Re: Topband: 9M2AX finally after 15 years

2024-02-13 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
A great accomplishment that took 2 die-hard real TopBand men to make happen. I always enjoyed the short writeup. Good job both Steve/Ross. A slight aside, but when I first worked a 9M on 160m there were several of us in the Maritimes trying and on this particular day only one of us made

Re: Topband: remotes

2024-02-06 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
I knew it was all over many years ago when I worked a 20dB/9 Italian station around Sunrise here in one 160m contest. (1pm in Italy) I have never applied for DXCC. I know what I worked and keep track of it here locally. I am the only person who really cares what all the numbers are and

Re: Topband: DX Conditions

2024-01-24 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
George is correct. I worked TX5S on 80m CW roughly this time yesterday..maybe + 1.5 - 2 hours..and well before SS on Clipperton. EY8MM was the (uFB) op. He sure wasn't vy loud, but was working them at 36-37wpm and 2-3-4 per minute all along the East Coast of the USA and CDN Maritimes.

Re: Topband: Lack of DX CW Activity

2024-01-06 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
and KJ7U screwdriver for 160-6 meters 73 Frank W3LPL - Original Message - From: "Richard" To: "Mike" , "topband" Sent: Saturday, January 6, 2024 9:46:23 AM Subject: Re: Topband: Lack of DX CW Activity On 1/6/2024 6:49 AM, Mike Smith VE9AA wrote: > > Bill

Re: Topband: Lack of DX CW Activity

2024-01-06 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
Hey Rick, Thanks for reminding me of his KH6 call. Yes, I have used a number of mobile antennas on top band. Each with their own quirks. The last time I was QRV on Top Band from the car (I think) was the SPTDC (or was it ARRL160?) a few years back and I ran my big SA-680S mobile antenna on

Re: Topband: Lack of DX CW Activity

2024-01-06 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
A note from the peanut gallery. This is topb...@contest.com I am on a postage stamp lot and the house & garage occupy approximately the middle one third. The frontage is not usable for antenna systems due to the underground utilities and overhead power lines. I am limited to compromise

Re: Topband: Lack of DX CW Activity

2024-01-05 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
On 1/5/2024 10:53 AM, Mike Smith VE9AA wrote: My personal feeling is some people are lazy. Hi Mike, It has NOTHING to do with lazy. It has everything to do with NOISE. Those of us not living in the middle of nowhere have greatly increased noise levels over the last 20 years

Re: Topband: Lack of DX CW Activity

2024-01-05 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
You pretty much hit a lot of my same sentiments Dave. I have the same observations re: 6m. I used to be on SIX almost daily for 30+ yrs but FT-8 has taken 99% of 6m CW and SSB activity completely away-poof. My personal feeling is some people are lazy. They want the computer to do the work. I

Re: Topband: Using 4 - 6 elevated radials in lieu of 120 buried wires

2024-01-05 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
I have wire 4-squares on 80, 40 & 20. A 2-el on 160m and a VDA looking 4-square on 15m. (still looking for a 10m 4-sq Comtek system someone might have collecting dust) My 80m and 40m ones work especially well. Because I have no really tall trees, the 80m one is actually inverted L's and

Re: Topband: W8UVZ/SK2023

2023-12-27 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
Sad news. I did not know the Battle Creek guys personally like many of you, but when we were searching in 1996 for antennas to use at CY0AA Sable Island, the Battlc Creek Special was mentioned. These Michigan guys came through for us with the loan of a very nice antenna packed in a real

Re: Topband: Remote operation

2023-10-23 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
Tree and everyone: Sadly, cheating has "always been a thing".(I'd like to think a little "less so" in ham radio)_I love this hobby and the great people I've met because of it. Back in the early 1990's there was a K7 station from the PNW(no, not K7RAT,hi) who had some kind of landline

Re: Topband: E51D Approximate Low Band Schedule Sep02

2023-09-03 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JFaNHy-ou0 Mike VE9AA Mike, Coreen & Corey Keswick Ridge, NB From: Mike Smith VE9AA [mailto:ve...@nbnet.nb.ca] Sent: September 3, 2023 7:58 AM To: 'GEORGE WALLNER'; 'topband@contesting.com' Subject: RE: Topband: E51D Approximate Low Band Schedule Sep02 Tnx

