Topband: QRP on 160?

[jim.thom jim.t...@telus.net]

Date: Mon, 1 Jul 2024 10:57:15 -0700
From: Radio KH6O 
To: topband 
Subject: Topband: QRP on 160?

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

Re: Topband: QRP on 160?

[Dave Cuthbert]

In the 2000s I worked a few contests running 5 watts. Two or three ARRL 160
contests using a 38' top loaded vertical at home and a couple contests from
a land bridge out in the Great Salt Lake of Utah running a full size
balloon vertical grounding to the lake. With the 38' antenna I topped out
at 200 Qs and with the lake antenna 400 were made. All Search and Pounce.
It was not all that difficult at my end, just call CQing stations who are
over S-7. That was with paper logging and a bug or keyer depending on the
year.

Dave KH6AQ

On Sun, Jul 7, 2024 at 11:22 AM Roger Kennedy 
wrote:

>
> No, I guess I should have clarified what I was saying . . .
>
> Sure, my 160m mobile whip is much less efficient than a full-sized 160m
> aerial . . . but I have calibrated the S Meter on my Mobile Rig so that it
> reads the same as signals on my main aerial at home. (and both my rigs at
> home have calibrated S Meters, ie 50uV = S9)
>
> So the noise outside my house is S7 (as it is on my main aerial) . . . as
> it
> is almost everywhere driving around . . . and often very much stronger
> outside various buildings.
>
> One of the locals to me now has a permanent S9 + 15dB noise level on Top
> Band.
>
> Roger G3YRO
>
>
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Topband: QRP on 160?

[Roger Kennedy]

No, I guess I should have clarified what I was saying . . . 

Sure, my 160m mobile whip is much less efficient than a full-sized 160m
aerial . . . but I have calibrated the S Meter on my Mobile Rig so that it
reads the same as signals on my main aerial at home. (and both my rigs at
home have calibrated S Meters, ie 50uV = S9)

So the noise outside my house is S7 (as it is on my main aerial) . . . as it
is almost everywhere driving around . . . and often very much stronger
outside various buildings.

One of the locals to me now has a permanent S9 + 15dB noise level on Top
Band.

Roger G3YRO


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Topband: QRP on 160?

[Jim Smith]

It only took me 30 years and 15 minutes to get WAS QRP on 160m.  The last
holdout was HI, and while riding the grayline wave at 1330Z during the last
morning of the CQ-160 a couple of years ago, I was able to snag KH7A, with
his fantastic antenna array.

I still do some 160m QRP, but I've gravitated to LP now, as it's less
painful and more productive.  Still, a 160m QRP contact is always a thrill.
. .

72, Jim KK0U
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Re: Topband: QRP on 160?

[Jim Brown]

On 7/5/2024 3:00 PM, Roger Kennedy wrote:

I operate 160m mobile, and it's really depressing driving around. There is a
general noise level of S7 everywhere . . . only when you get about 10 miles
from any town or power line does it drop to about S3


And remember that S-meters are simply a voltmeter, caiibrated (with 
wildly variable accuracy) to the voltage at the RX input. It provides 
nothing more than a RELATIVE idea of one signal's strength compared to 
another, but it tells us NOTHING about the actual strength of these 
signals (or the noise) because the radio knows nothing about how that 
voltage relates to the actual field strength (that is, how efficient it 
is). I would expect the efficiency of a 160M mobile whip to be quite 
low, so the actual noise is likely to be MUCH stronger than S7 received 
by a decent fixed antenna.


73, Jim K9YC

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Topband: QRP on 160?

[Roger Kennedy]

As Tom just posted, we were limited to 10 watts Input on Top Band . . . and
certainly my early DX contacts were all running that.

But after a few years I realised that most 160m DXers were running a lot
more power . . . a couple of locals had Amps with a pair of 813s !

I never had anything that big . . . but I did start running about 100W
output back in the 70s.

As has been mentioned, the big problem these days is the high noise level
from all the dirty switch-mode power supplies. So to be honest, I am
unlikely to copy any DX station calling me unless you're running a Kilowatt
!

I operate 160m mobile, and it's really depressing driving around. There is a
general noise level of S7 everywhere . . . only when you get about 10 miles
from any town or power line does it drop to about S3 (very difficult to
achieve that in this country!) And driving down typical streets the noise
level often peaks S9+20dB !

I'm just lucky that - despite living on the edge of the city - OFCOM have
helped me track down various local noise sources . . . but I still have a
residual S7 noise level on all the low bands (in an SSB bandwidth)

Roger G3YRO


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Topband: QRP on 160?

[Tom Boucher]

For many years after I was licensed in 1960, we were limited in G-land to
10 watts input to the PA (not output). So working DX was a major
achievement, although there were quite a few 'fat watts' around!
G3PU used to regularly work VK and ZL with a genuine 10 watts from his
cliff top QTH on the south coast. G3ERN was another genuine 10 watter who
worked VK/ZL.

Somewhere in my log there is a QSO with George AA7JV when he was running 5
watts in Miami with an excellent signal.

73,
Tom G3OLB
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Re: Topband: QRP on 160?

[Mike Furrey]

Appears so! I need to find my QRP watt meter and check it.
   On Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at 09:31:40 AM CDT, Ken WA8JXM  
wrote:  
 
 Ah!  So "zero power" on a K3 is not actually zero?!   Good to know!
Ken WA8JXM
On Tue, Jul 2, 2024 at 9:46 AM Mike Furrey  wrote:

 I accidentally made a QRP Q on 160 ... I had just moved and set up my station 
and wanted to test a feature off the air but couldn't find a dummy load. 
So, I cranked the power of the K3 to zero, dropped my call, NO3M came back 
with a report. That dude has some ears!
73, Mike WA5POK

    On Monday, July 1, 2024 at 10:59:20 PM CDT, Ken WA8JXM  
wrote:  

 For the younger crowd, 25 watts was the max power allowed in several 160m
segments (especially the opposite coast) back in the 60's and 70's.  100w
was the max anywhere in the U.S.

When I first got on 160 in 1964, working two states away was
often considered DX for me!

Yes, there were exceptional stations, but they were rare.

Ken WA8JXM

On Mon, Jul 1, 2024 at 1:57 PM Radio KH6O  wrote:

> Is anyone regularly using say, 25W or less on 160?
>
> --
> 73,
> Jeff KH6O / 6
> _
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Re: Topband: QRP on 160?

[Steve Harrison]

"Minimum power" on my TS-890S or FT-991A is just under five (5) watts
(actually, about 4.7 for both).

Steve, K0XP



On 7/2/2024 7:31 AM, Ken WA8JXM wrote:

Ah!  So "zero power" on a K3 is not actually zero?!   Good to know!

Ken WA8JXM

On Tue, Jul 2, 2024 at 9:46 AM Mike Furrey  wrote:


  I accidentally made a QRP Q on 160 ... I had just moved and set up my
station and wanted to test a feature off the air but couldn't find a dummy
load. So, I cranked the power of the K3 to zero, dropped my call, NO3M
came back with a report. That dude has some ears!
73, Mike WA5POK

 On Monday, July 1, 2024 at 10:59:20 PM CDT, Ken WA8JXM <
wa8...@gmail.com> wrote:

  For the younger crowd, 25 watts was the max power allowed in several 160m
segments (especially the opposite coast) back in the 60's and 70's.  100w
was the max anywhere in the U.S.

When I first got on 160 in 1964, working two states away was
often considered DX for me!

Yes, there were exceptional stations, but they were rare.

Ken WA8JXM

On Mon, Jul 1, 2024 at 1:57 PM Radio KH6O  wrote:


Is anyone regularly using say, 25W or less on 160?

--
73,
Jeff KH6O / 6
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Re: Topband: QRP on 160?

[Ken WA8JXM]

Ah!  So "zero power" on a K3 is not actually zero?!   Good to know!

Ken WA8JXM

On Tue, Jul 2, 2024 at 9:46 AM Mike Furrey  wrote:

>  I accidentally made a QRP Q on 160 ... I had just moved and set up my
> station and wanted to test a feature off the air but couldn't find a dummy
> load. So, I cranked the power of the K3 to zero, dropped my call, NO3M
> came back with a report. That dude has some ears!
> 73, Mike WA5POK
>
> On Monday, July 1, 2024 at 10:59:20 PM CDT, Ken WA8JXM <
> wa8...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>  For the younger crowd, 25 watts was the max power allowed in several 160m
> segments (especially the opposite coast) back in the 60's and 70's.  100w
> was the max anywhere in the U.S.
>
> When I first got on 160 in 1964, working two states away was
> often considered DX for me!
>
> Yes, there were exceptional stations, but they were rare.
>
> Ken WA8JXM
>
> On Mon, Jul 1, 2024 at 1:57 PM Radio KH6O  wrote:
>
> > Is anyone regularly using say, 25W or less on 160?
> >
> > --
> > 73,
> > Jeff KH6O / 6
> > _
> > Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband
> > Reflector
> >
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Re: Topband: QRP on 160?

[Mike Furrey]

 I accidentally made a QRP Q on 160 ... I had just moved and set up my station 
and wanted to test a feature off the air but couldn't find a dummy load. 
So, I cranked the power of the K3 to zero, dropped my call, NO3M came back 
with a report. That dude has some ears!
73, Mike WA5POK

On Monday, July 1, 2024 at 10:59:20 PM CDT, Ken WA8JXM  
wrote:  
 
 For the younger crowd, 25 watts was the max power allowed in several 160m
segments (especially the opposite coast) back in the 60's and 70's.  100w
was the max anywhere in the U.S.

When I first got on 160 in 1964, working two states away was
often considered DX for me!

Yes, there were exceptional stations, but they were rare.

Ken WA8JXM

On Mon, Jul 1, 2024 at 1:57 PM Radio KH6O  wrote:

> Is anyone regularly using say, 25W or less on 160?
>
> --
> 73,
> Jeff KH6O / 6
> _
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Re: Topband: QRP on 160?

[Jim Brown]

On 7/1/2024 8:58 PM, Ken WA8JXM wrote:

For the younger crowd, 25 watts was the max power allowed in several 160m
segments (especially the opposite coast) back in the 60's and 70's.  100w
was the max anywhere in the U.S.


For a lot of reasons, having to do with having a life outside of ham 
radio, I wasn't on topband in those days. But I don't need to have been 
there to know that the primary difference between then and now was RF 
Noise at both ends of the QSO. 40-50 years ago, the most we had to deal 
with was power line noise, the result of acting at defective equipment 
(wiring, insulators, mechanical hardware). Now, the average hone has at 
a couple of dozen noise sources, in the form of Switch-Mode Power 
Supplies (SMPS) mandated two decades ago for increased efficiency to 
combat global warming. I applaud the intent, but failure to fund FCC to 
enforce EMC regs made it a major noise source everywhere people live! Do 
you remember "small government?"


73, Jim K9YC

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Re: Topband: QRP on 160?

[Ken WA8JXM]

For the younger crowd, 25 watts was the max power allowed in several 160m
segments (especially the opposite coast) back in the 60's and 70's.  100w
was the max anywhere in the U.S.

When I first got on 160 in 1964, working two states away was
often considered DX for me!

Yes, there were exceptional stations, but they were rare.

Ken WA8JXM

On Mon, Jul 1, 2024 at 1:57 PM Radio KH6O  wrote:

> Is anyone regularly using say, 25W or less on 160?
>
> --
> 73,
> Jeff KH6O / 6
> _
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Re: Topband: QRP on 160?

[Jim Brown]

On 7/1/2024 5:19 PM, GEORGE WALLNER wrote:
The trick is to wait until conditions are right. Otherwise, you will be 
wasting your time.


Yes, QRP is excellent at teaching us about propagation!

> In a contest however, I think QRP is a bit unfair to the other guy.

I don't. Far too many hams concentrate on being loud and pay little 
attention to hearing well. I consider ham radio to be about more than 
operating -- it's also about station-building. And one reason I run QRP 
in 160M contests is that far too many stations are CQ machines, with 
their only RX antenna (if they have one) pointed to EU. If they want my 
QSO, they've got to work for it by hearing well!


For the last several days, a ham from MI has been activating a rare grid 
on 6M in NE NV. He's got a great station, but since he's doing it from a 
trailer park, he can't hear a big station running legal limit, let alone 
the ordinary ones.


There's also a set of operating skills one must learn if you're a little 
pistol or QRP. One of them is to never repeat anything the other station 
has copied correctly. Another is to know how to give repeats 
efficiently. At 83, I have a lousy fist, so I have F-keys programmed for 
every element of the exchange that might need a repeat. When I know I'm 
weak at the other end, I'll keep sending the fill until the other 
station gets it. (I'm always full QSK).


W6JTI and I just made more than 800 Qs with a single-transmitter QRP FD 
entry last weekend. Both of us are experienced QRP ops.


73, Jim K9YC

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Re: Topband: QRP on 160?

[GEORGE WALLNER]

QRP on 160 is possible but you need a very good antenna, especially for DX. 
(It is still painful, though.)
On the TX3A Chesterfield DXpedition I worked a W7 on TB, good signal, no bid 
deal. About an hour later he called me again and I worked him again. Then 
another 30 minutes later I heard him calling. He was very weak but we 
completed the QSO. I was thinking, why all the dupes? Next day I saw his 
email: The first QSO was with 100 W. The second with 5 W and the third with 
700 mW! From New Mexico to Chesterfield! TX3A  had a good DHDL RX antenna 
pointing towards NA, which helped to keep down all the tropical noise. 
Still... The guy had a full size 4-SQ. Aha...


