W3. 
Additional to that signals were below average.


73 Henk PA5KT

Op 23-2-2023 om 10:21 schreef Roger Kennedy:


It's always fascinating how very localised DX Propagation can be on Top
Band, I noted how several Europeans said that propagation to NA was very
poor over the weekend, whereas I found it pretty good.

73 Roger G3YRO


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Re: Topband: 160 ain't dead yet.

[GEORGE WALLNER]

I heard OK1CF calling CQ. Karel was a real 599. He came back and gave me 
599+.
Later, OM2WX called with a very solid signal. A couple of other weak EU 
stations later, but I had to go on watch and could not continue.


QTH: Abut 30 miles from Cocos Island (TI9), in EJ65.
1 kW and a 50 foot vertical.
Ain't Dead for sure,

73,
George
AA7JV


On Thu, 23 Feb 2023 09:21:48 - "Roger Kennedy"  wrote:

Sorry I couldn't copy you calling me last night Guy . . . I've still got
this local noise problem (OFCOM back again next week, so keep hoping they
will shut the source down)

I popped on a couple of times last night . . . but didn't stay on long. as
reports from RBN stations were very poor !

It's always fascinating how very localised DX Propagation can be on Top
Band, I noted how several Europeans said that propagation to NA was very
poor over the weekend, whereas I found it pretty good.

73 Roger G3YRO


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Topband: 160 ain't dead yet.

[Roger Kennedy]

Sorry I couldn't copy you calling me last night Guy . . . I've still got
this local noise problem (OFCOM back again next week, so keep hoping they
will shut the source down)

I popped on a couple of times last night . . . but didn't stay on long. as
reports from RBN stations were very poor !

It's always fascinating how very localised DX Propagation can be on Top
Band, I noted how several Europeans said that propagation to NA was very
poor over the weekend, whereas I found it pretty good.

73 Roger G3YRO


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Topband: 160 ain't dead yet.

[Guy Olinger K2AV]

Amazing 10 and 15 meters in ARRL DX. Also...

2340Z 22 Feb 2023.  G3YRO heard at 1.827.0 and copied call 339. Called but
no joy. He might have heard me, but no two-way. No QRN, blizzard in most of
US.

We just assume that 160 is *dead* when 10 is wide open. 160 ain't dead, but
not sure what it is. This will be the first sunspot max, when we have
worldwide RBN, the internet, and lots of rigs with K3 level RX performance.

We shall see.

Now's when a few dB makes a big difference.

In the meantime I have to get my 20-6m stuff working.

Is this one going to be like 1958?

Back then we LITERALLY worked Los Angeles CA from Columbus, OH on 10m with
a 75A3, & Johnson Ranger loaded into a 2 foot salty wet noodle. That was
after using radiator, bed springs, sink trap, a metal door and a copper
window screen as an antenna. School buddy's dad had a ham station, my first
exposure to ham radio. I was hooked. Probably was the power cord radiating,
but we didn't know that and it was great fun. (It did dry up the noodle.)

Anyhow, we need to see what MF propagation *really* is at solar max.

73, Guy K2AV
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Re: Topband: 160 from 3Y0J

[Jim Brown]

Blank email. I think all contesting.com reflectors reject formatted 
text, and I know they reject attachments.


73, Jim K9YC

On 2/8/2023 2:59 PM, Dave Jorgensen wrote:


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Topband: 160 from 3Y0J

[Dave Jorgensen]

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Topband: 160 Meter Activity Night

[Mark - N5OT]

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Re: Topband: 160 last night (Monday)

[Frank W3LPL]

Hi Ron,

You reported "With A of 30 hardly expected band to be open."
The A-index for 2100Z Sunday through 2100Z Monday was 14, not 30.

You inadvertently reported the prior day A-index of 30 for 2100Z
Saturday through 2100Z Sunday.  It was very stale by last night!

The A-index is calculated as the average of eight, three-hour magnetic
observatory scaled K-indices observed during the 24 hour UT day.
It provides a single, average value to indicate the activity level
for the prior 24 hour period ending at 2100Z each day.

The trend of k-index values is better correlated to current propagation
conditions than the prior day A-index. Preliminary k-index values are
received minute-by-minute from a global network of magnetic observatories
and reported at the end of each 3-hour reporting period.  For example, the
0300Z k-index is computed from near-real-time magnetic observatory
preliminary k-index reports received from -0300Z.

Last night's k-index reports clearly illustrate how the k-index was
better correlated to observed propagation than the prior day A-index.
You can clearly see how the k-indices of 2, 3, 4 and 5 during 16-Jan
resulted in a somewhat elevated A-index of 14 at 2100Z 16-Jan

This is today's A and k-index reporting from Z to 1500Z 17-Jan.
The A-index that will be reported at 2100Z today will probably be a
single digit if today's K-indices remain low through 2100Z.

   Date Hour  SFI   A   K
 
17-Jan-2023 15228   14  1
17-Jan-2023 12228   14  1
17-Jan-2023 09228   14  2
17-Jan-2023 06228   14  2
17-Jan-2023 03228   14  1
17-Jan-2023 00228   14  1

Scaled average k-index reports of about 3 for the 24 hours prior to 2100Z 16-Jan
produced an A-index of 14 at 2100Z 16-Jan:

16-Jan-2023 21228   14  2
16-Jan-2023 18234   30  3
16-Jan-2023 15234   30  3
16-Jan-2023 12234   30  3
16-Jan-2023 09234   30  3
16-Jan-2023 06234   30  2
16-Jan-2023 03234   30  4
16-Jan-2023 00234   30  5

Scaled average k-index reports of about 4 for the 24 hours prior to 2100Z 15-Jan
produced an A-index of 25 at 2100Z 15-Jan, later revised to 30 at Z 16-Jan.

15-Jan-2023 21234   25  4
15-Jan-2023 18228   11  3
15-Jan-2023 15228   11  4
15-Jan-2023 12228   11  4
15-Jan-2023 09228   11  4
15-Jan-2023 06228   11  4
15-Jan-2023 03228   11  5
15-Jan-2023 00228   11  3

Scaled average k-index reports of about 2 for the 24 hours prior to 2100Z 14-Jan
produced an A-index of 15 at 2100Z 14-Jan, later revised to 11 at Z 16-Jan.

14-Jan-2023 21228   15  2
14-Jan-2023 18209   12  1
14-Jan-2023 15209   12  1
14-Jan-2023 12209   12  1
14-Jan-2023 09209   12  2
14-Jan-2023 06209   12  4
14-Jan-2023 03209   12  4
14-Jan-2023 00209   12  4

73
Frank
W3LPL




- Original Message -
From: "Ron Spencer via Topband" 
To: "Topband@Contesting. Com" 
Sent: Tuesday, January 17, 2023 2:54:05 PM
Subject: Topband: 160 last night (Monday)

Was an interesting evening (1/16 local). With A of 30 hardly expected band to 
be open. But, it was and very well. 



First Q was Andy, DL8LAS at 22:28. Last was at 23:27 (took some time off for 
dinner), Karel, OK1CF. All had very good signals. Perhaps the best of the year. 
Worked DL, ON, G (several), MD0, RA3, OK. Nothing really remarkable except, all 
were worked with 100W. Not sure I've ever worked that many stations with 100W 
on 160. Too bad we didn't have these conditions for Stew Perry contest  



Did hear, around 2309, TN8K as loud as I've ever heard them. Peaking 10 to 15dB 
above my noise. Very much appreciate all the effort that team has put into 
working 80 and 160.  


This morning (1/17) band seemed busted but then heard Dennis, ZL1AZ, work AA1K 
with a Q5 signal. Unfortunately Dennis then seemed to fade. But, JH1HDT and 
JA5DQH (with a very strong signal) were both worked (with a kw this time!). So, 
overall, a fun evening and morning


Ron

N4XD
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Re: Topband: 160 last night (Monday)

[David Raymond]

The eastern half of the country had the good conditions last night.  
Conditions were poor here in Iowa. . .  I could not hear Andy/DL8LAS nor 
Karel/OK1CF.  TN8K has was weak earlier in the evening but rose to 559 
around z.  This morning at first seemed to be a lost cause, but then 
ZL1AZ, JH1HDT, JA5DQH, and JA5BIN (with difficulty) went into the log.  
JA1LZR is on nearly every morning (NA time) but was no copy.  Let's hope 
we have some good prop for 3Y0J!     73. . . Dave, W0FLS


On 1/17/2023 8:54 AM, Ron Spencer via Topband wrote:

Was an interesting evening (1/16 local). With A of 30 hardly expected band to 
be open. But, it was and very well.



First Q was Andy, DL8LAS at 22:28. Last was at 23:27 (took some time off for 
dinner), Karel, OK1CF. All had very good signals. Perhaps the best of the year. 
Worked DL, ON, G (several), MD0, RA3, OK. Nothing really remarkable except, all 
were worked with 100W. Not sure I've ever worked that many stations with 100W 
on 160. Too bad we didn't have these conditions for Stew Perry contest



Did hear, around 2309, TN8K as loud as I've ever heard them. Peaking 10 to 15dB 
above my noise. Very much appreciate all the effort that team has put into 
working 80 and 160.


This morning (1/17) band seemed busted but then heard Dennis, ZL1AZ, work AA1K 
with a Q5 signal. Unfortunately Dennis then seemed to fade. But, JH1HDT and 
JA5DQH (with a very strong signal) were both worked (with a kw this time!). So, 
overall, a fun evening and morning


Ron

N4XD
Sent using https://www.zoho.com/mail/
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Topband: 160 last night (Monday)

[Ron Spencer via Topband]

Was an interesting evening (1/16 local). With A of 30 hardly expected band to 
be open. But, it was and very well. 



First Q was Andy, DL8LAS at 22:28. Last was at 23:27 (took some time off for 
dinner), Karel, OK1CF. All had very good signals. Perhaps the best of the year. 
Worked DL, ON, G (several), MD0, RA3, OK. Nothing really remarkable except, all 
were worked with 100W. Not sure I've ever worked that many stations with 100W 
on 160. Too bad we didn't have these conditions for Stew Perry contest  



Did hear, around 2309, TN8K as loud as I've ever heard them. Peaking 10 to 15dB 
above my noise. Very much appreciate all the effort that team has put into 
working 80 and 160.  


This morning (1/17) band seemed busted but then heard Dennis, ZL1AZ, work AA1K 
with a Q5 signal. Unfortunately Dennis then seemed to fade. But, JH1HDT and 
JA5DQH (with a very strong signal) were both worked (with a kw this time!). So, 
overall, a fun evening and morning


Ron

N4XD
Sent using https://www.zoho.com/mail/
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Topband: 160 conditions last night

[Roger Kennedy]

Good to see the CW activity, thanks to everyone that made the effort to come
on last night.

I was working late doing a gig, so didn't get home til 0230. Stayed on for
half an hour, and worked a few NA stations.  Sadly I was too tired to come
back on before our Sunrise !

Despite Xmas, I will be popping on at odd times over this weekend, and I
will be plugging the Wednesday activity night again next week.

