Re: Topband: DX Conditions
I have not been on 160 Meters much this winter season. I am a 6 Meter operator and that is where I spend my most of my time. I got on 160 Meters this morning to try for TX5S. But my main 160 antenna is down. I loaded up the rain gutter on our home, added a 40 foot extension wire over to a short cherry tree for a "low inverted L." Running about 50 watts. The SWR was low, but probably high ground loss. After a couple of calls – TX5S worked on FT8 "F & H" around 0845z on 1.836 MHz! The CQ 160M contest was taking place. I then switched to a TS-850 (my favorite CW radio) and worked a few contestants. Best DX was VE7ZO in BC. After the contest I was curious if I had any psk flags? Had two in Japan, of all things. The A index today is only 6. Eventually will get a real antenna back on 160M. Used to have a ¼ vertical. 73 – Jon N0JK KS _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: DX Conditions
Thank you for the information. :-) 73 Mike W0BTU On Fri, Jan 26, 2024, 5:06 PM Don Kirk wrote: > Hi Mike, > > As far as I know the RBN receivers are not related at all to the > websdr.com receivers. > > Don wd8dsb > > On Fri, Jan 26, 2024 at 5:12 PM Mike Waters wrote: > >> Hello Don es Roger, >> >> Can I assume these RBN SDRs are also on websdr.com? If so, which ones? >> That >> is, what are they called, so we can listen to the right ones? >> >> _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: DX Conditions
No, they are not, but there's no reason I know of that would prevent RBN spots from being carried on any other network - they are distributed to the "wholesale market" (not end users please) on Telnet. 73, Pete N4ZR On 1/26/2024 6:06 PM, Don Kirk wrote: Hi Mike, As far as I know the RBN receivers are not related at all to the websdr.com receivers. Don wd8dsb On Fri, Jan 26, 2024 at 5:12 PM Mike Waters wrote: Hello Don es Roger, Can I assume these RBN SDRs are also on websdr.com? If so, which ones? That is, what are they called, so we can listen to the right ones? I no longer have any antennas. 73 Mike W0BTU On Fri, Jan 26, 2024, 3:54 PM Don Kirk wrote: I know 3 RBN reporting receivers located in New Hampshire use very good RX antennas and they are as follows based on 2020 information I obtained from the owner of these receivers. 200m-long Beverage to EU 23' high active Hi-Z vertical So yes, very good RX antennas on some of the East Coast RBN receivers. Just FYI, Don wd8dsb On Fri, Jan 26, 2024 at 4:24 PM Roger Kennedy < ro...@wessexproductions.co.uk> wrote: Fine about the RBN Receiving Sites further West . . . I wondered if that was the case. I guess the East Coast US RBN stations that give us Europeans really good reports - more than 30dB above the noise when the band is open - must also have good receiving antennas. _ 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: DX Conditions
Hi Mike, As far as I know the RBN receivers are not related at all to the websdr.com receivers. Don wd8dsb On Fri, Jan 26, 2024 at 5:12 PM Mike Waters wrote: > Hello Don es Roger, > > Can I assume these RBN SDRs are also on websdr.com? If so, which ones? > That > is, what are they called, so we can listen to the right ones? > > I no longer have any antennas. > > 73 Mike > W0BTU > > On Fri, Jan 26, 2024, 3:54 PM Don Kirk wrote: > > > I know 3 RBN reporting receivers located in New Hampshire use very good > RX > > antennas and they are as follows based on 2020 information I obtained > from > > the owner of these receivers. > > > > 200m-long Beverage to EU > > 23' high active Hi-Z vertical > > > > So yes, very good RX antennas on some of the East Coast RBN receivers. > > > > Just FYI, > > Don wd8dsb > > > > > > On Fri, Jan 26, 2024 at 4:24 PM Roger Kennedy < > > ro...@wessexproductions.co.uk> > > wrote: > > > > > > > > Fine about the RBN Receiving Sites further West . . . I wondered if > that > > > was > > > the case. > > > > > > I guess the East Coast US RBN stations that give us Europeans really > good > > > reports - more than 30dB above the noise when the band is open - must > > also > > > have good receiving antennas. > > > _ > Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband > Reflector > _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: DX Conditions
Hello Don es Roger, Can I assume these RBN SDRs are also on websdr.com? If so, which ones? That is, what are they called, so we can listen to the right ones? I no longer have any antennas. 73 Mike W0BTU On Fri, Jan 26, 2024, 3:54 PM Don Kirk wrote: > I know 3 RBN reporting receivers located in New Hampshire use very good RX > antennas and they are as follows based on 2020 information I obtained from > the owner of these receivers. > > 200m-long Beverage to EU > 23' high active Hi-Z vertical > > So yes, very good RX antennas on some of the East Coast RBN receivers. > > Just FYI, > Don wd8dsb > > > On Fri, Jan 26, 2024 at 4:24 PM Roger Kennedy < > ro...@wessexproductions.co.uk> > wrote: > > > > > Fine about the RBN Receiving Sites further West . . . I wondered if that > > was > > the case. > > > > I guess the East Coast US RBN stations that give us Europeans really good > > reports - more than 30dB above the noise when the band is open - must > also > > have good receiving antennas. > _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: DX Conditions