In a contest however, I think QRP is a bit unfair to the other guy. Except 
in the SP, other contests do not reward you for working a QRP. You do all 
the hard work of digging him out of the noise, needing many cycles to put 
together the call-sing -- dealing with all the people wanting to take the 
frequency -- just to complete a QSO that you get no extra points for.
But working DX on 160 with 5 W is a unique thrill. Well worth the effort. 
The trick is to wait until conditions are right. Otherwise, you will be 
wasting your time.


George,
AA7JV




On Mon, 1 Jul 2024 10:57:15 -0700 Radio KH6O  wrote:

Is anyone regularly using say, 25W or less on 160?

--
73,
Jeff KH6O / 6



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Re: Topband: QRP on 160?

[Jim F. via Topband]

Interesting and at my old location and in my 60sI won a couple of 160m 
contesting QRP awards at5 watts CW for New England and NH.Thats not saying much 
because I won a certificatefor QRP SSB with only 5 contacts on 160m.
   
In my mid 80s now I need plenty of sleep and 
being in a condo the antenna has to be put up 
before and taken down right after any contest 
to avoid exciting the Condo board.
Whatever your passion is do it with enthusiasmfor self enjoyment..
Jim Fitton W1FMR, NH.




Jim 

On Monday, July 1, 2024, 2:27:37 PM EDT, Jim Brown 
 wrote:  
 
 On 7/1/2024 10:57 AM, Radio KH6O wrote:
> Is anyone regularly using say, 25W or less on 160?

Years ago, I ran 5W in pursuit of QRP WAS in 160 CW contests from my QTH 
near San Francisco, and was down to needing three states -- WV, SC, and 
VT. About 8 years ago, the explosion of RX noise caught up with that. 
About six years ago, I managed a sked with a WV station on JT65, and 
completed with him. An FT8 sked with W1UE remoting a VT station a few 
years later was unsuccessful.

Running QRP in those days, KL7RA, KH6LC, and NO3M nearly always heard my 
first call, and K1KI had pretty good ears.

I still will often call an Expedition running 5W, and often make the 
QSO. I'm guessing it's because they're in places that are remote enough 
that noise levels are low.

73, Jim K9YC



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Re: Topband: QRP on 160?

[Russ Tobolic via Topband]

 Jeff,
I haven't been on topband in a few years since my antenna went down in an ice 
storm.  I was always active QRP in the big Stew Perry contests back 8-20 years 
ago but then I got old and couldn't stay awake all night and together with some 
health problems for both my wife and me I haven't had the gumption to get the 
antenna back up. It is very possible to work some good DX with only 5 watts but 
you have to have a decent antenna.  I had a 65"  "T" vertical with top loading 
wires and 60+ ground wires from 60' to 120' long.  If I could hear them on my 
K9AY loop I could work them.  I could regularly work most of the conus but EU 
was always a bust from this DX BLACK hole in Michigan.  However, I went through 
some of my old Stew Perry logs and the best DX with 5 watts was CE4/K7CA in 
2012  and KH7Y and KH6LC in 2013.  Of course, sunspots were a different thing 
10 years ago.
Good luck, and keep working on on good antennas.  
73,Russ N3CO
On Monday, July 1, 2024 at 01:59:13 PM EDT, Radio KH6O 
 wrote:  
 
 Is anyone regularly using say, 25W or less on 160?

-- 
73,
Jeff KH6O / 6
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Re: Topband: QRP on 160?

[Lee Hiers]

I'm not on 160 right now, but spent an entire solar cycle at 5W.  That
includes a couple of ARRL contests where I was able to CQ effectively.  I
was using an inverted-L (about 65' up and 65' across) with only 3 radials
up about 12'.  No RX antenna - I figured as weak as I was that they weren't
needed.  I think I worked all states except HI and AK.  No EU that I recall.

It was more fun than I expected it to be!

73,

Lee, AA4GA

On Mon, Jul 1, 2024, 1:59 PM Radio KH6O  wrote:

> Is anyone regularly using say, 25W or less on 160?
>
> --
> 73,
> Jeff KH6O / 6
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Re: Topband: QRP on 160?

[Mike / K5JR]

I operated in the Big Stew Perry (Dec) one year, QRP 5w, from the K4PI 160 
station location (The Farm). Full sized 4 square transmit antenna, several 
beverages and an 8 circle receiving array. The conditions stunk for hearing 
much DX that year, but no one had any trouble hearing me, and I did have 
success running a few times. It was good enough to do again should the 
opportunity come up. 

After working VP6DX (Ducie) on 160 in Feb 2008 from my very modest home 
station, a couple of days later, I easily worked them on 160 QRP (using a club 
call). But Milt & Robin were in charge of 160/80 receiving antennas. 

tnx
Mike / K5JR (W5JR back then)
Alpharetta GA

On Jul 1, 2024, at 2:01 PM, Radio KH6O  wrote:

Is anyone regularly using say, 25W or less on 160?

--
73,
Jeff KH6O / 6

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Re: Topband: QRP on 160?

[dj...@t-online.de]

Not regularly but sometimes, operated the CQ160m CW qrp 9  times with good 
results.

73
Peter, DJ7WW

-Original-Nachricht-
Betreff: Topband: QRP on 160?
Datum: 2024-07-01T20:02:04+0200
Von: "Radio KH6O" 
An: "topband" 

Is anyone regularly using say, 25W or less on 160?

-- 
73,
Jeff KH6O / 6


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Re: Topband: QRP on 160?

[K1RID via Topband]

The last few years I have worked at least one of the 160 contests at 5w CW to 
a 260’ doublet up 60’ in the trees. 

I’ve made Qs but don’t think I’ve ever cracked the top 20 in any of them. 

Tons of fun tho!

dit dit
73 de Ed, K1RID
Newburyport Electronics & Radio Society


> On Jul 1, 2024, at 13:57, Radio KH6O  wrote:
> Is anyone regularly using say, 25W or less on 160?
> 
> --
> 73,
> Jeff KH6O / 6
> 
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Re: Topband: QRP on 160?

[Jim Brown]

On 7/1/2024 10:57 AM, Radio KH6O wrote:

Is anyone regularly using say, 25W or less on 160?


Years ago, I ran 5W in pursuit of QRP WAS in 160 CW contests from my QTH 
near San Francisco, and was down to needing three states -- WV, SC, and 
VT. About 8 years ago, the explosion of RX noise caught up with that. 
About six years ago, I managed a sked with a WV station on JT65, and 
completed with him. An FT8 sked with W1UE remoting a VT station a few 
years later was unsuccessful.


Running QRP in those days, KL7RA, KH6LC, and NO3M nearly always heard my 
first call, and K1KI had pretty good ears.


I still will often call an Expedition running 5W, and often make the 
QSO. I'm guessing it's because they're in places that are remote enough 
that noise levels are low.


73, Jim K9YC



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Topband: QRP For Six Eastern States

[Jim Brown]

To finish my QRP WAS, I need QSOs with VT, CT, KY, WV, MS, and SC. In 
past years, my QRP QSOs east of Chicago have nearly all been within an 
hour or so of sunrise at the east end of the path. It takes great 
propagation, as well as good RX on that end.


I will NOT be calling CQ -- I'll be S looking for you guys.

73, Jim K9YC
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Re: Topband: QRP For Six Eastern States

[Jim Brown]

Same as on other bands -- 5 watts. I've worked all states with 100W in a 
contest weekend at least once on both SSB and CW.


73, Jim

On Fri,1/29/2016 12:59 PM, Mike Waters wrote:
Jim, what power level do you consider QRP to be on 160m? 


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Re: Topband: QRP For Six Eastern States

[Mike Waters]

Jim, what power level do you consider QRP to be on 160m?

I should try some QRP this time. The most fun I ever had on 160m was when I
ran 100 watts in one contest, before I had an amplifier. Breaking a few
huge pileups and working nearly all 50 states and several countries in a
single contest *without an amplifier* was just plain fun! :-)

I always do S I'm just not skilled enough in CW to do otherwise.

73, Mike
www.w0btu.com

On Fri, Jan 29, 2016 at 2:40 PM, Jim Brown 
wrote:

> To finish my QRP WAS, I need QSOs with VT, CT, KY, WV, MS, and SC. In past
> years, my QRP QSOs east of Chicago have nearly all been within an hour or
> so of sunrise at the east end of the path. It takes great propagation, as
> well as good RX on that end.
>
> I will NOT be calling CQ -- I'll be S looking for you guys.
>
> 73, Jim K9YC 
>
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Re: Topband: re topband QRP

[mstangelo]

Jim,

I disagree. Since it is a category I find that some operators appreciate the 
information. It sometimes leads to a discussion about our setups.

With regards to miscopying someone. If you cannot intrepret the information 
sent because of a weak signal QRM or QRN you have not made a valid contact.

Mike N2MS


- Original Message -
From: Jim Brown <j...@audiosystemsgroup.com>
To: topband@contesting.com
Sent: Fri, 25 Dec 2015 20:50:44 - (UTC)
Subject: Re: Topband: re topband QRP

On Fri,12/25/2015 12:24 PM, mstang...@comcast.net wrote:
> I operate QRP and normally give out that information as well as my power 
> levels after the signal report.

As a QRP op myself, I urge you to NOT do that. If I had worked to dig a 
weak signal out of the noise, I would interpret ANYTHING after R or TU 
as telling me I had miscopied something, and you are repeating 

73, Jim K9YC


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Re: Topband: re topband QRP

[Jim Brown]

On Sat,12/26/2015 9:39 AM, mstang...@comcast.net wrote:


It sometimes leads to a discussion about our setups.


Bad operating practice in most contests.


If you cannot intrepret the information sent because of a weak signal QRM or 
QRN you have not made a valid contact.


A valid contact is the exchange of callsigns and one additional piece of 
information, followed by acknowledgement by both stations. When running 
QRP at the limits of propagation, that exchange can take a while.


Good operating practice in most contests is to transmit ONLY the 
required information. Anything beyond that, especially when conditions 
are marginal, is poor contest operating practice.


73, Jim K9YC
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Re: Topband: re topband QRP

[Tom W8JI]

I disagree. Since it is a category I find that some operators appreciate 
the information. It sometimes leads to a discussion about our setups.


With regards to miscopying someone. If you cannot intrepret the 
information sent because of a weak signal QRM or QRN you have not made a 
valid contact.




A person should never do that in a contest. Not ever.

It isn't actually even good to sign a "callsign/QRP" outside of a contest. 
It isn't a legal identifier, although it doesn't hurt anyone else as long as 
it is not a high rate or run contact series.


The real place for that in the non-contest exchange is during the ragchew. 
There is never a reason or place for it inside a contest exchange unless the 
contest makes it a mandatory part of an exchange.


I really hope people do not punish others by insisting on sending 
unnecessary, confusing, junk. That is what it would be doing, punishing 
others.


73 Tom 


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Re: Topband: re topband QRP

[mstangelo]

Tom,

I never sign callsign/QRP.

Information about your power level is not junk. It is information about a 
contest category.

What is junk is the erroneous 59 or 599 signal reports during mist other 
contests.

You should start a campaign to urge operators to send correct signal reports.

Mike N2MS

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Re: Topband: re topband QRP

[John Frazier]

Tom, not exactly certain of your meaning of legal. But, 97.199  4(C) 
Station Identification does allow for the addition of an "indicator" to 
your FCC assigned call sign.


(c) One or more indicators may be included with the call sign. Each 
indicator must be separated from the call sign by the slant mark (/) or 
by any suitable word that denotes the slant mark. If an indicator is 
self-assigned, it must be included before, after, or both before and 
after, the call sign. No self-assigned indicator may conflict with any 
other indicator specified by the FCC Rules or with any prefix assigned 
to another country.


That aside, every good pile-up, DX and contest op I know dislikes the 
use of any self assigned indicator, including /QRP. It s l o w s things 
down and can easily create confusion, busted call signs and missed Qs.


73 John W4II
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Re: Topband: re topband QRP

[Mort]

"How else do I let you out there know I'm a QRP station."

You don't;  it's your choice,  or it's forced on U,  as many of us have high 
noise,  rabidly anti-ham councils,  vandalistic neighbours and so on.

There are poor,  inept, operators and have little time but we don't expect 
others to make special allowances for us.

That raises an interesting point;  what ARE we expected to do ?  It's like 
those ludicrous annoying "Baby on board" signs;  So what ?  It is known what 
causes it;  it's not my fault.

One is reminded of the offensively patronising farewell:  "Take care".

One is tempted to answer,  "Well,  I wasn't going to,  but since you order 
it..."

73  -  Mort,  G2JL
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Re: Topband: re topband QRP

[Jim Brown]

On Fri,12/25/2015 9:54 AM, Robb Webb Proprietor of Robb Webb Photography 
wrote:

How else do I let you out there know I'm a QRP station.


You DON'T. I don't care -- all I want is your QSO.

In Stew Perry, where we get points for working a QRP station, those 
points are awarded by log checking when the QRP station turns in a log.


73, Jim K9YC
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Re: Topband: re topband QRP

[Tim Shoppa]

Do not sign /QRP.

If your country's rules require you to, do sign /P.

Do send your log in and make sure CATEGORY-POWER says you are QRP.

Many of us look at the stew perry score summaries as they are
released/updated, and I take special delight in finding out which were QRP
stations and the best QRP-distance I worked.

A commenter in the other thread had it right... QRP out to 800 miles is
usually easier than working a high power station at 3500 miles.

Strongly recommend anyone who wants to try QRP 160, try out the NAQCC 160M
QRP Sprint: http://www.naqcc.info/sprint201601_160.html

Tim N3QE

On Fri, Dec 25, 2015 at 12:54 PM, Robb Webb Proprietor of Robb Webb
Photography  wrote:

> So what should I sign
> G0URR/QRP/P
> G0URR/P
>
> How else do I let you out there know I'm a QRP station.
>
> I will be on for tomorrow's Stew with an inverted L with a 30ft vertical
> portion 100ft above the sea on a cliff !!
>
> Hoping for good things
>
> Robb
> G0URR
>
> Robb Webb Photography
> Bringing Photography to life
> Mobile: 07891 575892
>
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>
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Re: Topband: re topband QRP

[Jeff AC0C]

Amen.