Meantime, I hope all 160m DXers have a great Christmas !

73 Roger G3YRO


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Re: Topband: 160 contest; dits and dahs; propagation

[GEORGE WALLNER]

We normally make 1300 Q-s in this contest. This year, with a lot of hard 
work, only 994. Propagation had to be very selective. C6AGU was consistently 
20 - 24 dB on the W3LPL RBN, but not heard at W3HKK. At the same time, EU 
stations were causing QRM on the RX antenna, which is 10 dB down towards EU.

Strange conditions, indeed.


73,
George,
C6AGU

On Thu, 08 Dec 2022 17:12:30 + w3...@roadrunner.com wrote:

Interesting comments!

I specifically listened at my SR but heard no JA's.

Also typically in this contest at certain hours I get a steady stream
of W6, W7 replies - many surprisingly strong. This time it was less
than 20. The West was fairly sparse, there were many cracks in the QRM
wall, and it seemed most sigs were from the NE, Mid-Atlantic regions.
4 Land is usually a big contributor to the log, but again this time
much less so. Probably goes to show just how telescopic propagation can be on 
TB, ie
spotty. Re: DX: I looked for every DX spot and heard none from EU. The
Carrib was about it. No CA or SA ( other than XE.) Or Pacific other
than KH6. Dits and dahs: My CQ CW Contest submission feedback results get hit
pretty hard by penalties, and one of the major errors is the other guy
logging me as SKK - so now I try to repeat it an extra time, slowing
way down on the H. I thought I might have a sending problem with my
7610 memories, but now chalk it up to noise/qsb/haste to move on to
the next guy. I do hear and appreciate when the other guy slows down
his call. Really helps me get it right by minimizing guesses. Worked KH6 around 
11:30 pm local time here..a bit of a surprise, and
then later saw a spot for KL7 but he was buried in the noise and never
got him in the log. Usually hear them well around my midnight and
sometimes before my SR. Nothing else heard from the Pacific or JA,
even though I had worked JA two mornings before.

Bob

-
***

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Re: Topband: 160 contest; dits and dahs; propagation

[W3HKK]

Interesting comments!

I specifically listened at my SR but heard no JA's.

Also typically in this contest at certain hours I get a steady stream
of W6, W7 replies - many surprisingly strong. This time it was less
than 20. The West was fairly sparse, there were many cracks in the QRM
wall, and it seemed most sigs were from the NE, Mid-Atlantic regions.
4 Land is usually a big contributor to the log, but again this time
much less so. 

Probably goes to show just how telescopic propagation can be on TB, ie
spotty. Re: DX: I looked for every DX spot and heard none from EU. The
Carrib was about it. No CA or SA ( other than XE.) Or Pacific other
than KH6. 

Dits and dahs: My CQ CW Contest submission feedback results get hit
pretty hard by penalties, and one of the major errors is the other guy
logging me as SKK - so now I try to repeat it an extra time, slowing
way down on the H. I thought I might have a sending problem with my
7610 memories, but now chalk it up to noise/qsb/haste to move on to
the next guy. I do hear and appreciate when the other guy slows down
his call. Really helps me get it right by minimizing guesses. 

Worked KH6 around 11:30 pm local time here..a bit of a surprise, and
then later saw a spot for KL7 but he was buried in the noise and never
got him in the log. Usually hear them well around my midnight and
sometimes before my SR. Nothing else heard from the Pacific or JA,
even though I had worked JA two mornings before.

Bob

-
***

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Re: Topband: Topband 160 Today ( Nov 15th)

[W3HKK]

Woke up just before SR, staggered into the shack, and heard HL5IVL
peaking 569 but with deep QSB. Fired up the amp and called Kim four
times - all with no replies. Disappointed, wondering what was wrong, I
happened to notice the rig was connected to the dummy load. But by
that time, the sun was rising and Kim had faded out.

:<

PS But it would have been a memorable QSO!

Message: 1
 Date: Tue, 15 Nov 2022 12:30:09 -0700
 From: Ron Spencer 
 To: "topband" 
 Subject: Topband: 160 today (11/15/22)

 Last night pretty good prop to EU. Worked several stations. But, not
much activity.

 This morning, K3ZM was waking the band up. Heard several JA and
HL5IVL call and work him. I tried CQing but got no answers (guess I
need to improve my signal!).?

 But, couple JA's did call CQ as did Kim (HL5IVL) and I was able to
work them. Nice to (finally) have prop in that direction. Hoping it
continues and gets better.?

 Adrian, VK2WF, was reported on but I never heard anything from him.?

Would have been interesting to hear what the far east signals sounded
like from the place I have in NM (grid DM64). Bet they were LOUD! Even
on my short beverage to the NE.?

 73
Ron
N4XD


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Re: Topband: 160 today (11/15/22)

[VE6WZ_Steve]

FB on Asia picking up for you Ron.
Indeed the JAs and Kim where very strong here this morning.

Also on the band is Dieter, DL3DXX from his HS0ZFE station getting ready for 
CQWW.
I heard him call Kim HL5IVL, then he moved up the band and called CQ.
He got my call ok on my second call, so he has good ears.
He was best on the west RX, which is a skew path. (Direct path is very NE)

My RBN skimmers were working overtime this morning.

FYI, With my new RX system using splitters and switches allows me to RX in 
multiple directions at the same time.
I now have 2 dedicated 160m skimmers, and usually one is on the VK-ZL RX, while 
the other is Asia.
I am splitting out each skimmer with unique names so I can track each and do 
some antenna evaluation over the winter.
You may see VE6WZ-1, and VE6WZ-2.


73, de steve ve6wz

> On Nov 15, 2022, at 12:30 PM, Ron Spencer via Topband 
>  wrote:
> 
> Last night pretty good prop to EU. Worked several stations. But, not much 
> activity.
> 
> 
> 
> This morning, K3ZM was waking the band up. Heard several JA and HL5IVL call 
> and work him. I tried CQing but got no answers (guess I need to improve my 
> signal!). 
> 
> 
> 
> But, couple JA's did call CQ as did Kim (HL5IVL) and I was able to work them. 
> Nice to (finally) have prop in that direction. Hoping it continues and gets 
> better. 
> 
> 
> 
> Adrian, VK2WF, was reported on but I never heard anything from him. 
> 
> 
> 
> Would have been interesting to hear what the far east signals sounded like 
> from the place I have in NM (grid DM64). Bet they were LOUD! Even on my short 
> beverage to the NE. 
> 
> 
> 
> 73
> 
> 
> 
> Ron
> 
> N4XD
> 
> 
> Sent using https://www.zoho.com/mail/
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Topband: 160 today (11/15/22)

[Ron Spencer via Topband]

Last night pretty good prop to EU. Worked several stations. But, not much 
activity.



This morning, K3ZM was waking the band up. Heard several JA and HL5IVL call and 
work him. I tried CQing but got no answers (guess I need to improve my 
signal!). 



But, couple JA's did call CQ as did Kim (HL5IVL) and I was able to work them. 
Nice to (finally) have prop in that direction. Hoping it continues and gets 
better. 



Adrian, VK2WF, was reported on but I never heard anything from him. 



Would have been interesting to hear what the far east signals sounded like from 
the place I have in NM (grid DM64). Bet they were LOUD! Even on my short 
beverage to the NE. 



73



Ron

N4XD


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Re: Topband: 160 propagation

[Mark Lunday]

Val, that's quite remarkable.  Nodir, EY8MM, says he has always struggled from 
Central Asia with auroral zone to get into US on top band.  I have listened for 
years and never heard him on TB.  I wonder if this is correlation to 
right-after-a-geomagnetic-storm propagation I always hear about.

Mark Lunday, WD4ELG
Greensboro, NC  FM06be
wd4...@arrl.net
http://wd4elg.blogspot.com
SKCC #16439  FISTS #17972  QRP ARCI #16497

-Original Message-
From: Topband  On Behalf Of 
Hugh Valentine
Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2022 4:25 PM
To: Richard Karlquist ; w3...@roadrunner.com
Cc: 'topband@contesting.com' ; Topband 

Subject: Re: Topband: 160 propagation

I had a great Week!  On 160

All of a sudden, while I was in the Shack I get an Alert..."G" 
comes through on JTAlert.
EX0QR comes up on screen, work him after 2 calls, he sends RR73 at -24.

Checked Log.  I'm in!  #305.  I had called EX8M for several years on CW.

Wow!

Val

N4RJ
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Re: Topband: 160 propagation

[Hugh Valentine]

I had a great Week!  On 160

All of a sudden, while I was in the Shack I get an Alert…”G” comes 
through on JTAlert.
EX0QR comes up on screen, work him after 2 calls, he sends RR73 at -24.

Checked Log.  I’m in!  #305.  I had called EX8M for several years on CW.

Wow!

Val

N4RJ

Sent from Mail<https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for Windows


From: Topband  on behalf of 
Richard Karlquist 
Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2022 2:15:09 PM
To: w3...@roadrunner.com 
Cc: 'topband@contesting.com' ; Topband 

Subject: Re: Topband: 160 propagation

Luke came back to my CQ with signals that were armchair copy.

He appeared to also have good copy on me, even though I was only running
100 watts.

---
Rick
N6RK

On 2022-03-17 10:48, w3...@roadrunner.com wrote:

> Roger - its amazing how the SP Spring Contest brought in quite a few
> F, OM, DL sigs that were strong. Plus my local sunrise CQ SP brought
> back a reply from Luke, VK3HJ - NICE surprise!
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Re: Topband: 160 propagation

[Richard Karlquist]

Luke came back to my CQ with signals that were armchair copy. 

He appeared to also have good copy on me, even though I was only running
100 watts.

---
Rick 
N6RK 

On 2022-03-17 10:48, w3...@roadrunner.com wrote:

> Roger - its amazing how the SP Spring Contest brought in quite a few
> F, OM, DL sigs that were strong. Plus my local sunrise CQ SP brought
> back a reply from Luke, VK3HJ - NICE surprise!
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Re: Topband: 160 propagation

[W3HKK]

Roger - its amazing how the SP Spring Contest brought in quite a few
F, OM, DL sigs that were strong. Plus my local sunrise CQ SP brought
back a reply from Luke, VK3HJ - NICE surprise! 

But since that weekend, 160 has been quiet ( other than QRN, of
course.) 


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Topband: 160 report

[Mark Lunday]

Conditions were pretty good overnight…lot of activity with some QSB on EU 
signals.  I had a late Turkey feast and did not get on the air until 0300 UTC.

I heard G3ROO calling CQ, and then several EU stations calling HP3SS.

I worked G3YRO, but it required my amp and patience from Roger.  Some QSB, but 
we did exchange RST.  Thanks, Roger.  When do you sleep, OM?  

Then worked SM5EDX; John was true 579 but also with QSB.

I called OZ4MM/Stig, but he did not hear me.  Also heard HA8RM/Peter, 
F5IN/Mike, OK1CF/Karel, ON7PQ/Pat, all fairly strong but with significant QSB.

Then worked TF3SG/Gudmi for new one on TB.  QSB took him from 589 down to 339.

