Re: Topband: Lack of DX CW Activity
I worked KH6DX in his mobile -- as I recall he was /W6 -- from XZ1N. 1998 or 1999 Its on tape - somewhere. I dug him out of the pile up and started laughing! I had worked him in his mobile several times from the US during various contests, so I easily recognized him. Set H I, and the exchange. His signal was competitive in the pileup. Once I had a chance, I played back the tape and found he had been calling steadily until my ears picked him. I was able to give him an audio CD of the recording when I met him at Visalia a year or two later when he was giving a talk on what could be worked from 160 mobile Memory says he was running KW class power This was a time in the solar cycle when we had spotlight propagation Robin Critchell WA6CDR XZ1N XZ0A HS72B VP6DX - Original Message - From: "Mike Smith VE9AA" To: "'Frank W3LPL'" ; "'topband'" Sent: Saturday, January 06, 2024 10:16 Subject: Re: Topband: Lack of DX CW Activity Years ago now, but I worked Jon a few times when he was mobile on his way to work and I seem to recall him being a pretty darn good signal at 1000kms away from here. I think he may have even worked Japan from his Jetta and KJ7U antenna. Maybe he'll see these messages and comment. Mike - Keswick Ridge, NB, Canada -Original Message- From: Frank W3LPL [mailto:donov...@starpower.net] Sent: January 6, 2024 2:02 PM To: topband Subject: Re: Topband: Lack of DX CW Activity AA1K has worked 51 countries on 160 meters and 275 countries on all bands from his car using 100 watts and KJ7U screwdriver for 160-6 meters 73 Frank W3LPL - Original Message - From: "Richard" To: "Mike" , "topband" Sent: Saturday, January 6, 2024 9:46:23 AM Subject: Re: Topband: Lack of DX CW Activity On 1/6/2024 6:49 AM, Mike Smith VE9AA wrote: Bill KU8H OK, I'll be very honest and say that I don't really understand posts like this. For nearly 30 yrs I've run 160m mobile on again/off again (more off than on) and have I think 67 countries on Top Band. KH6DX/W6 famously worked 100 countries for his DXCC ... from his pickup truck in SoCal. He had a big fat screwdriver antenna, and an 800 watt amplifier. He was at liberty to get away from noise sources, and get up on hills, drive on beaches, drive on dry salt lakes, etc and not have to run QRP to keep the neighbors happy. One winter he drove to the N. Dakota/S. Dakota border and worked the ARRL 160 and had a blast. He was plenty readable on this coast from 2,000 miles away. He even had special QSLs printed. You mentioned the helically loaded PVC pipe that was published in QST. That may have worked after a fashion, but an old fashioned loading coil always works better than helically wound. Your suggestion about top loading wires is right on, though. 73 Rick N6RK _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Lack of DX CW Activity
I worked KH6DX in his mobile -- as I recall he was /W6 -- from XZ1N. 1998 or 1999 Its on tape - somewhere. I dug him out of the pile up and started laughing! I had worked him in his mobile several times from the US during various contests, so I easily recognized him. Set H I, and the exchange. His signal was competitive in the pileup. Once I had a chance, I played back the tape and found he had been calling steadily until my ears picked him. I was able to give him an audio CD of the recording when I met him at Visalia a year or two later when he was giving a talk on what could be worked from 160 mobile Memory says he was running KW class power This was a time in the solar cycle when we had spotlight propagation Robin Critchell WA6CDR XZ1N XZ0A HS72B VP6DX - Original Message - From: "Mike Smith VE9AA" To: "'Frank W3LPL'" ; "'topband'" Sent: Saturday, January 06, 2024 10:16 Subject: Re: Topband: Lack of DX CW Activity Years ago now, but I worked Jon a few times when he was mobile on his way to work and I seem to recall him being a pretty darn good signal at 1000kms away from here. I think he may have even worked Japan from his Jetta and KJ7U antenna. Maybe he'll see these messages and comment. Mike - Keswick Ridge, NB, Canada -Original Message- From: Frank W3LPL [mailto:donov...@starpower.net] Sent: January 6, 2024 2:02 PM To: topband Subject: Re: Topband: Lack of DX CW Activity AA1K has worked 51 countries on 160 meters and 275 countries on all bands from his car using 100 watts and KJ7U screwdriver for 160-6 meters 73 Frank W3LPL - Original Message - From: "Richard" To: "Mike" , "topband" Sent: Saturday, January 6, 2024 9:46:23 AM Subject: Re: Topband: Lack of DX CW Activity On 1/6/2024 6:49 AM, Mike Smith VE9AA wrote: Bill KU8H OK, I'll be very honest and say that I don't really understand posts like this. For nearly 30 yrs I've run 160m mobile on again/off again (more off than on) and have I think 67 countries on Top Band. KH6DX/W6 famously worked 100 countries for his DXCC ... from his pickup truck in SoCal. He had a big fat screwdriver antenna, and an 800 watt amplifier. He was at liberty to get away from noise sources, and get up on hills, drive on beaches, drive on dry salt lakes, etc and not have to run QRP to keep the neighbors happy. One winter he drove to the N. Dakota/S. Dakota border and worked the ARRL 160 and had a blast. He was plenty readable on this coast from 2,000 miles away. He even had special QSLs printed. You mentioned the helically loaded PVC pipe that was published in QST. That may have worked after a fashion, but an old fashioned loading coil always works better than helically wound. Your suggestion about top loading wires is right on, though. 73 Rick N6RK _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Lack of DX CW Activity (and AA1K mobile)
Seems I'm not getting all of the reflector emails of late. Thanks to K3OO for tipping me off to the conversation. I never worked JA from the 160 mobile but did QSO VK3ZL a couple of times, FO/A, KH6 and a bunch of Europeans. In fact Bob VK3ZL (SK) was my first DX QSO after installing the KJ7U screwdriver that covered the band on my 2000 VW Jetta. I also worked FO/A and a bunch of Europeans. Had 54 countries on 160, all during my normal 58-mile commute mostly along the Delaware Route 1 expressway, or occasionally on other road trips. Having no power lines along the highway was a big help, and the diesel engine of course had no ignition noise so my noise floor was super low. I could often hear DX responding to base stations who couldn't hear them. The rig was an IC706Mk2G at 100 watts. The 150-foot tall bridge over the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal also gave a nice boost if I could get the timing right. The best night was working three Europeans during a snowstorm. Salting of the roads seemed to have helped my signal. JA probably could have happened in a low sunspot year, but my commuting times didn't coincide with the sunrise peak. That commute ended in 2014 and I haven't been doing as much mobile since. The current vehicle (2021 Toyota Highlander, gas engine) like many has a high noise floor. Some pix and more info in my 2023 talk to the Topband dinner at Dayton: https://www.topbanddinner.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/AA1K-Topband-Dinner-2023.pdf https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=3vC9nAhzbVk&embeds_referring_euri=http%3A%2F%2F3dprinterpartsandaccessories.com%2F&feature=emb_imp_woyt 73/Jon Jon P. Zaimes, AA1K Tower climber for hire Felton, Delaware http://www.aa1k.us/ Reviews of AA1K tower work on eham website: http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/12922 Hug your favorite tower every day, and always stay connected to it. Mike Smith VE9AA ve9aa at nbnet.nb.ca Sat Jan 6 13:16:16 EST 2024 Previous message (by thread): Topband: Lack of DX CW Activity Next message (by thread): Topband: Lack of DX CW Activity Messages sorted by: [ date ] [ thread ] [ subject ] [ author ] Years ago now, but I worked Jon a few times when he was mobile on his way to work and I seem to recall him being a pretty darn good signal at 1000kms away from here. I think he may have even worked Japan from his Jetta and KJ7U antenna. Maybe he'll see these messages and comment. Mike - Keswick Ridge, NB, Canada -Original Message- From: Frank W3LPL [mailto:donovanf at starpower.net] Sent: January 6, 2024 2:02 PM To: topband Subject: Re: Topband: Lack of DX CW Activity AA1K has worked 51 countries on 160 meters and 275 countries on all bands from his car using 100 watts and KJ7U screwdriver for 160-6 meters 73 Frank W3LPL - Original Message - From: "Richard" To: "Mike" , "topband" Sent: Saturday, January 6, 2024 9:46:23 AM Subject: Re: Topband: Lack of DX CW Activity On 1/6/2024 6:49 AM, Mike Smith VE9AA wrote: > > Bill KU8H > > > > OK, I'll be very honest and say that I don't really understand posts like > this. > > For nearly 30 yrs I've run 160m mobile on again/off again (more off than on) > and have I think 67 countries on Top Band. > KH6DX/W6 famously worked 100 countries for his DXCC ... from his pickup truck in SoCal. He had a big fat screwdriver antenna, and an 800 watt amplifier. He was at liberty to get away from noise sources, and get up on hills, drive on beaches, drive on dry salt lakes, etc and not have to run QRP to keep the neighbors happy. One winter he drove to the N. Dakota/S. Dakota border and worked the ARRL 160 and had a blast. He was plenty readable on this coast from 2,000 miles away. He even had special QSLs printed. You mentioned the helically loaded PVC pipe that was published in QST. That may have worked after a fashion, but an old fashioned loading coil always works better than helically wound. Your suggestion about top loading wires is right on, though. 