Topband: sunrise peak

Hi I have never yet observed a sunrise peak from HS0ZIA. In fact the band usually goes completely dead here to EU (to my NW) about an hour before my local SR.  73 Bob _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband

Re: Topband: VU2GSM webSDR use

Thanks for posting this Steve - much that has been puzzling me is now clear. Remote SDRs, bizarre DXCC "entities", lists, skeds, FT8 etc are why I stopped pursuing awards a long long time ago. But to each his merry own...73 On Sunday, January 14, 2018, 11:00:15 PM GMT+7, Steve Babcock

Topband: HS0ZIA

Hi HS0ZIA is now CL until May. I logged 294 unique calls in the last 6 weeks of part time activity (I do not live at the station) on 160m outside of any contest activity and those who seem to want another QSO every day, mostly in EU and AS. I spent most of the SP test listening for the big

Re: Topband: Looking for call history / prefill file for Stew Perry

As in pre-filling the grid square? On Tuesday, December 19, 2017, 7:48:14 AM GMT+7, Richard (Rick) Karlquist wrote: Looking for call history / prefill file for Stew Perry 73 Rick N6RK _ Topband Reflector Archives -

Re: Topband: FT8 - the end of 160m old school DXing? (long)

Agree completely Steve. I was going to build a 2m EME station until I learned that computer to computer Qs were the only thing going on there these daysnot for me.  73 Bob HS0ZIA From: Steve Ireland To: Topband reflector Sent:

Topband: Top-Beam Systems

Hi does anyone know if Top-Beam Systems is still a going concern? I placed and paid for an order over 6 months ago and the company has not responded to my email inquiring about the status of my order. Thanks 73 Bob HS0ZIA _ Topband Reflector Archives -

Re: Topband: 160 4 square

Well I ordered one about half a year ago so if it ever comes I will be able to compare it directly with my HiZ 8 circle array and get a definitive answer. We have no local noise here only propagated tropical QRN. 73 Bob HS0ZIA Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android On Mon, Aug 28, 2017 at 18:56,

Re: Topband: Relocation to mountainous area

Hi Mark Put down as many non resonant ground or elevated radials as you can. You can do nothing about the far field pseudo Brewster angle. The Hi Z manual states the recommended deviation in element elevation but I suspect it will work OK. 73  GL Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android On Sun, Aug

Topband: tower vertical

Hi I have decided to put up a 40m tower to use as a transmitting vertical for 1.8mHz out away from in between our other towers and where I can run 1/4 wave radials all the way around, and will probably use locally available 12" steel sections with a conical-type pin base. I would like to

Re: Topband: 60' or 70' spacing on Hi-Z 4/8 element RX array

Hi Gary We plan to set up ours with 60' spacing for best 40m performance, and with just 10' elements.. When it is done we will be able to compare the performance on 80 and 160 with our monoband 8 circles. I agree that power gain is not important, particularly in our high QRN environment. AFAIK

Re: Topband: IC7300 Hack

So it would appear. TKS! Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android On Wed, Sep 7, 2016 at 11:30, Victor Goncharsky via Topband<topband@contesting.com> wrote: http://radioaficion.com/cms/ic-7300-wide-band-modification/   hope this helps >Среда,  7 сентября 2016, 6:11 +03:00 от Bob

Topband: IC7300 Hack

Hi guys the Thai NBTC has allowed a special factory version of the IC 7300 with 6m tx disabled to be legalized for use in HS (the first modern radio in decades) but I just discovered that this version also has the bottom 10 kHz of 160 disabled tx as well per EU I guess. Anyone know if it is

Topband: HiZ 8 circle array 1st impression

Hi we finally got our HiZ 80 and 160m arrays up and running and the performance appears to be as advertised. We used 6m guyed steel tubes mounted on PVC insulators for the 160m elements and 3m wires inside PVC for the concentric 80m array. Each element has a 1m copper clad ground rod in good

Topband: safely sharing an RX antenna

Hi I was thinking about using a 3dB splitter and tuning the band with our second K3 using our HiZ monoband 8 circle while we were calling CQ in the Stew. The center of the array is located 105 meters from the xmit vertical, uses 20' elements, the included preamp and 100m of RG6 transmission

