Re: Topband: K9ay loop not performing

2019-12-11 Thread Raoul Coetzee via Topband
Yes Rob, my TX vertical feedpoint was closer to 7 ohm before it being transformed to 50 ohm by means of a auto transformer style bottom coil and tap. I have used a big fat relay with massive silver contacts, (it was used in a UPS to switch battery banks)  but with the actuator coil wires fed tro

Re: Topband: K9ay loop not performing

2019-12-08 Thread Raoul Coetzee via Topband
I use a a relay to disconnect to the vertical portion just above the bottom matching coil, keeping all else connected.  I do not understand why  the shield should be disconnected ? If it carries RF back it could be decoupled by ground rods to shield or chokes.Bu if he top section is open circui

Topband: Zones needed

2018-11-08 Thread Raoul Coetzee via Topband
Dear Topband ops, I am working on my Topband WAZ, and need the following zones: 1 ,2, 6, 7, 19 and 23 (CW) Would like to hear from you if you can help, email please. regards,Raoul ZS1C _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector

Re: Topband: [cwops] Topband season looking good

2018-10-05 Thread Raoul Coetzee via Topband
I meant to say first NA for this year! On ‎Friday‎, ‎October‎ ‎5‎, ‎2018‎ ‎08‎:‎46‎:‎06‎ ‎AM‎ ‎SAST, Raoul Coetzee via Groups.Io wrote: Managed my first NA this morning around my SR on 160m.I worked Bob, W9EWZ in Wisconsin (CW of course) Raoul ZS1C_._,_._,_Groups.io Links: You receive

Topband: Topband season looking good

2018-10-04 Thread Raoul Coetzee via Topband
Managed my first NA this morning around my SR on 160m.I worked Bob, W9EWZ in Wisconsin (CW of course) Raoul ZS1C _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband

Re: Topband: PY1RO

2018-05-06 Thread Raoul Coetzee via Topband
Sad to hear about PY1RO,he was my first PY on 160m many years ago.RIP ZS1C On Sunday, May 6, 2018, 8:27:17 PM GMT+2, Roger Parsons via Topband wrote: From the Daily DX today: "PY1RO, Rolf Rasp, passed away yesterday after suffering from a heart attack. He had heart problems for severa

Re: Topband: what does it take to get on new band 600 meters

2017-11-05 Thread Raoul Coetzee via Topband
I have been playing with a few ideas, one was to mix a 6 Mhz Xtal oscilator output with a 6.474 MHz signal from my ft817 (into a small 50 ohm load)the difference, 474 KHz was amplified with tubes (valves for the UK ) and I ended up driving an old 813.Why? because I wanted a job for the tubes th

Re: Topband: FT8: Making it too easy?

2017-10-26 Thread Raoul Coetzee via Topband
I would like to know if FT8 also uses the same "Deep Search" as JT65.If it does, read this and decide if it is for you. JT65, is it doing what we want it to do? | | | | JT65, is it doing what we want it to do? | | | Raoul ZS1C On Thursday, October 26, 2017, 8:36:27 PM GMT+2, D

Re: Topband: TZ4AM

2017-10-14 Thread Raoul Coetzee via Topband
I agree! And not everybody have space for good RX antennas.And even if we can install a good RX antenna in limited space, cheap Chinese products are making it worse, it  is a struggle to hear anything. The other problem is, I use at least 600 watts on 160m, and some EUs try to work you with a 1

Re: Topband: LDEs, witches and magicians

2017-02-08 Thread Raoul Coetzee via Topband
Dear Dr Ostwald,  Even though I have not experienced any echoes on HF,I think I will keep an open mind.We cannot even explain a weak force like gravity completely, after many years of ongoing research.Who are we to say that  LDS  belong in  fairy tale?  :-)After all, we are receiving echoes of t

Re: Topband: Front End Filters

2016-12-23 Thread Raoul Coetzee via Topband
surely it is important to have the correct loading on the crystal,  just connecting a crystal in the antenna path is not so good?It seems good loading is around 1-3k. Merry Christmas to all.Raoul ZS1C  From: K1FZ-Bruce To: topband@contesting.com; Dave Sent: Saturday, December 24, 20

Re: Topband: 160 Meter Radio Propagation Prediction Table

2016-07-13 Thread Raoul Coetzee via Topband
Africa is not part of their world? I thought so, as my radio also seems to say I live  in a Black 160m hole.:-) bTW Where is Mos?  kind regards,Raoul ZS1C From: James Rodenkirch To: Top Band Contesting Sent: Tuesday, July 12, 2016 3:22 PM Subject: Topband: 160 Meter Radio Propagation