73 Rick N6RK _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector 73/Jon Jon P. Zaimes, AA1K Tower climber for hire Felton, Delaware http://www.aa1k.us/ Cell: 302-632-2353 Reviews of AA1K tower work on eham website: http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/12922 Hug your favorite tower every day, and always stay connected to it. _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Lack of DX CW Activity
Years ago now, but I worked Jon a few times when he was mobile on his way to work and I seem to recall him being a pretty darn good signal at 1000kms away from here. I think he may have even worked Japan from his Jetta and KJ7U antenna. Maybe he'll see these messages and comment. Mike - Keswick Ridge, NB, Canada -Original Message- From: Frank W3LPL [mailto:donov...@starpower.net] Sent: January 6, 2024 2:02 PM To: topband Subject: Re: Topband: Lack of DX CW Activity AA1K has worked 51 countries on 160 meters and 275 countries on all bands from his car using 100 watts and KJ7U screwdriver for 160-6 meters 73 Frank W3LPL - Original Message - From: "Richard" To: "Mike" , "topband" Sent: Saturday, January 6, 2024 9:46:23 AM Subject: Re: Topband: Lack of DX CW Activity On 1/6/2024 6:49 AM, Mike Smith VE9AA wrote: > > Bill KU8H > > > > OK, I'll be very honest and say that I don't really understand posts like > this. > > For nearly 30 yrs I've run 160m mobile on again/off again (more off than on) > and have I think 67 countries on Top Band. > KH6DX/W6 famously worked 100 countries for his DXCC ... from his pickup truck in SoCal. He had a big fat screwdriver antenna, and an 800 watt amplifier. He was at liberty to get away from noise sources, and get up on hills, drive on beaches, drive on dry salt lakes, etc and not have to run QRP to keep the neighbors happy. One winter he drove to the N. Dakota/S. Dakota border and worked the ARRL 160 and had a blast. He was plenty readable on this coast from 2,000 miles away. He even had special QSLs printed. You mentioned the helically loaded PVC pipe that was published in QST. That may have worked after a fashion, but an old fashioned loading coil always works better than helically wound. Your suggestion about top loading wires is right on, though. 73 Rick N6RK _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Lack of DX CW Activity
Hey Rick, Thanks for reminding me of his KH6 call. Yes, I have used a number of mobile antennas on top band. Each with their own quirks. The last time I was QRV on Top Band from the car (I think) was the SPTDC (or was it ARRL160?) a few years back and I ran my big SA-680S mobile antenna on my mini with 4 really long top loading wires coming down off the regular top hat on this wonderful antenna to all corners of the car.(normal pic on qrz.com) I think I might have worked 1 EU (A G-stn iirc) but heard even more EU. I think I had to retune the screwdriver about every 10kc or something like that. I also had an MFJ 100w tuner in line for one contest where I was just not getting a good enough match to make my FT857D happy. NA7TB and K7RAT were the big catches. REAL DX for a mobile station here in grid FN66. My whole point of talking about topband mobile was, if it can be done mobile, then certainly, with some effort & ingenuity , you can get a somewhat decent signal out from a home station on a postage stamp sized lot. Thanks ! Mike VE9AA.and occasionally VE9AA/m & other calls. KH6DX/W6 famously worked 100 countries for his DXCC ... from his pickup truck in SoCal. He had a big fat screwdriver antenna, and an 800 watt amplifier. He was at liberty to get away from noise sources, and get up on hills, drive on beaches, drive on dry salt lakes, etc and not have to run QRP to keep the neighbors happy. One winter he drove to the N. Dakota/S. Dakota border and worked the ARRL 160 and had a blast. He was plenty readable on this coast from 2,000 miles away. He even had special QSLs printed. You mentioned the helically loaded PVC pipe that was published in QST. That may have worked after a fashion, but an old fashioned loading coil always works better than helically wound. Your suggestion about top loading wires is right on, though. 73 Rick N6RK Mike - Keswick Ridge, NB, Canada _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Lack of DX CW Activity
AA1K has worked 51 countries on 160 meters and 275 countries on all bands from his car using 100 watts and KJ7U screwdriver for 160-6 meters 73 Frank W3LPL - Original Message - From: "Richard" To: "Mike" , "topband" Sent: Saturday, January 6, 2024 9:46:23 AM Subject: Re: Topband: Lack of DX CW Activity On 1/6/2024 6:49 AM, Mike Smith VE9AA wrote: > > Bill KU8H > > > > OK, I'll be very honest and say that I don't really understand posts like > this. > > For nearly 30 yrs I've run 160m mobile on again/off again (more off than on) > and have I think 67 countries on Top Band. > KH6DX/W6 famously worked 100 countries for his DXCC ... from his pickup truck in SoCal. He had a big fat screwdriver antenna, and an 800 watt amplifier. He was at liberty to get away from noise sources, and get up on hills, drive on beaches, drive on dry salt lakes, etc and not have to run QRP to keep the neighbors happy. One winter he drove to the N. Dakota/S. Dakota border and worked the ARRL 160 and had a blast. He was plenty readable on this coast from 2,000 miles away. He even had special QSLs printed. You mentioned the helically loaded PVC pipe that was published in QST. That may have worked after a fashion, but an old fashioned loading coil always works better than helically wound. Your suggestion about top loading wires is right on, though. 73 Rick N6RK _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Lack of DX CW Activity
On 1/6/2024 6:49 AM, Mike Smith VE9AA wrote: Bill KU8H OK, I'll be very honest and say that I don't really understand posts like this. For nearly 30 yrs I've run 160m mobile on again/off again (more off than on) and have I think 67 countries on Top Band. KH6DX/W6 famously worked 100 countries for his DXCC ... from his pickup truck in SoCal. He had a big fat screwdriver antenna, and an 800 watt amplifier. He was at liberty to get away from noise sources, and get up on hills, drive on beaches, drive on dry salt lakes, etc and not have to run QRP to keep the neighbors happy. One winter he drove to the N. Dakota/S. Dakota border and worked the ARRL 160 and had a blast. He was plenty readable on this coast from 2,000 miles away. He even had special QSLs printed. You mentioned the helically loaded PVC pipe that was published in QST. That may have worked after a fashion, but an old fashioned loading coil always works better than helically wound. Your suggestion about top loading wires is right on, though. 73 Rick N6RK _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Topband: Lack of DX CW Activity
Yes, Topband IS a really difficult band to work long distances on . . . For a start, putting out a decent signal if you live in a normal house on a normal street in the city (like I always have) is really challenging, in terms of Antennas. And of course, it's the hardest band in terms of Propagation . . . working round the world even on 80m is SO much easier ! But for me, these are the very reasons why EVERY long-distance QSO on Top Band gives me a buzz (regardless of how many times I have worked that station before) . . . because I believe each one is a real achievement. That's why I am still passionate about 160m after 54 years working DX on the band (since my first QSO with W1BB). In terms of encouraging CW activity, one thing that DOES help is if people could SPOT any stations calling CQ on the DX Cluster. (I always see dozens of FT8 spots, even when it's not DX) As I posted earlier, conditions were pretty good last night . . . so hope we will see even more stations making the effort to come on tonight. 73 Roger G3YRO _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Lack of DX CW Activity