Nice to hear so many stations on the air.  I went offline at 0430 UTC.  Looking 
forward to the weekend contest!

Mark Lunday, WD4ELG
Greensboro, NC  FM06be
wd4...@arrl.net
http://wd4elg.blogspot.com
SKCC #16439  FISTS #17972  QRP ARCI #16497

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Re: Topband: 160 M portabel antenna

[Rick]

Hi Joe,

 

I have plans for making a 160m Inv.-L, using the Spiderbeam 12m pole on my
web site, here:

https://www.dj0ip.de/vertical-antennas/160m-inv-l-on-12m-pole/ 

 

160m Vertical

If you use 4 Top-Hat wires, you can shorten the diagonal wires quite a bit,
but I can't say by how much.

I would suggest making all 4 wires equal in length, equally spaced, and then
measure where it is resonant.

You can probably begin by making the wires 30m long, but cut them 35m long,
and fold back 5m of each onto itself.

 

Adding 80m

Once you have that working, you can parallel an 80m Inv.-L

Take a look at how I do this for a 160m/80m on the 18 meter fg pole:

https://www.dj0ip.de/vertical-antennas/160-80m-on-18m-pole/ 

This will give you an idea on how to do it on the 12m pole.

Just make the vertical segment shorter and the diagonal leg longer.

 

We have never tried this using the new 10m Mini-Pole.

It is probably too short, though 80/40 should be no problem with it.

 

73 - Rick, DJ0IP

(Nr. Frankfurt, Germany)

May the Sunspots be with Us!

 

-Original Message-
From: Topband  On Behalf Of
OZ0J Joe
Sent: 28 September 2021 20:58
To: topband@contesting.com
Subject: Topband: 160 M portabel antenna

 

Hi

 

 

I do hope that the world will be reopened also for DX-peditions. I still
hope to visit OC again since I was QRV from KH0 and T8 (2014) and KH8 (2019)

- and not working 160 meter cause to the time of the year.

 

 

I visit regular my radio neighbour OZ1LO. Most of the DXCCs that Leif are
missing, are from OC. I guess he is not the only one in all 3 Regions. 

 

 

Based on the above I am looking for a 160 M - or combined 160 / 80 M
antenna, with these demands:

 

 

Travel length either max 75 cm (approx. 30 inch.) - fits in a large suitcase

 

or travel length max 130 cm (approx. 51 inch.) - fits in a ski box.

 

 

Spiderbeam makes fiberglass poles in many sizes and present I am waiting for
delivery of the new 10 meter fiberglass pole. That pole fits to a large
suitcase during travel.

 

 

The weight must be a low a possible and the antenna should be installed by
one or two persons.

 

 

Any suggestions to a 160 meter antenna here or direct to me off the list are
welcome. 

 

 

 

73 Joe, OZ0J 

 

 

 

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Topband: 160 M portabel antenna

[OZ0J Joe]

Hi

 

I do hope that the world will be reopened also for DX-peditions. I still
hope to visit OC again since I was QRV from KH0 and T8 (2014) and KH8 (2019)
- and not working 160 meter cause to the time of the year.

 

I visit regular my radio neighbour OZ1LO. Most of the DXCCs that Leif are
missing, are from OC. I guess he is not the only one in all 3 Regions. 

 

Based on the above I am looking for a 160 M - or combined 160 / 80 M
antenna, with these demands:

 

Travel length either max 75 cm (approx. 30 inch.) - fits in a large suitcase

or travel length max 130 cm (approx. 51 inch.) - fits in a ski box.

 

Spiderbeam makes fiberglass poles in many sizes and present I am waiting for
delivery of the new 10 meter fiberglass pole. That pole fits to a large
suitcase during travel.

 

The weight must be a low a possible and the antenna should be installed by
one or two persons.

 

Any suggestions to a 160 meter antenna here or direct to me off the list are
welcome. 

 

 

73 Joe, OZ0J 

 

 

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Re: Topband: 160 condx

[VE6WZ_Steve]

Luke,

Thanks for being QRV!
In fact thanks to VK3HJ, VK2WF, ZL1AZ, and VK3NX for being QRV on 160m almost 
every day during our NA summer.
Every single day this summer that I have been at the radio before sunrise, one 
or all of the above have been QRV and workable on 160m.
I am surprised that more NA is not QRV….especially from the WC.

My SS is now at 3:12z, and I have started listening for EU, but the geo-mag has 
been stubbornly cycling ever week with elevated periods.  Lets hope things 
settle down a bit for the winter trans-polar session.
I will try and remain active most evenings looking for EU on CW.

73, de steve ve6wz.

> On Aug 11, 2021, at 6:35 PM, List Mail  wrote:
> 
> Not many on at this time of the year, even when there is a little bit of 
> propagation most evenings. I’m really looking forward to the end of winter, 
> when conditions usually improve. It has just been wet and cold, and wet and 
> cold.
> 73, Luke VK3HJ.
> 
> Sent from Mail for Windows
> 
> From: David Raymond
> Sent: Thursday, 12 August 2021 2:45 AM
> To: topband@contesting.com
> Subject: Re: Topband: 160 condx
> 
> With daytime heat indices in the 100s it's still very QRN here in the 
> midwest.  Fortunately things will begin to improve in a few weeks.
> 
> 73 . . . Dave, W0FLS
> 
> On 8/11/2021 11:28 AM, Ron Spencer via Topband wrote:
>> Andy, DL8LAS, was right, conditions the last couple days have been quite 
>> good. Last night (my time) I was able to work Andy with 100W. Even when 
>> condx are quiet that's a pretty tough task. Karel, OK1CF, is also a pretty 
>> constant signal from EU.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> In my mornings have worked VK2WF, VK3HJ, ZL1AZ all with pretty good signals.
>> 
>> 
>> As Andy noted, good to see activity pick up some, even with it being the 
>> noisy season here in the US.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Ron N4XD
>> Sent using https://www.zoho.com/mail/
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Re: Topband: 160 condx

[List Mail]

Not many on at this time of the year, even when there is a little bit of 
propagation most evenings. I’m really looking forward to the end of winter, 
when conditions usually improve. It has just been wet and cold, and wet and 
cold.
73, Luke VK3HJ.

Sent from Mail for Windows

From: David Raymond
Sent: Thursday, 12 August 2021 2:45 AM
To: topband@contesting.com
Subject: Re: Topband: 160 condx

With daytime heat indices in the 100s it's still very QRN here in the 
midwest.  Fortunately things will begin to improve in a few weeks.

73 . . . Dave, W0FLS

On 8/11/2021 11:28 AM, Ron Spencer via Topband wrote:
> Andy, DL8LAS, was right, conditions the last couple days have been quite 
> good. Last night (my time) I was able to work Andy with 100W. Even when condx 
> are quiet that's a pretty tough task. Karel, OK1CF, is also a pretty constant 
> signal from EU.
>
>
>
> In my mornings have worked VK2WF, VK3HJ, ZL1AZ all with pretty good signals.
>
>
> As Andy noted, good to see activity pick up some, even with it being the 
> noisy season here in the US.
>
>
>
> Ron N4XD
> Sent using https://www.zoho.com/mail/
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Re: Topband: 160 condx

[David Raymond]

With daytime heat indices in the 100s it's still very QRN here in the 
midwest.  Fortunately things will begin to improve in a few weeks.


73 . . . Dave, W0FLS

On 8/11/2021 11:28 AM, Ron Spencer via Topband wrote:

Andy, DL8LAS, was right, conditions the last couple days have been quite good. 
Last night (my time) I was able to work Andy with 100W. Even when condx are 
quiet that's a pretty tough task. Karel, OK1CF, is also a pretty constant 
signal from EU.



In my mornings have worked VK2WF, VK3HJ, ZL1AZ all with pretty good signals.


As Andy noted, good to see activity pick up some, even with it being the noisy 
season here in the US.



Ron N4XD
Sent using https://www.zoho.com/mail/
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Topband: 160 condx

[Ron Spencer via Topband]

Andy, DL8LAS, was right, conditions the last couple days have been quite good. 
Last night (my time) I was able to work Andy with 100W. Even when condx are 
quiet that's a pretty tough task. Karel, OK1CF, is also a pretty constant 
signal from EU.



In my mornings have worked VK2WF, VK3HJ, ZL1AZ all with pretty good signals. 


As Andy noted, good to see activity pick up some, even with it being the noisy 
season here in the US.



Ron N4XD
Sent using https://www.zoho.com/mail/
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Topband: 160 last night and this AM

[Ron Spencer via Topband]

Last night OK1CF and DL8LAs had good signals into NC.

This morning VK2WF was strongest I've heard in a while. And, interestingly, had 
what sounded like AU buzz on his signal. He said same from my end. First time 
I've heard that on 160. Wondering if because SF, K and A are all elevated. 



Ron

N4XD

FM05


Sent using https://www.zoho.com/mail/
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Re: Topband: 160 DX

[List Mail]

Topband success, in addition to considerable effort in erecting suitable 
antennas, also considerable personal effort. I’m definitely not a “morning 
person”, but have been getting up at dawn to chase the seasonal path to Europe. 
It’s nice when there are others who make the effort to be on air to make it 
worthwhile. This morning, I put one DL in the log. He had a good signal. There 
was propagation, at least to his part of the world, but only one operator on. 
Better than nothing.
73, Luke VK3HJ

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

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Topband: 160 DX

[Ron Spencer via Topband]

Last night I woke up around 2 local and headed up to the shack. Tuning around 
G3OLB was booming. Calling CQ after listening for ZL3IX who I also heard (but 
not loudly).



Since I was up and Tom was SO loud decided to give him a call with 5W. He heard 
me and gave me, I'm sure, a generous 559. When I went to 100W report gained 
several S units. 



Certainly last couple evenings here (North Carolina) have been unusually free 
of QRN. And certainly, with those kind of conditions, DX can easily be worked 
if some is on. 



Even most mornings can hear, and work, several of our VK friends and today, 
even a JA. Of course, a good receive antenna is required. And, of course, not 
everyone has the room for one. 



As Guy said in an earlier post, enjoy the band. It is, after all, just a hobby.



Ron

N4XD

FM05


Sent using https://www.zoho.com/mail/
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Re: Topband: 160 meter 1/8 wave

[Jim Brown]

On 4/1/2021 6:40 PM, List Mail wrote:

An inverted-L should give you some better local station performance, which some 
like to have for Contesting, as well as useful low-angle performance.


This is one of those urban myths with a grain of truth. The greatest 
radiation is from the part of the antenna carrying the greatest current, 
which for the inv-L is at the base. The grain of truth is that if it 
isn't very tall (as a fraction of a quarter-wave), there will be more 
current in more horizontal wire, increasing the high angle radiation.


In general,for ground-mounted vertical with a low feedpoint impedance, 
efficiency is directly related to the ratio of the radiation resistance 
to the effective resistance of the counterpoise, usually radials. And 
radiation resistance is a function of vertical height.


The thing about antennas is that we're all limited by skyhooks, real 
estate, sometimes other constraints like rules of a homeowner's ass'n. I 
have many very tall trees and I can afford to hire climbers to rig 
anything I want, so I have a Tee, about 100 ft.


