Re: Topband: CQ WW Contest
On 1/29/2020 4:19 PM, donov...@starpower.net wrote: We use the K9AY Model RAS-8x2 Receive Antenna Switching System So do I. I had him build me an 8x4 version. Six RX antennas feed the matrix, plus the output of an NCC-1. Two of the outputs feed the NCC-1, the out of the NCC-1 feeds input #7, RX out of my primary K3 feeds input #8. The other two outputs feed RX In and Sub RX in of both K3s. This setup provides lots of flexibility -- I can phase anything with anything. During 6M season, a GAs-FET preamp gets patched between RX out and the matrix. It's slightly better than what's in the K3. 73, Jim K9YC _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: CQ WW Contest
I suspected that your 8 circle array would be very directive with that spacing. My 8 is really too small for 160 but I have no other options. Any antenna is better than no antenna. I did notice that the Inverted L on occasion was hearing some stations better than my circle. I need to get a flag or something else up just for diversity. Thanks for the info! W0MU On 1/29/2020 5:19 PM, donov...@starpower.net wrote: Hi Mike, While I can't comment about Mark's specific experiences in this contest, our usual rule of thumb is that you can never have too many antennas. We've found that the 8-circle isn't the best receiving antenna while running because its sidelobe levels are so low that you often hear no trace of an off-azimuth caller (e.g., a PY answering a CQ while we're listening NE). We usually switch to the 8-circle when we cannot readily copy a station with the Beverages. It usually improves SNR by several dB which can make all the difference. Because of its low sidelobes, it often receives DX stations much better in unruly pileups. There are also some occasions when -- for whatever reason -- the transmit 4-square receives slightly better than the 8-circle or Beverages. The 4-square and 8-circle are an excellent pair for diversity reception with the K3. We use the K9AY Model RAS-8x2 Receive Antenna Switching System which provides the capability to listen to multiple antannas at the same time and to share all of the antennas (4-square, Beverages, 8-circle) among both receivers. www.aytechnologies.com/Products/RAS8x2data.htm <https://www.aytechnologies.com/Products/RAS8x2data.htm> 73 Frank W3LPL *From: *"W0MU Mike Fatchett" *To: *topband@contesting.com *Sent: *Wednesday, January 29, 2020 10:06:36 PM *Subject: *Re: Topband: CQ WW Contest Fantastic! He would loud here. How does the circle array compare with the beverages? W0MU On 1/29/2020 1:33 PM, donov...@starpower.net wrote: > > How were conditions at W3LPL in Maryland last weekend? > Mark KD4D operated here last weekend using his call. > > > Conditions were good Friday night but with troublesome QRN from > nearby heavy rain storms. Fantastic on Saturday night with no > significant QRN. > > > 110 ten-pointers were worked from 2300-0900Z Friday night > 170 ten- pointers were worked from 2300-0700Z Saturday night. > > > 705 U.S. QSOs > 295 DX QSOs > 51 VE QSOs > 1051 total QSOs > > > > 53 DL QSOs (kudos to the German Topbanders!) > 22 UA QSOs > 20 OK QSOs > 20 G/GD/GI/GM/GW QSOs > 14 LY QSOs > 14 S5 QSOs > 13 SP QSOs > 11 UR QSOs > 10 I QSOs > > > Much more detail is posted at: > www.3830scores.com/showrumor.php?arg=uRaNzEmgsvimL > > > Mark used a pair of barefoot K3 transceivers operating SO2R unassisted. > My 1500 watt amplifier was physically disconnected from the RF path > and unplugged from AC power. There's no salt water within many miles, > just moist Maryland clay soil. An examination of RBN data p roves that > Mark was running low power. > > > Of course he used good antennas, a 4-square transmitting antenna with > 4 miles of radials, three 580 foot Beverages (NE, S, W) and a 350 foot > diameter W8JI/W5ZN passive 8-circle receiving array. The receiving > antennas are 1000 feet south of the 4-square allowing SO2R operation > with no interference at all from the transmitted signal. > > > 73 > Frank > W3LPL > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > - Original Message - > > From: "Mike Smith VE9AA" > To: topband@contesting.com > Sent: Wednesday, January 29, 2020 6:27:33 PM > Subject: Re: Topband: CQ WW Contest > > Like my neighbour Dave/WHS here a few grid squares away to my SW, I found > condx "good" but certainly not great up here in Central New Brunswick, > Canada where I am nowhere at all near salt water, being in FN66na. > > > > I (currently) run a small stn on 160m. Inverted L(more like a J these days) > and legal limit. No RX antennas. > > > > I only operated Sat night in 2 small spurts for a total of 2hrs+53mins, but > managed 46 S/P and 31 countries in my very limited time on the band. This > was about 75% running and 25% S&P. I was really only on to work Da-boyZ @ > VO2AC to show my support for their expedition, but when I didn't hear any > other NB stns on or see any spotted, I felt compelled to at least give the > deserving the chance to work the VE9 mult. When the dust settled, Monday I > found out that there were at least 4 other VE9's QRV throughout the w/e so I > felt pretty good about that. > > > > I don't think any VY2's were rea