Hi Roger, I know 3 RBN reporting receivers located in New Hampshire use very good RX antennas and they are as follows based on 2020 information I obtained from the owner of these receivers. 200m-long Beverage to EU 23' high active Hi-Z vertical So yes, very good RX antennas on some of the East Coast RBN receivers. Just FYI, Don wd8dsb On Fri, Jan 26, 2024 at 4:24 PM Roger Kennedy wrote: > > Fine about the RBN Receiving Sites further West . . . I wondered if that > was > the case. > > I guess the East Coast US RBN stations that give us Europeans really good > reports - more than 30dB above the noise when the band is open - must also > have good receiving antennas. > > However . . . conditions have been really poor this week . . . RBN reports > have been around 14dB S/N at best . . . but often far worse. > > Certainly haven't heard a peep from the Clipperton DXpedition here ! > > Roger G3YRO > > _ > Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband > Reflector > _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Topband: DX Conditions
Fine about the RBN Receiving Sites further West . . . I wondered if that was the case. I guess the East Coast US RBN stations that give us Europeans really good reports - more than 30dB above the noise when the band is open - must also have good receiving antennas. However . . . conditions have been really poor this week . . . RBN reports have been around 14dB S/N at best . . . but often far worse. Certainly haven't heard a peep from the Clipperton DXpedition here ! Roger G3YRO _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: DX Conditions
George is correct. I worked TX5S on 80m CW roughly this time yesterday..maybe + 1.5 - 2 hours..and well before SS on Clipperton. EY8MM was the (uFB) op. He sure wasn't vy loud, but was working them at 36-37wpm and 2-3-4 per minute all along the East Coast of the USA and CDN Maritimes. I don't think I saw any RBN spots early on and pretty sure he CQ'd enough to hit some skimmers up in New England. My 4-sq tends to hear pretty well. As an aside, I am pleased & happy it was Nodir at the key. I got to pay him back for a new one I gave him (Sable @ CY0AA) in 1996. Good Karma is wonderful! I only feel sorry for all the DQRM they are enduring. The World has slipped in good operating practices, that's for sure. Mike VE9AA On RBN Sensitivity/Antennas: Whenever I CQ-d from any of our Pacific operations -- FO/M, FO, VP6A, E51D, KH8, KH8S -- I always had the RBN screen on. Most of the time I would be working stations in the mid-west, or even the East Coast, before the first RBN report would pop up, if at all. As Steve points out, they do not have high performance RX antennas for 160 m and you can not rely on them to indicate weak openings. Of course, if you see your call on the RBN, the band is solidly open. 73, George Mike - Keswick Ridge, NB, Canada _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: DX Conditions
On RBN Sensitivity/Antennas: Whenever I CQ-d from any of our Pacific operations -- FO/M, FO, VP6A, E51D, KH8, KH8S -- I always had the RBN screen on. Most of the time I would be working stations in the mid-west, or even the East Coast, before the first RBN report would pop up, if at all. As Steve points out, they do not have high performance RX antennas for 160 m and you can not rely on them to indicate weak openings. Of course, if you see your call on the RBN, the band is solidly open. 73, George On Tue, 23 Jan 2024 21:24:52 -0800 Steve Harrison wrote: On 1/23/2024 10:31 AM, Roger Kennedy wrote: Regarding RBN . . . are there many decent 160m receiving sites in Florida .. . or even in the Mid-West or West Coast? There are over two dozen RBN setups west of our Mississississippi River, including VE; I don't rember seeing many in FL but then, I don't look for those when I'm watching the RBN. ZF9CW is a good, sensitive setup down in the Carib that I do look for, however. One of the more-sensitive out west may be W6YX, another VE6WX, both with at least two reporting receivers. There are several others at large contest stations such as ND7K who seem to report much less frequently. There are even several KH6 stations on the RBN. BUT... It's just that nearly all the North American 160m RBN sites that show usEuropeans are mainly all in the North-east . . . yet often you will haveactual