73, Jim K9YC
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Re: Topband: 160 meter 1/8 wave

[Wes]

If both are brought to resonance with top loading, there will be a null overhead 
with the hat and some high angle radiation with the L.


The L will actually have a bit of directivity (~2 dB) in the direction away from 
the wire.


The L loading wire will be 80+ feet long, the hat with four wires will need ~55 
feet, both assuming no droop.


Personally, I use an L.

Wes  N7WS

On 4/1/2021 1:09 PM, doug dietz wrote:

Is a 160 meter 18 meter vertical with hat equal or better than an inverted l 
over the same ground plane
Doug. WD8Z

Sent from my iPhone
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Re: Topband: 160 meter 1/8 wave

[List Mail]

An inverted-L should give you some better local station performance, which some 
like to have for Contesting, as well as useful low-angle performance.
A vertical antenna, top-loaded or otherwise, should give you better DX 
performance, at the expense of poorer local station performance.
I have both a vertical and a dipole at my station, but rarely use the dipole.
You can use 6 x 20’ top hat (presumably horizontal spokes) as Dave has 
modelled, or sloping top hat wires as a part of the top set of guys will be 
easier to set up. You would probably need 3 x 35’ or so wires. Set the top guy 
points as far out as you can, to make the slope as shallow as possible. If set 
out as far as your vertical as tall, you’ll have about 45 degrees slope. You’ll 
be able to tune the antenna to resonance by adjusting the length and slope of 
the top hat wires. An L-match at the base will give you a nice 50 ohms to match 
the feed line.
I’ve had top-loaded verticals at my station for years, from too-small aluminium 
tubing affairs with too-complex top hat arrangements that were very tricky to 
erect, to an almost full quarterwave vertical tower, with small top-hat wire 
loading.
73, Luke VK3HJ.

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

From: doug dietz
Sent: Friday, 2 April 2021 7:09 AM
To: topband@contesting.com
Subject: Topband: 160 meter 1/8 wave

Is a 160 meter 18 meter vertical with hat equal or better than an inverted l 
over the same ground plane
Doug. WD8Z 

Sent from my iPhone
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Re: Topband: 160 meter 1/8 wave

[Richard (Rick) Karlquist]

On 4/1/2021 1:48 PM, Dave Cuthbert wrote:

Hi Doug, for now I will assume you mean an inverted-L with apex at 1/8
wavelength. Let's see what EZNEC shows for a top hat vertical at the
extreme against the inverted-vee. We can refine the model with more input
from you such as take-off-angle, top hat design and ground parameters. From
that a practical loading coil is added either at the bottom or at the top.

1.8MHz
*65' vertical* with top hat sized for a nearly square current distribution
6 x 20' top hat
Loading coil not required, antenna is resonant at 1.8MHz
32 x 130' radials plus 5 ohm GND loss added to try to account for NEC-2
0.005S/13 GND, "average"
Gain at a 10 deg take-off angle =* -2.5 dBi*

1.8MHz
Inverted-V apex at 65' with ends 10' above GND
0.005s/13 GND, "average"
Broadside gain at a 10 deg take-off angle = *-10.5 dBi*

  dave KH6AQ



The original poster asked about an inverted-L and you simulated
an inverted-V.

When doing these simulations, it is extremely important to use
the "Desc Options" menu in EZNEC and select "Vert Horiz" as
opposed to the default which is "total".  Vertical is the "money"
polarization on 160, in most cases.

FWIW, I had to operate in a 160 meter contest once with a 60
foot top loaded vertical.  It had two very long top loading wires
that sloped down to the ground and I pruned them for resonance at
1830.  The bandwidth was much narrower than my usual 90 foot
vertical, which was already fairly narrow (this is actually GOOD). 
Anyway, it worked great in the contest (subjective opinion) although

I couldn't A/B it with the 90 foot vertical.

My feeling was that the 60 ft vertical probably got out nearly
as well as the 90 ft vertical, but the very narrow bandwidth would
have required a suitable antenna tuner for effective on the air
use.  Any 60 ft vertical that does NOT have very narrow BW is probably 
not very efficient at least when it comes to vertical polarization.


73
Rick N6RK
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Re: Topband: 160 meter 1/8 wave

[Dave Cuthbert]

Hi Doug, for now I will assume you mean an inverted-L with apex at 1/8
wavelength. Let's see what EZNEC shows for a top hat vertical at the
extreme against the inverted-vee. We can refine the model with more input
from you such as take-off-angle, top hat design and ground parameters. From
that a practical loading coil is added either at the bottom or at the top.

1.8MHz
*65' vertical* with top hat sized for a nearly square current distribution
6 x 20' top hat
Loading coil not required, antenna is resonant at 1.8MHz
32 x 130' radials plus 5 ohm GND loss added to try to account for NEC-2
0.005S/13 GND, "average"
Gain at a 10 deg take-off angle =* -2.5 dBi*

1.8MHz
Inverted-V apex at 65' with ends 10' above GND
0.005s/13 GND, "average"
Broadside gain at a 10 deg take-off angle = *-10.5 dBi*

 dave KH6AQ



On Thu, Apr 1, 2021 at 10:09 AM doug dietz  wrote:

> Is a 160 meter 18 meter vertical with hat equal or better than an inverted
> l over the same ground plane
> Doug. WD8Z
>
> Sent from my iPhone
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> Reflector
>
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Re: Topband: 160 meter 1/8 wave

[Joe Subich, W4TV]

Are the vertical sections of both antennas the same?

What size hat?

What length is the "L"?

Does either antenna have coil loading and, if so, where
is the coil located and what is its "Q"?

The top loaded vertical is likely to have less high angle
radiation.  However, the ground losses and, possibly, coil
losses of one vs. the other will impact which is the more
efficient.

73,

   ... Joe, W4TV


On 2021-04-01 4:09 PM, doug dietz wrote:

Is a 160 meter 18 meter vertical with hat equal or better than an inverted l 
over the same ground plane
Doug. WD8Z




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Topband: 160 meter 1/8 wave

[doug dietz]

Is a 160 meter 18 meter vertical with hat equal or better than an inverted l 
over the same ground plane
Doug. WD8Z 

Sent from my iPhone
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Topband: 160 condition

[Salvatore Borace]

Hi Bob, Steve and all, pity lost this opportunity hear both of you but I go
to sleep later after band close to Australia, first time two evening ago
work four different VK, VK2GR, VK2WF, VK3HJ and VK3CWB believe is over
15000 km for me, I chek to wake up early tomorrow and look for both of
you.   Rino Ik7jtf
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Topband: 160 Receiving Loops source?

[Roger Kennedy]

Hi

I "designed" a 6ft diameter 160m receiving loop a couple of years ago.

It's up in my loft, remotely tuned by feeding DC up the coax using Varicaps.
I find it's pretty good with DX.

Would cost you about $10 to make !

Details here:  http://rogerkennedy.co.uk/g3yro/160mrxloop.htm

73 Roger G3YRO


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Re: Topband: 160 Receiving Loops source?

[Richard (Rick) Karlquist]

On 2/4/2021 11:27 AM, Eric Rosenberg wrote:
With my antenna supports gone and living on a small city lot 
(Washington, DC), I'd like to try an 80/160 loop.


I have some physical limitations that make mechanical skills mediocre at 
best for building one, and am looking for an affordable source for a 
built one.





Thanks & 73,
Eric W3DQ
_



Here is a loop design I published over 11 years ago:

http://www.n6rk.com/loopantennas/NCJ_loop_antenna_N6RK.pdf

This is a loop that is remotely tunable from below 160 meters
to above 75 meters, and it has a loop with a 20 foot perimeter.
This gives you plenty of signal so that no preamp (other than
the one in your radio) is necessary.  There was a group in India
building these a few years back, but I don't know the current status of
that effort. The contact person was Prasad VU2PTT (vu2...@gmail.com).

For marketing reasons, commercially available loops are:

1.  Untuned
2.  Cover 0.5 to 30 MHz
3.  Have a circumference of 10 feet
and
4.  Use a preamp

The need for the preamp drives up the cost considerably.
I purchased a Pixel loop like this to compare it to my design.
It turns out that the signal out of the 10 ft untuned loop is
so low on 160 meters that the sensitivity is limited by the
noise figure of the preamp, unlike my tuned design.

I realize I haven't given you a turnkey answer to your request,
but I at least wanted to give you the lay of the land.

At the 20 acre N6RK QTH, I have moved on from the loop and just
completed a 9 element, 290 foot diameter, circular receiving
array.

BTW, thanks for the DC mult in the recent CQWW160.  You
obviously heard well enough to go coast to coast, but
then, people tell me I have one of the louder signals from this region.

73
Rick N6RK
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Topband: 160 Receiving Loops source?

[Rob Atkinson]

How much is "affordable?"  I mean, if you pay junk money, you'll
probably get ... disappointment either right away or after a few
months.

A possible exception is some place warm all year with no broadcast
stations nearby, so fixing and improving any time is easy.  OTOH if
you are in blizzard country, a budget priced loop may decide to quit
working during snowmageddon.  Consider a sturdy mount too.

BTW, while I'm dispensing free advice, if you power your loop preamp
via the feedline, use some sort of copper coax that can be soldered.
The RG6 aluminum stuff with crimp males will fail eventually -- okay
for RF but not DC.  Eventually there will be just enough corrosion at
the surfaces where the crimps are, that you'll get just enough v. drop
and the preamp won't come on.

For RF and RG6, it is important that you get quad shield (yes even on
160) and make sure the males match the coax.  The crimp tool,
connectors and coax should all be made to go with each other.   One
trick is to look for a cable TV guy who's out on a job with a truck
and approach him.  My experience is that they don't mind talking for a
few minutes about their tools and materials after you explain why you
are interested.  Find out  what he uses for "drop cable," crimper,
prep tool, and plugs.  Companies like Comcast don't use junk.  Then go
get what he uses.

73
Rob
K5UJ
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Topband: 160 Receiving Loops source?

[Eric Rosenberg]

With my antenna supports gone and living on a small city lot 
(Washington, DC), I'd like to try an 80/160 loop.


I have some physical limitations that make mechanical skills mediocre at 
best for building one, and am looking for an affordable source for a 
built one.


Spencer Ritchie, KC2TX, has them listed on his website 
(https://www.qsl.net/kc2tx/lb_loop2.htm), but in correspondence from 
November, he said no, he doesn't make them anymore.


Does anyone else make an affordable one?

Thanks & 73,
Eric W3DQ
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Topband: 160 this morning NA time

[David Raymond]

We had a nice variety of DX this morning (NA time) on TB. . . .KH0W, 
VK2WF, VK3HJ, HL5IVL, DS3EXX, ZL1AZ, VK3NX, and KH2L; my apologies if I 
missed anyone.   Tom, KH0/KC0W, said  he is still getting settled in and 
is in the process of putting up hi "RX array" (not sure what that is) 
.   That said, he was hearing well this morning on his TX antenna.