Re: Topband: CQ WW Contest
Hi Mike, While I can't comment about Mark's specific experiences in this contest, our usual rule of thumb is that you can never have too many antennas. We've found that the 8-circle isn't the best receiving antenna while running because its sidelobe levels are so low that you often hear no trace of an off-azimuth caller (e.g., a PY answering a CQ while we're listening NE). We usually switch to the 8-circle when we cannot readily copy a station with the Beverages. It usually improves SNR by several dB which can make all the difference. Because of its low sidelobes, it often receives DX stations much better in unruly pileups. There are also some occasions when -- for whatever reason -- the transmit 4-square receives slightly better than the 8-circle or Beverages. The 4-square and 8-circle are an excellent pair for diversity reception with the K3. We use the K9AY Model RAS-8x2 Receive Antenna Switching System which provides the capability to listen to multiple antannas at the same time and to share all of the antennas (4-square, Beverages, 8-circle) among both receivers. www.aytechnologies.com/Products/RAS8x2data.htm 73 Frank W3LPL - Original Message - From: "W0MU Mike Fatchett" To: topband@contesting.com Sent: Wednesday, January 29, 2020 10:06:36 PM Subject: Re: Topband: CQ WW Contest Fantastic! He would loud here. How does the circle array compare with the beverages? W0MU On 1/29/2020 1:33 PM, donov...@starpower.net wrote: > > How were conditions at W3LPL in Maryland last weekend? > Mark KD4D operated here last weekend using his call. > > > Conditions were good Friday night but with troublesome QRN from > nearby heavy rain storms. Fantastic on Saturday night with no > significant QRN. > > > 110 ten-pointers were worked from 2300-0900Z Friday night > 170 ten- pointers were worked from 2300-0700Z Saturday night. > > > 705 U.S. QSOs > 295 DX QSOs > 51 VE QSOs > 1051 total QSOs > > > > 53 DL QSOs (kudos to the German Topbanders!) > 22 UA QSOs > 20 OK QSOs > 20 G/GD/GI/GM/GW QSOs > 14 LY QSOs > 14 S5 QSOs > 13 SP QSOs > 11 UR QSOs > 10 I QSOs > > > Much more detail is posted at: > www.3830scores.com/showrumor.php?arg=uRaNzEmgsvimL > > > Mark used a pair of barefoot K3 transceivers operating SO2R unassisted. > My 1500 watt amplifier was physically disconnected from the RF path > and unplugged from AC power. There's no salt water within many miles, > just moist Maryland clay soil. An examination of RBN data p roves that > Mark was running low power. > > > Of course he used good antennas, a 4-square transmitting antenna with > 4 miles of radials, three 580 foot Beverages (NE, S, W) and a 350 foot > diameter W8JI/W5ZN passive 8-circle receiving array. The receiving > antennas are 1000 feet south of the 4-square allowing SO2R operation > with no interference at all from the transmitted signal. > > > 73 > Frank > W3LPL > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > - Original Message - > > From: "Mike Smith VE9AA" > To: topband@contesting.com > Sent: Wednesday, January 29, 2020 6:27:33 PM > Subject: Re: Topband: CQ WW Contest > > Like my neighbour Dave/WHS here a few grid squares away to my SW, I found > condx "good" but certainly not great up here in Central New Brunswick, > Canada where I am nowhere at all near salt water, being in FN66na. > > > > I (currently) run a small stn on 160m. Inverted L(more like a J these days) > and legal limit. No RX antennas. > > > > I only operated Sat night in 2 small spurts for a total of 2hrs+53mins, but > managed 46 S/P and 31 countries in my very limited time on the band. This > was about 75% running and 25% S&P. I was really only on to work Da-boyZ @ > VO2AC to show my support for their expedition, but when I didn't hear any > other NB stns on or see any spotted, I felt compelled to at least give the > deserving the chance to work the VE9 mult. When the dust settled, Monday I > found out that there were at least 4 other VE9's QRV throughout the w/e so I > felt pretty good about that. > > > > I don't think any VY2's were really on.but I digress. > > > > I worked from N6TR(K7RAT) out to RL3A and a few of the PJ's to the south. > Nobody was what I would call "loud" by any stretch of the imagination. Most > EU's CQ'd in my face (or called me when they saw me spotted,but then > couldn't hear me reply) > > > > Sometimes I think folks are confusing amazing condx with
Re: Topband: CQ WW Contest