Re: Topband: VK0EK confirmation

2016-04-18 Thread Raoul Coetzee via Topband
Ouch...I made a contribution while they were in Cape Town and we had a good evening with the crew and the team in the Cape  Royal Yacht club and after I worked them, I contributed another $10.00Now before you blast me as a cheap skate Jim, with our our exchange rate you may multiply that with ab

Re: Topband: Receive loop observations

2016-04-02 Thread Raoul Coetzee via Topband
Rick wrote:>With a>circumference of 20 to 40 feet on 160 meters, the null is only >10 or 15 dB deep. I use a medium wave  BC station about 10miles away from as a reference to check my 160m loop, (the loop is reasably broadband but no good on 80m) they are about 4 Degrees East off me and with a n

Topband: VP8STI last night - Report from Cape Town

2016-01-23 Thread Raoul Coetzee via Topband
The pattern in ZS the last couple of nights was the same:Nada till about 23:30 UTC, then they would come out of the noise or just above the noise. Although the distance is not that long, (abt 4300Km ), it seems the path is only in "good" darkness for a short while. (It is of course summertime he

Re: Topband: strange propagation

2016-01-15 Thread Raoul Coetzee via Topband
Herb, I am with you on this one.I know my 160m dxcc will ,one day, go to trash. Thats ok.At least I worked for it, you know, it took me a long time to get your call in the qrn, and I was a green horn! from a small lotwith a great ambition.Now that is more valuable to me than anything else.73Raou

Re: Topband: Strange propagation

2016-01-15 Thread Raoul Coetzee via Topband
Well said Herb! Raoul ZS1C From: Herbert Schoenbohm To: topband@contesting.com Sent: Friday, January 15, 2016 3:14 AM Subject: Re: Topband: Strange propagation Jim,   Artificial insemination is advanced technology also but pray tell me that it is more fun.  We are not taking abo

Topband: Test only, no reading info

2013-12-11 Thread Raoul Coetzee
It seems my posts do not appear or are being blocked, so this is a test only.If blocked for some reason, I would like to know why to rectify or unsubscribe from the list. Regards, Raoul ZS1REC _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband

Re: Topband: Antenna Question

2013-12-09 Thread Raoul Coetzee
Hi Jim and all, I have been using a 16m vertical (T vertical ) with a limited amount o radials. My property is only 41m by 20m , so very limited space for antennas, radials etc. I got dxcc on 160m which many will say is easy, wait to try and get 300 countries etc.Well, this was my own little achi

Re: Topband: Verifying integrity of 75 ohm coax.

2013-11-25 Thread Raoul Coetzee
>The only documented cases of silicone grease causing an issue in switches is >from silicone-carbide is when contacts arc through the grease. It actually >is a very common lube for many applications. >73 Tom There was a time in my career in electronics servicing when I came in contact wi

Topband: Tree Conductivity

2013-08-09 Thread Raoul Coetzee
  I am well aware that I may be flamed (again) for starting "something", but I found this article where the conductivity of sap wood and hard wood is measured. It seems if I read it correctly, that with this specific trees and soil conditions, the results are quote:and 594 ± 55.5 the heartwood r

Re: Topband: tree losses

2013-08-05 Thread Raoul Coetzee
I found this and at least it makes a good old read.   http://www.rexresearch.com/squier/squier.htm     regards, Raoul ZS1REC From: Tom W8JI To: Topband Sent: Monday, August 5, 2013 4:53 PM Subject: Re: Topband: tree losses I hope all of us can keep the topic

Re: Topband: Prince Edward and Marion Islands, ZS8

2013-08-02 Thread Raoul Coetzee
I managed to work David on 160m ssb, it is sort of in my backyard. But even then, the qso was not easy. I gave him a CW key before he left but I doubt if he will try to use it. There are always a team on Marion Island but since about four years ago, they are not allowed to add any more antennas th

Re: Topband: 'Re: fine whiskey is a daylight beverage

2013-05-09 Thread Raoul Coetzee
I always enjoyed the signatures, Tree, keep em coming! 73 Raoul ZS1REC "In days of old when ops were bold and sidebands not invented, the word would pass by pounding brass and all were well contended." (author unknown to me? would like to know where it came from) __

Re: Topband: gentlemen's band

2013-03-10 Thread Raoul Coetzee
This is really good! Let us try to keep it that way by example. Raoul ZS1REC From: Mark Lunday To: 'N7DF' ; topband@contesting.com Sent: Sunday, March 10, 2013 4:26 AM Subject: Re: Topband: gentlemen's band Wonderful.  It restores my faith in the hobby when I h

Re: Topband: Need help to improve DX on 1/2 acre lot from CA(k...@juno.com)