Topband: HS0ZIA tonights noise levels

On a K3/P3 pan display 2 kHz wide 8:30pm LT BAND           ANT                        NF 160          XMIT VERT                 -9580            3 el yagi @ 60m          -11040            3 el yagi stack             -11020            5 el yagi stack             -12515                  "          

Re: Topband: Noise levels on 160

My daytime noise level from the 160m xmit vertical using your settings is -100 dBm. The S meter on the K3 reads S7 (absolute)...  73 Bob HS0ZIA From: Dave Olean To: topband@contesting.com Sent: Tuesday, December 8, 2015 3:30 AM Subject: Re: Topband: Noise levels on

Re: Topband: Why do rodents eat coax?

Hi Dave I am currently rebuilding the RX antennas after rodents chewed meter-long sections of flooded RG6 away to the center wire before it was even operational. Now putting all the cables into PVC pipe laying on top of the ground -  over 300 meters of flanged pipe sliding over the cables one

Topband: vertical balun

Hi we have a 30m top loaded monopole with the feed point about 2m above a large ground radial field. Right now we are feeding it through a 4:1 balun (not a unun) with 12.5 ohms on the balanced side, and the SWR is 1.4 with no matching network. Is this balun acting as a common mode choke? Do we

Topband: Snap and seal F connectors

Hi unfortunately our rx array was destroyed by rodents chewing away the RG6 cable so It's going to need rebuilding with PVC conduit. Does anyone know if snap and seal F connectors can be re-used? TIA Bob HS0ZIA _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband

Re: Topband: Speculating via Stew posted scores

LOL here's another # for your analysis - our Q/pt = 12 Maybe it just means there's nobody on anywhere close to you 73 Bob HS0ZIA From: James Rodenkirch rodenkirch_...@msn.com To: Top Band Contesting topband@contesting.com Sent: Monday, December 29, 2014 5:56 PM Subject: Topband:

Topband: 9 kHz heterodyne BCI

Hi we just got QRV on 160 right before the SP and noticed AM BCI at 1800 kHz and every 9 kHZ  up from there. Since 9 kHz is the BC channel spacing here I suspect two adjacent stations are mixing. Somehow somewhere. Maybe here in my station, one of the BC stations or somewhere else?

Re: Topband: Rig Question

Well I have one of the earlier K3s ~#1000, that was never modified, never had a software upgrade and got quite a few unsolicited reports of good audio, the few times I ever went on SSB outside a contest. Using the Heil headset they sell with it. It's finally gone back to the factory since for

Re: Topband: DXCC Desk?

Yeah DXCC stopped being interesting for me back when the the UN HQ building in NYC was declared to be a country; maybe it isn't even on the list anymore I haven't checked for decades... On Tuesday, November 19, 2013 4:02 AM, Herb Schoenbohm he...@vitelcom.net wrote: Gents... Amateur radio

Topband: HS0ZKX QRV

Hi I just heard from Peter HS0ZKX now QRV with 500W to a vertical and a couple of reversible beverages, and he reports top band is open to the East coast around 1200Z. And he's an easy QSL! GL 73 _ Topband Reflector

Topband: arriving wave angle

Hi Bob thanks for the reply. My question wasn't as clear as it could have been so let me try again. Say we have 2 stations with isotropic transmitting antennas and receiving antennas with good angular discrimination at each end of a certain path. VOACAP predicts that X% of the openings will be

Topband: Fw: Are stacked verticals feasible?

Say Paul I am going to try the same setup except ground the 80m vertical as a close (5') coupled radiator and see what the feed impedance of the 160 vertical is on 80. It models well... On 09/06/2013 09:26 AM, ZR wrote: I would think that at 6-12' spacing from the tower it would minimize

Re: Topband: 160 meter activity

Well I applaud your making the effort at giving an honest report. It seems to me that 599 is reported far too casually these days and I certainly attempt to give honest reports even in a (non contest) pile up. Although R reports are fairly easy - I give 3 if I'm struggling, 4 if I have to pay

Re: Topband: Tree losses....