73. . . Dave, W0FLS

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Re: Topband: 160 L and radials

[Richard (Rick) Karlquist]

On 12/11/2020 6:49 AM, w3...@roadrunner.com wrote:


Bought three acres in the country here in central Ohio, where the
general ground conductivity articles feel we have good midwestern loam
soil. Well, MY soil is more like semi clay but it is agricultural
land. Corn and soy farming in particular.


I frequently see descriptions like the above that seem to
be saying that the suitability of soil for agricultural use
is somehow an indicator of its RF conductivity.  This is not
reliable.  For example, Yolo county California shows a
conductivity of 30 on the FCC map.  The soil is pure clay that
goes down 40 feet.  Except for growing rice, this soil is
fairly useless agriculturally, rated class 4 (the lowest possible
rating for farming).  Even weeds don't grow well.  Of course, YMMV.

73
Rick N6RK
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Topband: 160 L and radials

[W3HKK]

Interesting thread. 

Bought three acres in the country here in central Ohio, where the
general ground conductivity articles feel we have good midwestern loam
soil. Well, MY soil is more like semi clay but it is agricultural
land. Corn and soy farming in particular.

When I moved here I had already sold off my tower and yagis (204BA and
KT36XA) , so was stuck with one 20 ft walnut tree as my highest
support. So I cut a 1/4 wave piece of #12 wire. shot it over the tree
and pulled it out to the east, sloping back to the ground.

I added one ground rod. Then slowly added several 130 ft #12 pvc
jacketed radials on the ground.

That season I worked LZ, 4X4, and a JA which opened my eyes to what
could be done on 160, a new band for me.

Over subsequent years I kept adding radials, and noticed each one
raised my swr. So I kept adding radials, eventually going to #17
aluminum fence wire, and shortening them to around 70 ft. The
proximity of the north PL forced me to use shorter wires...as short as
35 due due north and progressively longer to the NE and NW. 

But at 28 radials, the swr no longer changed. so I stopped there.
Also, as the walnut tree kept growing, I was able to use 4'x 1.5" mil
surplus aluminum masts sections to push the vertical wire up to 52 ft.
So, today, the c. 130 ft INV-L ( pvc insulated #12 solid copper wire)
wanders up through multiple tree branches, to the top of the 52'
supporting mast, and slopes out to the ENE, terminating about 15 ft
above ground level. And that original ground rod now has 28 radials to
go with it. 

W3HKK DXCC totals are now 175 worked/154confirmed.

A home brew coke bottle inductor shunts across the antenna-ground
connection and is played like an accordion to lower swr to nearly 1:1
during winter season when the radials are laid out across the grass;
and adjusted for the summer lawn mowing season when the radials are
coiled up and hung from the walnut tree to enable mowing without
chopping them up.(voice of experience. )

Five years back I added the SAL30 Rx antenna which I now use as my de
facto rx antenna on 160-40m.

Note: with the exception of a 5 el yagi at 15 ft, W3HKK uses an
all-wire antenna farm. The other antennas consist of monoband 1/4 wave
ground planes ( wires) with 4-8 elevated radials on 40--30-20-17-10m.
Seeking more oomph, on 40 and 20m, those GPs have been converted to 2
el vertical phased arrays. The 40m PA beams ENE and WNW, while the 20m
PA beams Asia (330 degrees) and SSE. ( in search of those final 10
remaining DXCC entities.) 

I should add that wandering along beside the 160m INV-L is a second
INV-L, this one for 80m. However only about 8 ft of it is bent over,
so it is almost a qtr wave vert, and performs very well.

Most of my activity is in the 160m cw contests and in the WWDX-cw
contests, plus Dxing for the few rremaining new ones. .

Im not sure how to significantly improve the 160m L's performance at
this point. I am unable to raise the vertical leg any higher, and at
age 79 am definitely slowing down. Some thought has been given to
adding a couple of wires as a top hat but have been waiting for the 52
ft support mast to fall down on its own before attempting to make
changes.

Dont think any more radials are making a significant difference. since
the swr is not affected in a measurable way, per my AA54 antenna
analyzer. So guess this will have to do.

Thoughts?


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Topband: 160 receive antennas

[Ron Spencer via Topband]

I'd say every minute spent improving your low band receive antenna(s) is well 
spent. An example for me.



I always had trouble receiving DX to the west (i.e. JA, VK, ZL etc). Others 
nearby would work them and I'd not. Late last year I got busy and built a W8JI 
style (as written up nicely by Joel, W5ZN) 8 antenna receive circle array. 
First one I built was for 160. Second for 80 as the 160 worked so well. 



Yes, a LOT of work as all the 160 and half the 80 are in the woods. Difficult 
to place antennas in a circle when measuring through the trees. But, with 
patience and a very sharp chain on the chain saw, made it happen. Let me say 
this, its not terribly easy carrying a 24' piece of Al pipe through the woods 
(my elements are made of 2 5/8 inch Al pipe. I had a nearby source for very 
little money. Hugely overkill but).



Once it was up and going 160 became an even more fun band. For example, this 
season, throughout the summer months, I was able to work, almost daily, VK, ZL 
and some JA. Fun and satisfying to have a station that now works much, much 
better. Same excellent results on 80.



Sure, most folks don't have room for this kind of array but a good working 
beverage or bog will pay dividends. Or, the Waller flag, K9AY array or any of 
the many other choices. 



Put in the effort and you will be rewarded. 



See you in the ARRL 160.



Ron, N4XD

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Re: Topband: 160 last nite and this morning

[Mail 10]

Last night's conditions on the band were quite good. It was quiet this 
end and I could hear many (US) stations calling the contest stations 
here, and I worked a few myself. Unfortunately, I couldn't stick at it 
as I have a very hard couple of days work. Hopefully conditions 
continue, although I am expecting noise to increase as we head towards 
summer. Last week I had a blast, working 42 DX one evening, mostly NA, 
with a number of East Asian stations. Some of the NA stations were not 
QRO and were still good copy here.


73 Luke VK3HJ

On 10/10/2020 11:15 pm, Ron Spencer via Topband wrote:

Last nite (Oct 9th) seemed excellent condx to EU. Worked several stations and 
even a couple with just 100W. this morning the OC contest was going so more 
activity than usual. Worked 8 VK and 1 KH6. More in one morning than any other 
time. In fact, more in one morning than in many years!



Since building a W8JI/ W5ZN 8 antenna circle array I've played on 160 through 
our summer (really helps if you can hear stuff!!) and its been very fun. In our 
mornings quite common to hear a couple VK and even ZL. On a couple mornings 
have even worked JA. Now that its getting later in the year I'm seeing/ hearing 
a few more US stations on both in our mornings and evenings so I'd expect 
activity to continue to increase.



Ron

N4XD

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Topband: 160 last nite and this morning

[Ron Spencer via Topband]

Last nite (Oct 9th) seemed excellent condx to EU. Worked several stations and 
even a couple with just 100W. this morning the OC contest was going so more 
activity than usual. Worked 8 VK and 1 KH6. More in one morning than any other 
time. In fact, more in one morning than in many years! 



Since building a W8JI/ W5ZN 8 antenna circle array I've played on 160 through 
our summer (really helps if you can hear stuff!!) and its been very fun. In our 
mornings quite common to hear a couple VK and even ZL. On a couple mornings 
have even worked JA. Now that its getting later in the year I'm seeing/ hearing 
a few more US stations on both in our mornings and evenings so I'd expect 
activity to continue to increase. 



Ron

N4XD

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Re: Topband: 160 activity night

[weave...@usermail.com]

That plus the bandwidth of 160M antennas were probably taken into account in 
the decision to put it at 1.840. Moving the FT8 frequency much higher would 
shut a lot of the CW guys that like both modes.

73,
Bill WE5P

Comfortably Numb

> On Oct 9, 2020, at 19:48, Mail 10  wrote:
> 
> I rarely see CW activity much above 1830 kHz. The only issue I see from time 
> to time is SSB interference to the 1840 kHz FT8 channel.
> 
> VK band is 1800 - 1875 kHz. If a particular mode were moved above 1900 kHz, 
> some here would miss out. We would have to do what JA FT8 ops did until 
> recently and operate split.
> 
> Luke VK3HJ
> 
>> On 10/10/2020 3:19 am, Ron Spencer via Topband wrote:
>> I enjoy low band dxing and contesting. And have an above average set up. All 
>> that said, I get on when I want.or not. Last I checked ham radio is 
>> still a hobby not an obligation. Re FT8: My only gripe is its location on 
>> 1840. PLENTY of room above 1900 so it wouldn't interfere with other modes. 
>> 1840 was, I feel, a poor choice.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Ron
>> 
>> N4XD
>> 
>> Sent using https://www.zoho.com/mail/
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Re: Topband: 160 activity night

[Mail 10]

I rarely see CW activity much above 1830 kHz. The only issue I see from 
time to time is SSB interference to the 1840 kHz FT8 channel.


VK band is 1800 - 1875 kHz. If a particular mode were moved above 1900 
kHz, some here would miss out. We would have to do what JA FT8 ops did 
until recently and operate split.


Luke VK3HJ

On 10/10/2020 3:19 am, Ron Spencer via Topband wrote:

I enjoy low band dxing and contesting. And have an above average set up. All 
that said, I get on when I want.or not. Last I checked ham radio is still a 
hobby not an obligation. Re FT8: My only gripe is its location on 1840. PLENTY 
of room above 1900 so it wouldn't interfere with other modes. 1840 was, I feel, 
a poor choice.



Ron

N4XD

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Re: Topband: 160 activity night

[Henk Remijn PA5KT via Topband]

In Region 1 there is no 160m band above 1900 for most countries.

1840 is a good place, it only takes 2.5kHz of spectrum.

Anyway as there are no cw stations at all most of the 160m band is not 
used most of the time.


I did try to cq on cw some weeks ago when I did have holidays but no 
replies, only RBN spots.

Then when I try cq on ft8 I make contacts.

I am still working and being active in the week is difficult, even if 
working from home, so I focus on the weekend usually in contests.


73 Henk PA5KT

Op 9-10-2020 om 18:19 schreef Ron Spencer via Topband:

I enjoy low band dxing and contesting. And have an above average set up. All 
that said, I get on when I want.or not. Last I checked ham radio is still a 
hobby not an obligation. Re FT8: My only gripe is its location on 1840. PLENTY 
of room above 1900 so it wouldn't interfere with other modes. 1840 was, I feel, 
a poor choice.



Ron

N4XD

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Topband: 160 activity night

[Ron Spencer via Topband]

I enjoy low band dxing and contesting. And have an above average set up. All 
that said, I get on when I want.or not. Last I checked ham radio is still a 
hobby not an obligation. Re FT8: My only gripe is its location on 1840. PLENTY 
of room above 1900 so it wouldn't interfere with other modes. 1840 was, I feel, 
a poor choice. 



Ron

N4XD

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Re: Topband: [160] No NA Activity

[W7RH]

160m has been open to EU from left coast the last two evenings. last 
night QRN levels from major thunderstorms off east coast diminished and 
I had a brief pipe line to EU Russia.