QSOs with stations further west. You have to rember that MOST "serious" 160 ops are using low-noise antlers such as Bevs or Flags, when they give out those 559 or 579 reports to you Euros. The RBN stations are invariably NOT using such sensitive (and directive) antlers; so of course, they're only going to hear what their low elevation, RBN-receiver antlers are hearing, amongst their local noise. Thus, it's rare that I see a west coast station report even a JA, let alone 9M2AX or similar, never mind in-the-noise European. Rember: the signal must be a dB or more out of the noise, long enough to copy a complete callsign at least several times, before it will even consider reporting you. Steve, K0XP _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: DX Conditions
On 1/23/2024 10:31 AM, Roger Kennedy wrote: Regarding RBN . . . are there many decent 160m receiving sites in Florida . . . or even in the Mid-West or West Coast? There are over two dozen RBN setups west of our Mississississippi River, including VE; I don't rember seeing many in FL but then, I don't look for those when I'm watching the RBN. ZF9CW is a good, sensitive setup down in the Carib that I do look for, however. One of the more-sensitive out west may be W6YX, another VE6WX, both with at least two reporting receivers. There are several others at large contest stations such as ND7K who seem to report much less frequently. There are even several KH6 stations on the RBN. BUT... It's just that nearly all the North American 160m RBN sites that show us Europeans are mainly all in the North-east . . . yet often you will have actual QSOs with stations further west. You have to rember that MOST "serious" 160 ops are using low-noise antlers such as Bevs or Flags, when they give out those 559 or 579 reports to you Euros. The RBN stations are invariably NOT using such sensitive (and directive) antlers; so of course, they're only going to hear what their low elevation, RBN-receiver antlers are hearing, amongst their local noise. Thus, it's rare that I see a west coast station report even a JA, let alone 9M2AX or similar, never mind in-the-noise European. Rember: the signal must be a dB or more out of the noise, long enough to copy a complete callsign at least several times, before it will even consider reporting you. Steve, K0XP _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Topband: DX Conditions
I must admit I used to work stations in Florida all the time (even on SSB) . . . but it seems pretty rare these days. Regarding RBN . . . are there many decent 160m receiving sites in Florida . . . or even in the Mid-West or West Coast? It's just that nearly all the North American 160m RBN sites that show us Europeans are mainly all in the North-east . . . yet often you will have actual QSOs with stations further west. Roger G3YRO _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Topband: DX Conditions still poor
Well I've been popping on at odd times over the past couple of weeks . . . But propagation on 160m across the pond has nearly always been really poor . . . according to the usual NA RBN receiving sites, signals from us EU stations have been typically over 20dB down on normal. Anyway, Happy New Year to everyone. 73 Roger G3YRO _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: DX conditions and activity
Conditions have certainly been good across the Atlantic. Last evening here VO1HP was 579 at 1900 UTC although he was not hearing me. Also I have never heard so many W Coast NA as during the last few weeks. Richard G3OQT > On 19 Dec 2019, at 21:58, VE6WZ_Steve wrote: > > DX conditions and CW activity from VE6 has been excellent so far this season > on 160m. > I did a log .csv export and a few pivot table runs on the VE6WZ log from > September till December 18. > > This season stats for the 4 months so far, > > AF / EU- 982 QSOs, 360 unique calls, 44 DXCC > > AS- 294 QSO’s, 194 unique calls, 7 DXCC (228 JA QSOs) > > OC- 132 QSO’s, 30 unique calls, 15 DXCC (42 VK QSO’s) > > NA / SA- 48 QSO’s (non-USA), 29 DXCC > > Total 1,456 DX QSO’s, 604 unique callsigns, and 95 DXCC > > The band is alive and well with a lot of great CW DX activity. Most evenings > I will log 20-30 EU, and this year there have been many “never worked before > on 160” callsigns. > Sure, out of 1,456 DX QSOs only 604 are unique callsigns, but even that is a > lot of activity on the band. I still like to get calls from my DX friends > even if we have worked multiple times on the band! > > It seems that 160m is NOT going in the same direction as 6 m did for CW > activity. > > Get on the band, call CQ and work some DX…..even if it's not a “new one”. > > 73, es lets hope the great conditions persist! > > de steve ve6wz > _ > Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Topband: DX conditions and activity.