Very nice study and IMO neither small nor inelegant. Thanks From: Roger Parsons ve...@yahoo.com To: Topband topband@contesting.com Sent: Friday, August 9, 2013 7:29 AM Subject: Re: Topband: Tree losses I just did a small and inelegant piece of modelling with EZNEC. I took a wire 128'

Re: Topband: (no subject)

How close are the trees to the verticals Carl? From: Carl Jonsson carl.jonss...@gmail.com To: topband@contesting.com Sent: Tuesday, August 6, 2013 3:21 PM Subject: Topband: (no subject) Every autumn (when the fluid is leaving the trees) and every spring

Re: Topband: Tree conductivity

Yes I am no doubt in that group. So do good conductors in the near field re-radiate most of the coupled energy (eg a parasitic element) while poor conductors dissipate it as heat? I would think poor conductors or lossy dielectrics like trees would not couple much energy from the field, whether

Topband: Signal attenuation from foliage near 160m antenna

Interesting study which suggests not placing a 160m vertical closer than 12' to a tree, if feasible. There are certainly lots of vertical radiators working well amongst towers. We won FD 4 years in a row using 5 watts to a random vertical wire hoisted up the aluminum mast of a sailboat amongst

Re: Topband: Lightning QRN season?

Soon if you are in North America, where the inter tropical convergence zone is near its closest approach and beginning to move south. Be happy you don't have to receive in the tropics. The inverted vee here at 40m has been repaired (failure of new coax center conductor) and the 8 circle rx

Topband: Out of phase verticals

Hi I am installing an 8 way rx array and will be taking down the nearby unfinished xmit 4 square. I plan to relocate one of these tx verticals about 100m from the nearest rx element as an omni tx ant. After thinking about it I have room to put another one back up too, anywhere from about

Re: Topband: HS0ZEE

Hi I'm afraid that Sheridon has a huge local QRN problem at his suburban QTH, although he told me the other day that he now has some type of noise cancelling device that has improved things somewhat. I have a HiZ RX 8 circle and hope to have it set up by next winter, but doubt I will be QRO

Re: Topband: QRP/Poor antenna stations ARRL160

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

Topband: corona noise

Hi would a static discharge wick mounted on the lightning rod be helpful? They seem to work well for aircraft AM radios. ___ Topband reflector - topband@contesting.com

Topband: feed choke

Hi thanks for all the replies I have decided to put the dipole up at the 45m level.  One more question - I will run the feed line up inside the tower so is a choke still needed at the feed point? Thanks and hope to be QRV on 160 for the WW CW. ___

Topband: ground characteristics

Hi I have no idea if it is a fact but on page 9-18 in ON4UNs book it is stated without any further explanation -  It is impossible to make a direct measurement of ground characteristics. ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK

Topband: intersecting ground radials

Hi I would like to place monopoles for 160 and 80m bands 30m apart causing their ground radials to intersect. The radials are #20 bare copperweld (since I happen to have 4000m) that would be laid out on top of the soil before turf was placed on top. These antennas would be used for transmitting

Re: Topband: RX epiphany?

Hi thanks to all for the replies. Sorry I wasn't clear my QTH is northern Thailand. The point I was trying to make is that even though it is a noisy part of the season it is apparently less noisy at the European latitudes. Unfortunately I don't have enough land to put up a 160m Xmit 4 square

Re: Topband: RX epiphany?

Original message Date: Thu, 13 Sep 2012 16:56:45 -0700 (PDT) From: Bob Kupps n...@yahoo.com Subject: Re: Topband: RX epiphany? Cc: topband topband@contesting.com Hi thanks to all for the replies. Sorry I wasn't clear my QTH is northern Thailand. The point I was trying to make is that even

Topband: RX epiphany?