Fantastic! He would loud here. How does the circle array compare with the beverages? W0MU On 1/29/2020 1:33 PM, donov...@starpower.net wrote: How were conditions at W3LPL in Maryland last weekend? Mark KD4D operated here last weekend using his call. Conditions were good Friday night but with troublesome QRN from nearby heavy rain storms. Fantastic on Saturday night with no significant QRN. 110 ten-pointers were worked from 2300-0900Z Friday night 170 ten- pointers were worked from 2300-0700Z Saturday night. 705 U.S. QSOs 295 DX QSOs 51 VE QSOs 1051 total QSOs 53 DL QSOs (kudos to the German Topbanders!) 22 UA QSOs 20 OK QSOs 20 G/GD/GI/GM/GW QSOs 14 LY QSOs 14 S5 QSOs 13 SP QSOs 11 UR QSOs 10 I QSOs Much more detail is posted at: www.3830scores.com/showrumor.php?arg=uRaNzEmgsvimL Mark used a pair of barefoot K3 transceivers operating SO2R unassisted. My 1500 watt amplifier was physically disconnected from the RF path and unplugged from AC power. There's no salt water within many miles, just moist Maryland clay soil. An examination of RBN data p roves that Mark was running low power. Of course he used good antennas, a 4-square transmitting antenna with 4 miles of radials, three 580 foot Beverages (NE, S, W) and a 350 foot diameter W8JI/W5ZN passive 8-circle receiving array. The receiving antennas are 1000 feet south of the 4-square allowing SO2R operation with no interference at all from the transmitted signal. 73 Frank W3LPL - Original Message - From: "Mike Smith VE9AA" To: topband@contesting.com Sent: Wednesday, January 29, 2020 6:27:33 PM Subject: Re: Topband: CQ WW Contest Like my neighbour Dave/WHS here a few grid squares away to my SW, I found condx "good" but certainly not great up here in Central New Brunswick, Canada where I am nowhere at all near salt water, being in FN66na. I (currently) run a small stn on 160m. Inverted L(more like a J these days) and legal limit. No RX antennas. I only operated Sat night in 2 small spurts for a total of 2hrs+53mins, but managed 46 S/P and 31 countries in my very limited time on the band. This was about 75% running and 25% S&P. I was really only on to work Da-boyZ @ VO2AC to show my support for their expedition, but when I didn't hear any other NB stns on or see any spotted, I felt compelled to at least give the deserving the chance to work the VE9 mult. When the dust settled, Monday I found out that there were at least 4 other VE9's QRV throughout the w/e so I felt pretty good about that. I don't think any VY2's were really on.but I digress. I worked from N6TR(K7RAT) out to RL3A and a few of the PJ's to the south. Nobody was what I would call "loud" by any stretch of the imagination. Most EU's CQ'd in my face (or called me when they saw me spotted,but then couldn't hear me reply) Sometimes I think folks are confusing amazing condx with just a lot of activity during a very popular contest weekend. (at least in my opinion)...Many times I have worked much stronger DX, regardless of beam headings. I'd characterize condx as "good" to perhaps almost "very good" but certainly NOT "fantastic/amazing/unforgettable" or other descriptors I've read here and 3830scores.com. But again.who am I to say.?< 3 hrs on the band late Sat evening (NA time) is a pretty myopic view I guess. Mike VE9AA "NB" In my listening, I heard many stations farther south (W4 & W5) calling stations and I was surprised that they could hear them at all, seeing how weak they were here. I began to think that something broke here! K1DG was on in Maine from his island in the middle of salt water, and he seemed to do very well. I don't know what to say as I do not have the experience to adequately explain what happened. Maybe if I called CQ for more than 45 minutes total I would have a different feel for how condx were. My take is that absorption can be quite variable over a fairly narrow geographical area, say a few hundred miles. Dave K1WHS Mike, Coreen & Corey Keswick Ridge, NB _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: CQ WW Contest
How were conditions at W3LPL in Maryland last weekend? Mark KD4D operated here last weekend using his call. Conditions were good Friday night but with troublesome QRN from nearby heavy rain storms. Fantastic on Saturday night with no significant QRN. 110 ten-pointers were worked from 2300-0900Z Friday night 170 ten- pointers were worked from 2300-0700Z Saturday night. 705 U.S. QSOs 295 DX QSOs 51 VE QSOs 1051 total QSOs 53 DL QSOs (kudos to the German Topbanders!) 22 UA QSOs 20 OK QSOs 20 G/GD/GI/GM/GW QSOs 14 LY QSOs 14 S5 QSOs 13 SP QSOs 11 UR QSOs 10 I QSOs Much more detail is posted at: www.3830scores.com/showrumor.php?arg=uRaNzEmgsvimL Mark used a pair of barefoot K3 transceivers operating SO2R unassisted. My 1500 watt amplifier was physically disconnected from the RF path and unplugged from AC power. There's no salt water within many miles, just moist Maryland clay soil. An examination of RBN data p roves that Mark was running low power. Of course he used good antennas, a 4-square transmitting antenna with 4 miles of radials, three 580 foot Beverages (NE, S, W) and a 350 foot diameter W8JI/W5ZN passive 8-circle receiving array. The receiving antennas are 1000 feet south of the 4-square allowing SO2R operation with no interference at all from the transmitted signal. 