Hi Steve, >>73, es lets hope the great conditions persist! Sure, but you worked hard for it. The station you built is the enabler, more than the conditions, I think. 73 de Vince, VA3VF _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Topband: DX conditions and activity
DX conditions and CW activity from VE6 has been excellent so far this season on 160m. I did a log .csv export and a few pivot table runs on the VE6WZ log from September till December 18. This season stats for the 4 months so far, AF / EU- 982 QSOs, 360 unique calls, 44 DXCC AS- 294 QSO’s, 194 unique calls, 7 DXCC (228 JA QSOs) OC- 132 QSO’s, 30 unique calls, 15 DXCC (42 VK QSO’s) NA / SA- 48 QSO’s (non-USA), 29 DXCC Total 1,456 DX QSO’s, 604 unique callsigns, and 95 DXCC The band is alive and well with a lot of great CW DX activity. Most evenings I will log 20-30 EU, and this year there have been many “never worked before on 160” callsigns. Sure, out of 1,456 DX QSOs only 604 are unique callsigns, but even that is a lot of activity on the band. I still like to get calls from my DX friends even if we have worked multiple times on the band! It seems that 160m is NOT going in the same direction as 6 m did for CW activity. Get on the band, call CQ and work some DX…..even if it's not a “new one”. 73, es lets hope the great conditions persist! de steve ve6wz _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: DX Conditions Last Night
Sorry about that Steve . . I heard a few people calling that I couldn't quite pull out of the noise - there was a lot of QSB on signals. 73 Roger G3YRO -Original Message- From: VE6WZ Steve [mailto:ve...@shaw.ca] Sent: 08 January 2018 16:46 To: Roger Kennedy Cc: daraym...@iowatelecom.net; topband@contesting.com Subject: Re: Topband: DX Conditions Last Night Roger, Last night you had a very solid signal (579) on qsb peaks but you could not copy my calling. Here at Ve6wz conditions were excellent last night into EU. I worked 46 EU, some with exceptionally strong signals. Solar wind below 350 km/s still seems to be a good proxy for trans-polar openings from these parts. KW to shunt fed tower, and diversity RX with 9 circle array and 1000' Beverage. 73, de Steve ve6wz >From Babcocks iPhone > On Jan 8, 2018, at 3:11 AM, Roger Kennedy <ro...@wessexproductions.co.uk> wrote: > > Yes good to work you on Saturday night Dave . . . > > And heard you again last night too, working a few stations. Some of > the Eastern European guys calling you weren't that strong, so you did > well to pull them through! > > 73 Roger G3YRO > > -Original Message- > From: daraym...@iowatelecom.net [mailto:daraym...@iowatelecom.net] > Sent: 08 January 2018 06:18 > To: Roger Kennedy; topband@contesting.com > Subject: Re: Topband: DX Conditions Last Night > > Just shut down but conditions were go to EU from here in the US > Midwest > (Iowa) again this evening. . .but not as good as Saturday evening. > > 73 . . .Dave, W0FLS > > -Original Message- > From: Roger Kennedy > Sent: Sunday, January 07, 2018 5:49 PM > To: topband@contesting.com > Subject: Topband: DX Conditions Last Night > > > Great to hear the band open from Europe into the Midwest USA last night . . > . > > Managed to work a number of stations, including Texas, Arizona, > Colorado, etc. > > Will be on again tonight to see what conditions are like. > > 73 Roger G3YRO > > > _ > Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband > > _ > Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: DX Conditions Last Night
Здравствуйте, MU. Вы писали Monday, January 8, 2018, 18:30:14: > Roger, > You had a solid 569 signal into New Mexico last night, despite > frequent static crashes. Wonder what your power and antenna(s) were? > Here, I was running 1500W into a 26m vertical (w/top capacity hat) and > sixty 1/4-wave radials. Listening on 720 ft beverage. > Signals during the hour-long opening were up and down, but worked > several EU stations and Ukraine. Fun! > 73, > Jim w8zr > Sent from my iPhone > _ > Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband I have logged about 100 NAs station including WC last two morning. They have huge levels. -- С уважением, ur0mc73 mailto:ur0m...@gmail.com _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: DX Conditions Last Night