Re: Topband: E51D Approximate Low Band Schedule Sep02

2023-09-03 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
: GEORGE WALLNER [mailto:aa...@atlanticbb.net] Sent: September 2, 2023 9:03 PM To: Mike Smith VE9AA; topband@contesting.com Subject: Re: Topband: E51D Approximate Low Band Schedule Sep02 Mike, More or less the same every SS and SR. Keep an eye on the clusters. But last night I called CQ on 181

Re: Topband: E51D Approximate Low Band Schedule Sep02

2023-09-02 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
I hope I am not reading this message 1 day too late. Been swamped at work and could not look 4 U before now. Today was my birthday and I overslept for the 160m @ 0900z thing. Rats !~ Will you be on again at 0900Z on Sept 3rd/4th too George? VE9AA (GL/SR ~ 0930z-0945z) Mike,

Re: Topband: WSPR results after one month

2023-06-15 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
Tree et al, I'll admit - that call was not familiar to me so I had to look it up on qrz. Very impressive they heard you at the bottom of the World! - Wow. 73 - Mike VE9AA As "promised" - I hooked up a WSPR transmitter, running 200 mw about a month ago. It has been interesting

Topband: Vertical over salt water

2022-12-20 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
The current thread reminded me a lot of this one Topband: Modeling the proverbial "vertical on a beach" (contesting.com) http://lists.contesting.com/archives//html/Topband/2014-08/msg00048.html I salivate every time I read such stories. I live on a nice Ridge, but nowhere even remotely close to

Re: Topband: ARRL 160

2022-12-07 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
Some of you may unknowingly be doing yourselves a slight disservice by changing the speed and spacings within your callsign to satisfy the human ear (like to distinguish a K5B from a KH6 for example). (personally I prefer everything coming at me at the exact same speed, but that's me and this

Re: Topband: J28MD, conditions

2022-11-06 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
For me (and many others I guess) it's all about satisfaction level. There are still people piloting sailboats and peddling bicycles, right? They don't all have motors. Seems like a million years ago now, but in 1996 as CY0AA and 1997 as CY9AA we did 160m-6m.in the (QRN) summertime with nothing

Re: Topband: Personal decision

2022-02-24 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
Tree (et al) You are wise. When I started reading the political comments on this list, I groaned. I am not much of a politician, but even if I were, I come to ham radio to get away from all that. Throughout my life, I have always relished working folks in all countries w/o giving thought

Re: Topband: Antenna check for V31XX

2022-01-31 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
Bill, I was not QRV this w/e.dealing with high winds, snow, and life. Any reports you get will be anecdotal, but...if you go to this link: http://beta.reversebeacon.net/analysis/ punch in the date you are interested in (I used Jan 31rst) and then punch in V31XX, then add V31MA you can see in

Re: Topband: Guernsey MU5E

2022-01-03 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
That's a great contest call Bob ! (Canadians should be so lucky) Nothing against your regular homecall..I have it pretty much memorized now, but MU5E sure is easier to type and much shorter to send, hi ! http://www.radioqth.net/CWWeight/ Call Sign Weight MU5E36 GU4YOX 80 -Mike VE9AA

Re: Topband: 160M DX Conditions

2021-12-14 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
Roger, I think you're getting out alright but RX may be a little lacking or perhaps it was just overly noisy in Ol Blighty last night. Called you last night after a couple Midwest USA stations gave up. Probably around 0040z or thereabouts. You were solid. Finally got 1 QRZ, then you just

Re: Topband: Balloon Supported Vertical

2021-11-08 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
Dick, I see you're getting some replies trickling in already. Two feet won't do it I don't think my friendnot even close. In 1997 @ CY9AA (St. Paul's Island) we had a balloon supported 160m vertical using a very fine uninsulated wire (and I think maybe kite string too). I was not in

Topband: re" Saga of NP2J (very long)

2021-10-26 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
Oh Dan ! ! ! I was right there with you buddy, as you told your story, I could see in my mind's eye, stuff that's happened to me like that too. Just last year I raised my ZS6BKW (which is SO2R Radio #2's only antenna) up by a fair margin, only to see the taller mast collapse some weeks

Re: Topband: Corner insulator of Inverted L

2021-09-25 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
I'm not sure if this is the right way Pete, but my "corner insulator" on one of my 160m inverted L's is a 1/2" x 90* grey electrical type of PVC elbow that I bent using a heat gun. You could also buy them premade at home depot or whatever. I threw a rope over a Maple tree and tied and taped the