73 Frank W3LPL - Original Message - From: "Mike Smith VE9AA" To: topband@contesting.com Sent: Wednesday, January 29, 2020 6:27:33 PM Subject: Re: Topband: CQ WW Contest Like my neighbour Dave/WHS here a few grid squares away to my SW, I found condx "good" but certainly not great up here in Central New Brunswick, Canada where I am nowhere at all near salt water, being in FN66na. I (currently) run a small stn on 160m. Inverted L(more like a J these days) and legal limit. No RX antennas. I only operated Sat night in 2 small spurts for a total of 2hrs+53mins, but managed 46 S/P and 31 countries in my very limited time on the band. This was about 75% running and 25% S&P. I was really only on to work Da-boyZ @ VO2AC to show my support for their expedition, but when I didn't hear any other NB stns on or see any spotted, I felt compelled to at least give the deserving the chance to work the VE9 mult. When the dust settled, Monday I found out that there were at least 4 other VE9's QRV throughout the w/e so I felt pretty good about that. I don't think any VY2's were really on.but I digress. I worked from N6TR(K7RAT) out to RL3A and a few of the PJ's to the south. Nobody was what I would call "loud" by any stretch of the imagination. Most EU's CQ'd in my face (or called me when they saw me spotted,but then couldn't hear me reply) Sometimes I think folks are confusing amazing condx with just a lot of activity during a very popular contest weekend. (at least in my opinion)...Many times I have worked much stronger DX, regardless of beam headings. I'd characterize condx as "good" to perhaps almost "very good" but certainly NOT "fantastic/amazing/unforgettable" or other descriptors I've read here and 3830scores.com. But again.who am I to say.?< 3 hrs on the band late Sat evening (NA time) is a pretty myopic view I guess. Mike VE9AA "NB" In my listening, I heard many stations farther south (W4 & W5) calling stations and I was surprised that they could hear them at all, seeing how weak they were here. I began to think that something broke here! K1DG was on in Maine from his island in the middle of salt water, and he seemed to do very well. I don't know what to say as I do not have the experience to adequately explain what happened. Maybe if I called CQ for more than 45 minutes total I would have a different feel for how condx were. My take is that absorption can be quite variable over a fairly narrow geographical area, say a few hundred miles. Dave K1WHS Mike, Coreen & Corey Keswick Ridge, NB _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: CQ WW Contest
Like my neighbour Dave/WHS here a few grid squares away to my SW, I found condx "good" but certainly not great up here in Central New Brunswick, Canada where I am nowhere at all near salt water, being in FN66na. I (currently) run a small stn on 160m. Inverted L(more like a J these days) and legal limit. No RX antennas. I only operated Sat night in 2 small spurts for a total of 2hrs+53mins, but managed 46 S/P and 31 countries in my very limited time on the band. This was about 75% running and 25% S&P. I was really only on to work Da-boyZ @ VO2AC to show my support for their expedition, but when I didn't hear any other NB stns on or see any spotted, I felt compelled to at least give the deserving the chance to work the VE9 mult. When the dust settled, Monday I found out that there were at least 4 other VE9's QRV throughout the w/e so I felt pretty good about that. I don't think any VY2's were really on.but I digress. I worked from N6TR(K7RAT) out to RL3A and a few of the PJ's to the south. Nobody was what I would call "loud" by any stretch of the imagination. Most EU's CQ'd in my face (or called me when they saw me spotted,but then couldn't hear me reply) Sometimes I think folks are confusing amazing condx with just a lot of activity during a very popular contest weekend. (at least in my opinion)...Many times I have worked much stronger DX, regardless of beam headings. I'd characterize condx as "good" to perhaps almost "very good" but certainly NOT "fantastic/amazing/unforgettable" or other descriptors I've read here and 3830scores.com. But again.who am I to say.?< 3 hrs on the band late Sat evening (NA time) is a pretty myopic view I guess. Mike VE9AA "NB" In my listening, I heard many stations farther south (W4 & W5) calling stations and I was surprised that they could hear them at all, seeing how weak they were here. I began to think that something broke here! K1DG was on in Maine from his island in the middle of salt water, and he seemed to do very well. I don't know what to say as I do not have the experience to adequately explain what happened. Maybe if I called CQ for more than 45 minutes total I would have a different feel for how condx were. My take is that absorption can be quite variable over a fairly narrow geographical area, say a few hundred miles. Dave K1WHS Mike, Coreen & Corey Keswick Ridge, NB _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: CQ WW Contest
I think a lot depends on where you were located. I am in southern Maine
about 30 miles from salt water. I did a fair amount of listening for DX
stations. I did not call CQ except for two brief periods late at night.