I've been following this thread. Do you know why FT-8 is so popular. I remember what a salesman told me years ago "You bought the radio. Now what are you going to do with it?" Let me explain. As a teenager in Queens, New York I bought my equipment from Lafayette Radio. I saved up enough money to buy a serious radio, a Lafayette HA-350 that I got on a sale price. After getting it he asked me "You bought the radio. Now what are you going to do with it?" and explained Hams rarely consider the environment that they intend to use the radio. Since many Hams in the city lived in apartments or has postage stamp lots he sold them am antenna that at least would get them started. I popular one was Hustler whips, I forgot the others. We were moving to the suburbs and told him I would select an antenna once there. Years later I got married and in we bought a house in Queens on a postage size lot. It was in a quiet residential area and the utilities were underground. Looking back the noise level was low. I could not get up a 160 antenna so I concentrated on Low Frequency and NDB DX'ing. I followed my job to New Jersey and and able to buy an acre lot in horse country a couple of miles from the ocean. I bought an Elecraft K3 and started with an Inverted L against radials which I figured was the minimum needed for 160. I noticed the noise level was getting higher than in Queens and it was harder and harder to work the weak signals. FT-8 came out. I tried out, did not like it. I consider it an ersatz mode and as a rule don't operate with a computer. I still do paper logging. I am retired so what to do? I found out I don't like sitting around for extended lengths of time. We spend lots of time at the beach and parks so I started to do lots of portable operation; I find a quiet place at the beach or park and operate there. I am amazed at the low noise levels. I haven't operated 160 portable but are thinking of ideas. Getting outdoors also makes the hobby more palatable with my wife. She says Ham radio could provide good mental exercise but is a sedentary hobby, bad for physical health. Enjoy what gives you satisfaction but keep it legal. Mike N2MS > On 01/06/2024 1:35 AM EST David Raymond wrote: > > > I don't know if I would call it lazy but it certainly is a matter of > ease and convenience. Just look at all the new expeditions that focus > primarily, if not exclusively, on FT-8. No need to for seasoned, highly > skilled, ace operators to dig out weak calls signs from huge CW piles > which sound like a swarm of buzzing mosquitos. . . or SSB piles for that > matter. My 11 year old great nephew could run the piles once things got > set up. > > 73. . . Dave, W0FLS > _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Lack of DX CW Activity
A note from the peanut gallery. This is topb...@contest.com I am on a postage stamp lot and the house & garage occupy approximately the middle one third. The frontage is not usable for antenna systems due to the underground utilities and overhead power lines. I am limited to compromise antennas for this band and those must be further compromised from published designs to fit into the space. I can be heard in Canada and the eastern United States. Most of the daily signals are for dx only. In some contests I can work a few stations on the north American continent. I can hear a lot of them but they don't hear me. I don't have an antenna for 160 at the moment and not a lot of motivation to put one up. Other bands seem more productive given these conditions. I would be satisfied with QSOs in the continental range but most are DX hounds and can't waste their time on more local rag chews. I am ready to just sign off from this list and get out of your way. Am I missing something? Happy New Year to all and... 73, Bill KU8H OK, I'll be very honest and say that I don't really understand posts like this. Is Bill just generally complaining, looking for sympathy or maybe wants antenna ideas? (it's really not clear to me) Bill - 160m is a tough band...tougher when you don't have real estate, but it's certainly not impossible. For nearly 30 yrs I've run 160m mobile on again/off again (more off than on) and have I think 67 countries on Top Band. I have also placed pretty well in the Stew Perry TopBand distance contest 2 or 3 times with a 160m rig in my mini. (see qrz.com) I'm not trying to brag, but only tell you what's possible with very little for an antenna. I've read stories about W6's with postage stamp lots wrap 200' of wire around ~30' of PVC, read about the W9 Minooka special and have personally used a plethora of mobile antennas with ice-cream bucket loading coils and top loading capacity hat wires to get on the band. Sure, I was pretty weak but have worked K7RAT, NA7TB and Hawaii while mobile(parked) and all over the USA, extreme western EU and into the Carib. some of the time in motion. AA1K has worked way more than I have mobile. There was a KH6 who's call escapes me now who's done better still. Then there was W1BB (who can forget him and his mobile pix in "73" magazine?) It *IS* possible. Maybe you could clarify exactly what your point was. I feel like it wasn't widely interpreted unambiguously. 73 Mike VE9AA Mike - Keswick Ridge, NB, Canada _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Lack of DX CW Activity
As far as the designation of TOPBAND@ CONTESTING.com , the second half of that is merely what domain was willing to support this reflector. There are many reflector associated to this domain, -Charlie N1RR 401-742-7240 <(401)%20742-7240> 8AM - 9PM *E-mail*: n...@n1rr.com *Website*: www.n1rr.com *Youtube channel*: NovemberOne RomeoRomeo https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPDzEf57Ad80cVKOiLZLB7w/videos On Sat, Jan 6, 2024 at 1:35 AM Charles Morrison < charles.morrison.n...@gmail.com> wrote: > Bill, > For all that you are dealing with, along with the additional propagation > challenges that 160M brings, it is truly the toughest H.F. band to be suc > > When I started on 160M I did not have an amplifier that included 160M. I > cq'd and tried calling stations for 3 months one winter until conditions > were good enough to reach across the Atlantic with 100 watts. > > Success should be defined as what your expectations are.. > GL > -Charlie N1RR > > On Fri, Jan 5, 2024 at 8:33 PM Bill Cromwell wrote: > >> >> A note from the peanut gallery. >> >> This is topb...@contest.com >> >> I am on a postage stamp lot and the house & garage occupy approximately >> the middle one third. The frontage is not usable for antenna systems due to >> the underground utilities and overhead power lines. I am limited to >> compromise antennas for this band and those must be further compromised >> from published designs to fit into the space. I can be heard in Canada and >> the eastern United States. Most of the daily signals are for dx only. In >> some contests I can work a few stations on the north American continent. I >> can hear a lot of them but they don't hear me. I don't have an antenna for >> 160 at the moment and not a lot of motivation to put one up. Other bands >> seem more productive given these conditions. I would be satisfied with QSOs >> in the continental range but most are DX hounds and can't waste their time >> on more local rag chews. I am ready to just sign off from this list and get >> out of your way. Am I missing something? >> >> Happy New Year to all and... >> >> 73, >> >> Bill KU8H >> >> > On Jan 5, 2024, at 7:04 PM, VE6WZ_Steve wrote: >> > George, >> > >> > Yes. I fully agree that many ops don’t understand that RBN is NOT to be >> relied on. >> > >> > I operate 3 RBN skimmers, each on a different RX antenna, and auto >> switched for the RX antennas to follow the darkness DX path. >> > 2 of these are Broadside phased Beverage pairs. My QTH is a quiet rural >> location. >> > >> > However, the skimmer will only detect a very SMALL FRACTION of what I >> can hear with my ears. >> > If I look at my CW skimmer, often I can “see” the EU DX CQing, but the >> skimmer will not always decode it. >> > Many times I can work lots of EU, but never get a RBN skimmer decode >> from EU. >> > BUT, the opposite is also true. If I am getting