Propagation from Arizona has been reasonable at sunset and into early 
evening before EU sunrise. After that the great wall goes up with aurora.


In the log: SM5EDX, SM3EVR, PJ4/K5KG, RA3FL, SM4DHF, LA1MFA, OH3XR, 
LY30LY, JA6FFK, HL5IVL, RK4FD, RC3FL, G3PQA, JI1AVY and JA7SPJ. VK6GX 
and VK6LW have both been loud near sunrise. There were half dozen or so 
brave CW types on band last night during ARRL DX SSB contest


By the way if you hear KN4RRQ on the band give him a call! Check out his 
QRZ page. QRP power using 1929 vintage breadboard TX and SoftRock RX.


I agree with Steve VE6WZ there are many new calls on the band as folks 
migrate away from dead HF bands. You new guys are always welcome in my log.


73 Bob, W7RH

--
W7RH DM35qj

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our 
humanity." - Albert Einstein

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Re: Topband: [160] No NA Activity

[Jim Brown]

On 3/6/2020 12:06 PM, W0MU Mike Fatchett wrote:
I generally try to leave my radio listening to 160 FT8 at night when I 
go to bed.  I did decode some VK's last night.  Not much activity the 
last couple of days.


I often do that, especially during our winter months, but also around 
the spring and fall equinox. Most FT8 operators feed their decodes to 
PSKReporter, a very useful site that can display activity on any band, 
for all stations or for a specific station, and for selected time 
periods. It's a great way to study band conditions.


73, Jim K9YC
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Re: Topband: [160] No NA Activity

[W0MU Mike Fatchett]

I generally try to leave my radio listening to 160 FT8 at night when I 
go to bed.  I did decode some VK's last night.  Not much activity the 
last couple of days.


I have nothing for 630.  I just started playing with 60m chasing VP8PJ 
and they were super easy there.   There seem to be many many deaf 
stations on 60m or they just don't want to talk to me LOL!


W0MU

On 3/5/2020 1:22 PM, W0BTU wrote:
I just started following the 630m and 2200m "#KHz" Slack Chat. It 
looks to me like many CW folks have moved there. Some LF hams use CW 
there almost exclusively, although there is a lot of narrowband 
digital there (especially on 2200m).


It was kindly pointed out to me there by N03M and KB5NJD that 630 
meter antennas are not really all that different from 160. And LF is 
kind of a new frontier, similar to what radio was in the early 20th 
century (where if you wanted to get on, you had to build your own 
radios). Having said that, some transverters and SDRs are now 
available. But you'll have to built your own power amplifier.


In a lot of ways, it's like amateur radio was decades ago when the 
majority of hams actually had technical know-how and built their own 
antennas, etc.


This is /not/ to say that anyone here should up and move to LF. But 
when nobody is on 160, why not give a listen there on your Beverages 
or browse these websites?


http://no3m.net/
http://njdtechnologies.net/links/
http://www.n1bug.com/lfmf/

73, Mike
W0BTU

On Thu, Mar 5, 2020, 6:56 AM Roger Kennedy 
mailto:ro...@wessexproductions.co.uk>> 
wrote:



Well I came on for a few hours last night . . .

Conditions were good, as my RBN reports with NA sites were between
20 and 35 dB over the noise.

But I only worked a handful of NA stations !  (there were several
other European and Russian stations on too)

It's a real shame there's so little CW activity . . . this Season
will be over soon !

Roger G3YRO


--
73, Mike
W0BTU
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Re: Topband: 160 m DX CW activity

[uy0zg]

Sorry, my mistake is K4ISV ор. Bud

---
Nick, UY0ZG
http://www.topband.in.ua

uy0zg писал 2020-02-19 16:36:

Hi

Result of my cq today ( 02:29 - 04:51 utc) - 12 NA stations.
N2KW, KP3MM, K9PG, W1ER, K4OO, K4ISV, KR9U, K5ESW, WB2RZU, WA8OLN, 
W0FLS, K6LZ.


Half of the signals were very weak + qsb.

Apparently, a small power was used.

 had the loudest signal, K4ISV - 579.




73 !

--
Nick, UY0ZG
http://www.topband.in.ua
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Topband: 160 m DX CW activity

[uy0zg]

Hi

Result of my cq today ( 02:29 - 04:51 utc) - 12 NA stations.
N2KW, KP3MM, K9PG, W1ER, K4OO, K4ISV, KR9U, K5ESW, WB2RZU, WA8OLN, 
W0FLS, K6LZ.


Half of the signals were very weak + qsb.

Apparently, a small power was used.

Elsa had the loudest signal, K4ISV - 579.

Take an example from women! :-))

73 !

--
Nick, UY0ZG
http://www.topband.in.ua
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Topband: 160 m CNDX

[UX0FF Nikolay Lavreka]

 Hello ALL!
  Very thanks ALL for the answer.
Was spend last night on 160 m FT8.
Start at 00 Z - local time 02. 
That was my trying at West Coast SS.
But have only few East Coast report at 
only -21-23db in PSKreporter!
 CNDX last time VY poor. Wait now for
real CNDX to USA on 160m. Will try to
QRV at my SR - abt 04 Z ...

Have GP 28m + Inv L + LW 100 m + QRO.

 73! de Nikolay UX0FF
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Re: Topband: 160 conditions

[Michael Tope]

Thanks for coming back to me, Tom. The only reason I knew the band was 
open is that I was sitting on 1821.0 listening for S01WS who had been 
spotted there. Apparently he was gone because, Eric NO3M, asked if the 
frequency was in use and then started calling CQ. I was surprised to 
hear HB9CAT come back to him with a good signal. I need HB9 on 160 CW, 
so I decided I would try calling CQ at 1820.2 KHz. HB9CAT never answered 
me, but you and a whole string of other stations in the UK answered, all 
with very good signals. I wish my RX situation was better (I was just 
using the TX antenna). A couple of stations called near the end of the 
opening, but I wasn't able to pull out their their full callsigns.


73, Mike W4EF.

On 12/15/2019 12:54 AM, Tom Boucher wrote:

It's nice to hear the band back in good shape again after a few years. Big
CW signal from W4EF in CA this morning along with ZL3IX, also a string of
JAs/HL earlier this week.

Let's keep the 160 CW activity up!

73,
Tom G3OLB


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Re: Topband: 160 conditions

[Richard McLachlan]

Yes, agree with Tom. I came on late but conditions were excellent. Unusual to 
hear West Coast so strong here. Things are improving.

Richard
G3OQT

> On 15 Dec 2019, at 08:54, Tom Boucher  wrote:
> 
> It's nice to hear the band back in good shape again after a few years. Big
> CW signal from W4EF in CA this morning along with ZL3IX, also a string of
> JAs/HL earlier this week.
> 
> Let's keep the 160 CW activity up!
> 
> 73,
> Tom G3OLB
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Topband: 160 conditions

[Tom Boucher]

It's nice to hear the band back in good shape again after a few years. Big
CW signal from W4EF in CA this morning along with ZL3IX, also a string of
JAs/HL earlier this week.

Let's keep the 160 CW activity up!

73,
Tom G3OLB
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Re: Topband: 160 Meters in Thailand

[Victor Goncharsky via Topband]

Ken,
We both have worked you on top band in the contest.
Working split was a brilliant idea.
73/88 Vic US5WE and Helen UR5WA


>Воскресенье,  1 декабря 2019, 10:54 UTC от Ken Claerbout < kenk...@gmail.com >:
>
>Hi Gang - I was fortunate to be part of the HS0ZAR M/2 team for CQWW
>DX CW.  I arrived at the station on Tuesday afternoon, hoping the days
>leading up to the contest a couple of us would be able to hand out
>QSO's on the lowbands.  A lot of work needed to be done in preparation
>for the contest, including cabling of new antennas into the shack.
>Two of those antennas are Waller Flags for receiving.  So between not
>having antennas available and the long hours of preparation, there was
>little time for operating. Maybe next time.
>
>Nevertheless, everything came together beautifully and we had a blast.
>Here's some pictures of the station and the contest operation.
>
>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IngAca7VQbQ=youtu.be
>
>73
>Ken K4ZW/HS0ZLD
>_
>Searchable Archives:  http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector


-- 
73, Victor Goncharsky US5WE/K1WE (UW5W in VHF contests, ex UB5WE), P.E.
UARL Technical and VHF Committies
DXCC Honor Roll #1 (Mixed, Phone), 10BDXCC, 8BWAS
DXCC card checker (160 meters).
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Re: Topband: 160 Meters in Thailand

[Hugh Valentine]

Thanks both for effort.

Val

N4RJ

Sent from Mail<https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for Windows 10

From: Saulius Zalnerauskas<mailto:ly5w@gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, December 1, 2019 6:06 AM
To: Ken Claerbout<mailto:kenk...@gmail.com>
Cc: Topband Reflector<mailto:Topband@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: Topband: 160 Meters in Thailand

I was calling you over 100 times both days and diferent time, from 16z till
22z you were audible, sometimes 599, same time lot of Europeans were
calling, but with no luck.
Only CQ Test HS0ZAR UP1 on 1809.5
Used over 700w to fullsize vertical at 41mH.
Heard also E2X doing multipliers, but not find him calling CQ.
73 Sam LY5W

On Sun, Dec 1, 2019 at 12:54 PM Ken Claerbout  wrote:

> Hi Gang - I was fortunate to be part of the HS0ZAR M/2 team for CQWW
> DX CW.  I arrived at the station on Tuesday afternoon, hoping the days
> leading up to the contest a couple of us would be able to hand out
> QSO's on the lowbands.  A lot of work needed to be done in preparation
> for the contest, including cabling of new antennas into the shack.
> Two of those antennas are Waller Flags for receiving.  So between not
> having antennas available and the long hours of preparation, there was
> little time for operating. Maybe next time.
>
> Nevertheless, everything came together beautifully and we had a blast.
> Here's some pictures of the station and the contest operation.
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IngAca7VQbQ=youtu.be
>
> 73
> Ken K4ZW/HS0ZLD
> _
> Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband
> Reflector
>
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Re: Topband: 160 Meters in Thailand

[Saulius Zalnerauskas]

I was calling you over 100 times both days and diferent time, from 16z till
22z you were audible, sometimes 599, same time lot of Europeans were
calling, but with no luck.
Only CQ Test HS0ZAR UP1 on 1809.5
Used over 700w to fullsize vertical at 41mH.
Heard also E2X doing multipliers, but not find him calling CQ.
73 Sam LY5W

On Sun, Dec 1, 2019 at 12:54 PM Ken Claerbout  wrote:

> Hi Gang - I was fortunate to be part of the HS0ZAR M/2 team for CQWW
> DX CW.  I arrived at the station on Tuesday afternoon, hoping the days
> leading up to the contest a couple of us would be able to hand out
> QSO's on the lowbands.  A lot of work needed to be done in preparation
> for the contest, including cabling of new antennas into the shack.
> Two of those antennas are Waller Flags for receiving.  So between not
> having antennas available and the long hours of preparation, there was
> little time for operating. Maybe next time.
>
> Nevertheless, everything came together beautifully and we had a blast.
> Here's some pictures of the station and the contest operation.
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IngAca7VQbQ=youtu.be
>
> 73
> Ken K4ZW/HS0ZLD
> _
> Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband
> Reflector
>
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Re: Topband: 160 Meters in Thailand

[Ken Claerbout]

Hi Gang - I was fortunate to be part of the HS0ZAR M/2 team for CQWW
DX CW.  I arrived at the station on Tuesday afternoon, hoping the days
leading up to the contest a couple of us would be able to hand out
QSO's on the lowbands.  A lot of work needed to be done in preparation
for the contest, including cabling of new antennas into the shack.
Two of those antennas are Waller Flags for receiving.  So between not
having antennas available and the long hours of preparation, there was
little time for operating. Maybe next time.