Re: Topband: CQ Zones

2021-03-09 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
Hi Dave, Long time no talk. I am not a certificate hunter either, but I keep track of DXCC's and Zones in a book. That being said, I am hoping you'll receive the answers you seek, as I too, would like to work that corner of the world on 160m (on CW) as well. GL Neighbour ! Mike

Re: Topband: CQWW 160

2021-02-27 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
Similarly, nobody should be posting links to their contest audio recordings before log deadline has passed. I have seen this more and more these days as technology marches forward. Not so much here, but on CQ-CONTEST and elsewhere. I like listening to the recordings of myself and fellow

Re: Topband: ARRL CW Contest

2021-02-23 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
Henk hit the nail squarely on the head - 100%. I'll add that even a lot of the top scorers only had 100-300Q's on 160m for an entire weekends work. The easier Q's (rate) are on other bands. ".Lot of people who take part in contest do that because they like to contest, not to make

Re: Topband: Inverted J antennas?

2021-01-11 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
Awesome. Thank you very much Dave ! Mike, Coreen & Corey Keswick Ridge, NB From: Dave Cuthbert [mailto:telegraph...@gmail.com] Sent: January 11, 2021 5:59 PM To: Mike Smith VE9AA Subject: Re: Topband: Inverted J antennas? Okay, over "medium" GND (0.005S/13) it has the

Re: Topband: Inverted J antennas?

2021-01-11 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
Hi Dave and thank you. That was quick. I guess I should’ve been clearer with my question. What does the elevation pattern look like please? Mike, Coreen & Corey Keswick Ridge, NB From: Dave Cuthbert [mailto:telegraph...@gmail.com] Sent: January 11, 2021 5:35 PM To: Mike Smith VE9A

Topband: Inverted J antennas?

2021-01-11 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
Has anyone modeled an inverted J on 160m ? (almost an inverted U, really) I currently have only one left (the other half of my 2-el array blew down and I've been lazy to replace it) and it "works" but not as good as it could I think if I had better supports (ie: taller trees, wider yard). I

Re: Topband: standoff for inv L

2020-12-27 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
VE9AA: I don't have a tower supported Inverted L, but I have a slightly different way of supporting the center of a 20m 4-square array of inverted L's and wanted something non conductive so I use 1.5" grey electrical PVC conduit and it's stood up many years in a harsh environment with wild

Topband: They gathered on 160 at night

2020-12-27 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
By Mike VE9AA They gathered on 160 at night To have that friendly fight The static it crashed Some records got smashed The grids logged were mostly right Antennas were hung just before In hopes for a chance to score A plaque by the man Dr. Beldar (says a fan) That wood for a temp

Re: Topband: Stew Perry

2020-12-25 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
Joe, I see you entered this contest at least a couple times. 2019 & 2018, perhaps other times. What do you *think* folks are exchanging? (ie: RST and GS, or just GS?) *hint.it's a contest. Enter it again and find out. Mike VE9AA _ Searchable Archives:

Re: Topband: Low Dipoles

2020-12-17 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
I've had low (30-40' up) 160m dipoles in essentially 3 QTH's.and always had inverted L's to do A/B realtime comparisons. .Here up on a good sized hill (660'ASL), rocky excuse for soil. (14+ yrs) .At previous QTH, 30' ASL, wet swampy soil in most directions. (12+ yrs) .

Re: Topband: John ON4UN silent key

2020-11-10 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
Sad. Another one gone. I have a couple of his books and found them quite useful. Like most of you, have worked John countless times on the low bands, and more recently either casually on 20m from my MINI (mobile) just tuning across him calling CQ randomly, or in a CWOps Wed CWT "1 hour

Topband: Every mid week. . .

2020-10-09 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
We see an announcement about "activity night" on Wednesday. (which borders on begging and cajoling at times) Every Thursday into Friday we see complaints from the same individual talking about the lack of activity, where were you guys, do you have QRN or whatever.(aka 'guilt trip') It gets

Re: Topband: Shunt Fed Tower SWR Troubles

2020-08-28 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
Dale, What are you using as your capacitor in your gamma match? Like some of the others, this is what I would initially suspect also. (btdthtts) Mike VE9AA Mike, Coreen & Corey Keswick Ridge, NB _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband -

Re: Topband: RG-6 Delay cables

2020-04-08 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
Interesting Lee. I guess I never thought anything about delay lines in our weather here. I have RG-6-like cables on all my 4-squares. I was unaware electrons cared whether it was +35*C or -35*C (or general temp range here in NB) What prompted you to do such testing? Thanks Mike

Re: Topband: DXCC Committe

2020-03-23 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
Bill Tippett mailto:btippett%40alum.mit.edu> > FYI: http://g3txf.com/dxtrip/Fake-C21XF/Fake-C21.html _ wow..just wow...no other words are needed. wow _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector

Re: Topband: DXCC Committe

2020-03-23 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
en & Corey Keswick Ridge, NB -Original Message- From: pa...@home.nl [mailto:pa...@home.nl] Sent: March 23, 2020 9:23 AM To: 'Mike Smith VE9AA'; topband@contesting.com Subject: RE: Topband: DXCC Committe Hi Mike Please forgive my blunt words, but It's about your tone what is bothering me.

Re: Topband: DXCC Committe

2020-03-23 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
, NB -Original Message- From: pa...@home.nl [mailto:pa...@home.nl] Sent: March 23, 2020 9:06 AM To: 'Mike Smith VE9AA'; topband@contesting.com Subject: RE: Topband: DXCC Committe OK, so let me get this straight: You sent the DXCC desk a Doctored card ==> *check* (that was clearly explained u

Re: Topband: DXCC Committe

2020-03-23 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
OK, so let me get this straight. You sent the DXCC desk a Doctored card, got busted, then claimed you didn't send it (you just wanted them to admire your skills?), got kicked out of the DXCC program and are now mad about it, so are throwing a Hail-Mary so someone here might help? I think

Re: Topband: RBN and cluster spots

2020-03-08 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
Steve, I wish I knew the answer to your question. When I go assisted in contests, (which is probably only 20-30% of the time) I connect to VE7CC which carries RBN spots. ( I prefer to tune for my DX, but that's another story)...I will go assisted if the sponsor does not differentiate

Re: Topband: ARRL CW Contest

2020-02-15 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
Yes there is Roger, RATE ! DX and US/VE stns make the minimum amount of contacts on bands with poor rate to get the most mults possible there and then CQ (or S) the more productive bands. Why work on 10m, 15m or 160m when you could be making double or trip the contacts on 20/40 or even

Re: Topband: CQ WW 160 CW - SK..

2020-02-12 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
If UY0ZG believes several of his countrymates are cheating, then he should seek assistance in gathering evidence and present it to the good folks at CQ160 (ie: I believe it's currently Andy, N2NT & crew). Repeatedly screaming "they're cheating! they're cheating" is less than useful. Nobody is

Re: Topband: Inquiring minds want to know....

2020-02-08 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
Hi Dave, Sorry, I don't know the answer(s) to your questions but did want to say, thanks for writing this. I find it very interesting reading. I know VY2ZM conducted some experiments around noon on 160m (and lower???) some years back. Wish I could find it again, but he was able to make it

Re: Topband: CQ WW Contest

2020-01-29 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
Like my neighbour Dave/WHS here a few grid squares away to my SW, I found condx "good" but certainly not great up here in Central New Brunswick, Canada where I am nowhere at all near salt water, being in FN66na. I (currently) run a small stn on 160m. Inverted L(more like a J these days) and

Re: Topband: 4SQ Arrays in proximity

2020-01-28 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
I don't have a 160m 4-square but do have 20, 40 & 80m wire 4-squares all in close proximity. The 40m one especially is mostly in the NW quadrant of the 80m one. I have posted my results several times to this reflector..most recently was about a week or so ago. Suffice to say.not too much

Re: Topband: Wednesday 160m DX CW Activity Night

2020-01-16 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
Roger, I got on around 0030z for about an hour and worked several G's, SM, I , W0's, W7RH, NP2J etc. I saw you spotted and tuned to your freq after a moment but heard nil. Sri! Musta just missed you. I did hear OY1S (or something like that.I didn't write it down) calling EX8M (and heard

Re: Topband: Topband resource

2020-01-14 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
It must be a joke. 1730Z would be 4-5 hours before Sunset on the East Coast of the USA. I don't think I'll be checking this website for any "resources" anytime in the near future. https://topbandhams.com/ Starting around 17:30 UTC to 18:0 UTC on 1850, WG3J Eric will be coordinating DX