2013-01-19 Thread Raoul Coetzee
: 'Raoul Coetzee' ; 'Greg Chartrand' ; topband@contesting.com Sent: Saturday, January 19, 2013 9:20 AM Subject: Re[2]: Topband: Need help to improve DX on 1/2 acre lot from CA(k...@juno.com) This is only partially true. If a DXpedition is carefully planned, like, say, VP6DX a

Re: Topband: Need help to improve DX on 1/2 acre lot from CA (k...@juno.com)

2013-01-18 Thread Raoul Coetzee
I agree with most, but be careful not to be louder on TX than you can RX!  Easy to achieve from a small lot with loads of qrn and qrm, ask me. Allso there is a point where your ouput power "flat top", and dont show any reward. I think Top W8JI found the same years ago. Still, you you can have lot

Topband: LoTW, Ground mounted 1/2 wave etc.

2012-12-18 Thread Raoul Coetzee
Like most of us I have been reading and trying to absorb the excellent technical information in this group, but really, personal attacks and comments should be avoided. Or is this simply "normal", a reflection of what is happening on the bands too? I hope this comes to an end, I would hate to uns

Re: Topband: Vertical Array Over Uneven Ground

2012-11-15 Thread Raoul Coetzee
Here in South Africa we always had the imperial system till somewhere in the middle sixties and before that we changed from pounds to "decimal" Rand and cents. It was met with some resistance but soon everybody got used to it. As I have a British lathe and milling machine in my garage /workshop

Re: Topband: ZS4PB -SK

2012-11-08 Thread Raoul Coetzee
Sad indeed. Thank you for the info Bernie. Pieter also belonged to Boland Ameteur Radio club at one stage and his distictive voice will be missed. RIP Pieter Raoul ZS1REC From: Bernie van der Walt To: topband@contesting.com Sent: Thursday, November 8, 2012 3:2

Re: Topband: Antarctica

2012-06-01 Thread Raoul Coetzee
Ditto, De ZS1REC, Raoul From: "donov...@starpower.net" To: topband@contesting.com Sent: Friday, June 1, 2012 3:53 AM Subject: Re: Topband: Antarctica Worked        R1ANN DXCC        ANTARCTICA (13) Date        2005-04-03 Mode        CW (CW) Band       

Re: Topband: Wellbrook receive loop performance

2012-04-12 Thread Raoul Coetzee
>I would not be too quick to dismiss small magnetic receiving loops from consideration for DX work. I used a coax diamond loop, 5 feet on a side, on a rotator at 20 feet, prior to trying larger wire >loops. The small loop enabled many contacts in Europe from my West Coast city lot. The signals

Re: Topband: A25KW Botswana

2012-04-03 Thread Raoul Coetzee
I think it may be a combination of factors. We had some geomagnetic storms in that period that might have effected you, I have found that this time of the year is not really good to EU, although I was heard last night in EU with 300 watts on 160m.The night before nobody could hear me. I have n

Re: Topband: Noise problem question

2011-12-20 Thread Raoul Coetzee
I use a FT817  set to 1.830 and walk through the house, bringing the small antenna close to any suspect object to check for noise, anything can be checked that way lamps,washing machine, TV signal decoders, computers, game boxes etc. But alas,the neighborhood noise increased a lot and is making 1

Topband: California Visit

2011-07-08 Thread Raoul Coetzee
Dear all, not to waste your time and bandwidth, I will keep it short. I had to change  my departure flight  from Cape Town to California to a day later, and as a result my Wednesday "off" day was cut. Very little time indeed to meet friends here, but at least  I will visit Al Baker, W5IZ, Dallas,

Topband: ZS1REC visit Fremont

2011-05-19 Thread Raoul Coetzee
Dear all, just received news that I have (select to ) to attend a course in Fremont CA on 6, 7, 8 July. I will probably arrive on 5th , with little bloted red eyes, seems like a 40 hour travel time from my QTH in Cape Town to Fremont, depending on how much money I (or rather my company I work

Topband: LoTW

2011-03-15 Thread Raoul Coetzee
I will always value a paper QSL card, no matter how simple and cheap in design, more valuable than an electronic one. But having thought about it, I have now, in addition to having a QSL manager, joined LoTW and uploaded my electronic log starting 1 Jan 2009. I will however send direct QSL cards

Re: Topband: Boring / Not So Boring Report

2011-01-18 Thread Raoul Coetzee
George wrote: quote: "Poor conditions have been the subject of a number of recent postings. Conditions may have been relatively poor for most us, but Carlos, N4IS, has been enjoying remarkable success during the past three months. From noisy Florida he ha