EU RBN decodes, then >> the band is probably in very good shape. >> > >> > Either way, as George said, do NOT rely on RBN to determine if the band >> is open or not. >> > Just keep calling CQ. >> > >> > BTW…FT-8 will decode “deep into the noise” however, with the common >> very fast QSB on 160m, a big reason FT-8 seems to work better is the PC >> sends EVERY 15 seconds, for as long as the op lets the PC go. >> > Sometimes on CW, the QSB can be so fast, the QSO needs to be completed >> within 30 seconds, or the DX has faded into oblivion under the noise. >> > (That’s why we usually don’t have time on 160m CW for exchanging more >> than a signal report…..quickly!!) >> > That’s also why on CW we need to keep CQing into what seems like a dead >> band. The difference on FT-8, is the PC does the CQing for you. Yeah…that >> IS easier! >> > >> > >> > Steve, ve6wz >> > >> > >> >> Noise is up. >> >> 80 is becoming the new 160! >> >> >> >> Also, it is noise that is driving a lot of ops onto FT8. >> >> >> >> Another contributor is RBN! While RBN is great tool, most RBN RX >> antennas are poor on 160. Those that rely on a quick scan of RBN for 160 >> meter activity will incorrectly assume that the band is dead. >> >> >> >> In the past 10 years noise has gone up by something like 10 dB in many >> areas. What worked 10 years ago, no longer works today. We need to learn to >> live with it. Invest in better RX antennas and other noise reduction >> techniques. (Petition the FCC to increase the power limit by 10 dB :-) >> >> >> >> And keep calling CQ! >> >> >> >> 73, >> >> >> >> George, >> >> >> >> AA7JV >> > >> > _ >> > Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband >> Reflector >> >> _ >> Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband >> Reflector >> > > > -- > > -Charlie N1RR > > 401-742-7240 <(401)%20742-7240> 8AM - 9PM > > *E-mail*: n...@n1rr.com > > *Website*: www.n1rr.com > > *Youtube channel*: NovemberOne RomeoRomeo > > https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPDzEf57Ad80cVKOiLZLB7w/videos > _ Searchable A
Re: Topband: Lack of DX CW Activity
Bill, For all that you are dealing with, along with the additional propagation challenges that 160M brings, it is truly the toughest H.F. band to be suc When I started on 160M I did not have an amplifier that included 160M. I cq'd and tried calling stations for 3 months one winter until conditions were good enough to reach across the Atlantic with 100 watts. Success should be defined as what your expectations are.. GL -Charlie N1RR On Fri, Jan 5, 2024 at 8:33 PM Bill Cromwell wrote: > > A note from the peanut gallery. > > This is topb...@contest.com > > I am on a postage stamp lot and the house & garage occupy approximately > the middle one third. The frontage is not usable for antenna systems due to > the underground utilities and overhead power lines. I am limited to > compromise antennas for this band and those must be further compromised > from published designs to fit into the space. I can be heard in Canada and > the eastern United States. Most of the daily signals are for dx only. In > some contests I can work a few stations on the north American continent. I > can hear a lot of them but they don't hear me. I don't have an antenna for > 160 at the moment and not a lot of motivation to put one up. Other bands > seem more productive given these conditions. I would be satisfied with QSOs > in the continental range but most are DX hounds and can't waste their time > on more local rag chews. I am ready to just sign off from this list and get > out of your way. Am I missing something? > > Happy New Year to all and... > > 73, > > Bill KU8H > > > On Jan 5, 2024, at 7:04 PM, VE6WZ_Steve wrote: > > George, > > > > Yes. I fully agree that many ops don’t understand that RBN is NOT to be > relied on. > > > > I operate 3 RBN skimmers, each on a different RX antenna, and auto > switched for the RX antennas to follow the darkness DX path. > > 2 of these are Broadside phased Beverage pairs. My QTH is a quiet rural > location. > > > > However, the skimmer will only detect a very SMALL FRACTION of what I > can hear with my ears. > > If I look at my CW skimmer, often I can “see” the EU DX CQing, but the > skimmer will not always decode it. > > Many times I can work lots of EU, but never get a RBN skimmer decode > from EU. > > BUT, the opposite is also true. If I am getting EU RBN decodes, then > the band is probably in very good shape. > > > > Either way, as George said, do NOT rely on RBN to determine if the band > is open or not. > > Just keep calling CQ. > > > > BTW…FT-8 will decode “deep into the noise” however, with the common very > fast QSB on 160m, a big reason FT-8 seems to work better is the PC sends > EVERY 15 seconds, for as long as the op lets the PC go. > > Sometimes on CW, the QSB can be so fast, the QSO needs to be completed > within 30 seconds, or the DX has faded into oblivion under the noise. > > (That’s why we usually don’t have time on 160m CW for exchanging more > than a signal report…..quickly!!) > > That’s also why on CW we need to keep CQing into what seems like a dead > band. The difference on FT-8, is the PC does the CQing for you. Yeah…that > IS easier! > > > > > > Steve, ve6wz > > > > > >> Noise is up. > >> 80 is becoming the new 160! > >> > >> Also, it is noise that is driving a lot of ops onto FT8. > >> > >> Another contributor is RBN! While RBN is great tool, most RBN RX > antennas are poor on 160. Those that rely on a quick scan of RBN for 160 > meter activity will incorrectly assume that the band is dead. > >> > >> In the past 10 years noise has gone up by something like 10 dB in many > areas. What worked 10 years ago, no longer works today. We need to learn to > live with it. Invest in better RX antennas and other noise reduction > techniques. (Petition the FCC to increase the power limit by 10 dB :-) > >> > >> And keep calling CQ! > >> > >> 73, > >> > >> George, > >> > >> AA7JV > > > > _ > > Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband > Reflector > > _ > Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband > Reflector > -- -Charlie N1RR 401-742-7240 <(401)%20742-7240> 8AM - 9PM *E-mail*: n...@n1rr.com *Website*: www.n1rr.com *Youtube channel*: NovemberOne RomeoRomeo https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPDzEf57Ad80cVKOiLZLB7w/videos _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Lack of DX CW Activity
I don't know if I would call it lazy but it certainly is a matter of ease and convenience. Just look at all the new expeditions that focus primarily, if not exclusively, on FT-8. No need to for seasoned, highly skilled, ace operators to dig out weak calls signs from huge CW piles which sound like a swarm of buzzing mosquitos. . . or SSB piles for that matter. My 11 year old great nephew could run the piles once things got set up. 73. . . Dave, W0FLS On 1/5/2024 1:08 PM, Jim Brown wrote: On 1/5/2024 10:53 AM, Mike Smith VE9AA wrote: My personal feeling is some people are lazy. Hi Mike, It has NOTHING to do with lazy. It has everything to do with NOISE. Those of us not living in the middle of nowhere have greatly increased noise levels over the last 20 years. When I moved to W6 in 2006, I could work EU on CW several nights a year (remember, we have to go through the auroral oval to get there). In the last seven years, I've heard six EU stations on CW, and two have heard me. And that's with the same TX and RX antennas. Using FT8, I made several dozen EU QSOs during solar minima years, adding about 25 countries. My computer did not build my station, did not put up my antennas, and I learned propagation through extensive study. Sitting in VE9, is like running home from third base and thinking you hit a home run. Thanks for the RAC QSOs. 73, Jim K9YC _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Lack of DX CW Activity