Topband: Good thing

2020-01-11 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
.there was another digital list started...who KNOWS how much traffic would remain here if it hadn't been? Mike VE9AA Mike, Coreen & Corey Keswick Ridge, NB _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector

Re: Topband: Good Conditions, little NA Activity

2020-01-05 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
Roger, I read some of your Wed Activity night reports and emails. I admire your tenacity, but please allow me some observations (only because many of your posts seem to indicate your surprise over not working more stations): Let's face it. Times have changed. A lot of folks can only

Re: Topband: 2019 STEW PERRY

2019-12-31 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
Mike VE9AA Mike, Coreen & Corey Keswick Ridge, NB From: Mike Smith VE9AA [mailto:ve...@nbnet.nb.ca] Sent: December 31, 2019 3:22 PM To: 'topband@contesting.com' Subject: Re: Topband: 2019 STEW PERRY Hi Nick, I did not work US1Q during this years contest, so won't comment on that o

Re: Topband: 2019 STEW PERRY

2019-12-31 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
Hi Nick, I did not work US1Q during this years contest, so won't comment on that operator (but I understand 100% what you are saying, even though your English is not perfect, hi hi) I have in the past, "worked" an Italian station on 160m (I forget the call) at 5NN+30dB many hours after

Topband: Stew Perry Plaque Arrived !

2019-12-18 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
Thanks to the plaque sponsor and to Tree and possibly others @ BARC for the FB plaque for my mobile operation in last years contest. It arrived in fine shape here today. Don't forget to check https://www.kkn.net/stew/stew_plaques.html for plaques you yourself might win in ~10 days time (or

Re: Topband: Propagation (VY0)

2019-12-17 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
ight propagation on all bands from 2m through 160m. Some quite unbelievable. 73 Mike VE9AA Mike, Coreen & Corey Keswick Ridge, NB From: FZ Bruce [mailto:k...@twc.com] Sent: December 17, 2019 6:51 PM To: 'Mike Smith VE9AA' Cc: 'topband@contesting.com' Subject: RE:

Re: Topband: Propagation (VY0)

2019-12-17 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
The RBN Shows tons of hits for UY0ZG CQing on 1826.9/1827 around 0500z +/- Just tossin’ it out there. A VY0 on 160m is very rare. Mike VE9AA Mike, Coreen & Corey Keswick Ridge, NB From: Mike Smith VE9AA [mailto:ve...@nbnet.nb.ca] Sent: December 17, 2019 6:03 PM To: 'FZ B

Re: Topband: Propagation (VY0)

2019-12-17 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
Understood Bruce. Thanks VE9AA Mike, Coreen & Corey Keswick Ridge, NB From: FZ Bruce [mailto:k...@twc.com] Sent: December 17, 2019 5:57 PM To: 'Mike Smith VE9AA' Subject: Re: Topband: Propagation (VY0) Mike, Did not write down his complete call, Strange propagation, no

Re: Topband: Propagation (VY0)

2019-12-17 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
Bruce, Callsign? did you work him? There are no RBN Skimmer hits nor any DX cluster spots when searched on DXscape. nor any VY0 mentioned on the ON4KST chat page w/I the last 2 days. Tnx Mike VE9AA There was a VY0 calling CQ on 1826.5 last evening. Looked it up as an

Topband: BOG

2019-12-03 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
polliwog piece of long limp inductive wire on ground Mike, Coreen & Corey Keswick Ridge, NB _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector

Re: Topband: BOG Beverage on Ground Help

2019-12-02 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
K2AV says ".BOG is not a Beverage. So don't think about or treat a BOG like a Beverage." You seem pretty adamant about that Guy. What *SHOULD* we be calling it then please? Mike VE9AA Keswick Ridge, NB _ Searchable Archives:

Re: Topband: A Bit of Zone 2 History Was Made Last Week

2019-11-09 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
s query. Mike VE9AA Mike, Coreen & Corey Keswick Ridge, NB -Original Message- From: Michael Walker [mailto:va...@portcredit.net] Sent: November 9, 2019 11:39 AM To: Mike Smith VE9AA Cc: topband@contesting.com Subject: Re: Topband: A Bit of Zone 2 History Was Made Last Week Regar

Re: Topband: A Bit of Zone 2 History Was Made Last Week

2019-11-09 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
WTG Jeff and Miriam ! I am always wanting to go to Zone 2 for some contest, but time, money and work/home commitments thus far have prevented it. WRT to Steve's comments, I am *very* surprised that few VK's have worked Zone 2. In recent memory VO2AAA/VO2AC have put on 2 pretty big 160m

Re: Topband: ZK3A .........