My impression was that signals were not as good as many recent nights
that I would call "excellent". Many big stations that are 599 on my K3 S
meter on good evenings were hovering around S5 or maybe a bit better.
Other stations that are normally good, were drifting down into my noise
level with QSB. I also noted that many EU stations did not answer me
when I called. After 5 or 6 tries, I would press ALT-W and go on up the
band. That could be the high QRM level in Europe as well as conditions.
I just had the feeling that i was weak on the path to Europe. It
happened all the time. In my listening, I heard many stations farther
south (W4 & W5) calling stations and I was surprised that they could
hear them at all, seeing how weak they were here. I began to think that
something broke here! K1DG was on in Maine from his island in the
middle of salt water, and he seemed to do very well. I don't know what
to say as I do not have the experience to adequately explain what
happened. Maybe if I called CQ for more than 45 minutes total I would
have a different feel for how condx were. My take is that absorption can
be quite variable over a fairly narrow geographical area, say a few
hundred miles.
Dave K1WHS
On 1/29/2020 10:29 AM, Clive GM3POI wrote:
Guy you only have to look at the past results for CQ160 to know that this
year's conditions were not anywhere near as good as 2009. Then I worked
around 700 US stations including all States and 57 St/Prov.
Although last weekend weren't by the recent past bad, and hopefully just a
stepping stone to better in the future. 73 Clive GM3POI
-Original Message-
From: Topband [mailto:topband-bounces+clive=gm3poi@contesting.com] On
Behalf Of Guy Olinger K2AV
Sent: 29 January 2020 03:11
To: Roger Kennedy
Cc: TopBand List
Subject: Re: Topband: CQ WW Contest
Hi Roger,
Just want to be sure we are both talking about the weekend of 25, 26
January, 2020, the weekend of the 2020 CQ 160 CW contest. If so, I must
register my decidedly firm impression that was the best 160 meter weekend of
my lifetime, what has to be a counterpoint of the amazing 1958 sunspot
maximum.
In the contest I worked 1349 stations including 339 10 pointers (almost all
the 10 pointers were European), let's just say 300+ European stations. In
all of that I worked a 160 meter worked all states (48 CONUS + AK & HI),
plus 9 Canadian provinces, 78 countries ("country" per the contest rules).
That was a claimed score from the southeast USA (decidedly not the
EU-advantaged northeast US) of 752,780.
It was, by an enormous margin, my personal lifetime best for any 160 meter
contest. The antenna did work very well, but, seriously, could not possibly
have accounted for that bump up, nor for sure could my personal operating
skills.
Just think we need to leave room for the idea that maybe the band was a bit
better than "open".
Station here K3 + KPA1500, Inverted L over FCP, no RX antennas (working on
that), NOT a superstation.
Wowser, I wonder if we'll get that again before the sunspots start in
again. I can hope.
73, Guy K2AV
On Tue, Jan 28, 2020 at 3:27 PM Roger Kennedy
wrote:
Well conditions were reasonable over the weekend . . .
I spent a total of about 3 hours on the band, and managed to work 48 NA
stations through all the European QRM.
I'm sure I would have worked a lot more, as I heard many others calling
stations that were calling CQ . . . but I'm reluctant to put out a CQ call
in a contest, as I don't want to work hundreds of Europeans (I'm up in the
middle of the night to work some DX !)
As I say, I wouldn't say conditions were particularly good, but the band
was
open.
Roger G3YRO
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Topband: CQ WW Contest
Hi Ken Well this has been voiced before ! I appreciate that many stations are only interested in working new or rare prefixes on 160m . . . However, personally I get a big buzz out of EVERY QSO with a station on Top Band over 2000 miles away, as it is an achievement . . . regardless of how many times I may have worked that station before. And I have never really got any real satisfaction working DX on the higher bands, as even on 80m it's so much easier. I can't help feeling - given the amount of effort it takes to have a decent station for 160m, especially in terms of decent Antennas - that it seems crazy to just come on the band once a month to work a DX-pedition, or for a Contest ! However, I know there are many people who feel like you . . . but there are also a lot of Top Band DX-ers who feel like ME. I guess I'm simply trying to encourage THOSE people to come on the band more often. Especially as it's often those same people that complain about all the activity on FT8 and the lack of DX CW activity ! 73 Roger G3YRO _ From: Kenneth Grimm [mailto:gr...@sbc.edu] Sent: 29 January 2020 12:26 Roger, While this is just my opinion, I look at 160 as a challenge. If I want to rag-chew or just rack up QSOs, I either go up to SSB or switch to 80 or 40 CW. When I'm on 160, I'm looking for a new country or even better, a new zone. I have a feeling that this is how a good many 160 ops look at the band. It's not as though we don't want to talk to G3YRO, it's because we are looking for JT5DX at the moment or 9M2AX or XV1X or whatever else we need on the band. There are lots of ears in use on 160 when we are in darkness. Keyers, not so much. 73, -- Ken - K4XL BoatAnchor Manual Archive BAMA - http://bama.edebris.com _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: CQ WW Contest