Bill. . . I, for one, would encourage you not to give up. I worked my first 50 or 60 countries with a W9INN half sloper (shortened with a loading coil) fed from the 40' level of my 60' Rohn 25 tower side bracketed to my house (no ground radials necessary since top fed) with about 300 watts on an 80' x 120' suburban lot. My very first 160m QSO was with KX6DC, the ham station at the military base on the Marshall Islands. 73 and good luck. . . Dave, W0FLS On 1/5/2024 7:33 PM, Bill Cromwell wrote: A note from the peanut gallery. This is topb...@contest.com I am on a postage stamp lot and the house & garage occupy approximately the middle one third. The frontage is not usable for antenna systems due to the underground utilities and overhead power lines. I am limited to compromise antennas for this band and those must be further compromised from published designs to fit into the space. I can be heard in Canada and the eastern United States. Most of the daily signals are for dx only. In some contests I can work a few stations on the north American continent. I can hear a lot of them but they don't hear me. I don't have an antenna for 160 at the moment and not a lot of motivation to put one up. Other bands seem more productive given these conditions. I would be satisfied with QSOs in the continental range but most are DX hounds and can't waste their time on more local rag chews. I am ready to just sign off from this list and get out of your way. Am I missing something? Happy New Year to all and... 73, Bill KU8H On Jan 5, 2024, at 7:04 PM, VE6WZ_Steve wrote: George, Yes. I fully agree that many ops don’t understand that RBN is NOT to be relied on. I operate 3 RBN skimmers, each on a different RX antenna, and auto switched for the RX antennas to follow the darkness DX path. 2 of these are Broadside phased Beverage pairs. My QTH is a quiet rural location. However, the skimmer will only detect a very SMALL FRACTION of what I can hear with my ears. If I look at my CW skimmer, often I can “see” the EU DX CQing, but the skimmer will not always decode it. Many times I can work lots of EU, but never get a RBN skimmer decode from EU. BUT, the opposite is also true. If I am getting EU RBN decodes, then the band is probably in very good shape. Either way, as George said, do NOT rely on RBN to determine if the band is open or not. Just keep calling CQ. BTW…FT-8 will decode “deep into the noise” however, with the common very fast QSB on 160m, a big reason FT-8 seems to work better is the PC sends EVERY 15 seconds, for as long as the op lets the PC go. Sometimes on CW, the QSB can be so fast, the QSO needs to be completed within 30 seconds, or the DX has faded into oblivion under the noise. (That’s why we usually don’t have time on 160m CW for exchanging more than a signal report…..quickly!!) That’s also why on CW we need to keep CQing into what seems like a dead band. The difference on FT-8, is the PC does the CQing for you. Yeah…that IS easier! Steve, ve6wz Noise is up. 80 is becoming the new 160! Also, it is noise that is driving a lot of ops onto FT8. Another contributor is RBN! While RBN is great tool, most RBN RX antennas are poor on 160. Those that rely on a quick scan of RBN for 160 meter activity will incorrectly assume that the band is dead. In the past 10 years noise has gone up by something like 10 dB in many areas. What worked 10 years ago, no longer works today. We need to learn to live with it. Invest in better RX antennas and other noise reduction techniques. (Petition the FCC to increase the power limit by 10 dB :-) And keep calling CQ! 73, George, AA7JV _ 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: Lack of DX CW Activity
On 1/5/2024 3:10 PM, Mike Smith VE9AA wrote: I applaud your tireless ability to make your point about the terrible noise (especially in California?), Noise is an issue on both sides of QSOs for most hams, having nothing to do with California. It's the proliferation of noise-generating electronics, most seriously, power-handling stuff like switch-mode power supplies, but also variable speed motor controllers and components of solar systems. I'm surprised that you were QRP during RAC -- every time I heard you you were good copy. You obviously have a great TX antenna system! I tried to look at your QTH in Google Earth. It looks pretty sparsely populated compared to the vast majority of hams. I don't see any solar systems in satellite photos less than a year old. My guess is that your QTH is pretty quiet. My EU Beverage terminates about 150 ft from a solar system that it points to. The house that has that system wasn't there when I rigged that Beverage in 2006. My JA Beverage points to a house across the road from me with another solar system, with the termination about 250 ft from the house. The solar system arrived when the house changed hands 3-4 years ago. There's another solar system in the direction of South America, just past my property line. Thankfully, I only hear that one during the day. My SA Beverage points to that house. You and I are both lucky in that we have room for a lot of serious antenna systems. Most hams live on city or suburban lots, and have a dozen or more neighbors within 500 ft, each with lots of noise sources, some with solar systems. That was true of my QTH in Chicago, and there were three apartment buildings across the alley! 73, Jim K9YC _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Lack of DX CW Activity
A note from the peanut gallery. This is topb...@contest.com I am on a postage stamp lot and the house & garage occupy approximately the middle one third. The frontage is not usable for antenna systems due to the underground utilities and overhead power lines. I am limited to compromise antennas for this band and those must be further compromised from published designs to fit into the space. I can be heard in Canada and the eastern United States. Most of the daily signals are for dx only. In some contests I can work a few stations on the north American continent. I can hear a lot of them but they don't hear me. I don't have an antenna for 160 at the moment and not a lot of motivation to put one up. Other bands seem more productive given these conditions. I would be satisfied with QSOs in the continental range but most are DX hounds and can't waste their time on more local rag chews. I am ready to just sign off from this list and get out of your way. Am I missing something? Happy New Year to all and... 73, Bill KU8H > On Jan 5, 2024, at 7:04 PM, VE6WZ_Steve wrote: > George, > > Yes. I fully agree that many ops don’t understand that RBN is NOT to be > relied on. > > I operate 3 RBN skimmers, each on a different RX antenna, and auto switched > for the RX antennas to follow the darkness DX path. > 2 of these are Broadside phased Beverage pairs. My QTH is a quiet rural > location. > > However, the skimmer will only detect a very SMALL FRACTION of what I can > hear with my ears. > If I look at my CW skimmer, often I can “see” the EU DX CQing, but the > skimmer will not always decode it. > Many times I can work lots of EU, but never get a RBN skimmer decode from EU. > BUT, the opposite is also true. If I am getting EU RBN decodes, then the > band is probably in very good shape. > > Either way, as George said, do NOT rely on RBN to determine if the band is > open or not. > Just keep calling CQ. > > BTW…FT-8 will decode “deep into the noise” however, with the common very fast > QSB on 160m, a big reason FT-8 seems to work better is the PC sends EVERY 15 > seconds, for as long as the op lets the PC go. > Sometimes on CW, the QSB can be so fast, the QSO needs to be completed within > 30 seconds, or the DX has faded into oblivion under the noise. > (That’s why we usually don’t have time on 160m CW for exchanging more than a > signal report…..quickly!!) > That’s also why on CW we need to keep CQing into what seems like a dead band. > The difference on FT-8, is the PC does the CQing for you. Yeah…that IS > easier! > > > Steve, ve6wz > > >> Noise is up. >> 80 is becoming the new 160! >> >> Also, it is noise that is driving a lot of ops onto FT8. >> >> Another contributor is RBN! While RBN is great tool, most RBN RX antennas >> are poor on 160. Those that rely on a quick scan of RBN for 160 meter >> activity will incorrectly assume that the band is dead. >> >> In the past 10 years noise has gone up by something like 10 dB in many >> areas. What worked 10 years ago, no longer works today. We need to learn to >> live with it. Invest in better RX antennas and other noise reduction >> techniques. (Petition the FCC to increase the power limit by 10 dB :-) >> >> And keep calling CQ! >> >> 73, >> >> George, >> >> AA7JV > > _ > Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Lack of DX CW Activity