2019-10-09 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
Cheating goes back a long ways. It surely predates ham radio by eons. I know personally, when I was on Sable Island in 1996 as CY0AA we got QSL cards for impossible QSO's. ie: 6m cards from the Netherlands when I worked NONE. Another 1 or 2, 160m cards for noontime local. I tossed them in

Re: Topband: 160 portable vertical

2019-08-07 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
Hi Pat, Your #1 friend will be 127' of vertical(ish) wire (ie: inverted L) and a few ground radial wires or better still 3-4 raised radials and a tall palm tree, otherwise I am afraid you'll be sorely disappointed in any kind of short compromise (loaded) antenna with summer (QRN) condx and

Re: Topband: ARRL DX contest

2019-02-18 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
128 Q’s and 50 DXCC’s on TopBand this weekend with slightly less than a ½ effort (on all bands), so from my point of view, condx were good to very good. The last hour was probably the best, but with 3 or 4 spins through the band, I had worked all that I heard, so went back to 40 and 80 each time.

Re: Topband: V84SAA Final Report as of 2300z 16 Feb 2019

2019-02-18 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
FANTASTIC job Jeff ! ! ! I feel that even though I didn't make it on top band, it was a real thrill to work Krassy via the LP on 80m. It was also really cool to hear you a couple nights on 160m when there was barely a whisper on 80m. (whoda thunkit?) My hat is off to both of you and the

Re: Topband: V84SAA SR report 15 Feb - ANd final schedules of operation

2019-02-15 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
Jeff, You guys had a good signal on 80m y'day at NA Maritime/New England SS (your SR). LP to the SE from here. AFACT, the 80m op did not ask for NA (a shame) and continued to work EU all the way through greyline. Just at my SS -5mins and for at least 30mins afterwards, until just

Re: Topband: V84SAA 10 Feb SR Report 80m and 160m

2019-02-09 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
Hey Jeff, Last 2 nights here @ my SS 2145z (and even a few minutes before ) you've been SOLID copy on 80m CW. If I'm being honest, peaks are at 519 have been seen, but -419 most times. With a couple repeats, Q's to the Maritimes and New England should be possible. Some of the big boys have

Re: Topband: FT-8

2019-02-01 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
Bill just about summarized my feelings. I get no satisfaction from modes where I can't even hear anything in the speaker. I love that technology is marching forward, BUT I want to be there with it. I am with CW and SSB and to a much lesser degree RTTY (I do a vy small amount of RTTY (maybe

Re: Topband: CQ 160

2019-01-29 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
GE Jim, We can't possibly all remember 'who is located where' in the lower 48. For Canadians, we are locked to our call areas, so if you were to work a VE9 (for example) on 160m, you can be relatively assured, unless something weird is going on, that they are in New Brunswick. (there

Re: Topband: CQ160 Conditions

2019-01-28 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
de VE9AA: I was only on this weekend for abt 6 hours, so am not an authority of what happened on 160..by a long shot. I did hear EU both evenings well before SS here and was able to eek out a few west coast earlier than normal it seemed (with difficulty). 3 CA, 2 WA, 2 OR, 2 VE7, 2 VE6 etc.

Re: Topband: Inverted L improvements - Part 3 (now with data)

2019-01-23 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
Hey Todd, What happens to your Inverted L's SWR curve if you short your other 160m antenna (the 43'-T) to ground, or otherwise detune it somehow?..could be you're onto something..not sure. Wide SWR's like that generally point to huge ground losses. I just can't get over how freeging wide

Re: Topband: Inverted L improvements - Part 3 (now with data)

2019-01-22 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
So, now we're (apparently) recommending he cut back his already minimal radial field..uhhh, really Wes? =-Mike VE9AA I started this message a day or so ago. Others have commented since with some similar thoughts, nevertheless, here is my take. Todd you're going the wrong direction.