A side note on the subject line... All nine major CQ contests (including 160, VHF, and WPX) have official names starting with “CQ World Wide”. Even the three WPX contests have official names starting “CQ World Wide WPX”. Colloquially we would usually say CQWW when talking about the big HF contests each fall. And strangely enough it takes four fewer syllables to say “World Wide” than “WW” :-) Tim N3QE > On Jan 29, 2020, at 7:25 AM, Kenneth Grimm wrote: > > On Wed, Jan 29, 2020 at 5:20 AM Roger Kennedy > wrote: >> >> > >> I just wish there was more Activity from NA on 160m generally. There must >> be at least ten times more 160m DXers over there than there are here in >> Britain . . . but almost every night there are several of us on the band >> calling CQ DX and getting very few replies ! (yet RBN reports confirm that >> the band is open) >> >> 73 Roger G3YRO >> > > Roger, > While this is just my opinion, I look at 160 as a challenge. If I want to > rag-chew or just rack up QSOs, I either go up to SSB or switch to 80 or 40 > CW. When I'm on 160, I'm looking for a new country or even better, a new > zone. I have a feeling that this is how a good many 160 ops look at the > band. It's not as though we don't want to talk to G3YRO, it's because we > are looking for JT5DX at the moment or 9M2AX or XV1X or whatever else we > need on the band. There are lots of ears in use on 160 when we are in > darkness. Keyers, not so much. > 73, > -- > Ken - K4XL > BoatAnchor Manual Archive > BAMA - http://bama.edebris.com > _ > Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: CQ WW Contest
On Wed, Jan 29, 2020 at 5:20 AM Roger Kennedy wrote: > > > I just wish there was more Activity from NA on 160m generally. There must > be at least ten times more 160m DXers over there than there are here in > Britain . . . but almost every night there are several of us on the band > calling CQ DX and getting very few replies ! (yet RBN reports confirm that > the band is open) > > 73 Roger G3YRO > Roger, While this is just my opinion, I look at 160 as a challenge. If I want to rag-chew or just rack up QSOs, I either go up to SSB or switch to 80 or 40 CW. When I'm on 160, I'm looking for a new country or even better, a new zone. I have a feeling that this is how a good many 160 ops look at the band. It's not as though we don't want to talk to G3YRO, it's because we are looking for JT5DX at the moment or 9M2AX or XV1X or whatever else we need on the band. There are lots of ears in use on 160 when we are in darkness. Keyers, not so much. 73, -- Ken - K4XL BoatAnchor Manual Archive BAMA - http://bama.edebris.com _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: CQ WW Contest
I couldn't agree with you more Guy.
Condx were reported as being any where from poor to below normal for some to
being excellent to the best ever by others. The latter mostly being from
Eastern NA. It appears from the 3830 comments that some had more enhancement
than others and from slightly different areas of Europe and opening and closing
times differed a bit but all were Saturday evening in NA. Since I have only
been on 160M for 29 yrs now I can't comment about the 70's and 80's but in all
my time on the band since then I have never once seen any European station
being S9 here but Saturday night ( Sunday morning in Europe ) all the European
stations I worked were between S7 - S9 here.
It started Saturday night at ~2330z when I started being called by a few DX
stations - which rarely ever happens here. So I took the hint and quickly
started S&Ping Cluster spots and in 1 hour my score increased by ~60,000 pts.
In the next 4 hours I worked about 75 DX stations, mostly in Europe. I know
that really pales compared to others that experienced the opening but it took
me 7 years to work 60 DXCC on TB with LP and Saturday night I was able to do it
in ~4 hours. So that was huge to me. Then at 0430z EU signals suddenly dropped
right back down to ~S1 and I had a very hard time working any DX after that.
What I did work was a struggle, as usual.
So at least for some of us it was an amazing once in a lifetime opening - or at
least once every 30 years or so.
73,
Brian
VE3MGY
From: Topband on behalf of
Guy Olinger K2AV
Sent: January 28, 2020 10:10 PM
To: Roger Kennedy
Cc: TopBand List
Subject: Re: Topband: CQ WW Contest
Hi Roger,
Just want to be sure we are both talking about the weekend of 25, 26
January, 2020, the weekend of the 2020 CQ 160 CW contest. If so, I must
register my decidedly firm impression that was the best 160 meter weekend of
my lifetime, what has to be a counterpoint of the amazing 1958 sunspot
maximum.
In the contest I worked 1349 stations including 339 10 pointers (almost all
the 10 pointers were European), let's just say 300+ European stations. In
all of that I worked a 160 meter worked all states (48 CONUS + AK & HI),
plus 9 Canadian provinces, 78 countries ("country" per the contest rules).
That was a claimed score from the southeast USA (decidedly not the
EU-advantaged northeast US) of 752,780.