Nevertheless, everything came together beautifully and we had a blast.
Here's some pictures of the station and the contest operation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IngAca7VQbQ=youtu.be

73
Ken K4ZW/HS0ZLD
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Topband: 160 today

[Rino Borace]

Hi,

not bad this morning  except qsb when check work Steve VE6WZ signal go 
55n to nul very fast, than george C6AGU have big signal like local and 
many EU calling him but have Tropical storm on Bahamas make hard for him 
receive all people, on same time Mark V31MA and Jeffrey PJ2ND with good 
signal not strong like George, than Larry N7DD is 55N here when work 
Ashraf 3V8SF no more NA on air, all with family for thanksgivings


Rino IK7JTF

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Re: Topband: 160 status this am

[daraymond]

Conditions to Asia this morning from here in Iowa were quite good.  JH1HDT, 
JA0MVW, and JA7BXS were CQing for some time and all had good signals. . 
.true 569-579 occasionally peaking 589.  Kim/HL3IVL was solid 559-569. . 
.the strongest I've heard him this season.  JK1OLT, an all time new call 
sign, called in with a Q5 449 signal.  Alas, nary a peep from VK9CZ while he 
was on CW.  I don't think he had many NA takers (if any) and migrated to 
FT-8.  All in all. . . a good morning.  The evening conditions to EU have 
been generally very good as well.  Sometimes spotty with some areas having 
great prop and others poor, but good openings overall with plenty of CW 
activity.  Things are looking good so far this season.  Let's get on and 
have fun!


73. . . Dave, W0FLS

-Original Message- 
From: Dan

Sent: Wednesday, November 20, 2019 12:25 PM
To: topband@contesting.com
Subject: Topband: 160 status this am

Having hooked my inverted L yesterday I woke early (not on purpose) so 
grabbed some coffee and turned on the radio. I could hear JA from Ohio on 
the Hi-Z an hour before my sunrise. Called a few times to no avail. 15 
minutes later put two JAs in the log. Heard peeps of some other Asian stuff 
but no real copy.


Topband could be good this season!

73 Dan W8CAR

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Re: Topband: 160 status this am

[K9FD]

I work 630M also, last nite at 0830 I checked my WSPR log and was copying
JA1PKG,  so I had a good idea that 160 at sunrise would be a good bet.
When I fired up before sunrise I worked H40TT barefoot while the amp was
warming up,  did not hear much on CW and I noticed some big signals up
the band on FT-8,   sure enough the band was wide open and full of signals,
from 4s7AB to VR2, all over Asia,  tons of Russian UA9, UN7 etc etc and good
signals from SM, LA, DL, LX, S58 etc.   Worked over 20 stations in short 
order.

sounded like the 2008 era when I could work 40 or 50 EU easy on the sunrise
path.  Its looking good,  I saw spotted 5H but was late arriving and 
heard nothing,

that would be one of my last two zones from this QTH.
Sounding great so far, should improve as the season progresses,
73 Merv K9FD   Molokai Island Hawaii

Having hooked my inverted L yesterday I woke early (not on purpose) so grabbed 
some coffee and turned on the radio. I could hear JA from Ohio on the Hi-Z an 
hour before my sunrise. Called a few times to no avail. 15 minutes later put 
two JAs in the log. Heard peeps of some other Asian stuff but no real copy.

Topband could be good this season!

73 Dan W8CAR

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Topband: 160 status this am

[Dan]

Having hooked my inverted L yesterday I woke early (not on purpose) so grabbed 
some coffee and turned on the radio. I could hear JA from Ohio on the Hi-Z an 
hour before my sunrise. Called a few times to no avail. 15 minutes later put 
two JAs in the log. Heard peeps of some other Asian stuff but no real copy.

Topband could be good this season!

73 Dan W8CAR

_
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Re: Topband: 160 Meters in Thailand

[Dave Sharred via Topband]

That's useful to know Frank, we often hear them in the bottom 10khz, where we 
can't operateI'll be on as MD4K,  all bands, but will cover 160 at times too, 
Imgot out pretty well there in the SSB leg73 Dave G3NKC / MD4K Sent from 
Samsung tablet

 Original message 
From: donov...@starpower.net 
Date: 15/11/2019  17:30  (GMT+00:00) 
To: topband  
Subject: Topband: 160 Meters in Thailand 

According to E21EIC, hams in Thailand now have the full 1800-2000 KHz 
assignment. Look for HS0ZAR before and their multi-multi operation in the CQWW 
CW DX contest. 73 Frank W3LPL _Searchable Archives: 
http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
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Topband: 160 Meters in Thailand

[donovanf]

According to E21EIC, hams in Thailand now have the full 1800-2000 KHz 
assignment. 


Look for HS0ZAR before and their multi-multi operation in the CQWW CW DX 
contest. 


73 
Frank 
W3LPL 



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Topband: 160 meter opening

[rick darwicki via Topband]

Guys, check you computers, 160M RFI may have triggered "Morse Runner" and you 
were working yourself hi hi
It is amazing how being 3-400 miles more north opens you to EU more often 

Rick N6PE

==


Dying is easy, the hard part is living






 

On Wednesday, November 13, 2019, 09:00:32 AM PST, 
topband-requ...@contesting.com  wrote:  
 
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Today's Topics:

  1. a "WZ" kind of night (Larry)
  2. Few questions about RX Ant preamps (Edward stallman)
  3. Re: 160m Conditions Last Night (Artek Manuals)


--

Message: 1
Date: Tue, 12 Nov 2019 07:10:51 + (UTC)
From: Larry 
To: topband@contesting.com
Subject: Topband: a "WZ" kind of night
Message-ID: <1233663059.2745498.1573542651...@mail.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

got home late, around 0630z and caught a huge EU opening at their sunrise. 
logged 16 EU in 20 minutes. yes!
finally the skip comes to the southern west coast. happy me.
larryn7dd

--

Message: 2
Date: Tue, 12 Nov 2019 06:08:00 -0600
From: Edward stallman 
To: topband@contesting.com
Subject: Topband: Few questions about RX Ant preamps
Message-ID: 
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed

Looking at the W7IUV preamp kit sold here 
http://www.mtmscientific.com/preamp.html


I would like to place the preamp at the RX Antenna (YCCC 9 Circle ) 
because of the 450 Ft of RG6 from ant to shack . The W7IUV preamp is 50 
ohm so not sure if it's ok to use at the Ant? Or if I'll be just fine 
using the preamp in the shack after the 75 to 50 Ohm transformer ?

Can the input and output be easily changed from 50 to 75 Ohm ?

Does anyone sell a RX Preamp with 75 Ohm in/ output ? Need IP3 of 30dbm 
or better .. I know DXE has a nice preamp but it's designed to add other 
boards that I don't need .

Thanks Ed N5DG




--

Message: 3
Date: Tue, 12 Nov 2019 09:09:09 -0500
From: Artek Manuals 
To: topband@contesting.com
Subject: Re: Topband: 160m Conditions Last Night
Message-ID: 
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed

Here in the deep south we generally don't get the kind of 160M openings 
to EU that you enjoy up north, the price we pay for not freezing to 
death when the lights go out and being able to work on our antennas year 
round, I lived in NH and MN? for 15 years before moving back to FL so I 
know first hand the joy of shoveling snow and being able to work EU when 
your 1000 miles closer to them than we are down south. Down here we are 
lucky? hear 3 or 4 EU stations on a good night regardless of the mode.

Then last night something extraordinary ( the night after Doug's report) 
. I went out to the shack @0200Z? to turn things off before going to bed 
. There was HA7TM calling CQ and the computer reminded me that while I 
had worked him on many bands but that I needed him on 160M to fill out 
my dance card. A few minutes later he was in the log and no other? EU 
stations were copied (YAWN)? .. then as I reached for the big switch I 
was called by R6YY. What happened next I suspect is what if sometimes 
referred to as? "pipeline propagation" . Stations from NW Russia lined 
up and started calling me sometimes 3 stations deep. When the dust 
settled I had worked 15 Russians, 2- SM's, an OH and a SP, all in the 
span of about 30 minutes. You would think my call sign was VP6R . During 
this mini pile up NO OTHER EU stations were heard. No DL's, no F's, no 
G's no I's . just UA's . One of the 3rd most memorable nights in my 
TOP-Band life-time spanning nearly 50 years

To fill in the scenario for the curious, I was running about 800 watts 
to a 60' T wire vertical, with three 90' above ground radials. And a 
200' BOG to the NE on receive. Modes used were both CW and FT8

Dave NR1DX
dit dit

On 11/11/2019 12:37 PM, Doug Renwick wrote:
> Very good over the pole real ham radio (cw) conditions from Northern 
> Europe
> last night in west NA. Some stations had amazing signals; a few of the
> strongest were LY7M, YL2SM and LA1MFA.
>
> Doug
>
> Canada; the ship of fools where corruption and politics are synonymous
>
> _
> Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband 
> Reflector

-- 
Dave
manu...@artekmanuals.com
www.ArtekManuals.com



--

Subject: Digest Footer

Topband: 160 meter PreStew this weekend

[Tree]

The Fall version of the Stew Perry events takes place this weekend.

The event starts at 1500Z on Oct 19 UTC and runs for 24 hours.  Exchange
your grid square which enables the distance based scoring magic.

Conditions have been very promising this season so far - with many European
openings from the North American West coast, and nearly daily QSOs with VK6
for many in North America and Europe.

Full rules and previous results and some other silly stuff can be found at
http://www.kkn.net/stew

73 Tree N6TR
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Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector

Re: Topband: 160 meter QSL card checking

[Tim Shoppa]

The CQ Magazine DX Marathon judge seems to have some superb smarts as to
what validates a plausible contact. I know for sure he caught it when due
to a typo of mine, I busted a callsign from a perfectly common entity (G =
England) on my 80M DX Marathon application and he even knew the correct
callsign that I had worked.

In addition I strongly suspect that for top-of-category in DX Marathon that
he does further cross-checks especially when public logs are available for
search (the case for most DXpeditions but not the case for random hams). I
suspect he has some automation to help him with these checks but he's a
super smart guy who is very familiar with both common and rare callsigns
from all over the world. In fact the DX Marathon website lists some
"commonly busted callsigns" and "known pirate callsigns" with specific
dates and times and this is updated throughout the year - an immensely
valuable resource for any DX'er.