73/jeff/ac0c
www.ac0c.com
alpha-charlie-zero-charlie

-Original Message- 
From: Mike Smith VE9AA 
Sent: Friday, December 25, 2015 12:26 PM 
To: topband@contesting.com 
Subject: Re: Topband: re topband QRP 


Do not ever EVER sign /QRP !!!  You are already most probably weak.  It is
NOT part of your callsign and worst of all, it wastes time.

PLEASE !



73 de Mike VE9AA

- - - - - - - - - - - -- 

So what should I sign 


G0URR/QRP/P

G0URR/P 




How else do I let you out there know I'm a QRP station. 




I will be on for tomorrow's Stew with an inverted L with a 30ft vertical 

portion 100ft above the sea on a cliff !! 




Hoping for good things



Robb 

G0URR 




Robb Webb Photography

Bringing Photography to life

Mobile: 07891 575892



Mike, Coreen & Corey

Keswick Ridge, NB



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Topband: re topband QRP

[Robb Webb Proprietor of Robb Webb Photography]

So what should I sign 
G0URR/QRP/P
G0URR/P 

How else do I let you out there know I'm a QRP station. 

I will be on for tomorrow's Stew with an inverted L with a 30ft vertical 
portion 100ft above the sea on a cliff !! 

Hoping for good things

Robb 
G0URR 

Robb Webb Photography
Bringing Photography to life
Mobile: 07891 575892

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Re: Topband: re topband QRP

[Lew Sayre]

Hi Robb,
Please sign only your call- G0URR-   without any other letters or
numbers.
Where the QRP business comes in, is in your submitted log where you note
your
power level.  That is where the power levels matter to yourself and to the
others
for scoring purposes. Same goes for your grid square locator.
  When I am trying to work you from West Coast USA getting your call
will be difficult
and your grid square will be nearly impossible.  Adding /qrp  or /just
married  or /just paroled
only makes the exchange more difficult and is totally unnecessary.
So...be sure to peruse the plaque list on the web site and note any
particular plaques you may qualify for
and properly fill out the log headers so we know your power situation,
location and call in your submitted log.
 73 and I remain,
   Leww7ew
The Boring Amateur Radio Club Committee on QRP Designations


On Fri, Dec 25, 2015 at 9:54 AM, Robb Webb Proprietor of Robb Webb
Photography  wrote:

> So what should I sign
> G0URR/QRP/P
> G0URR/P
>
> How else do I let you out there know I'm a QRP station.
>
> I will be on for tomorrow's Stew with an inverted L with a 30ft vertical
> portion 100ft above the sea on a cliff !!
>
> Hoping for good things
>
> Robb
> G0URR
>
> Robb Webb Photography
> Bringing Photography to life
> Mobile: 07891 575892
>
> _
> Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
>
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Re: Topband: re topband QRP

[Tree]

One note about QRP stations in the Stew.

You do not need to sign /P so that the person knows you are QRP.  What you
need to do is send in your log.  The QRP bonus is given when doing the
cross checking automatically during the log check process.

So - signing /P does not good.

Sending in your log in the QRP category is the only way to give out the 4X
multiplier.

73 Tree N6TR

On Fri, Dec 25, 2015 at 9:54 AM, Robb Webb Proprietor of Robb Webb
Photography  wrote:

> So what should I sign
> G0URR/QRP/P
> G0URR/P
>
> How else do I let you out there know I'm a QRP station.
>
> I will be on for tomorrow's Stew with an inverted L with a 30ft vertical
> portion 100ft above the sea on a cliff !!
>
> Hoping for good things
>
> Robb
> G0URR
>
> Robb Webb Photography
> Bringing Photography to life
> Mobile: 07891 575892
>
> _
> Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
>
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Re: Topband: re topband QRP

[w7dra]

i have always sent /7 or /something when i was away from the home shack.
i am too old to change now

mike w7dra


1 Secret To Cut 15 Years Of Mortgage Payments
HARP Gives Homeowners a Once In A Lifetime Mortgage Bailout
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Re: Topband: re topband QRP

[Tom W8JI]

On Fri,12/25/2015 12:24 PM, mstang...@comcast.net wrote:
I operate QRP and normally give out that information as well as my power 
levels after the signal report.


As a QRP op myself, I urge you to NOT do that. If I had worked to dig a 
weak signal out of the noise, I would interpret ANYTHING after R or TU as 
telling me I had miscopied something, and you are repeating it.


NEVER send anything extra.


I agree 100% with Jim on this. The only thing sending /QRP or anything 
unnecessary does is make it take longer and make it more difficult.


I honestly think a good number of people will either just ignore a station 
signing nonsense or be confused by it.


There is nothing more frustrating than trying to dig out a callsign or 
complete a contact with unnecessary meaningless stuff tacked on.


73 Tom 


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Re: Topband: re topband QRP

[mstangelo]

Robb,

I operate QRP and normally give out that information as well as my power levels 
after the signal report.

Mike N2MS
- Original Message -
From: Robb Webb Proprietor of Robb Webb Photography 
<r...@robbwebbphotography.co.uk>
To: topband@contesting.com
Sent: Fri, 25 Dec 2015 17:54:14 - (UTC)
Subject: Topband: re topband QRP

So what should I sign 
G0URR/QRP/P
G0URR/P 

How else do I let you out there know I'm a QRP station. 

I will be on for tomorrow's Stew with an inverted L with a 30ft vertical 
portion 100ft above the sea on a cliff !! 

Hoping for good things

Robb 
G0URR 

Robb Webb Photography
Bringing Photography to life
Mobile: 07891 575892

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Re: Topband: re topband QRP

[Jim Brown]

On Fri,12/25/2015 12:24 PM, mstang...@comcast.net wrote:

I operate QRP and normally give out that information as well as my power levels 
after the signal report.


As a QRP op myself, I urge you to NOT do that. If I had worked to dig a 
weak signal out of the noise, I would interpret ANYTHING after R or TU 
as telling me I had miscopied something, and you are repeating it.


NEVER send anything extra.

73, Jim K9YC


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Re: Topband: QRP

[Rob Atkinson]

>What has happened to the topband conditions the last couple of decades?

Two words:

Noise and antennas.

Noise--yes, millions of cheap junk appliances have destroyed
reception.  Ever lived next door to a plasma TV?

Antennas--Old hams unable to climb or plow in radials and HOAs =
crappy antennas.

73

Rob
K5UJ
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Re: Topband: QRP

[James Rodenkirch]

I don't know that I'd use Jim's, "Most of it, yes" phraseology, Rickgo to 
the results pages for any 160 meter contest.look up the top ten scores of 
the QRP entrants, then.go to the Low power and High power line scores  and 
start noodling through the listings - you may be surprised to see well us 
QRPers do, in terms of score, vs. those supposed "heavy lifting LP and HP 
entries" I've participated in many 160 events where I had to struggle to 
hear the other station and, after completing the QSO and making some sort of 
annotation next to the call sign, look to see which category they entered and 
discover they are an LP entry, most often.  Jim's point - needing a very good 
TX antenna(s), lots of operating skill, and lots of attention to propagation - 
applies equally to any other entry category..there's no "lock" on doing 
well when you, regardless of the entry category don't pay attention to the TX 
antenna, propagation and honed operating skill.
 
Besides all of that  thumb your nose at a potential QRP 
entry/participant in any of the Stew Perry events - i.e., don't even bother to 
answer a call from a weak station at or just above the noise - and  you'll find 
your final score can take a serious hit 'cuz we QRP participants are worth 4 
points as compared to 2 for all of 'dem "heavy lifters."

71.5/72 de Jim RodenkirchK9JWV


From: Topband <topband-boun...@contesting.com> on behalf of Jim Brown 
<j...@audiosystemsgroup.com>
Sent: Tuesday, December 15, 2015 2:02 PM
To: topband@contesting.com
Subject: Re: Topband: QRP

On Tue,12/15/2015 12:47 PM, Richard (Rick) Karlquist wrote:
>
> The thing about QRP is that the guy on the other
> end of the QSO from the station receiving the
> award does the heavy lifting.

Most of it, yes. But not all. The QRP station needs very good TX
antenna(s), lots of operating skill, and lots of attention to propagation.

73, Jim K9YC
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Re: Topband: QRP

[Richard (Rick) Karlquist]

On 12/14/2015 8:26 PM, Art Snapper wrote:

Has anyone achieved DXCC on 160 meters using QRP?



The thing about QRP is that the guy on the other
end of the QSO from the station receiving the
award does the heavy lifting.  A more impressive
achievement would be to work QRP stations in
100 countries.  (A sort of "reverse QRP").
Even more impressive would be 2 way QRP.
There is also the un level playing field depending
on where you are in the world because of the
non-uniform distribution of "entities", so
the significance of DXCC (regardless of power
level) varies a lot.

Rick N6RK
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Re: Topband: QRP

[Jim Brown]

On Tue,12/15/2015 2:22 PM, Tom W8JI wrote:
Virtually zero QRP stations I've worked were using exceptional 
antennas. As a matter of fact they very rarely have fairly good 
antennas, like 1/4 wave verticals or inverted L's with large ground 
systems out in the clear. 


Perhaps I'm an exception. I can switch between three 160M verticals, two 
of which are a quarter wave  with 4 radials elevated 20 ft, and one 
that's a 100 ft Tee with 60 on-ground radials. All three have a passive 
reflector that provides about 2 dB of gain.


I am equally frustrated with guys running 20W JT65 into a wet string 
with a mediocre decoder because "it's a QRP mode."


73, Jim K9YC


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Re: Topband: QRP

[Robert Harmon]

Mike,

Thats good stuff !   I am putting up a 160 with 4 elevated radials at 14 
feet (would like to get them higher

but they are the least visible at 14 feet to my wife :-)
I am anxious to see how it works.

thanks for the reference info!
Bob
K6UJ




On 12/15/15 3:50 PM, Mike Waters wrote:

According to this they are close.

lists.contesting.com/_topband/2007-11/msg00248.html 



www.antennasbyn6lf.com/design_of_radial_ground_systems 
 - 
scroll down to the section "QEX article on elevated radial ground 
systems" and study the material in the links.


I was amazed at how well just two elevated radials work here, though I 
plan on four someday.
www.w0btu.com/160_meters.html#inv-l_antenna 



73, Mike
www.w0btu.com 

On Tue, Dec 15, 2015 at 5:33 PM, Robert Harmon > wrote:


Do the 160 verticals with 4 radials elevated at 20 feet,
individually outperform the other vertical with 60 radials on the
ground ?




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Re: Topband: QRP

[Robert Harmon]

Jim,

Do the 160 verticals with 4 radials elevated at 20 feet, individually 
outperform the other vertical with 60 radials on the ground ?


Bob
K6UJ

On 12/15/15 3:02 PM, Jim Brown wrote:

On Tue,12/15/2015 2:22 PM, Tom W8JI wrote:
Virtually zero QRP stations I've worked were using exceptional 
antennas. As a matter of fact they very rarely have fairly good 
antennas, like 1/4 wave verticals or inverted L's with large ground 
systems out in the clear. 


Perhaps I'm an exception. I can switch between three 160M verticals, 
two of which are a quarter wave  with 4 radials elevated 20 ft, and 
one that's a 100 ft Tee with 60 on-ground radials. All three have a 
passive reflector that provides about 2 dB of gain.


I am equally frustrated with guys running 20W JT65 into a wet string 
with a mediocre decoder because "it's a QRP mode."


73, Jim K9YC


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Re: Topband: QRP

[Mike Waters]

According to this they are close.

lists.contesting.com/_topband/2007-11/msg00248.html

www.antennasbyn6lf.com/design_of_radial_ground_systems - scroll down to the
section "QEX article on elevated radial ground systems" and study the
material in the links.

I was amazed at how well just two elevated radials work here, though I plan
on four someday.
www.w0btu.com/160_meters.html#inv-l_antenna

73, Mike
www.w0btu.com

On Tue, Dec 15, 2015 at 5:33 PM, Robert Harmon  wrote:

> Do the 160 verticals with 4 radials elevated at 20 feet, individually
> outperform the other vertical with 60 radials on the ground ?
>
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Re: Topband: QRP

[Robert Harmon]

Jim,

OK,  I am working on a similar arrangement with 4 elevated radials at 14 
feet. Hence the question.


thanks,
Bob
K6UJ

On 12/15/15 3:41 PM, Jim Brown wrote:

On Tue,12/15/2015 3:33 PM, Robert Harmon wrote:
Do the 160 verticals with 4 radials elevated at 20 feet, individually 
outperform the other vertical with 60 radials on the ground ? 


I have no meaningful way to measure that, but work by N6LF and N6BT 
suggest that radials elevated by 20 ft can approach 30-60 radials on 
the ground. The key word is "approach," with the obvious question, how 
closely? I'd guess within a dB or so. N6LF suggests that 8 elevated 
radials tend to be more efficient than only 4, because the greater 
number tend to achieve better balance between radial currents, which 
in turn maximizes efficiency.


73, Jim K9YC
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Re: Topband: QRP

[Jim Brown]

On Tue,12/15/2015 3:59 PM, Robert Harmon wrote:
I am putting up a 160 with 4 elevated radials at 14 feet (would like 
to get them higher but they are the least visible at 14 feet to my wife 


I started with radials elevated only about 4 ft. N6BT's advice to me was 
to get them up to at least 18 ft. Higher is better. I'd do what I could 
to make them less visible to your XYL -- smaller diameter, uninsulated, 
etc. And/or use more radials.