It was, by an enormous margin, my personal lifetime best for any 160 meter
contest. The antenna did work very well, but, seriously, could not possibly
have accounted for that bump up, nor for sure could my personal operating
skills.
Just think we need to leave room for the idea that maybe the band was a bit
better than "open".
Station here K3 + KPA1500, Inverted L over FCP, no RX antennas (working on
that), NOT a superstation.
Wowser, I wonder if we'll get that again before the sunspots start in
again. I can hope.
73, Guy K2AV
On Tue, Jan 28, 2020 at 3:27 PM Roger Kennedy
wrote:
>
> Well conditions were reasonable over the weekend . . .
>
> I spent a total of about 3 hours on the band, and managed to work 48 NA
> stations through all the European QRM.
>
> I'm sure I would have worked a lot more, as I heard many others calling
> stations that were calling CQ . . . but I'm reluctant to put out a CQ call
> in a contest, as I don't want to work hundreds of Europeans (I'm up in the
> middle of the night to work some DX !)
>
> As I say, I wouldn't say conditions were particularly good, but the band
> was
> open.
>
>
> Roger G3YRO
>
>
> _
> Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband
> Reflector
>
_
Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
_
Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: CQ WW Contest
Guy you only have to look at the past results for CQ160 to know that this
year's conditions were not anywhere near as good as 2009. Then I worked
around 700 US stations including all States and 57 St/Prov.
Although last weekend weren't by the recent past bad, and hopefully just a
stepping stone to better in the future. 73 Clive GM3POI
-Original Message-
From: Topband [mailto:topband-bounces+clive=gm3poi@contesting.com] On
Behalf Of Guy Olinger K2AV
Sent: 29 January 2020 03:11
To: Roger Kennedy
Cc: TopBand List
Subject: Re: Topband: CQ WW Contest
Hi Roger,
Just want to be sure we are both talking about the weekend of 25, 26
January, 2020, the weekend of the 2020 CQ 160 CW contest. If so, I must
register my decidedly firm impression that was the best 160 meter weekend of
my lifetime, what has to be a counterpoint of the amazing 1958 sunspot
maximum.
In the contest I worked 1349 stations including 339 10 pointers (almost all
the 10 pointers were European), let's just say 300+ European stations. In
all of that I worked a 160 meter worked all states (48 CONUS + AK & HI),
plus 9 Canadian provinces, 78 countries ("country" per the contest rules).
That was a claimed score from the southeast USA (decidedly not the
EU-advantaged northeast US) of 752,780.
It was, by an enormous margin, my personal lifetime best for any 160 meter
contest. The antenna did work very well, but, seriously, could not possibly
have accounted for that bump up, nor for sure could my personal operating
skills.
Just think we need to leave room for the idea that maybe the band was a bit
better than "open".
Station here K3 + KPA1500, Inverted L over FCP, no RX antennas (working on
that), NOT a superstation.
Wowser, I wonder if we'll get that again before the sunspots start in
again. I can hope.
73, Guy K2AV
On Tue, Jan 28, 2020 at 3:27 PM Roger Kennedy
wrote:
>
> Well conditions were reasonable over the weekend . . .
>
> I spent a total of about 3 hours on the band, and managed to work 48 NA
> stations through all the European QRM.
>
> I'm sure I would have worked a lot more, as I heard many others calling
> stations that were calling CQ . . . but I'm reluctant to put out a CQ call
> in a contest, as I don't want to work hundreds of Europeans (I'm up in the
> middle of the night to work some DX !)
>
> As I say, I wouldn't say conditions were particularly good, but the band
> was
> open.
>
>
> Roger G3YRO
>
>
> _
> Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband
> Reflector
>
_
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This email has been scanned by BullGuard antivirus protection.
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_
Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Topband: CQ WW Contest
Hi Guy
Yes, I'm talking about last weekend !
I'm glad you did so well in the Contest . . . but my comment on Conditions
are always based on the STRENGTH of signals.
When Conditions are GOOD, the Big Signals from NA are always well over S9.
(and back in the 70s, 80s and 90s that was nearly always the case)
However, last weekend very few stations were over S7 here. Of course,
Propagation on 160m can often be very localised - someone else messaged me
to say that other Europeans were much stronger than British stations last
weekend.
I think another thing to bear in mind from YOUR side is that these days
there are a LOT more Europeans that come on 160m (mainly just for contests).
That is partly because they were never previously allowed on Top Band, but
also because more commercial Amplifiers cover 160m.
Anyway - good to work you in the Contest.
I just wish there was more Activity from NA on 160m generally. There must
be at least ten times more 160m DXers over there than there are here in
Britain . . . but almost every night there are several of us on the band
calling CQ DX and getting very few replies ! (yet RBN reports confirm that
the band is open)
73 Roger G3YRO
_
From: Guy Olinger K2AV
Hi Roger,
Just want to be sure we are both talking about the weekend of 25, 26
January, 2020, the weekend of the 2020 CQ 160 CW contest. If so, I must
register my decidedly firm impression that was the best 160 meter weekend of
my lifetime, what has to be a counterpoint of the amazing 1958 sunspot
maximum.