I don't think it's reasonable to expect DXCC Card Checkers to apply this
level of experience, smarts, cross-checks, or scrutiny to cards they are
checking. It requires experience and access to diverse resources (many
online that I know about but undoubtedly some offline and maybe paper
especially for anything more than a couple years old). It would be nice if
someone from HQ could help out with the scrutiny.

Tim N3QE

On Fri, Oct 11, 2019 at 12:44 PM Richard (Rick) Karlquist <
rich...@karlquist.com> wrote:

>
> I attained 160 meter DXCC around 5 years ago.
> I don't feel that it qualifies me to check
> QSL's.  Even though I did it from the west
> coast :-)  I can see where say 25 years ago,
> 160 meter DXCC really meant something.  Now
> that we have entered the FT8 era, digital
> DXCC has become far easier, and falls into the
> category of "that and $5 will get you a latte"
> as the saying goes.
>
> Clearly, it is time to retire this anachronism.
>
> Rick N6RK
>
> _
> Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband
> Reflector
>
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Re: Topband: 160 meter QSL card checking

[Richard (Rick) Karlquist]

I attained 160 meter DXCC around 5 years ago.
I don't feel that it qualifies me to check
QSL's.  Even though I did it from the west
coast :-)  I can see where say 25 years ago,
160 meter DXCC really meant something.  Now
that we have entered the FT8 era, digital
DXCC has become far easier, and falls into the
category of "that and $5 will get you a latte"
as the saying goes.

Clearly, it is time to retire this anachronism.

Rick N6RK

_
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Re: Topband: 160 meter QSL card checking

[Andreas Junge]

Why not publish the current rule regarding 160M field checking and remove the 
confusion:

http://www.arrl.org/dxcc-field-checkin <http://www.arrl.org/dxcc-field-checkin>


1) Entities Eligible for Field Checking:

 
a) With an exception for 160 Meters, cards for all current and deleted entities 
dating back to November 15, 1945 can be checked. Cards for 160 Meters can only 
be checked by Card Checkers who currently hold an active 160 Meter DXCC, ARRL 
Headquarters staff who have been authorized by the Manager of the Radiosport 
Department, or existing Card Checkers who agree to allow their work to be 
vetted by the Radiosport Department. The Manager of the Radiosport Department 
shall make a special reporting form 
<http://www.arrl.org/files/file/DXCC/Convention%20Form.pdf> available for this 
purpose. 160 Meter Card Checkers can be found on the complete list of DXCC 160 
Card Checkers.

 
So, there still is a 160M DXCC requirement and it CAN be waived by the manager 
of the Radio Sport Department OR the card checker has to submit an additional 
form requesting his/her work to be  checked by the Radio Sport Department when 
the paperwork gets in.

The form is here:

http://www.arrl.org/files/file/DXCC/Convention%20Form.pdf 
<http://www.arrl.org/files/file/DXCC/Convention%20Form.pdf>

As for not having coverage in a certain area - volunteer to be a checker!  

Yes, I am a card checker, no I don't have my 160M DXCC yet, but I am up to #87 
:-) 

And Wayne, I am the guy who’s house is 2 down from where you made your first 
ever QSO when you were a kid :-)

73, Andreas, N6NU

> On Oct 11, 2019, at 8:39 AM, n...@bresnan.net wrote:
> 
> See "Field Checking of QSL Cards, 1) a)
> It seems the rule was "unliberalized" to some extent . . . 
> 
> -- N7NG/7
> 
>   -From: "n4cc" 
> To: topband@contesting.com
> Cc: 
> Sent: Friday October 11 2019 9:13:10AM
> Subject: Re: Topband: 160 meter QSL card checking
> 
> Any card checker can check 160 meter cards now. The requirement for
> the card checker to have 160 meter DXCC was dropped. 73, Greg- N4CC
> Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
>  Original message From: Herbert Schoenbohm  Date:
> 10/11/19 9:00 AM (GMT-07:00) To: n...@windstream.net Cc:
> dx-ch...@reflector.arrl.org, TopBand List  Subject: Re: Topband: 160
> meter QSL card checking This is frustrating indeed as there are no
> DXCC card checkers in the USVI with 160-meter DXCC which the ARRL
> requires. They refuse to explain why. OK, so I will send the cards to
> them. But wait, this requires an online application. But when I fill
> it out and put in my zip code and location the "State" box does not
> provide for the U.S. Virgin Islands for the card return information.
> So when I go to the foreign section there is no selection for the U.S.
> Virgin Islands. Does anyone have any idea oon what I should do? I am a
> an ARRL member for over 60 years but continue to be given rough
> treatment by HQ.Herb, KV4FZOn Fri, Oct 11, 2019 at 11:50 AM  wrote: 
> _
> Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband [1] - Topband
> Reflector
> 
> _
> Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband [2] - Topband
> Reflector
> 
> 
> Links:
> --
> [1] http://www.contesting.com/_topband
> [2] http://www.contesting.com/_topband
> 
> _
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Re: Topband: 160 meter QSL card checking

[n7ng]

See "Field Checking of QSL Cards, 1) a)
It seems the rule was "unliberalized" to some extent . . . 

-- N7NG/7

-From: "n4cc" 
To: topband@contesting.com
Cc: 
Sent: Friday October 11 2019 9:13:10AM
Subject: Re: Topband: 160 meter QSL card checking

 Any card checker can check 160 meter cards now. The requirement for
the card checker to have 160 meter DXCC was dropped. 73, Greg- N4CC
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
  Original message From: Herbert Schoenbohm  Date:
10/11/19 9:00 AM (GMT-07:00) To: n...@windstream.net Cc:
dx-ch...@reflector.arrl.org, TopBand List  Subject: Re: Topband: 160
meter QSL card checking This is frustrating indeed as there are no
DXCC card checkers in the USVI with 160-meter DXCC which the ARRL
requires. They refuse to explain why. OK, so I will send the cards to
them. But wait, this requires an online application. But when I fill
it out and put in my zip code and location the "State" box does not
provide for the U.S. Virgin Islands for the card return information.
So when I go to the foreign section there is no selection for the U.S.
Virgin Islands. Does anyone have any idea oon what I should do? I am a
an ARRL member for over 60 years but continue to be given rough
treatment by HQ.Herb, KV4FZOn Fri, Oct 11, 2019 at 11:50 AM  wrote: 
 _
 Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband [1] - Topband
Reflector

 _
 Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband [2] - Topband
Reflector
 

Links:
--
[1] http://www.contesting.com/_topband
[2] http://www.contesting.com/_topband

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Re: Topband: 160 meter QSL card checking

[n4cc]

Any card checker can check 160 meter cards now.  The requirement for the card 
checker to have 160 meter DXCC was dropped.  73, Greg- N4CC Sent from my 
Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
 Original message From: Herbert Schoenbohm 
 Date: 10/11/19  9:00 AM  (GMT-07:00) To: 
n...@windstream.net Cc: dx-ch...@reflector.arrl.org, TopBand List 
 Subject: Re: Topband: 160 meter QSL card checking This 
is frustrating indeed as there are no DXCC card checkers in the USVI with 
160-meter DXCC which the ARRL requires.  They refuse to explain why.  OK, so I 
will send the cards to them.  But wait, this requires an online application. 
But when I fill it out and put in my zip code and location the "State" box does 
not provide for the U.S. Virgin Islands for the card return information.  So 
when I go to the foreign section there is no selection for the U.S. Virgin 
Islands.  Does anyone have any idea oon what I should do?  I am a an ARRL 
member for over 60 years but continue to be given rough treatment by HQ.Herb, 
KV4FZOn Fri, Oct 11, 2019 at 11:50 AM  wrote: 
_
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Re: Topband: 160 meter QSL card checking

[Herbert Schoenbohm]

This is frustrating indeed as there are no DXCC card checkers in the USVI
with 160-meter DXCC which the ARRL requires.  They refuse to explain why.
OK, so I will send the cards to them.  But wait, this requires an online
application. But when I fill it out and put in my zip code and location the
"State" box does not provide for the U.S. Virgin Islands for the card
return information.  So when I go to the foreign section there is no
selection for the U.S. Virgin Islands.  Does anyone have any idea oon what
I should do?  I am a an ARRL member for over 60 years but continue to be
given rough treatment by HQ.

Herb, KV4FZ

On Fri, Oct 11, 2019 at 11:50 AM  wrote:

>
> _
> Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband
> Reflector
>
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Topband: 160 meter QSL card checking

[n4cc]

 
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Re: Topband: 160 is alive!

[Ed Sawyer]

Tom.  I had the same thing going here but thankfully the project was finished a 
couple of weeks ago and this weekend is my “get it back to where it was” 
weekend.  But still, I had one of my 2 T top verticals available and just was 
not on this morning.  Thanks to Tree’s nudge, I am not going to do that again!

 

Ed  N1UR

 

From: Thomas Hoyer [mailto:thoy...@verizon.net] 
Sent: Wednesday, September 25, 2019 3:30 PM
To: sawye...@earthlink.net; topband@contesting.com
Subject: Re: Topband: 160 is alive!

 

Figures Only need a couple more countries for DXCC and my TB antenna is 
down for the next couple months due to a construction project going on in the 
yard. The contractor didn't want to "work around" the guy lines on the vertical 
- which really were in his way - so I took the vertical down temporarily. 

 

Of course this construction project was supposed to be done in June and they 
just got started two weeks ago.

 

Hopefully I'll be back on by mid December and there will be some good DX left 
over (CW only for me). 

 

Need to run a bunch of new radials as the excavation has torn up about 25% of 
them.

 

Tom

W3TA

 





-Original Message-
From: Ed Sawyer 
To: topband 
Sent: Wed, Sep 25, 2019 1:13 pm
Subject: Re: Topband: 160 is alive!

Yes it is.  And all on CW.  I am sorry I was not able to be on this morning.

 

 

 

73

 

 

 

Ed  N1UR

 

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<http://www.contesting.com/_topband> - Topband Reflector

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Re: Topband: 160 is alive!

[Thomas Hoyer via Topband]

Figures Only need a couple more countries for DXCC and my TB antenna is 
down for the next couple months due to a construction project going on in the 
yard. The contractor didn't want to "work around" the guy lines on the vertical 
- which really were in his way - so I took the vertical down temporarily.
Of course this construction project was supposed to be done in June and they 
just got started two weeks ago.
Hopefully I'll be back on by mid December and there will be some good DX left 
over (CW only for me). 
Need to run a bunch of new radials as the excavation has torn up about 25% of 
them.
TomW3TA



-Original Message-
From: Ed Sawyer 
To: topband 
Sent: Wed, Sep 25, 2019 1:13 pm
Subject: Re: Topband: 160 is alive!

Yes it is.  And all on CW.  I am sorry I was not able to be on this morning.

 

73

 

Ed  N1UR

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Re: Topband: 160 is alive!

[Ed Sawyer]

Yes it is.  And all on CW.  I am sorry I was not able to be on this morning.

 

73

 

Ed  N1UR

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