George, Yes. I fully agree that many ops don’t understand that RBN is NOT to be relied on. I operate 3 RBN skimmers, each on a different RX antenna, and auto switched for the RX antennas to follow the darkness DX path. 2 of these are Broadside phased Beverage pairs. My QTH is a quiet rural location. However, the skimmer will only detect a very SMALL FRACTION of what I can hear with my ears. If I look at my CW skimmer, often I can “see” the EU DX CQing, but the skimmer will not always decode it. Many times I can work lots of EU, but never get a RBN skimmer decode from EU. BUT, the opposite is also true. If I am getting EU RBN decodes, then the band is probably in very good shape. Either way, as George said, do NOT rely on RBN to determine if the band is open or not. Just keep calling CQ. BTW…FT-8 will decode “deep into the noise” however, with the common very fast QSB on 160m, a big reason FT-8 seems to work better is the PC sends EVERY 15 seconds, for as long as the op lets the PC go. Sometimes on CW, the QSB can be so fast, the QSO needs to be completed within 30 seconds, or the DX has faded into oblivion under the noise. (That’s why we usually don’t have time on 160m CW for exchanging more than a signal report…..quickly!!) That’s also why on CW we need to keep CQing into what seems like a dead band. The difference on FT-8, is the PC does the CQing for you. Yeah…that IS easier! Steve, ve6wz > Noise is up. > 80 is becoming the new 160! > > Also, it is noise that is driving a lot of ops onto FT8. > > Another contributor is RBN! While RBN is great tool, most RBN RX antennas are > poor on 160. Those that rely on a quick scan of RBN for 160 meter activity > will incorrectly assume that the band is dead. > > In the past 10 years noise has gone up by something like 10 dB in many areas. > What worked 10 years ago, no longer works today. We need to learn to live > with it. Invest in better RX antennas and other noise reduction techniques. > (Petition the FCC to increase the power limit by 10 dB :-) > > And keep calling CQ! > > 73, > > George, > > AA7JV > _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Lack of DX CW Activity
80 is now next useless in the city of American canyon, california...20 to 30 over noise.I gave up. still ok in the foothills on 5 acresnow need time to get the antennas back up, other things more pressing. 73 Renée K6FSB On 1/5/24 3:37 PM, GEORGE WALLNER wrote: Noise is up. 80 is becoming the new 160! Also, it is noise that is driving a lot of ops onto FT8. Another contributor is RBN! While RBN is great tool, most RBN RX antennas are poor on 160. Those that rely on a quick scan of RBN for 160 meter activity will incorrectly assume that the band is dead. In the past 10 years noise has gone up by something like 10 dB in many areas. What worked 10 years ago, no longer works today. We need to learn to live with it. Invest in better RX antennas and other noise reduction techniques. (Petition the FCC to increase the power limit by 10 dB :-) And keep calling CQ! 73, George, AA7JV On Fri, 5 Jan 2024 19:06:33 - "Roger Kennedy" wrote: Hi Steve Yes, I appreciate the path to you from Britain is very different (and seems poor at present). I'm not on as regularly at OK1CF . . . but sometimes we are both on together, calling CQ DX endlessly, and getting no replies (despite decent RBN reports) I tend to pop on the band a few times during the night and put out a few calls (rather than stay on for hours) . . . and if no replies, just go back to bed each time. As a result, I rarely wake up again at our Sunrise . . . but even if I do, there seems to be even less NA activity then (like people aren't staying up that late) - even though I notice more other Gs coming on at that time. I suspect it would be a better time to actually work YOU? As I said before, I am amazed at all the effort some people put into their 160m antenna systems . . . yet rarely come on the band. (I actually went on 80m SSB last night, and joined Hannes DK1NO working some NA stations . . . he used to be on 160m regularly, but seems to have given up, again due to lack of activity) Anyway . . . 73 and Happy New Year to all Topbanders ! Roger G3YRO _ Roger, I agree fully that unless someone is calling CQ, we will all conclude the band is dead. As Dave said, with the usual very rapid QSB on 160m this is very true. However, regarding conditions. Here at VE6WZ I am almost always watching the band for an opening. Like virtually every night. Thank goodness for OK1CF and LY7M and a few others making the effort to call CQ. When I say "always watching the band" I mean that I am ALWAYS watching the band. Even when watching TV with the XYL, I have a remote session on my iPhone watching the waterfall on the Flex radio. If any of the EU CQs start to bubble up and make a traceI will see it and be at the radio. If the band is open to EU I will know it!! That has not happened much this season. Since September I have only had 56 QSOs with Europe. Secondly, every night I am recording the entire MW (AM BCB) band. I can very quickly review what's happening and see if any trans-polar EU BCB stations are making it. The usual big guns are Moldova Vesti on 1413 kHz, Lithuania Baltic 1386 kHz and sometimes the UK on 1053, and occasionally the Ukraine and Romania. At times they can be quite strong here. At those times, I reckon 160m has a good shot. As Dave said, without making noise there will be limited activity. This season (and last), PART of the reason has been rather poor conditions for us guys out west on the trans-polar path. Your path to the East Coast is a completely different story. Steve, ve6wz _ 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: Lack of DX CW Activity
Hello Roger I took down all of my receiving wires in anticipation of getting my property logged of some large trees, both white pine and hardwoods. The logging required that I take out all of my nailed on insulators plus the beverage wire etc. So I am QRT on 160. I have about 50 acres of land of which most is woods. I am hoping that I can open up the woods a bit and reduce my wire maintenance as a result. The bad news is that I am off 160 for this winter. I am not getting any younger. I will celebrate(?) my 79th birthday in about a month, but have plans to re install all the beverage wires along with a new 8 Circle array. The loggers will clear an opening for processing the logs that is the right size to hold my 8 Circle array. The ground is pretty flat and I plan to combine the 8 Circle and my beverages with another NCC-1 phasing system for diversity reception. The two systems will be fairly far apart and I can pair up the 8 Circle with my two 1200 ft long EU beverage wires that I have been using the past two years or so. That array hears very well. Possibly the diversity will make it better? So next spring and summer I have my work cut out for me to get it all back up and running. I really do like 160 meters. It is quite a bit of fun and very similar to VHF dxing on 144, 222, and 432! Dave K1WHS On 1/5/2024 12:01 PM, Roger Kennedy wrote: Well I've said it before . . . and no doubt I will say it again . . . But it's a real shame that there is so little CW activity on Top Band at the moment. Sure, conditions aren't always that good at the moment on 160m . . . but often the band IS open (as shown by RBN reports) . . . but there is nobody on the band to work ! I know some of you only come on Top Band when there is a Contest, or when there is some DX-pedition to work . . . but given the resources many have put into a decent 160m Antenna System, it amazes me that's the only time many people come on the band. Some of us complain about FT8 reducing the amount of CW activity these days . . . but if you don't make the effort to come on the band, then all CW activity will completely disappear . . . Inactivity breeds Inactivity ! There are several of us Europeans on Top Band most nights, calling CQ DX and getting no replies. . . I really hope more people will make the effort to come on Top Band, or else this side of the hobby (that I remain passionate about) will gradually die. 73 Roger G3YRO _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Lack of DX CW Activity