Re: Topband: Inverted L improvements - Part 3

2019-01-16 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
Hi Todd and thanks for answering so quickly. I am no expert. (I'm an Electronics Engineering Technologist and a ham for 40+ yrs,fwiw) I won't debate the exact numbers on that table by K3LC referenced by K9YC, (they are experts) but I will tell you that it makes me go "hmmm" (as in a mild

Re: Topband: Inverted L improvements - Part 3

2019-01-16 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
".have attached 30 insulated wire radials each 42' in length (as suggested in a K9YC presentation referencing a K3LC study in the NCJ) laying on the ground roughly evenly distributed. The paper said that 12 radials would be "adequate" but I had room and materials for 30 so that's what I laid

Re: Topband: Waller Flag

2018-12-16 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
Stan, I have very little experience with them, however given your high noise level and small(ish?) lot (not sure how large it is), would a few BOG's be a better option I wonder? Looking forward to seeing you work this one out. GL ! Mike VE9AA Mike, Coreen & Corey Keswick

Topband: ARRL 160, was Re: Polarization on 160m

2018-11-28 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
Don't feel bad Herb. I'm in the same boat. I am a VE9..have been since 1993 when they split, NB, NS and VY2 into various distinct prefixes. I live in New Brunswick. (a real Province). Prefix VE9 In 98% of all contests, where S/P/C are mults, I get to send "NB", but in SS and I believe the

Topband: 160m Antenna, worse than I thought !

2018-11-26 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
de Mike VE9AA O-M-G -,If you read my 3830 report from CQWW CW.. I thought my 160m antenna had just 'fallen down' and was still 130' or whatever feet of wire at ~12'AGL, but when I was out in the woods just now, nice bright sunny day that it is (0*C/32*F), I *REALLY* saw what was going on. I

Re: Topband: PreStew / LowBand Jack (VE1ZZ) scores

2018-10-26 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
Excellent! Good on the Boring ARC for keeping this fine fellows spirit alive in the ether... Happy to have contributed a tiny amount to help preserve Jack's/ZZ's memory for all. Maybe when you get the website adapted to this new name for this event you could include some of K1ZM's

Re: Topband: VE1ZZ Nite

2018-10-20 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
, in about 365 days +/- to someone else. Call it "Jack/ZZ", "Nova Scotia Jack" "160m Jack", "LowBand Jack" or something. Mike VE9AA Mike, Coreen & Corey Keswick Ridge, NB From: Mike Smith VE9AA [mailto:ve...@nbnet.nb.ca] Sent: October 20,

Re: Topband: VE1ZZ Nite

2018-10-20 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
I never get on for the PRE-Stews(just the main STEW), but if you were to rename it to something honouring VE1ZZ, I would make a point to show up. (Maybe even make it into its own "real" contest, as many QRV today (like me) did not know W1BB, but DID know Jack/ZZ RIP Jack, VE1-Zulu Zulu

Re: Topband: VE1ZZ has passed on - Very Very Sad news! (Long)

2018-10-19 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
Jeff, Thanks for passing this on. I have forwarded your (sad) note in its entirety to the MCC fellas. Your tour of his shack and visit were nearly identical to my own, sometime in the mid to late 1990's His way of building antennas etc. left a big impression on me and I still make some

Re: Topband: cutting coax stubs for 80 meter 4-square

2018-06-11 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
Terry, I wasn't going to say anything, but now that I hear this I have to tell you all that my (wonderful!) AA-230Pro came this way to me from the factory a few yrs ago. I spent big Canadian bux on it and was pretty disappointed when most things didn't work on it. I cracked the case and

Re: Topband: 80 meter 4-square

2018-04-05 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
If I've learned anything in my 40yrs a ham, then I know you'll get replies from all sides. I'll just advise you to build it and see. A couple years ago I asked a similar type of question about a 4Sq array of wire inverted L's in the sloping woods. I have 2 raised radials per. (I also

Topband: FW: 80 meter 4-Square verticals

2018-02-12 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
wick Ridge, NB From: AB2E Darrell [mailto:a...@hotmail.com] Sent: February 12, 2018 7:23 PM To: Mike Smith VE9AA; topband@contesting.com Subject: Re: Topband: 80 meter 4-Square verticals Mike, Is your 80m 4square like the ON4UN with the L pointing towards each other. I was reading his

Re: Topband: 80 meter 4-Square verticals

2018-02-12 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
Terry, I think Bill KH7XS just went through this exercise. That said, my (Comtek) 80m 4-square is made 100% from wire and hung in the woods as inverted L's. Raised radials. Seems to work. Electrons don't (really) care if you use $1000 worth of aluminum or $100 of used wire.