73, Jim K9YC
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Re: Topband: QRP

[Steve Ireland]

G'day


What has happened to the topband conditions the last couple of decades?


As a topbander from 1969 (first as an SWL and then licenced as G3ZZD in 
February 1971, running 9W DC input to a 5763) I'd even go as far as to say 
one word and agree with Tom W8JI:


Noise.

Topband always been about managing to get your signal above the noise at the 
other end of a path and the enemy (with the exception of those who suffered 
from Loran broadcasts) has always been 'noise'.


Back in the 1960/1970s in England my enemy was 405-line buzz from the 
time-base of nearby televisions, but the magnitude of noise was so much 
lower then.  In my surburban location, I suffered from a 'horrendous' S3 
noise level on 160m, whereas my friend G4ACW who lived on a small farm was 
only noise limited by that generated inside his WW2 TCS 12 receiver.


In regard to antennas, I think we've actually got better at building earth 
systems.  Sure, as Rob says, we might have got older and tireder when it 
comes to digging radials but we know a heck more about building an efficient 
earth system than we used to.  I still have nightmares about my first earth 
system - five three-foot earth stakes, each two inches apart, and two 50' 
radials - when I think about how much better a simple W1BB quarter wave 
counterpoise run under the antenna, or a modern K2AV counterpoise would have 
been.


Still, the low inverted-L (20' vertical section) and 'earth' did get me a 
599 report from Czechoslovakia - his noise level must have been really low!


We've come a heck of a long way in fighting noise - and we needed to in 
order to continue to have fun on 160m when dealing with huge man-made noise, 
including that from our own transmitters.


Vy 73

Steve, VK6VZ




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Re: Topband: QRP

[Michel Spelier]

Hello,

Living in a country, where 10W has been the upper limit set by the regulator in
the early 160m days,
I have been puzzled with this question for a long time...
Given the progress on antenna and Rx-capabilities (over the years) and say
typical transceiver output power (100W),
how come it has become so rare to witness (experience) low power to low power
QSO's (over the USA to EU path)
during major topband contests (winter time on both continents) ?

What has happened to the topband conditions the last couple of decades?
IMO it is hard to believe this is due only to environmental noise increases?!

73,

Michel, ON7EH



> Op 15 december 2015 om 9:12 schreef Tom W8JI :
>
>
> > Has anyone achieved DXCC on 160 meters using QRP?
> >
> > Or is anyone even close?
> >
> > 73,
> > Art NK8X
>
> Power ratings were DC plate input power up to the early 1980's. A Heath
> SB220 was a legal input amp rated for 1 kW dc input CW, and 2 kW PEP input
> on SSB. That was 1 kW dc input all modes, or about 600 watts output on
> meters.
>
> 160 used to be 200 watts, 100 watts, or even 25 watts DC plate input at
> night because of LORAN depending on location and what 25 kHz section of the
> band you were in. That was roughly 120, 60, or 15 watts RF output depending
> on location and band segment.
>
> Many DX countries were only allowed 10 watts plate input power, or about 6
> watts RF output, on 160.
>
> That means there were many stations who had early DXCC, by today's
> standards, ran QRP. Full legal power used to be QRP.
>
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Re: Topband: QRP

[Mort]

Well,  IMO the problem with QRP QSO is definitely the increase in man-made 
noise.  We had a 10 Watt DC input to "the valve or valve energising the aerial" 
or as we must now say,  since American has displaced English, to "the tube or 
tubes energising the antenna".

Even so,  enthusiasts in good locations with space for an effective TX antenna 
achieved DXCC even observing that restriction. Beverages (except for 
tranquillising the operator) were seldom needed or used.  Nowadays,  anyone 
using QRP in a spacious location is either a Masochist,  or doomed to 
disappointment.

It is yet another aspect of inflation.  In my time,  a pint (568 ml) of beer in 
a pub has risen by a factor of 26...



73  -  Mort,  G2JL
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Re: Topband: QRP

[Hardy Landskov]

Bob,
I ran the same thing for years here in AZ with great results. 4 elevated
radials at 12 feet, Each was 132 feet long. Worked 237 countries.
Hardy N7RT

-Original Message-
From: Topband [mailto:topband-boun...@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Robert
Harmon
Sent: Tuesday, December 15, 2015 4:59 PM
To: Mike Waters
Cc: topband
Subject: Re: Topband: QRP

Mike,

Thats good stuff !   I am putting up a 160 with 4 elevated radials at 14 
feet (would like to get them higher
but they are the least visible at 14 feet to my wife :-) I am anxious to see
how it works.

thanks for the reference info!
Bob
K6UJ




On 12/15/15 3:50 PM, Mike Waters wrote:
> According to this they are close.
>
> lists.contesting.com/_topband/2007-11/msg00248.html
> <http://lists.contesting.com/_topband/2007-11/msg00248.html>
>
> www.antennasbyn6lf.com/design_of_radial_ground_systems
> <http://www.antennasbyn6lf.com/design_of_radial_ground_systems> - 
> scroll down to the section "QEX article on elevated radial ground 
> systems" and study the material in the links.
>
> I was amazed at how well just two elevated radials work here, though I 
> plan on four someday.
> www.w0btu.com/160_meters.html#inv-l_antenna
> <http://www.w0btu.com/160_meters.html#inv-l_antenna>
>
> 73, Mike
> www.w0btu.com <http://www.w0btu.com>
>
> On Tue, Dec 15, 2015 at 5:33 PM, Robert Harmon <k...@pacbell.net 
> <mailto:k...@pacbell.net>> wrote:
>
> Do the 160 verticals with 4 radials elevated at 20 feet,
> individually outperform the other vertical with 60 radials on the
> ground ?
>
>

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_
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Re: Topband: QRP

[Tom W8JI]

I have been puzzled with this question for a long time...
Given the progress on antenna and Rx-capabilities (over the years) and say
typical transceiver output power (100W),
how come it has become so rare to witness (experience) low power to low 
power

QSO's (over the USA to EU path)
during major topband contests (winter time on both continents) ?

What has happened to the topband conditions the last couple of decades?
IMO it is hard to believe this is due only to environmental noise 
increases?!




The largest problem is QRM. Mostly from intentional transmitters and also 
from hundreds of unintended transmitters that cause noise.


In the USA during contests, stations are stacked every few hundred Hz. 


_
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Re: Topband: QRP

[John K9UWA]

> What exactly is the point of operating such a difficult band, full of all 
> sorts of 
> noise, relatively awful propagation, requiring gigantic antennas, then 
> using the low power? Is it because using high power makes it so easy, 
> because it really doesn't.

It is the CHALLENGE that makes us chase DX on 160M. Whether you do it 
with 100W and a short vertical from a noisey city  lot or have a super station 
with a few hunded acres of land and unlimited antennas running full power it 
is still a Challenge to operate on 160M band.

To borrow a Quote from Garry NI6T
 "160 not a band but an obsession"

Garry is correct. No other HF Ham Band is like it. The Last Frontier !!

John k9uwa
John Goller, K9UWA & Jean Goller, N9PXF 
Antique Radio Restorations
k9...@arrl.net
Visit our Web Site at:
http://www.JohnJeanAntiqueRadio.com
4836 Ranch Road
Leo, IN 46765
USA
1-260-637-6426

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Re: Topband: QRP

[K4OWR]

 I have a questionthat will likely cause me grief; What exactly 
is the point of operating such a difficult band, full of all sorts of 
noise, relatively awful propagation, requiring gigantic antennas, then 
using the low power? Is it because using high power makes it so easy, 
because it really doesn't.



On 12/15/2015 9:14 AM, Tom W8JI wrote:

I have been puzzled with this question for a long time...
Given the progress on antenna and Rx-capabilities (over the years) 
and say

typical transceiver output power (100W),
how come it has become so rare to witness (experience) low power to 
low power

QSO's (over the USA to EU path)
during major topband contests (winter time on both continents) ?

What has happened to the topband conditions the last couple of decades?
IMO it is hard to believe this is due only to environmental noise 
increases?!




The largest problem is QRM. Mostly from intentional transmitters and 
also from hundreds of unintended transmitters that cause noise.


In the USA during contests, stations are stacked every few hundred Hz.
_
Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband



_
Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband

Topband: QRP

[Art Snapper]

Has anyone achieved DXCC on 160 meters using QRP?

Or is anyone even close?

73,
Art NK8X


ᐧ
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Re: Topband: Topband QRP WAS

[Charles Moizeau]

Incorrect date and day.  According to NAQCC their annual NAQCC 160m sprint will 
occur in North America on FRIDAY, 15 January 2016.  This can be seen at:

http://www.naqcc.info/SprintEastern.txt

72,

Charles, W2SH 

> Date: Sat, 5 Dec 2015 14:49:47 -0500
> From: tsho...@gmail.com
> To: j...@audiosystemsgroup.com
> Subject: Re: Topband: Topband QRP WAS
> CC: topband@contesting.com
> 
> Jim, since you bring up QRP on 160M, I would like to promote the upcoming
> NAQCC 160M QRP sprint. 0130Z-0330Z January 13 2016 (which I think means
> it's our Tuesday night). http://naqcc.info/sprint201601_160.html
> 
> I usually participate and enjoy it, but do not always send in my log due to
> the required obtuse log format.
> 
> Tim N3QE
> 
> On Sat, Dec 5, 2015 at 12:50 PM, Jim Brown <j...@audiosystemsgroup.com>
> wrote:
> 
> > On Sat,12/5/2015 8:40 AM, Richard (Rick) Karlquist wrote:
> >
> >> Last night, I worked several CT, KY, and SC, and at least 1 MS.
> >>
> >
> > I found condx pretty stinko last night to the east coast. Lots of W1
> > spotted, none heard. K8JQ was heard, but not loud. The very dependable NO3M
> > and WD5R were not very loud and didn't hear me. Let's hope tonight is
> > better.
> >
> > Yes, N4OGW and WQ5L are good ops with a decent signal from MS, but both
> > seem to go to bed too early to work from W6. :)
> >
> >
> > On Sat,12/5/2015 8:01 AM, K4OWR wrote:
> >
> >> I have had great success contesting on this band (avg 1000qs) but not
> >> really much DX. My country total is about 15. I'm reading here about some
> >> people working DX and wondering about when I need to get on to hear this
> >> stuff. I see the word "overnight" but wondering around what time is best.
> >> I'm in east TN.
> >>
> >
> > 160M is an all night band, and 160 contests are all night contests.
> > Conditions often vary quite a lot through the night and from one night to
> > another.  From the beginning of the contest (around 5 pm EST) work EU, AF,
> > SA, and NA until local sunrise at the DX QTH. Through the night and until
> > about 30 minutes after your own sunrise, work west.  Signals to the west
> > will peak at their sunset and again in the hour or so around your sunrise.
> > Beverages and other dedicated RX antennas will help pull out weaker signals.
> >
> > In addition to all of that, with legal limit power and decent vertical
> > antenna, I can work 800 miles in the daylight hours.
> >
> > 73, Jim K9YC Santa Cruz, CA
> >
> > _
> > Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
> >
> _
> Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
  
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Re: Topband: Topband QRP WAS

[Richard (Rick) Karlquist]

On 12/4/2015 9:38 PM, Jim Brown wrote:

I'm still working on this, and need a handful of states. They are CT,
VT, WV, KY, SC, andMS.  I'm 70 miles S of San Francisco, on the coast.

The best time to make these QSOs has been in the 90 or so minutes before
local sunrise at the east coast end, and for perhaps 30-45 minutes after
local sunrise. If you're calling CQ, I'll find you and do my best to
make you hear me. :)

Thanks and 73, Jim K9YC


Last night, I worked several CT, KY, and SC, and at least 1 MS.
However, these were before 0730Z. I too got up at 1130Z and I
think I only worked KY on your list this morning. OTOH, JA's
were booming in this morning, especially JA3YBK who can be
counted on to be the strongest JA, yet I didn't hear him
CQ'ing on 1811 as usual.  He called me.

Activity seemed to be down, so I didn't have a lot of trouble
getting a run frequency (even running low power) in the
"dime quarter" band (1810-1825) where JA's hang out. In the
past, this has virtually been a combat zone.

Still need (for the contest) WV and VT (always tough to find
and work from here).

Rick N6RK

_
Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband

Re: Topband: Topband QRP WAS

[Jim Brown]

On Sat,12/5/2015 8:40 AM, Richard (Rick) Karlquist wrote:
Last night, I worked several CT, KY, and SC, and at least 1 MS. 


I found condx pretty stinko last night to the east coast. Lots of W1 
spotted, none heard. K8JQ was heard, but not loud. The very dependable 
NO3M and WD5R were not very loud and didn't hear me. Let's hope tonight 
is better.


Yes, N4OGW and WQ5L are good ops with a decent signal from MS, but both 
seem to go to bed too early to work from W6. :)



On Sat,12/5/2015 8:01 AM, K4OWR wrote:
I have had great success contesting on this band (avg 1000qs) but not 
really much DX. My country total is about 15. I'm reading here about 
some people working DX and wondering about when I need to get on to 
hear this stuff. I see the word "overnight" but wondering around what 
time is best. I'm in east TN. 


160M is an all night band, and 160 contests are all night contests. 
Conditions often vary quite a lot through the night and from one night 
to another.  From the beginning of the contest (around 5 pm EST) work 
EU, AF, SA, and NA until local sunrise at the DX QTH. Through the night 
and until about 30 minutes after your own sunrise, work west.  Signals 
to the west will peak at their sunset and again in the hour or so around 
your sunrise.  Beverages and other dedicated RX antennas will help pull 
out weaker signals.