Noise is up. 80 is becoming the new 160! Also, it is noise that is driving a lot of ops onto FT8. Another contributor is RBN! While RBN is great tool, most RBN RX antennas are poor on 160. Those that rely on a quick scan of RBN for 160 meter activity will incorrectly assume that the band is dead. In the past 10 years noise has gone up by something like 10 dB in many areas. What worked 10 years ago, no longer works today. We need to learn to live with it. Invest in better RX antennas and other noise reduction techniques. (Petition the FCC to increase the power limit by 10 dB :-) And keep calling CQ! 73, George, AA7JV On Fri, 5 Jan 2024 19:06:33 - "Roger Kennedy" wrote: Hi Steve Yes, I appreciate the path to you from Britain is very different (and seems poor at present). I'm not on as regularly at OK1CF . . . but sometimes we are both on together, calling CQ DX endlessly, and getting no replies (despite decent RBN reports) I tend to pop on the band a few times during the night and put out a few calls (rather than stay on for hours) . . . and if no replies, just go back to bed each time. As a result, I rarely wake up again at our Sunrise . . . but even if I do, there seems to be even less NA activity then (like people aren't staying up that late) - even though I notice more other Gs coming on at that time. I suspect it would be a better time to actually work YOU? As I said before, I am amazed at all the effort some people put into their 160m antenna systems . . . yet rarely come on the band. (I actually went on 80m SSB last night, and joined Hannes DK1NO working some NA stations . . . he used to be on 160m regularly, but seems to have given up, again due to lack of activity) Anyway . . . 73 and Happy New Year to all Topbanders ! Roger G3YRO _ Roger, I agree fully that unless someone is calling CQ, we will all conclude the band is dead. As Dave said, with the usual very rapid QSB on 160m this is very true. However, regarding conditions. Here at VE6WZ I am almost always watching the band for an opening. Like virtually every night. Thank goodness for OK1CF and LY7M and a few others making the effort to call CQ. When I say "always watching the band" I mean that I am ALWAYS watching the band. Even when watching TV with the XYL, I have a remote session on my iPhone watching the waterfall on the Flex radio. If any of the EU CQs start to bubble up and make a traceI will see it and be at the radio. If the band is open to EU I will know it!! That has not happened much this season. Since September I have only had 56 QSOs with Europe. Secondly, every night I am recording the entire MW (AM BCB) band. I can very quickly review what's happening and see if any trans-polar EU BCB stations are making it. The usual big guns are Moldova Vesti on 1413 kHz, Lithuania Baltic 1386 kHz and sometimes the UK on 1053, and occasionally the Ukraine and Romania. At times they can be quite strong here. At those times, I reckon 160m has a good shot. As Dave said, without making noise there will be limited activity. This season (and last), PART of the reason has been rather poor conditions for us guys out west on the trans-polar path. Your path to the East Coast is a completely different story. Steve, ve6wz _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Lack of DX CW Activity
Right dear Roger, I came a lot of times, calling CQ with no answer. Even with conséquent RBN reports. By now, I come only for contests ! And each time I got answers from DX. What can I do more ? Happy new Year. 73 Jean-Paul. F6FYA depuis son iPhone > Le 5 janv. 2024 à 18:16, Roger Kennedy a > écrit : > > > Well I've said it before . . . and no doubt I will say it again . . . > > But it's a real shame that there is so little CW activity on Top Band at the > moment. > > Sure, conditions aren't always that good at the moment on 160m . . . but > often the band IS open (as shown by RBN reports) . . . but there is nobody > on the band to work ! > > I know some of you only come on Top Band when there is a Contest, or when > there is some DX-pedition to work . . . but given the resources many have > put into a decent 160m Antenna System, it amazes me that's the only time > many people come on the band. > > Some of us complain about FT8 reducing the amount of CW activity these days > . . . but if you don't make the effort to come on the band, then all CW > activity will completely disappear . . . > Inactivity breeds Inactivity ! > > There are several of us Europeans on Top Band most nights, calling CQ DX and > getting no replies. . . I really hope more people will make the effort to > come on Top Band, or else this side of the hobby (that I remain passionate > about) will gradually die. > > 73 Roger G3YRO > > > _ > Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Lack of DX CW Activity
Jim, I applaud your tireless ability to make your point about the terrible noise (especially in California?), but by that same rationale, I should give up on 160m CW and never dream of working a JA, KH6, VK, ZL or any of the dozens of rare Pacific Islands (which I strangely seem to be able to do (most) anytime there is a CW/SSB expedition out there) some 10-15k,kms from here). I also thank you for so many contest QSO's. In RAC just gone by, I was QRP, so your ability to actually hear me on at least 3 bands seems exceptional. CU (all of a sudden!) in the next one. Mike VE9AA On 1/5/2024 10:53 AM, Mike Smith VE9AA wrote: My personal feeling is some people are lazy. Hi Mike, It has NOTHING to do with lazy. It has everything to do with NOISE. Those of us not living in the middle of nowhere have greatly increased noise levels over the last 20 years. When I moved to W6 in 2006, I could work EU on CW several nights a year (remember, we have to go through the auroral oval to get there). In the last seven years, I've heard six EU stations on CW, and two have heard me. And that's with the same TX and RX antennas. Using FT8, I made several dozen EU QSOs during solar minima years, adding about 25 countries. My computer did not build my station, did not put up my antennas, and I learned propagation through extensive study. Sitting in VE9, is like running home from third base and thinking you hit a home run. Thanks for the RAC QSOs. 73, Jim K9YC Mike - Keswick Ridge, NB, Canada _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Lack of DX CW Activity
On 1/5/2024 10:53 AM, Mike Smith VE9AA wrote: My personal feeling is some people are lazy. Hi Mike, It has NOTHING to do with lazy. It has everything to do with NOISE. Those of us not living in the middle of nowhere have greatly increased noise levels over the last 20 years. When I moved to W6 in 2006, I could work EU on CW several nights a year (remember, we have to go through the auroral oval to get there). In the last seven years, I've heard six EU stations on CW, and two have heard me. And that's with the same TX and RX antennas. Using FT8, I made several dozen EU QSOs during solar minima years, adding about 25 countries. My computer did not build my station, did not put up my antennas, and I learned propagation through extensive study. Sitting in VE9, is like running home from third base and thinking you hit a home run. Thanks for the RAC QSOs. 73, Jim K9YC _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Topband: Lack of DX CW Activity
Hi Steve Yes, I appreciate the path to you from Britain is very different (and seems poor at present). I'm not on as regularly at OK1CF . . . but sometimes we are both on together, calling CQ DX endlessly, and getting no replies (despite decent RBN reports) I tend to pop on the band a few times during the night and put out a few calls (rather than stay on for hours) . . . and if no replies, just go back to bed each time. As a result, I rarely wake up again at our Sunrise . . . but even if I do, there seems to be even less NA activity then (like people aren't staying up that late) - even though I notice more other Gs coming on at that time. I suspect it would be a better time to actually work YOU? As I said before, I am amazed at all the effort some people put into their 160m antenna systems . . . yet rarely come on the band. (I actually went on 80m SSB last night, and joined Hannes DK1NO working some NA stations . . . he used to be on 160m regularly, but seems to have given up, again due to lack of activity) Anyway . . . 73 and Happy New Year to all Topbanders ! Roger G3YRO _ Roger, I agree fully that unless someone is calling CQ, we will all conclude the band is dead. As Dave said, with the usual very rapid QSB on 160m this is very true. However, regarding conditions. Here at VE6WZ I am almost always watching the band for an opening. Like virtually every night. Thank goodness for OK1CF and LY7M and a few others making the effort to call CQ. When I say "always watching the band" I mean that I am ALWAYS watching the band. Even when watching TV with the XYL, I have a remote session on my iPhone watching the waterfall on the Flex radio. If any of the EU CQs start to bubble up and make a traceI will see it and be at the radio. If the band is open to EU I will know it!! That has not happened much this season. Since September I have only had 56 QSOs with Europe. Secondly, every night I am recording the entire MW (AM BCB) band. I can very quickly review what's happening and see if any trans-polar EU BCB stations are making it. The usual big guns are Moldova Vesti on 1413 kHz, Lithuania Baltic 1386 kHz and sometimes the UK on 1053, and occasionally the Ukraine and Romania. At times they can be quite strong here. At those times, I reckon 160m has a good shot. As Dave said, without making noise there will be limited activity. This season (and last), PART of the reason has been rather poor conditions for us guys out west on the trans-polar path. Your path to the East Coast is a completely different story. Steve, ve6wz _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Lack of DX CW Activity