Hi well I've only been QRV since June here but the QRN level seems noticeably worse than my previous QTH in the W6 desert even though my current QTH is also quiet, limited by only propagated QRN. Many times I cannot copy stations answering my CQ on 80 so it either means they are running less

Topband: electrical wavelength

Hi it's still flooded here but I wanted to fire up one of my verticals by itself on 160 and feed it with a half wave of Comscope RG6 since I don't have enough 50 ohm line to reach it. I have a AIM 4170 to cut the line with but my question to the group is - how much variation from published

Topband: Fw: Missing Buried Radials for a Monopole

That's a very interesting study. What about elevated counterpoise systems using a similar number of radials e.g. 20-30 and a perimeter wire? Are common mode feed line currents still difficult to suppress as with the 2 and 4 wire systems in your study, and is it even possible to resonate such

Topband: RX 4 squares

Hi I would like to put up a RX 4 square array for 80/160 but the only place (just) over a half wave away from resonant verticals on those bands would be surrounding (15m out from) a 70' tower with 2 large yagis on top. Does anyone have any experience with RX 4 squares near or surrounding

Topband: HiZ 4 squares

OK thanks for all the replies. I looked at the HiZ 4 square manual and they have some detailed phasing info for a specific frequency but it's not clear to me how this works on multiple bands. Could you guys using these on both 80 and 160 explain how this works? Thanks this is a great forum.

Topband: Fw: FCP model

Very interesting discussion. Can't we quantify our ground systems by placing RF ammeters at the feed point? It would seem to me that once the current in the ground wire - whether it be attached to a ground stake, ground radials, elevated counterpoise, resonant radials or whatever - is equal to

Re: Topband: elevated counterpoise and lightning

. From: DAVID CUTHBERT telegraph...@gmail.com To: Bob Kupps n...@yahoo.com Cc: topband topband@contesting.com Sent: Monday, July 30, 2012 10:40 PM Subject: Re: Topband: elevated counterpoise and lightning Bob, do you have ground rods for lightning? The stub should

Topband: elevated counterpoise and lightning

Hi in this thread I mentioned using a 1/4 wave shorted stub at the feed points of our 4 square for static drain. Since we want to farm the paddy land we will use a non-resonant counterpoise of 48 radials connected to a perimeter wire about 1.5m above the flooded ground. The only galvanic

Topband: Fw: Choke Construction Info Needed

Hi Phil I'm no expert but plan to use a quarter wave shorted stub of RG6 at the feed point of my verticals for static drain and harmonic reduction, along with a spark gap in the event of a close strike. 73 Bob - Forwarded Message - From: Phil Clements philcleme...@centurylink.net To:

Topband: ground radials

Hi this study might be of interest to those wishing to optimize their ground system for various constraints. http://www.ncjweb.com/k3lcmaxgainradials.pdf ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK

Topband: HS top band allocation

Hi I have confirmed that the 160m allocation for Thailand is presently 1800-1825 kHz, CW only and 200W max power output. There is legislation in progress to expand the allocation to the entire 200kHz segment but not yet approved.  73 Bob HS0ZIA ___

Topband: PL 259 for RG6

Hi I will be using Comcast RG6 for my 4 square feed lines and the controller uses UHF connectors. Would crimp-on PL259 plugs sized for RG59 cable be suitable or is there a better way to go? Thanks Bob ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK

Re: Topband: tower vertical

Hi John The concrete is not an insulator. Connect a wire to the top and run it down about 2-3 feet out from and parallel to the tower and feed it with an L network against ground radials at the base. You will get RF in your rotor cables if you run them outside the crank up tower so be sure to

Topband: coax cable counterpoise

Hi when I lived in the Mojave desert I fed my 70' crank up tower as a folded monopole on 160m and used 8 radials made from electric 1/4 waves of old coax cable laying on top of the ground. The center conductors of the radials were fed with the shield of the feed line and the radial shields all

Re: Topband: Web SDR's and 'Cheating'

: Web SDR's and 'Cheating' To: Bob Kupps n...@yahoo.com Date: Saturday, February 12, 2011, 11:54 AM Bob, Would you have us believe that ethics, integrity and honor are optional?   People have been disqualified from the DXCC program for less. Dave Heil K8MN On 2/11/2011 03 21, Bob Kupps wrote