In addition to all of that, with legal limit power and decent vertical 
antenna, I can work 800 miles in the daylight hours.


73, Jim K9YC Santa Cruz, CA
_
Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband

Re: Topband: Topband QRP WAS

[Art Snapper]

I'm a relative newbie on 160 (about 5 years) but it seems most DX hangs out
on CW between 1820 and 1835. The situation may be different during
contests, due to channel availability.

73
de NK8X
ᐧ

On Sat, Dec 5, 2015 at 1:14 PM, K4OWR  wrote:

>  Although I can work CW, I don't usually. It's not clear what mode you
> guys use most.  I often go up to the shack around 9pm and listen around for
> an hour or so, but rarely hear much activity other then the local obnoxious
> ragchewers who will complain to me that I'm "splattering" on their
> conversation 10 khz away. I always find that they are using their
> noiseblankers out of habit and don't seem to comprehend what this does to
> their selectivitysigh. Anyway, I would appreciate hearing what Fx most
> of you find best for DX, and is phone only hampering me?
> BILL K4OWR
>
>
>
>
> On 12/5/2015 12:50 PM, Jim Brown wrote:
>
>> On Sat,12/5/2015 8:40 AM, Richard (Rick) Karlquist wrote:
>>
>>> Last night, I worked several CT, KY, and SC, and at least 1 MS.
>>>
>>
>> I found condx pretty stinko last night to the east coast. Lots of W1
>> spotted, none heard. K8JQ was heard, but not loud. The very dependable NO3M
>> and WD5R were not very loud and didn't hear me. Let's hope tonight is
>> better.
>>
>> Yes, N4OGW and WQ5L are good ops with a decent signal from MS, but both
>> seem to go to bed too early to work from W6. :)
>>
>>
>> On Sat,12/5/2015 8:01 AM, K4OWR wrote:
>>
>>> I have had great success contesting on this band (avg 1000qs) but not
>>> really much DX. My country total is about 15. I'm reading here about some
>>> people working DX and wondering about when I need to get on to hear this
>>> stuff. I see the word "overnight" but wondering around what time is best.
>>> I'm in east TN.
>>>
>>
>> 160M is an all night band, and 160 contests are all night contests.
>> Conditions often vary quite a lot through the night and from one night to
>> another.  From the beginning of the contest (around 5 pm EST) work EU, AF,
>> SA, and NA until local sunrise at the DX QTH. Through the night and until
>> about 30 minutes after your own sunrise, work west.  Signals to the west
>> will peak at their sunset and again in the hour or so around your sunrise.
>> Beverages and other dedicated RX antennas will help pull out weaker signals.
>>
>> In addition to all of that, with legal limit power and decent vertical
>> antenna, I can work 800 miles in the daylight hours.
>>
>> 73, Jim K9YC Santa Cruz, CA
>> _
>> Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
>>
>>
> _
> Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
>
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Re: Topband: Topband QRP WAS

[Richard (Rick) Karlquist]

On 12/5/2015 10:30 AM, Jim Brown wrote:

160M is a CW band for anything but mindless ragchewing.

73, Jim K9YC
_


During the sunspot minimum a few years ago, I
worked European Russia on 160 phone.

Rick N6RK
_
Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband

Re: Topband: Topband QRP WAS

[Jim Brown]

On Sat,12/5/2015 10:38 AM, Richard (Rick) Karlquist wrote:

I worked a station in ENY in the contest yesterday at 3:30 PM local
time, well over an hour before sunset. 


Yes. Stations in w8, W9, and VE3 are often loud and clear during these 
hours, but are mostly using RX antennas aimed at EU, so are very 
difficult to work. I once worked a VE3 and/or a W9 in this time frame, 
but only one, and I've not bothered trying again. This was with legal 
limit on my end, not QRP. :)


73, Jim K9YC


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Re: Topband: Topband QRP WAS

[Richard (Rick) Karlquist]

On 12/5/2015 9:50 AM, Jim Brown wrote:


In addition to all of that, with legal limit power and decent vertical
antenna, I can work 800 miles in the daylight hours.

73, Jim K9YC Santa Cruz, CA


I worked a station in ENY in the contest yesterday at 3:30 PM local
time, well over an hour before sunset.

Rick N6RK
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Re: Topband: Topband QRP WAS

[DL1AMQ]

During last few days/weeks I see a dramatic difference of DXpropagation in 80m 
vs. 160m band. On 80m I worked US states CA and WA during US SS contest while 
no one US station can be really heard on TopBand.
This difference appears in a gap of frequency of about 1,7 Mhz only.

I assume, the smaller the gap the smaller the difference in DXpropagation.
My question is: why all intercontinental DX happens at the band edge of 1.8 MHz 
instead of the "faster" band edge at 2.0 MHz to get closer to the "good DXprop 
range" ?

One possible reason I see is DX window to JA.
I would like to check DXprop between US <=> EU at TopBands both edges to 
compare in practice. 
Any comments ?

73 de Thomas, DL1AMQ


> Gesendet: Samstag, 05. Dezember 2015 um 19:30 Uhr
> Von: "Jim Brown" <j...@audiosystemsgroup.com>
> An: topband@contesting.com
> Betreff: Re: Topband: Topband QRP WAS
>
> On Sat,12/5/2015 10:14 AM, K4OWR wrote:
> > Anyway, I would appreciate hearing what Fx most of you find best for 
> > DX, and is phone only hampering me? 
> 
> 160M is a CW band for anything but mindless ragchewing.
> 
> 73, Jim K9YC
> _
> Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
> 
_
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Re: Topband: DX on 160, was: Topband QRP WAS

[K4OWR]

 Ok. That explains my experience in so few DX contacts. I'll change 
that immediately; although I do enjoy ragchewing with other similar 
interest hams. I find CW cumbersome for that since it breaks down simple 
conversation into one letter at a time; but the weak signal benefits are 
huge.
Now all I have to do is commit to going up to the shack (about 150' up 
the hill) in the relative dark and cold much later in the evening, or as 
you guys recommend before sunrise.
I do not leave the heat on up there so it will be very cold here on a 
Tennessee morning :-)
In the meantime I look forward to working you guys and will fire up 
between 1820-1840 from now on. My antennas are set for 1:1 swr at about 
1860 but are fairly broad for some lucky reason. I do not use antenna 
tuners, especially on 160 where I find them to be a fire hazard with my 
big amp :-

Thanx for all the terrific info!!
BILL K4OWR

On 12/5/2015 2:14 PM, Mark Lunday wrote:

Bill, all of my DX is on CW.  Anywhere from 1820 to 1840. In fact, the only
DX I have on SSB on 160 is a handful of Carib stations.  Because of the
challenging conditions of TopBand, CW for me is the way to go.  Some folks
have a lot of luck with WSJT or other digital modes...I have not tried that
yet as the DX I am chasing is not common and is not on digital.

  Check out ON4KST chat room for real-time info.

Mark Lunday, WD4ELG
Greensboro, NC  FM06be
wd4...@arrl.net
http://wd4elg.blogspot.com


-Original Message-
From: Topband [mailto:topband-boun...@contesting.com] On Behalf Of K4OWR
Sent: Saturday, December 05, 2015 1:15 PM
To: topband@contesting.com
Subject: Re: Topband: Topband QRP WAS

 Although I can work CW, I don't usually. It's not clear what mode you
guys use most.  I often go up to the shack around 9pm and listen around for
an hour or so, but rarely hear much activity other then the local obnoxious
ragchewers who will complain to me that I'm "splattering" on their
conversation 10 khz away. I always find that they are using their
noiseblankers out of habit and don't seem to comprehend what this does to
their selectivitysigh. Anyway, I would appreciate hearing what Fx most
of you find best for DX, and is phone only hampering me?
BILL K4OWR





_
Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband

Re: Topband: Topband QRP WAS

[Tim Shoppa]

Jim, since you bring up QRP on 160M, I would like to promote the upcoming
NAQCC 160M QRP sprint. 0130Z-0330Z January 13 2016 (which I think means
it's our Tuesday night). http://naqcc.info/sprint201601_160.html

I usually participate and enjoy it, but do not always send in my log due to
the required obtuse log format.

Tim N3QE

On Sat, Dec 5, 2015 at 12:50 PM, Jim Brown 
wrote:

> On Sat,12/5/2015 8:40 AM, Richard (Rick) Karlquist wrote:
>
>> Last night, I worked several CT, KY, and SC, and at least 1 MS.
>>
>
> I found condx pretty stinko last night to the east coast. Lots of W1
> spotted, none heard. K8JQ was heard, but not loud. The very dependable NO3M
> and WD5R were not very loud and didn't hear me. Let's hope tonight is
> better.
>
> Yes, N4OGW and WQ5L are good ops with a decent signal from MS, but both
> seem to go to bed too early to work from W6. :)
>
>
> On Sat,12/5/2015 8:01 AM, K4OWR wrote:
>
>> I have had great success contesting on this band (avg 1000qs) but not
>> really much DX. My country total is about 15. I'm reading here about some
>> people working DX and wondering about when I need to get on to hear this
>> stuff. I see the word "overnight" but wondering around what time is best.
>> I'm in east TN.
>>
>
> 160M is an all night band, and 160 contests are all night contests.
> Conditions often vary quite a lot through the night and from one night to
> another.  From the beginning of the contest (around 5 pm EST) work EU, AF,
> SA, and NA until local sunrise at the DX QTH. Through the night and until
> about 30 minutes after your own sunrise, work west.  Signals to the west
> will peak at their sunset and again in the hour or so around your sunrise.
> Beverages and other dedicated RX antennas will help pull out weaker signals.
>
> In addition to all of that, with legal limit power and decent vertical
> antenna, I can work 800 miles in the daylight hours.
>
> 73, Jim K9YC Santa Cruz, CA
>
> _
> Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
>
_
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Re: Topband: DX on 160, was: Topband QRP WAS

[K4OWR]

 Thanks Mark. I may have overstated it's bandwidth. It does however 
play well up to 1.9 (2:1)

, and happily, my amplifier (AL82) seems to match fairly easily.
I also did not mention that so far I have only put out 5 radialsmy 
goal was to eventually get out at least 25 and more if I can in the 
spring, but it's tedious even with the little power trencher I bought 
for the purpose.

BILL K4OWR

On 12/5/2015 5:43 PM, Mark Lunday wrote:

Bill, a question about your 160 meter antenna.  I have learned from the wise
old-timers on this message board that a vertical antenna with broad-banded
behavior is a lossy antenna.  Same with a vertical antenna that shows 1:1
match.

Verticals with good efficiency have sufficient ground radials/counterpoise
and present approx 30 ohms impedance and therefore do not provide a 1:1
match (I think it's about 1.5:1 or something like that).  In addition, the
efficient verticals are not broad-banded.  Dipoles yes, verticals no.  Also,
if your antenna is not a vertical on 160, then as you know it will be an
even bigger challenge to work DX on TopBand.

Please share more details?

Mark Lunday, WD4ELG
Greensboro, NC  FM06be
wd4...@arrl.net
http://wd4elg.blogspot.com

-Original Message-
From: K4OWR [mailto:k2...@comcast.net]
Sent: Saturday, December 05, 2015 2:41 PM
To: Mark Lunday; topband@contesting.com
Subject: Re: DX on 160, was: Topband QRP WAS

 Ok. That explains my experience in so few DX contacts. I'll change that
immediately; although I do enjoy ragchewing with other similar interest
hams. I find CW cumbersome for that since it breaks down simple conversation
into one letter at a time; but the weak signal benefits are huge.
Now all I have to do is commit to going up to the shack (about 150' up the
hill) in the relative dark and cold much later in the evening, or as you
guys recommend before sunrise.
I do not leave the heat on up there so it will be very cold here on a
Tennessee morning :-) In the meantime I look forward to working you guys and
will fire up between 1820-1840 from now on. My antennas are set for 1:1 swr
at about
1860 but are fairly broad for some lucky reason. I do not use antenna
tuners, especially on 160 where I find them to be a fire hazard with my big
amp :- Thanx for all the terrific info!!
BILL K4OWR




_
Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband

Re: Topband: Topband QRP WAS

[Tim Shoppa]

Rich, you comment on the "combat zone" aspect of ARRL 160M in past years
and how it's not so bad this year.

I agree that past couple years it was brutal but last night, not so bad. I
don't feel activity was down, just maybe a little bit more rationally
spread out. DX window wasn't perfectly respected but did have some useful
sparseness, and the DX certainly did not feel confined to that window
either.

I had some hugely successful runs high in the band (1850-1860), others were
running up there plus a little more, and we were not chased away by the
usual phone nets reserving "their frequency". I think reduced QRM from
phone nets, allowing a busy CW night to have just a little breathing room,
was the big improvement.

Tim N3QE

On Sat, Dec 5, 2015 at 11:40 AM, Richard (Rick) Karlquist <
rich...@karlquist.com> wrote:

>
> On 12/4/2015 9:38 PM, Jim Brown wrote:
>
>> I'm still working on this, and need a handful of states. They are CT,
>> VT, WV, KY, SC, andMS.  I'm 70 miles S of San Francisco, on the coast.
>>
>> The best time to make these QSOs has been in the 90 or so minutes before
>> local sunrise at the east coast end, and for perhaps 30-45 minutes after
>> local sunrise. If you're calling CQ, I'll find you and do my best to
>> make you hear me. :)
>>
>> Thanks and 73, Jim K9YC
>>
>
> Last night, I worked several CT, KY, and SC, and at least 1 MS.
> However, these were before 0730Z. I too got up at 1130Z and I
> think I only worked KY on your list this morning. OTOH, JA's
> were booming in this morning, especially JA3YBK who can be
> counted on to be the strongest JA, yet I didn't hear him
> CQ'ing on 1811 as usual.  He called me.
>
> Activity seemed to be down, so I didn't have a lot of trouble
> getting a run frequency (even running low power) in the
> "dime quarter" band (1810-1825) where JA's hang out. In the
> past, this has virtually been a combat zone.
>
> Still need (for the contest) WV and VT (always tough to find
> and work from here).
>
> Rick N6RK
>
>
> _
> Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
>
_
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Re: Topband: DX on 160, was: Topband QRP WAS

[Mark Lunday]

Bill, a question about your 160 meter antenna.  I have learned from the wise
old-timers on this message board that a vertical antenna with broad-banded
behavior is a lossy antenna.  Same with a vertical antenna that shows 1:1
match.