In the contest I worked 1349 stations including 339 10 pointers (almost all
the 10 pointers were European), let's just say 300+ European stations. In
all of that I worked a 160 meter worked all states (48 CONUS + AK & HI),
plus 9 Canadian provinces, 78 countries ("country" per the contest rules).
That was a claimed score from the southeast USA (decidedly not the
EU-advantaged northeast US) of 752,780.
It was, by an enormous margin, my personal lifetime best for any 160 meter
contest. The antenna did work very well, but, seriously, could not possibly
have accounted for that bump up, nor for sure could my personal operating
skills.
Just think we need to leave room for the idea that maybe the band was a bit
better than "open".
Station here K3 + KPA1500, Inverted L over FCP, no RX antennas (working on
that), NOT a superstation.
Wowser, I wonder if we'll get that again before the sunspots start in again.
I can hope.
73, Guy K2AV
On Tue, Jan 28, 2020 at 3:27 PM Roger Kennedy
wrote:
Well conditions were reasonable over the weekend . . .
I spent a total of about 3 hours on the band, and managed to work 48 NA
stations through all the European QRM.
I'm sure I would have worked a lot more, as I heard many others calling
stations that were calling CQ . . . but I'm reluctant to put out a CQ call
in a contest, as I don't want to work hundreds of Europeans (I'm up in the
middle of the night to work some DX !)
As I say, I wouldn't say conditions were particularly good, but the band was
open.
Roger G3YRO
_
Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
_
Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: CQ WW Contest
Hi Roger,
Just want to be sure we are both talking about the weekend of 25, 26
January, 2020, the weekend of the 2020 CQ 160 CW contest. If so, I must
register my decidedly firm impression that was the best 160 meter weekend of
my lifetime, what has to be a counterpoint of the amazing 1958 sunspot
maximum.
In the contest I worked 1349 stations including 339 10 pointers (almost all
the 10 pointers were European), let's just say 300+ European stations. In
all of that I worked a 160 meter worked all states (48 CONUS + AK & HI),
plus 9 Canadian provinces, 78 countries ("country" per the contest rules).
That was a claimed score from the southeast USA (decidedly not the
EU-advantaged northeast US) of 752,780.
It was, by an enormous margin, my personal lifetime best for any 160 meter
contest. The antenna did work very well, but, seriously, could not possibly
have accounted for that bump up, nor for sure could my personal operating
skills.
Just think we need to leave room for the idea that maybe the band was a bit
better than "open".
Station here K3 + KPA1500, Inverted L over FCP, no RX antennas (working on
that), NOT a superstation.
Wowser, I wonder if we'll get that again before the sunspots start in
again. I can hope.
73, Guy K2AV
On Tue, Jan 28, 2020 at 3:27 PM Roger Kennedy
wrote:
>
> Well conditions were reasonable over the weekend . . .
>
> I spent a total of about 3 hours on the band, and managed to work 48 NA
> stations through all the European QRM.
>
> I'm sure I would have worked a lot more, as I heard many others calling
> stations that were calling CQ . . . but I'm reluctant to put out a CQ call
> in a contest, as I don't want to work hundreds of Europeans (I'm up in the
> middle of the night to work some DX !)
>
> As I say, I wouldn't say conditions were particularly good, but the band
> was
> open.
>
>
> Roger G3YRO
>
>
> _
> Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband
> Reflector
>
_
Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: CQ WW Contest
Each time we have a contest, all bands are open... Main problem, in daily trafic, only few stations are calling... Watching cluster remains bands close. See you in the ARRL contest, on 160. Jean-Paul F6FYA en direct depuis son iPad. > Le 28 janv. 2020 à 21:27, Roger Kennedy a > écrit : > > > Well conditions were reasonable over the weekend . . . > > I spent a total of about 3 hours on the band, and managed to work 48 NA > stations through all the European QRM. > > I'm sure I would have worked a lot more, as I heard many others calling > stations that were calling CQ . . . but I'm reluctant to put out a CQ call > in a contest, as I don't want to work hundreds of Europeans (I'm up in the > middle of the night to work some DX !) > > As I say, I wouldn't say conditions were particularly good, but the band was > open. > > > Roger G3YRO > > > _ > Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Topband: CQ WW Contest
Well conditions were reasonable over the weekend . . . I spent a total of about 3 hours on the band, and managed to work 48 NA stations through all the European QRM. I'm sure I would have worked a lot more, as I heard many others calling stations that were calling CQ . . . but I'm reluctant to put out a CQ call in a contest, as I don't want to work hundreds of Europeans (I'm up in the middle of the night to work some DX !) As I say, I wouldn't say conditions were particularly good, but the band was open. Roger G3YRO _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