Re: Topband: VE1ZZ Jack Leahy

2017-11-10 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
Hi Paul - I know this is a TopBand reflector, so I'll keep this comment short. Jack was being modest. He was among the very first of us VE's to get 6m DXCC as well. I think maybe #2 or #3..I can never seem to recall the exact order after VE1YX... Mike VE9AA.FN66na Hi Jeff, I'm a 50

Re: Topband: VE1ZZ Jack Leahy

2017-11-10 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
Hey Jeff, Sorry to hear about Jack. I have toured the wonderful VE1ZZ antenna farm & shack with Jack back in the early 90's and marveled at how did he (remarkable) things on a shoestring budget. He partially inspired me to get busy on Top Band too ! He surely must've been one of my first

Re: Topband: Some Operating Observations from JT5DX de K1ZM/VY2ZM (very long!)

2017-06-04 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
Exciting reading Jeff. I thoroughly enjoyed your report. Thanks for taking the time to jot it all down and share it with everyone. Sometimes we hear these big signals from the other side of the globe and we have no idea what has transpired to make this happen or what the stn is like. In

Topband: 160 in daylight

2017-05-13 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
Hi Bob, Welcome to 160m ! Milt Jensen N5IA (sk) used his huge array in the 160m contests to work thousands of miles east and west while he was in full sunlight. (In fact I believe he was the one who sponsored a plaque for daylight operation only in the Stew Perry Contests) For some of

Topband: Been off the air a bit

2017-04-19 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
Hey Gary, Sorry to read of your plight. Being a Topbander, I know you must be tough and will in time, find a way to get to the shack. Take care, Mike VE9AA Mike, Coreen & Corey Keswick Ridge, NB _ Topband Reflector Archives -

Re: Topband: Made it! 80 Years a Ham

2017-01-20 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
Paul, Your email to the list was very inspiring. I truly enjoyed reading it and you can be assured it very much made my day when I was feeling a little down. I won't sugar coat it - True, you may be a little older than the average ham, but with age comes wisdom and experience. I revere

Topband: FW: RAC Contest and 160m QSO's

2016-12-18 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
Mike, Coreen & Corey Keswick Ridge, NB From: Mike Smith VE9AA [mailto:ve...@nbnet.nb.ca] Sent: December 18, 2016 4:08 PM To: 'cq-cont...@contesting.com' Subject: RAC Contest and 160m QSO's Any QSO's made with me last evening on 160m will NOT count as RAC contest contacts as I n

Topband: FW: Stew Contest and Multi Op/packet

2016-12-18 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
Mike, Coreen & Corey Keswick Ridge, NB From: Mike Smith VE9AA [mailto:ve...@nbnet.nb.ca] Sent: December 18, 2016 4:05 PM To: 'cq-cont...@contesting.com' Subject: Stew Contest and Multi Op/packet The Stew Perry contest is not an ARRL event, so entering in Multi Op does not

Re: Topband: zone 2

2016-11-17 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
Part of Quebec is in zone 2 as well. Announced operations from zone 02 for CQWW CW http://www.ng3k.com/Misc/cqc2016.html VE2 NEW (Nov15) Canada Zone 02 M/S VE3NE VE3DZ By VE3NE VE3AXC; fm VE2CSI (Sept Iles) VE2SSS Canada Zone 02 M/? VE2TLH Direct VA2SG By VA2SG VE2VIA If

Re: Topband: FW: Hi-Z Around Trees

2016-11-14 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
I don't have a HI-Z, but I do have many antennas in the trees here. (and have in the past at other locations too) Recently, I have installed all wire & rope 4-squares on 40 & 80 and a 2-el on 160m, all in and in some cases attached to or gently touching, (gasp!)(wait for it.) dunh dunh

Re: Topband: 160 m inverted L

2016-11-08 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
I’ve never owned a vacuum variable. What I have been using for decades are very large air variables hung from a stick, or tree or whatever and I cover it up with a 2L pop bottle* with the bottom cut out of it. Fix in place with rope, string, tape, fishing line, whatever. I can’t take credit for

Topband: PVS-2-A vertical 2-el array report

2016-10-23 Thread Mike Smith VE9AA
Got part of a used COM-PVS-2-A 160m array (COM-PVS-160-A) for 160m last year (Tnx Bob!) and only yesterday @ sunset did I finally finish it off in the pouring rain. I had to make a controller for it. (I used lime green LED's and 3 toggle switches) Played in the Pre-Stew with it and am quite

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