Verticals with good efficiency have sufficient ground radials/counterpoise
and present approx 30 ohms impedance and therefore do not provide a 1:1
match (I think it's about 1.5:1 or something like that).  In addition, the
efficient verticals are not broad-banded.  Dipoles yes, verticals no.  Also,
if your antenna is not a vertical on 160, then as you know it will be an
even bigger challenge to work DX on TopBand.

Please share more details?

Mark Lunday, WD4ELG
Greensboro, NC  FM06be
wd4...@arrl.net
http://wd4elg.blogspot.com

-Original Message-
From: K4OWR [mailto:k2...@comcast.net] 
Sent: Saturday, December 05, 2015 2:41 PM
To: Mark Lunday; topband@contesting.com
Subject: Re: DX on 160, was: Topband QRP WAS

 Ok. That explains my experience in so few DX contacts. I'll change that
immediately; although I do enjoy ragchewing with other similar interest
hams. I find CW cumbersome for that since it breaks down simple conversation
into one letter at a time; but the weak signal benefits are huge.
Now all I have to do is commit to going up to the shack (about 150' up the
hill) in the relative dark and cold much later in the evening, or as you
guys recommend before sunrise.
I do not leave the heat on up there so it will be very cold here on a
Tennessee morning :-) In the meantime I look forward to working you guys and
will fire up between 1820-1840 from now on. My antennas are set for 1:1 swr
at about
1860 but are fairly broad for some lucky reason. I do not use antenna
tuners, especially on 160 where I find them to be a fire hazard with my big
amp :- Thanx for all the terrific info!!
BILL K4OWR

_
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Re: Topband: DX on 160, was: Topband QRP WAS

[Tom W8JI]

On 12/5/2015 5:43 PM, Mark Lunday wrote:
Bill, a question about your 160 meter antenna.  I have learned from the 
wise
old-timers on this message board that a vertical antenna with 
broad-banded

behavior is a lossy antenna.  Same with a vertical antenna that shows 1:1
match.


Some people might believe that myth, but it isn't true.

Bandwidth is a meaningless determinant of efficiency. SWR is meaningless 
also, by itself, in indicating efficiency.


Verticals with good efficiency have sufficient ground 
radials/counterpoise

and present approx 30 ohms impedance and therefore do not provide a 1:1
match (I think it's about 1.5:1 or something like that).  In addition, 
the
efficient verticals are not broad-banded.  Dipoles yes, verticals no. 
Also,

if your antenna is not a vertical on 160, then as you know it will be an
even bigger challenge to work DX on TopBand.


A 1/4 wave tall tower with a perfect ground system will cover all of the 
band with reasonable SWR change. If series fed they will be around 30 ohms 
depending in many things, but that still does not tell us efficiency.


efficient verticals are not broad-banded.  Dipoles yes, verticals no. 
Also,

if your antenna is not a vertical on 160, then as you know it will be an
even bigger challenge to work DX on TopBand.


Actually that is exactly backwards, Mark.

Dipoles are narrower than 1/4 wave verticals, all things equal. This is 
because a 1/4 wave vertical has half the resonant length.


73 Tom 


_
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Topband: Topband QRP WAS

[Jim Brown]

I'm still working on this, and need a handful of states. They are CT, 
VT, WV, KY, SC, andMS.  I'm 70 miles S of San Francisco, on the coast.


The best time to make these QSOs has been in the 90 or so minutes before 
local sunrise at the east coast end, and for perhaps 30-45 minutes after 
local sunrise. If you're calling CQ, I'll find you and do my best to 
make you hear me. :)


Thanks and 73, Jim K9YC
_
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Topband: QRP ARCI 160 meter sprint

[James Rodenkirch]

This annual contest is scheduled for Z to 0600Z, 27 November, next 
Wednesday evening.
 
I know, I knowit's QRP and there are few participants amongst you all but 
 if you are on Top Band that evening and hear our pathetically weak sigs 
and are in the moodanswer us and send the desired report (you operating at 
 5 watts I no big deal - see exchange below):
 
ARCI: RST + (state/province/country) + ARCI No.
non-ARCI: RST + (state/province/country) + power outY'all sure appreciate our 4 
point value during the Stew events so return the favor, por favor, iffn' your 
on the air next Wednesday evening.72, Jim Rodenkirch K9JWV  
 
  
_
Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband

Topband: QRP ARCI 160 meter sprint

[James Rodenkirch]

This annual contest is scheduled for Z to 0600Z, 27 November, next 
Wednesday evening.
 
 I know, I knowit's QRP and there are few participants amongst you all but 
 
if you are on Top Band that evening and hear our pathetically weak sigs and are 
in the mood,
answer our plaintive CQs and send the desired report.
 
Note: you operating at  5 watts is no big deal - see exchange below:
 
 ARCI: RST + (state/province/country) + ARCI No.
non-ARCI: RST + (state/province/country) + power out.
 
Y'all sure appreciate our 4 point value during the Stew events so,
return the favor, por favor, iffn' your on the air next Wednesday evening.
 
72, Jim Rodenkirch K9JWV  


  
_
Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband

Re: Topband: QRP ARCI 160 meter sprint

[James Rodenkirch]

OHCW and SSB modes are utilized for this event. 
 
 From: rodenkirch_...@msn.com
 To: topband@contesting.com
 Date: Fri, 21 Nov 2014 07:48:22 -0700
 Subject: Topband:  QRP ARCI 160 meter sprint
 
 This annual contest is scheduled for Z to 0600Z, 27 November, next 
Wednesday evening.
  
 I know, I knowit's QRP and there are few participants amongst you all but 
 
 if you are on Top Band that evening and hear our pathetically weak sigs and 
are in the mood,
 answer our plaintive CQs and send the desired report.
  
 Note: you operating at  5 watts is no big deal - see exchange below:
  
  ARCI: RST + (state/province/country) + ARCI No.
 non-ARCI: RST + (state/province/country) + power out.
  
 Y'all sure appreciate our 4 point value during the Stew events so,
 return the favor, por favor, iffn' your on the air next Wednesday evening.
  
 72, Jim Rodenkirch K9JWV 
_
Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband

Re: Topband: QRP ARCI 160 meter sprint

[Tim Shoppa]

Thank you James! I do not think I have done the QRP ARCI events in the past
but I will give this 160M one a try. Wednesday right before Thanksgiving
actually works out well for me. This will be my first SO2R effort, and I
will be doing some improvements to give me pushbutton receive antenna
selection at both rigs.

There is also a NAQCC 160M event coming up in January:
http://naqcc.info/sprint201501_160.html

In the NAQCC 160M events I reliably have good solid exchanges with from
upper midwest down to Texas. My west-facing pennant is a real winner to
upper midwest and my K9AY pointing SW works good for Texas and Georgia etc.

Sweepstakes certainly doesn't have much representation on 160M but I was
very impressed by many impressive QRP station performances on 80M in both
CW and SSB sweepstakes.

Tim N3QE

On Fri, Nov 21, 2014 at 9:45 AM, James Rodenkirch rodenkirch_...@msn.com
wrote:

 This annual contest is scheduled for Z to 0600Z, 27 November, next
 Wednesday evening.

 I know, I knowit's QRP and there are few participants amongst you all
 but  if you are on Top Band that evening and hear our pathetically weak
 sigs and are in the moodanswer us and send the desired report (you
 operating at  5 watts I no big deal - see exchange below):

 ARCI: RST + (state/province/country) + ARCI No.
 non-ARCI: RST + (state/province/country) + power outY'all sure appreciate
 our 4 point value during the Stew events so return the favor, por favor,
 iffn' your on the air next Wednesday evening.72, Jim Rodenkirch K9JWV


 _
 Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband

_
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Re: Topband: QRP ARCI 160 meter sprint

[James Rodenkirch]

I'm hoping there will be SOME QRP participants, Tim, but remember being in it 
two years ago and pickings were slim.  I have promoted it at the QRP-L 
reflector as well.
 
Problem for us out west is that a 1700 local start time is kinda early 
BUT...I'll be there with bells on - hihi 
 
 Date: Fri, 21 Nov 2014 10:43:26 -0500
 From: tsho...@gmail.com
 To: rodenkirch_...@msn.com; topband@contesting.com
 Subject: Re: Topband: QRP ARCI 160 meter sprint
 
 Thank you James! I do not think I have done the QRP ARCI events in the past
 but I will give this 160M one a try. Wednesday right before Thanksgiving
 actually works out well for me. This will be my first SO2R effort, and I
 will be doing some improvements to give me pushbutton receive antenna
 selection at both rigs.
 
 There is also a NAQCC 160M event coming up in January:
 http://naqcc.info/sprint201501_160.html
 
 In the NAQCC 160M events I reliably have good solid exchanges with from
 upper midwest down to Texas. My west-facing pennant is a real winner to
 upper midwest and my K9AY pointing SW works good for Texas and Georgia etc.
 
 Sweepstakes certainly doesn't have much representation on 160M but I was
 very impressed by many impressive QRP station performances on 80M in both
 CW and SSB sweepstakes.
 
 Tim N3QE
 
 On Fri, Nov 21, 2014 at 9:45 AM, James Rodenkirch rodenkirch_...@msn.com
 wrote:
 
  This annual contest is scheduled for Z to 0600Z, 27 November, next
  Wednesday evening.
 
  I know, I knowit's QRP and there are few participants amongst you all
  but  if you are on Top Band that evening and hear our pathetically weak
  sigs and are in the moodanswer us and send the desired report (you
  operating at  5 watts I no big deal - see exchange below):
 
  ARCI: RST + (state/province/country) + ARCI No.
  non-ARCI: RST + (state/province/country) + power outY'all sure appreciate
  our 4 point value during the Stew events so return the favor, por favor,
  iffn' your on the air next Wednesday evening.72, Jim Rodenkirch K9JWV
 
 
  _
  Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
 
 _
 Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
  
_
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Topband: QRP ARCI Top Band Sprint

[James Rodenkirch]

G'day, Boys and Girls!!  The QRP ARCI Club is sponsoring a Top Band Sprint this 
evening (see below for details on times and exchange).
I know it isn't a big deal to y'all, Top Band wise - often, it seems, on Top 
Band if it's not DX or one of the Stew events OR a CQ or ARRL contest, it's not 
all that important enough to turn the rig on - but, for us true little 
pistols, this is one of a few contests where we get to compete against our 
own kind, so to speak and we'd appreciate hearing and working some of you who 
might not bother on a normal evening of listening, to answer our weak 
signaled CQ test.
Note: you don't have to get your operating manual out to figure out how to 
crank your power down to 5 watts!! Just send your power out as part of the 
exchange.  
Thank you, in advance, to those of you who take the time to participate - us 
little pistols appreciate any involvement you can muster uwe will return 
the favor, if possible, by offering up 4 point Qs during the Stew Perry events.
72, Jim Rodenkirch K9JWV
Date/Time: Z to 0600Z on 28 November 2013(Note, this is the evening of 27 
November 2013 in North America)
B) Mode: SSB, CW or Mixed Modes.  Work stations once per mode if entering the 
Mixed Mode category.
C) Exchange: Members send:  RS(T), State/Province/Country, ARCI member 
numberNon-Members send:  RS(T), State/Province/Country, Power Out   
   
_
Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband

Re: Topband: QRP ARCI Top Band Sprint

[Jim Brown]

On 11/27/2013 6:09 AM, James Rodenkirch wrote:

  Z to 0600Z on 28 November 2013(Note, this is the evening of 27 November 
2013 in North America)


Ho hum. Yet another East Coast-centric contest. By the time that W6 can 
work anything east of Utah, the event has been over for several hours.


73, Jim K9YC
_
Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband

Topband: QRP Question...

[Jim F.]

Had so much fun in the Stew with an Elecraft K1 but it overloaded / 
desensitized with 
many strong signals.  It uses a NE602 equiv. Gilbert Cell product detector.
 
Am thinking about a KX-3 or TenTec 539.  Anyone have comments about
either on 160m ?   Or some other choice ?
 
73
 
Jim / W1FMR
 
 
 
___
Stew Perry Topband Distance Challenge coming on December 29th.

Topband: QRP/Poor antenna stations ARRL160

[jon jones]

While not running QRP, my antenna in the ARRL 160 was loading up the rain 
gutter on ourone story rental duplex in Lawrence, KS. Maximum height is about 
10 feet above ground, a marginalTop Band antenaa at best. I set up to hand out 
some contacts in the contest. Oddly, it loaded easilywith a MFJ tuner.   N0TT, 
N0NI, W0SD, AA1K and about 80 other stations heard me, most on first or second 
call Saturday night. Best DXwas probably KA6BIM/7 in Oregon. Good ops and 
patient with the weak signal crowd. I found it easier to work stations after 
mid-night as many of the big ops were hungry for QSOs. Butseveral stations were 
not worked who kept calling CQ over and over with almost no time listening...

 - N0JK

Some harder than others.  W0SD gave my QRP signal a real good try early 
in the evening, but couldn't get the exchange. I'll certainly try again 
tonight.  N0TT and N0NI heard me almost right away, but it took some 
repeats to get in their logs. They were my best DX last night. I worked 
several NM stations, but WD5COV, even when on his 20 over S9 west-facing 
TX antenna, never gave me so much as a QRZ for the several dozen times I 
called, and had his auto CQ set for a very short recycle time.
 