You pretty much hit a lot of my same sentiments Dave. I have the same observations re: 6m. I used to be on SIX almost daily for 30+ yrs but FT-8 has taken 99% of 6m CW and SSB activity completely away-poof. My personal feeling is some people are lazy. They want the computer to do the work. I like the challenge of 6 & 160, so I prefer CW (and to a lesser degree, SSB) on those 2 bands. I am not a FT-8 hater, (You guys do you and have fun.) but can pride myself on all my 6m/160m QSO's on legacy modes. As far as 160m CW casual weekday (or weekend) QSO's, myself personally, I don't feel a pressing need to get on and work the same 10-20-30 guys I worked last night or last week or 100 times before..but that's just me. I see value in it to keep the band alive, but after so many years(decades), the novelty has finally worn off for me. All the complaining in the world won't fix this apparent lack of activity. Be thankful for the few 160m stalwarts that still remain. I applaud you. SIX is a vast MADMAX wasteland nowadays. I get my personal "Topband fix" in contests 5 or 10 times per year. (or the rare country/dxpedition that might be new on 160) YMMV (isn't it great we're not all built the same?) I wish all you Topbanders well and success in 2024 no matter the path you choose! Mike VE9AA --- There's no doubt the combination of poor conditions combined with FT-8 decimating CW activity makes for a lot of boring mornings and evenings on TB. I go for days and not work a single EU or Asian station (cw) and I'm active. That said, I was on last evening (NA time) just prior to EU sunrise with some success. My log includes KP4AA, OZ4MM, OK1DOT, LY7M, G4EIM, OK1DT, 9A3JH, and HB9BLQ (all time new callsign). When I got on about 0430z conditions didn't seem to be at all good. Nevertheless, I forged ahead CQing and as SR began to sweep across Europe people started calling in. I think too often we get on, tune around a bit, maybe check out RBN, and conclude conditions are poor (as they often are) and return to TV. It's still important to get on and make some noise, not just SWL. My $0.02 worth. . .73 and Happy New Year to all. . .Dave, W0FLS VE9AA Mike - Keswick Ridge, NB, Canada _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Lack of DX CW Activity
Roger, I agree fully that unless someone is calling CQ, we will all conclude the band is dead. As Dave said, with the usual very rapid QSB on 160m this is very true. However, regarding conditions. Here at VE6WZ I am almost always watching the band for an opening. Like virtually every night. Thank goodness for OK1CF and LY7M and a few others making the effort to call CQ. When I say "always watching the band" I mean that I am ALWAYS watching the band. Even when watching TV with the XYL, I have a remote session on my iPhone watching the waterfall on the Flex radio. If any of the EU CQs start to bubble up and make a traceI will see it and be at the radio. If the band is open to EU I will know it!! That has not happened much this season. Since September I have only had 56 QSOs with Europe. Secondly, every night I am recording the entire MW (AM BCB) band. I can very quickly review what's happening and see if any trans-polar EU BCB stations are making it. The usual big guns are Moldova Vesti on 1413 kHz, Lithuania Baltic 1386 kHz and sometimes the UK on 1053, and occasionally the Ukraine and Romania. At times they can be quite strong here. At those times, I reckon 160m has a good shot. As Dave said, without making noise there will be limited activity. This season (and last), PART of the reason has been rather poor conditions for us guys out west on the trans-polar path. Your path to the East Coast is a completely different story. Steve, ve6wz From: Topband on behalf of Roger Kennedy Sent: Friday, January 5, 2024 9:01 AM To: topband@contesting.com Subject: Topband: Lack of DX CW Activity Well I've said it before . . . and no doubt I will say it again . . . But it's a real shame that there is so little CW activity on Top Band at the moment. Sure, conditions aren't always that good at the moment on 160m . . . but often the band IS open (as shown by RBN reports) . . . but there is nobody on the band to work ! I know some of you only come on Top Band when there is a Contest, or when there is some DX-pedition to work . . . but given the resources many have put into a decent 160m Antenna System, it amazes me that's the only time many people come on the band. Some of us complain about FT8 reducing the amount of CW activity these days . . . but if you don't make the effort to come on the band, then all CW activity will completely disappear . . . Inactivity breeds Inactivity ! There are several of us Europeans on Top Band most nights, calling CQ DX and getting no replies. . . I really hope more people will make the effort to come on Top Band, or else this side of the hobby (that I remain passionate about) will gradually die. 73 Roger G3YRO _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Lack of DX CW Activity
There's no doubt the combination of poor conditions combined with FT-8 decimating CW activity makes for a lot of boring mornings and evenings on TB. I go for days and not work a single EU or Asian station (cw) and I'm active. That said, I was on last evening (NA time) just prior to EU sunrise with some success. My log includes KP4AA, OZ4MM, OK1DOT, LY7M, G4EIM, OK1DT, 9A3JH, and HB9BLQ (all time new callsign). When I got on about 0430z conditions didn't seem to be at all good. Nevertheless, I forged ahead CQing and as SR began to sweep across Europe people started calling in. I think too often we get on, tune around a bit, maybe check out RBN, and conclude conditions are poor (as they often are) and return to TV. It's still important to get on and make some noise, not just SWL. My $0.02 worth. . .73 and Happy New Year to all. . .Dave, W0FLS On 1/5/2024 11:01 AM, Roger Kennedy wrote: Well I've said it before . . . and no doubt I will say it again . . . But it's a real shame that there is so little CW activity on Top Band at the moment. Sure, conditions aren't always that good at the moment on 160m . . . but often the band IS open (as shown by RBN reports) . . . but there is nobody on the band to work ! I know some of you only come on Top Band when there is a Contest, or when there is some DX-pedition to work . . . but given the resources many have put into a decent 160m Antenna System, it amazes me that's the only time many people come on the band. Some of us complain about FT8 reducing the amount of CW activity these days . . . but if you don't make the effort to come on the band, then all CW activity will completely disappear . . . Inactivity breeds Inactivity ! There are several of us Europeans on Top Band most nights, calling CQ DX and getting no replies. . . I really hope more people will make the effort to come on Top Band, or else this side of the hobby (that I remain passionate about) will gradually die. 73 Roger G3YRO _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Topband: Lack of DX CW Activity
Well I've said it before . . . and no doubt I will say it again . . . But it's a real shame that there is so little CW activity on Top Band at the moment. Sure, conditions aren't always that good at the moment on 160m . . . but often the band IS open (as shown by RBN reports) . . . but there is nobody on the band to work ! I know some of you only come on Top Band when there is a Contest, or when there is some DX-pedition to work . . . but given the resources many have put into a decent 160m Antenna System, it amazes me that's the only time many people come on the band. Some of us complain about FT8 reducing the amount of CW activity these days . . . but if you don't make the effort to come on the band, then all CW activity will completely disappear . . . Inactivity breeds Inactivity ! There are several of us Europeans on Top Band most nights, calling CQ DX and getting no replies. . . I really hope more people will make the effort to come on Top Band, or else this side of the hobby (that I remain passionate about) will gradually die. 73 Roger G3YRO _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