I worked a few stations on FT8 in Colorado and the PJ7. I did not hear too much on CW when I listened. Nice to see the band open at least for a bit to EU! On 1/7/2018 4:49 PM, Roger Kennedy wrote: Great to hear the band open from Europe into the Midwest USA last night . . . Managed to work a number of stations, including Texas, Arizona, Colorado, etc. Will be on again tonight to see what conditions are like. 73 Roger G3YRO _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: DX Conditions Last Night
Roger, Last night you had a very solid signal (579) on qsb peaks but you could not copy my calling. Here at Ve6wz conditions were excellent last night into EU. I worked 46 EU, some with exceptionally strong signals. Solar wind below 350 km/s still seems to be a good proxy for trans-polar openings from these parts. KW to shunt fed tower, and diversity RX with 9 circle array and 1000’ Beverage. 73, de Steve ve6wz From Babcocks iPhone > On Jan 8, 2018, at 3:11 AM, Roger Kennedy <ro...@wessexproductions.co.uk> > wrote: > > Yes good to work you on Saturday night Dave . . . > > And heard you again last night too, working a few stations. Some of the > Eastern European guys calling you weren't that strong, so you did well to > pull them through! > > 73 Roger G3YRO > > -Original Message- > From: daraym...@iowatelecom.net [mailto:daraym...@iowatelecom.net] > Sent: 08 January 2018 06:18 > To: Roger Kennedy; topband@contesting.com > Subject: Re: Topband: DX Conditions Last Night > > Just shut down but conditions were go to EU from here in the US Midwest > (Iowa) again this evening. . .but not as good as Saturday evening. > > 73 . . .Dave, W0FLS > > -Original Message- > From: Roger Kennedy > Sent: Sunday, January 07, 2018 5:49 PM > To: topband@contesting.com > Subject: Topband: DX Conditions Last Night > > > Great to hear the band open from Europe into the Midwest USA last night . . > . > > Managed to work a number of stations, including Texas, Arizona, Colorado, > etc. > > Will be on again tonight to see what conditions are like. > > 73 Roger G3YRO > > > _ > Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband > > _ > Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: DX Conditions Last Night
Roger, You had a solid 569 signal into New Mexico last night, despite frequent static crashes. Wonder what your power and antenna(s) were? Here, I was running 1500W into a 26m vertical (w/top capacity hat) and sixty 1/4-wave radials. Listening on 720 ft beverage. Signals during the hour-long opening were up and down, but worked several EU stations and Ukraine. Fun! 73, Jim w8zr Sent from my iPhone _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: DX Conditions Last Night
Just shut down but conditions were go to EU from here in the US Midwest (Iowa) again this evening. . .but not as good as Saturday evening. 73 . . .Dave, W0FLS -Original Message- From: Roger Kennedy Sent: Sunday, January 07, 2018 5:49 PM To: topband@contesting.com Subject: Topband: DX Conditions Last Night Great to hear the band open from Europe into the Midwest USA last night . . . Managed to work a number of stations, including Texas, Arizona, Colorado, etc. Will be on again tonight to see what conditions are like. 73 Roger G3YRO _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Topband: DX Conditions Last Night
Great to hear the band open from Europe into the Midwest USA last night . . . Managed to work a number of stations, including Texas, Arizona, Colorado, etc. Will be on again tonight to see what conditions are like. 73 Roger G3YRO _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