If you're going to work weak signals, both sides of the QSO need 
patience, operating skill, and good ears. There are FAR too many 
alligators on the band. Doing the math, 20dB down from 1.5 kW is 15 
watts, and a 5W signal would be S8. If your noise level is S8, IMO, you 
have no business running 1.5kW! - K9YC
 













  
___
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Re: Topband: QRP/Poor antenna stations ARRL160

[Jim Brown]

On 12/3/2012 8:18 AM, Bill Stewart wrote:

N0TT, N0NI, W0SD, AA1K and about 80 other stations heard me, most on first or 
second call Saturday night. Best DXwas probably KA6BIM/7 in Oregon. Good ops 
and patient with the weak signal crowd.


YES!  I ran QRP with 5 watts, putting in a total of about 11 hours. I'm 
70 miles S of San Francisco, which is about 2,300 miles from NO3M and 
K8KS. Both of them pulled me out of the noise, with a lot of serious 
work on their end (take a look at NO3M's RX antennas, described on his 
website). KH6LC, KL7RA,N0TT,  N0NI, K5KC, N8OO, and WD5R heard me right 
away, and needed only a repeat on my section. W0SD heard me, but it took 
two tries and a lot of repeats to make the QSO. VY2ZM heard me, gave me 
a lot of QRZ?, but never copied my call.  I ended up with 130 QSOs in 36 
sections and 26 states.  West of the Mississippi, I missed only ND, NTX, 
and WTX.  Never heard ND and WTX. Thanks to them for the QSOs.


WD5COV (20 dB over S9), K9CT, WB9Z, W8MJ, K9AY were loud (S9 most of the 
time), but alligators.  None got into my log. All were CQ machines, with 
listening times in the millisecond range.


Conditions to W1, W2, and the rest of the east coast seemed quite a bit 
down from previous years.


73, Jim K9YC
___
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Re: Topband: QRP/Poor antenna stations ARRL160

[DAVID CUTHBERT]

Carl, Tree and all the rest I find it fascinating how just about any piece
of random metal and low power will yield top band contacts.

For the Stew Perry I propose an award for *lamest antenna* or something
to that effect. I'll sponsor the plaque if some such award becomes part of
the Stew.

 Dave WX7G
___
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Re: Topband: QRP/Poor antenna stations ARRL160

[Bob Kupps]

Outstanding idea Dave!  Set a minimum number of QSOs/Watt to qualify and the 
Cuthbert Cup will become a coveted award.



 From: DAVID CUTHBERT telegraph...@gmail.com
To: ZR z...@jeremy.mv.com 
Cc: topband@contesting.com 
Sent: Tuesday, December 4, 2012 9:38 AM
Subject: Re: Topband: QRP/Poor antenna stations ARRL160
 
Carl, Tree and all the rest I find it fascinating how just about any piece
of random metal and low power will yield top band contacts.

For the Stew Perry I propose an award for *lamest antenna* or something
to that effect. I'll sponsor the plaque if some such award becomes part of
the Stew.

     Dave WX7G
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Re: Topband: QRP/Poor antenna stations ARRL160

[ZR]

I made roughly 40-50 sporadic contacts using a 1939 Meissner VFO at 5-6W and 
a 1934 National FB-XA, didnt even log them. Nothing spectacular since I 
wasnt interested in staying up past 10PM (-;  Antenna was the inverted vee 
at 180'; it was too early for the vertical based on a few A:B listenings. 
The Beverages with a BCB filter helped the very basic mixer (no RF stage) 
front end considerably.


Carl
KM1H



- Original Message - 
From: DAVID CUTHBERT telegraph...@gmail.com

To: Bill Stewart cw...@embarqmail.com
Cc: topband@contesting.com; jon jones n...@hotmail.com
Sent: Monday, December 03, 2012 4:19 PM
Subject: Re: Topband: QRP/Poor antenna stations ARRL160



N6VW reports driving 5 watts into his apartment plumbing against the AC
system ground and making a couples dozen QSOs in the 'test.

Dave WX7G
On Dec 3, 2012 9:19 AM, Bill Stewart cw...@embarqmail.com wrote:


Jon,
Good job with a minimal setup.
I worked ten stations using my homebrew 1924 4-coil Meissner osc,
using a C-301A tube ('24 vintage) at about 4 watts input (maybe 1.5 out).
The antenna was a 160m off ctr fed hertz, now called a windom, at 35ft.
Most of the stns I worked were in PA, TN and FL. Hope to be squeaking 
this

w/e in an AWA event. Great fun.
73 de Bill K4JYS (NC)

- Original Message -

While not running QRP, my antenna in the ARRL 160 was loading up the rain
gutter on ourone story rental duplex in Lawrence, KS. Maximum height is
about 10 feet above ground, a marginalTop Band antenaa at best. I set up 
to

hand out some contacts in the contest. Oddly, it loaded easilywith a MFJ
tuner.   N0TT, N0NI, W0SD, AA1K and about 80 other stations heard me, 
most

on first or second call Saturday night. Best DXwas probably KA6BIM/7 in
Oregon. Good ops and patient with the weak signal crowd. I found it 
easier

to work stations after mid-night as many of the big ops were hungry for
QSOs. Butseveral stations were not worked who kept calling CQ over and 
over

with almost no time listening...

 - N0JK

Some harder than others.  W0SD gave my QRP signal a real good try early
in the evening, but couldn't get the exchange. I'll certainly try again
tonight.  N0TT and N0NI heard me almost right away, but it took some
repeats to get in their logs. They were my best DX last night. I worked
several NM stations, but WD5COV, even when on his 20 over S9 west-facing
TX antenna, never gave me so much as a QRZ for the several dozen times I
called, and had his auto CQ set for a very short recycle time.

If you're going to work weak signals, both sides of the QSO need
patience, operating skill, and good ears. There are FAR too many
alligators on the band. Doing the math, 20dB down from 1.5 kW is 15
watts, and a 5W signal would be S8. If your noise level is S8, IMO, you
have no business running 1.5kW! - K9YC















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Topband: QRP in CQWW from condo

[Jim F.]

Didn't do well from NH.   A new inverted 150' sloping inv. L with two 130' 
raised radials
heard many more EU than usual from the condo but very weak.  Did manage
a G4, F5, and C6.
 
Planning to change the sloping part of the inv. L to vertical (40') for the 
next contest
and hope for improvement.
 
With the two raised radials connected the SWR did not change when some on-ground
random radials were connected.
 
A question:  
Using the 2 above ground radials should the house/rig/A.C. grounds be isolated 
from them ?
 
It seems like the 2 above ground radials control antenna impedance and not much 
change
 when house ground and random on-ground radials are connected.
 
BTW on 20m worked P75T in Zone 25.  An Asian site posted a North Korean location
for that call.  Anyone have info on that ?   Apparent bootlegger ?
 
Fun contest with many tremendous 160m VE signals.  
Heard HK1NA pretty well but no QSO on 160. 
 
73
 
Jim / W1FMR
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
___
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Topband: QRP and Bird 43 Watt meter help

[Jim WA9YSD]

I found out from Bird that the 10H slug is no longer in production. 
Stopped 7 years ago. Had issues with accuracy and very difficult to build.
The 25H is currently in production. Accuracy is within 10% full scale :-(

A company called REDOT make an HF meter for around 130 bucks.
Any experience with this? Specs looks good.
 

Stay on course, fight a good fight, and keep the faith. Jim K9TF/WA9YSD
___
UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK

Re: Topband: QRP and Bird 43 Watt meter help

[Bill Wichers]

You might check Coaxial Dynamics (CDI). Their slugs are interchangeable with 
the Bird slugs and they have some ranges that Bird might not, apparently. Some 
of the less common Bird slugs (like the 2500 watt ranges) are sometimes cheaper 
from CDI too. Ever since Bird stopped using the metal shell for their slugs 
there is little difference between Bird and CDI units.

  -Bill

 -Original Message-
 From: topband-boun...@contesting.com [mailto:topband-
 boun...@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Jim WA9YSD
 Sent: Monday, July 02, 2012 1:23 PM
 To: Top Band
 Subject: Topband: QRP and Bird 43 Watt meter help
 
 I found out from Bird that the 10H slug is no longer in production.
 Stopped 7 years ago. Had issues with accuracy and very difficult to build.
 The 25H is currently in production. Accuracy is within 10% full scale :-(
 
 A company called REDOT make an HF meter for around 130 bucks.
 Any experience with this? Specs looks good.
 
 
 Stay on course, fight a good fight, and keep the faith. Jim K9TF/WA9YSD
 ___
 UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
___
UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK

Topband: QRP and Bird 43 Watt meter help

[Jim WA9YSD]

Any one out there using a Bird 43 for measuring out put power for QRP?
I have a 250H element for HF.  Should I get the 50H element for HF?
I have a Ten-Tec Omni VI Plus Power turned down to minimum. with the 250H slug 
I measure 5 watts, first mark from the bottom of scale.  Not very accurate or 
is it?
There are lower wattage slugs but for a much higher frequency range.
The 250H range is 2 to 30 mhz 160M is not quite covered but I think is ok.

Stay on course, fight a good fight, and keep the faith.    Jim K9TF/WA9YSD
___
UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK

Re: Topband: QRP and Bird 43 Watt meter help

[Joe Subich, W4TV]

 There are lower wattage slugs but for a much higher frequency range.
 The 250H range is 2 to 30 mhz 160M is not quite covered but I think
 is ok.

Bird make HF (H) elements at 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 250, 500, 1000, 2500,
5000 and 1 Watts.  Finding the 5, 10, or 25 Watt elements new may
be a trick as they are only produced infrequently.  Several resellers
have used elements in some of those ranges.  RF Parts and RadioDan
stock new elements.

A Google search for Bird Elements will generate leads on sources for
both new and used elements.

73,

... Joe, W4TV



On 6/30/2012 12:11 PM, Jim WA9YSD wrote:
 Any one out there using a Bird 43 for measuring out put power for QRP?
 I have a 250H element for HF.  Should I get the 50H element for HF?
 I have a Ten-Tec Omni VI Plus Power turned down to minimum. with the 250H 
 slug I measure 5 watts, first mark from the bottom of scale.  Not very 
 accurate or is it?
 There are lower wattage slugs but for a much higher frequency range.
 The 250H range is 2 to 30 mhz 160M is not quite covered but I think is ok.

 Stay on course, fight a good fight, and keep the faith.Jim K9TF/WA9YSD
 ___
 UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK


___
UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK

Re: Topband: QRP and Bird 43 Watt meter help

[Paul Christensen]

Adding to Joe's suggestion, NM3E and Chuck Martin RF Supply are good sources 
for used Bird and Coaxial Dynamics product.  I've been pleased with both 
suppliers.

http://www.nm3e.com/

http://www.chuckmartin.com/

Paul, W9AC



- Original Message - 
From: Joe Subich, W4TV li...@subich.com
To: topband@contesting.com
Sent: Saturday, June 30, 2012 12:32 PM
Subject: Re: Topband: QRP and Bird 43 Watt meter help



 There are lower wattage slugs but for a much higher frequency range.
 The 250H range is 2 to 30 mhz 160M is not quite covered but I think
 is ok.

 Bird make HF (H) elements at 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 250, 500, 1000, 2500,
 5000 and 1 Watts.  Finding the 5, 10, or 25 Watt elements new may
 be a trick as they are only produced infrequently.  Several resellers
 have used elements in some of those ranges.  RF Parts and RadioDan
 stock new elements.

 A Google search for Bird Elements will generate leads on sources for
 both new and used elements.

 73,

... Joe, W4TV



 On 6/30/2012 12:11 PM, Jim WA9YSD wrote:
 Any one out there using a Bird 43 for measuring out put power for QRP?
 I have a 250H element for HF.  Should I get the 50H element for HF?
 I have a Ten-Tec Omni VI Plus Power turned down to minimum. with the 250H 
 slug I measure 5 watts, first mark from the bottom of scale.  Not very 
 accurate or is it?
 There are lower wattage slugs but for a much higher frequency range.
 The 250H range is 2 to 30 mhz 160M is not quite covered but I think is 
 ok.

 Stay on course, fight a good fight, and keep the faith.Jim 
 K9TF/WA9YSD
 ___
 UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK


 ___
 UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK 

___
UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK

Re: Topband: QRP and Bird 43 Watt meter help

[Bob Eldridge]

Hi Jim
Many years ago at 4U1ITU I found the Bird 43 grossly underestimated 
the power output on 160, rather embarrassing at the temple of 
regulation.
Bob VE7BS
The 250H range is 2 to 30 mhz 160M is not quite covered but I think 
is ok.

___
UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK

Re: Topband: QRP and Bird 43 Watt meter help

[HAROLD SMITH JR]

Bob,

If you had a 250H that read grossly underestimated, then you had a bad element, 
the line section or the meter. The usable range in NOT a square-wave.
 
Price W0RI

 


Hi Jim
Many years ago at 4U1ITU I found the Bird 43 grossly underestimated 
the power output on 160, rather embarrassing at the temple of 
regulation.
Bob VE7BS
The 250H range is 2 to 30 mhz 160M is not quite covered but I think 
is ok.

___
UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
___
UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK

Re: Topband: QRP and Bird 43 Watt meter help

[Gerry Treas, K8GT]

Try Webster Communications in Rochester, Michigan.  This is the old Webster 
Band Spanner mobile antennas.  He's still around, I saw him at Dayton this 
year.  He sells Bird elements.

Also, don't forget Coaxial Dynamics that sells a wattmeter that uses elements 
that are compatible with Bird wattmeters.  

73, Gerry, K8GT




___
UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK

Re: Topband: QRP and Bird 43 Watt meter help

[ZR]

Simply going to the Bird site would have given you a glimpse at one of their 
manuals that has the correction factors needed.

Carl
KM1H


- Original Message - 
From: Bob Eldridge eldri...@direct.ca
To: topband@contesting.com
Sent: Saturday, June 30, 2012 1:44 PM
Subject: Re: Topband: QRP and Bird 43 Watt meter help


 Hi Jim
 Many years ago at 4U1ITU I found the Bird 43 grossly underestimated
 the power output on 160, rather embarrassing at the temple of
 regulation.
 Bob VE7BS
The 250H range is 2 to 30 mhz 160M is not quite covered but I think
is ok.

 ___
 UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK


 -
 No virus found in this message.
 Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
 Version: 10.0.1424 / Virus Database: 2437/5100 - Release Date: 06/29/12
 

___
UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK

Re: Topband: QRP and Bird 43 Watt meter help

[Tom W8JI]

 Many years ago at 4U1ITU I found the Bird 43 grossly underestimated
 the power output on 160, rather embarrassing at the temple of
 regulation.


If that was the case, they had a bad slug. The rating of the Bird 43 and 
standard slug is + or - 5% of full scale anywhere on the scale within the 
range of the slug, but it does not go far out of tolerance just 10% below 
the low end of the specification range.

A 250-watt 2-30 MHz slug will read close to spec on 160 meters. If it is way 
off on 160, you can bet it is way off on 80 and 40 meters, too.

- or + 5% means acceptable error is 12.5 watts low or high anywhere on the 
scale, although normally when freshly calibrated they are much closer than 
that. I would not expect a 250 watt slug to be more than 10-15 watts off on 
160 meters, although the most common calibration failure is low reading. The 
low reading error almost always comes from the calibration pot making a high 
resistance connection to the wiper, meaning the slugs that go bad will age 
terribly low in reading. About 30% of my Bird slugs fail in ten years, 
despite very rarely being handled or used.

People need to remember the accuracy specs, and use slugs that keep the 
meter well up the scale if accuracy is important.

73 Tom

 

___
UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK

Re: Topband: QRP and Bird 43 Watt meter help

[Greg]

Or if you don't want to concern yourself with different slugs for different
frequencies and power levels (other than UHF)...sell your Bird wattmeter and
all the slugs and get a LP-100A which has NIST traceable calibration and
typically reads +/- 3% of the power reading from 1 W to 3000W and you
get peak or average reading as well as many other nice features... 
Call me biased -- because I have two of them...but if you want to learn
more...   http://www.telepostinc.com/lp100.html   73 de Greg-N4CC

-Original Message-
From: topband-boun...@contesting.com [mailto:topband-boun...@contesting.com]
On Behalf Of Tom W8JI
Sent: Saturday, June 30, 2012 5:25 PM
To: topband@contesting.com
Subject: Re: Topband: QRP and Bird 43 Watt meter help

 Many years ago at 4U1ITU I found the Bird 43 grossly underestimated 
 the power output on 160, rather embarrassing at the temple of 
 regulation.


If that was the case, they had a bad slug. The rating of the Bird 43 and
standard slug is + or - 5% of full scale anywhere on the scale within the
range of the slug, but it does not go far out of tolerance just 10% below
the low end of the specification range.

A 250-watt 2-30 MHz slug will read close to spec on 160 meters. If it is way
off on 160, you can bet it is way off on 80 and 40 meters, too.

- or + 5% means acceptable error is 12.5 watts low or high anywhere on the
scale, although normally when freshly calibrated they are much closer than
that. I would not expect a 250 watt slug to be more than 10-15 watts off on
160 meters, although the most common calibration failure is low reading. The
low reading error almost always comes from the calibration pot making a high
resistance connection to the wiper, meaning the slugs that go bad will age
terribly low in reading. About 30% of my Bird slugs fail in ten years,
despite very rarely being handled or used.

People need to remember the accuracy specs, and use slugs that keep the
meter well up the scale if accuracy is important.

73 Tom

 

___
UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK

___
UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK

Re: Topband: QRP Politically Correctness Concern

[Jim F.]

Jack,
I am a diehard QRPer and an originator of the New England QRP club
plus other stints in QRP officialdom and I really enjoyed your email
especially the very clever 72, 73, and 74.
 
I try to lurk on the lists as a beginner on 160m but cannot help
jumping in and posting sometimes.
 
Keep up the humor and know you are understood and appreciated by 
the mostly silent,  majority.
 
72 means Happy QRPing and was started by the ancient (and honorable)
G-QRP club, one of the oldest QRP organizations around.
 
72/73
 
jim / W1FMR
 
 
 


--- On Sun, 3/18/12, W0UCE w0...@nc.rr.com wrote:


From: W0UCE w0...@nc.rr.com
Subject: Re: Topband: QRP Politically Correctness Concern
To: 'James Rodenkirch' rodenkirch_...@msn.com, j...@audiosystemsgroup.com, 
topband@contesting.com
Date: Sunday, March 18, 2012, 7:20 PM


To All:



If I offended anyone with what was simply having fun, as a muse about
72, 73 and 74 I apologize. 



My post was not in any way intended to be negative toward anyone that cares
to  operate QRP or any other power level or if they have the desire or feel
the need to let everyone know their power level by adding /QRP, /QLP, /QRO
or sending 72, 73, 74, 88 or even 73s.



Freedom of speech still prevails  so if / Something or 72 is important
just have at it.



73,

Jack





-Original Message-
From: topband-boun...@contesting.com [mailto:topband-boun...@contesting.com]
On Behalf Of James Rodenkirch
Sent: Sunday, March 18, 2012 6:03 PM
To: w0...@nc.rr.com; j...@audiosystemsgroup.com; topband@contesting.com
Subject: Re: Topband: QRP Politically Correctness Concern





Dangcan we GET away from an over-indulgence/concern over what's said
or typed?



72 is a form of radio shorthand that roughly translates as meaning Best
wishes QRP!  



Been that way for a loong time, I do believe!  



Sheesh!  Does all of this PC ever END















 From: w0...@nc.rr.com

 To: rodenkirch_...@msn.com; j...@audiosystemsgroup.com;
topband@contesting.com

 Date: Sun, 18 Mar 2012 17:56:29 -0400

 Subject: Topband: QRP Politically Correctness Concern

 

 I notice people using 72 on the reflector which I assume to be a

 substitution for 73. 

 

 By chance does 72 indicate not so best wishes?

 

 In observance of proper etiquette on Gentleman's Band and also be 

 Properly Politically Correct in today's troubled times perhaps 

 the numbers and meanings listed below should be considered appropriate:

 

 QRP - 72

 Low Power - 73

 QRO: 74

 

 73  sometimes 74,

 Jack

 

 

 

 Great discussion on power and low power and QRP power and the affects Top

 Band have on 'em all - appreciate the various views and discussions. 72 to

 all, Jim R. K9JWV

 

 

 

 

  Date: Sun, 18 Mar 2012 14:14:26 -0700

  From: j...@audiosystemsgroup.com

  To: topband@contesting.com

  Subject: Re: Topband: July Stew Perry Please

  

  On 3/18/2012 2:01 PM, James Rodenkirch wrote:

   Sounds like you and others might not be so keen on burying your ears
in

 noise just to work a QRP puke like me, 'eh?

  

  I'm not keen on listening for hours and hours with no activity. I have 

  recently taken up a new challenge -- working JT65A on 160M. There's JT65


  activity almost every night at a dial frequency of 1838 kHz, which puts 

  signals between about 1838.5 and 1840.5. The bandwidth of a signal is 

  about 200 Hz, and stations spread out in that 2kHz bandwidth. It's not 

  uncommon for me to decode five or six signals in that bandwidth when the


  band is hopping. The last couple of nights ZR1ADI has been on, and I 

  heard a W1 work him. I heard him one of those nights and called him 

  several times.

  

  JT65 is pretty easy to use with W6CQZ's JT65-HF software. The interface 

  is just like RTTY AFSK or PSK, and W6CQZ maintains a reverse beacon 

  server that you can set his software to send spots for everything you 

  hear. If I call CQ around 0500Z or later I'll usually see between 

  three and six spots of my signal from the east coast on every

 transmission.

  

  73, Jim K9YC CM87

  ___

  UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK

 

 ___

 UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK

 

 ___

 UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK

                                

___

UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK

___
UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
___
UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK

Re: Topband: QRP Politically Correctness Concern

[James Rodenkirch]

Yes, in retrospect, I'll assume that was a tongue in cheek 'view' of 72...,Hah, 
the laugh is on me!  71.5, Jim R. K9JWV

 

 

 Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2012 06:09:38 -0700
 From: j_fit...@yahoo.com
 To: w0...@nc.rr.com; topband@contesting.com
 Subject: Re: Topband: QRP Politically Correctness Concern
 
 Jack,
 I am a diehard QRPer and an originator of the New England QRP club
 plus other stints in QRP officialdom and I really enjoyed your email
 especially the very clever 72, 73, and 74.
  
 I try to lurk on the lists as a beginner on 160m but cannot help
 jumping in and posting sometimes.
  
 Keep up the humor and know you are understood and appreciated by 
 the mostly silent,  majority.
  
 72 means Happy QRPing and was started by the ancient (and honorable)
 G-QRP club, one of the oldest QRP organizations around.
  
 72/73
  
 jim / W1FMR
  
  
  
 
 
 --- On Sun, 3/18/12, W0UCE w0...@nc.rr.com wrote:
 
 
 From: W0UCE w0...@nc.rr.com
 Subject: Re: Topband: QRP Politically Correctness Concern
 To: 'James Rodenkirch' rodenkirch_...@msn.com, 
 j...@audiosystemsgroup.com, topband@contesting.com
 Date: Sunday, March 18, 2012, 7:20 PM
 
 
 To All:
 
 
 
 If I offended anyone with what was simply having fun, as a muse about
 72, 73 and 74 I apologize. 
 
 
 
 My post was not in any way intended to be negative toward anyone that cares
 to  operate QRP or any other power level or if they have the desire or feel
 the need to let everyone know their power level by adding /QRP, /QLP, /QRO
 or sending 72, 73, 74, 88 or even 73s.
 
 
 
 Freedom of speech still prevails  so if / Something or 72 is important
 just have at it.
 
 
 
 73,
 
 Jack
 
 
 
 
 
 -Original Message-
 From: topband-boun...@contesting.com [mailto:topband-boun...@contesting.com]
 On Behalf Of James Rodenkirch
 Sent: Sunday, March 18, 2012 6:03 PM
 To: w0...@nc.rr.com; j...@audiosystemsgroup.com; topband@contesting.com
 Subject: Re: Topband: QRP Politically Correctness Concern
 
 
 
 
 
 Dangcan we GET away from an over-indulgence/concern over what's said
 or typed?
 
 
 
 72 is a form of radio shorthand that roughly translates as meaning Best
 wishes QRP!  
 
 
 
 Been that way for a loong time, I do believe!  
 
 
 
 Sheesh!  Does all of this PC ever END
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  From: w0...@nc.rr.com
 
  To: rodenkirch_...@msn.com; j...@audiosystemsgroup.com;
 topband@contesting.com
 
  Date: Sun, 18 Mar 2012 17:56:29 -0400
 
  Subject: Topband: QRP Politically Correctness Concern
 
  
 
  I notice people using 72 on the reflector which I assume to be a
 
  substitution for 73. 
 
  
 
  By chance does 72 indicate not so best wishes?
 
  
 
  In observance of proper etiquette on Gentleman's Band and also be 
 
  Properly Politically Correct in today's troubled times perhaps 
 
  the numbers and meanings listed below should be considered appropriate:
 
  
 
  QRP - 72
 
  Low Power - 73
 
  QRO: 74
 
  
 
  73  sometimes 74,
 
  Jack
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  Great discussion on power and low power and QRP power and the affects Top
 
  Band have on 'em all - appreciate the various views and discussions. 72 to
 
  all, Jim R. K9JWV
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
   Date: Sun, 18 Mar 2012 14:14:26 -0700
 
   From: j...@audiosystemsgroup.com
 
   To: topband@contesting.com
 
   Subject: Re: Topband: July Stew Perry Please
 
   
 
   On 3/18/2012 2:01 PM, James Rodenkirch wrote:
 
Sounds like you and others might not be so keen on burying your ears
 in
 
  noise just to work a QRP puke like me, 'eh?
 
   
 
   I'm not keen on listening for hours and hours with no activity. I have 
 
   recently taken up a new challenge -- working JT65A on 160M. There's JT65
 
 
   activity almost every night at a dial frequency of 1838 kHz, which puts 
 
   signals between about 1838.5 and 1840.5. The bandwidth of a signal is 
 
   about 200 Hz, and stations spread out in that 2kHz bandwidth. It's not 
 
   uncommon for me to decode five or six signals in that bandwidth when the
 
 
   band is hopping. The last couple of nights ZR1ADI has been on, and I 
 
   heard a W1 work him. I heard him one of those nights and called him 
 
   several times.
 
   
 
   JT65 is pretty easy to use with W6CQZ's JT65-HF software. The interface 
 
   is just like RTTY AFSK or PSK, and W6CQZ maintains a reverse beacon 
 
   server that you can set his software to send spots for everything you 
 
   hear. If I call CQ around 0500Z or later I'll usually see between 
 
   three and six spots of my signal from the east coast on every
 
  transmission.
 
   
 
   73, Jim K9YC CM87
 
   ___
 
   UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
 
  
 
  ___
 
  UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
 
  
 
  ___
 
  UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
 
 
 
 ___
 
 UR RST