Topband: A 3 el, 12 direction parasitic array.

Three 75’ top loaded elements in a triangle configuration are switched to provide 12 directions of forward gain on 160m. I show how the array is designed, modelled and switched. Field test results are shown and compared to the model. https://youtu.be/3ftCl7UrSG4

Topband: VE6WZ tower collapse video

First, I want to thank everyone on this list who sent their best wishes to me after my tower failure. I received many emails from my friends from all over the world, and it really shows what a wonderful, and supportive group this is!! The gentleman band forever. Today I finished a 14min YouTube

Topband: Tower failure at VE6WZ

Hello fellow DXers.. VE6WZ will be QRT from the HF bands above 160m. On Tuesday Aug 27, I suffered a main lift cable failure on my crank up tower that destroyed all of my Yagi's and the US tower. At the time of the failure, I was beside the tower (doing work) in my man lift while the tower

Re: Topband: 3” Air Dux Coil Stock

Buy some copper tubing and roll your own. Steve, ve6wz. > On Aug 17, 2024, at 9:18 AM, Bill Eisinger wrote: > > I’m working on an opportunity to purchase some Air Dux 2404TL coil stock for > an antenna matching project I’m working on. 2404 is the 3” diameter , #10, 4 > tpi coil that is used i

Re: Topband: 160m propagation from left coast

Keep it going Bob!! Great to know you are keeping the RF alive on TB. I have been mostly QRT from TX on 160 since I am rebuilding (and expanding) my remote station TX system into a 4 el, 6 direction parasitic array. Hopefully work will be completed by end August and VE6WZ will be back QRV. My pla

Re: Topband: remotes

> I wonder, is it also possible to compete with yourself in boxing? :-( Baaa-h-h…..ok, I give Nick UY0ZG a knockout for that comment! Very well said Nick. And indeed reading the posts on this thread, it seems what most guys are doing, including myself, is choosing not to enter the r

Re: Topband: Lack of DX CW Activity

George, Yes. I fully agree that many ops don’t understand that RBN is NOT to be relied on. I operate 3 RBN skimmers, each on a different RX antenna, and auto switched for the RX antennas to follow the darkness DX path. 2 of these are Broadside phased Beverage pairs. My QTH is a quiet rural loc

Topband: Test your transmit antenna on air

Today I uploaded a short 6 minute video showing how to use the Kiwi radios located all over the world to test your transmit antenna. How is the front-to-back on your 4 square really performing? It the dipole or the vertical performing better on the DX path? Make an azimuth polar plot of your Yagi

Topband: In shack combiner and direction switching

I posted another YouTube video about how I combine my broadside BOG pairs in the shack, split to multiple radios and implement direction switching. I show how I install a low impedance ground plane in the shack to minimize noise ingress. What might be of interest to this group is my remote switc

Topband: New BOG rx system at VE6WZ

Today I finally finished my 2 part YouTube video series that describes my new BOG rx system and the feed point amplifiers I built to work with them. This is my second winter season using this RX system of single wires, numerous broadside phased pairs, and a BSEF 4 element array. Part 1 shows ho

Re: Topband: Comparing antennas was: Re: 160m loaded tower

Further to Don and Steve’s comment about using an on-line KIWI WEBSDR to check your signal, I just uploaded a video I had made that shows how this works. This is a short 4 min Video, but shows how easy it is to see any changes using the S-meter extension. In this video I am showing the directivi

Re: Topband: VE6WZ QSO

Very FB ears Andy. That EF Beverage array is working well. You were also very weak, but just enough of a short QSB peak for the QSO. I was RX via the direct polar path on the Beverage array and 9 C in diversity. As others have said, the condx this season have been very poor for the trans-polar p

Re: Topband: My new 9 Circle works great!

Indeed it is John, W1FV who is the father of the 9 circle array and published his good work in NCJ. Together with the YCCC they produced kits which were marketed by DXeng. Here is my history with the array: 6 years ago I purchased one of these DXeng kits and was impressed with the results. 3 ye

Re: Topband: 160 today (11/15/22)

FB on Asia picking up for you Ron. Indeed the JAs and Kim where very strong here this morning. Also on the band is Dieter, DL3DXX from his HS0ZFE station getting ready for CQWW. I heard him call Kim HL5IVL, then he moved up the band and called CQ. He got my call ok on my second call, so he has go

Re: Topband: Top Band: Stew Perry Contest

A VE6WZ 160m log extract and excel pivot table shows a remarkable correlation with solar activity and trans-polar DX. This season for the 3 months from August to now I have had 3 CW QSOs with EU. (OZ4MM, OK1CF and OM2XW) Last year, 2021 for the same 3 months I had 273 EU QSOs, In 2020 for the sa

Topband: 8Q7WM log now on Clublog

Today I see that Karel has his 8Q7WM log loaded onto Clublog. https://clublog.org/logsearch.php 73, de steve ve6wz _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector

Re: Topband: 8Q7WM Z-22 in VE6

> to this day we have no idea if the RX arrival angle matched the TX departure > angle. The low dipole was not TX grade. > > Robin, WA6CDR > XZ0A > > > - Original Message - From: "VE6WZ_Steve" > To: "Topband" > Sent: Monday, February 28, 202

Topband: 8Q7WM Z-22 in VE6

Well, today a miracle happened. I worked 8Q7WM on 160m CW for a new DXCC and Z-22. His signal peaked at about 1415 z or so. My SR at 1430z. First of all, I owe thanks to Bob W7RH for spotting 8Q7WM this morning on 160m. For the last few months, I have been lazy and sleeping in. This morning I go

Re: Topband: Relay bounce

Steve, Using open frame relays can often lead to problems, especially in an outdoor environment in a low signal RX path. I have well over 40 relays at my remote switching various RX antennas in the field. Over the last 10 years I have had no failures or intermittent issues using sealed small s

Re: Topband: Array of MiniWhips?

Hello Ash, The small vertical (HI-z) arrays like the 8 circle and 9 circle depend on VERY accurate phase and amplitude between elements. Even small variation in amplitude, or phase can destroy the pattern and RDF which is what makes these arrays effective. The HI-z amplifiers used in these arra

Topband: 9 circle PCB update and performance

Here is an update on my new 9 circle combiner board, and some comments about performance, and the array in general. First, I have already made a revision to the PCB. The latest is Ver. 3.2. However, this board change is very minor. I have decided to omit RFC L10 that goes from the RF out F-con

Re: Topband: F connector how-to video

gt; good pointers for sure. Thanks > > Dave K1WHS > > On 2/4/2022 12:12 AM, Richard (Rick) Karlquist wrote: >> >> On 2/3/2022 7:29 PM, VE6WZ_Steve wrote: >>> “Why the “F” won’t it go on ?” >>> https://youtu.be/pE04tDpdhRA <https://youtu.be/pE04tDpd

Topband: F connector how-to video

“Why the “F” won’t it go on ?” I have probably installed over 150 F connectors to RG-6 in the field for my Beverages and other RX antennas. I’m sure many on this list have done the same, but tonight I uploaded a How-To video explaining why these "Snap-N-seal” connectors often seem to jam up and

Re: Topband: VE6WZ DIY 9-circle combiner board with on board chokes

Hi Rich, I’m afraid that won’t work on either of my previous board designs or on the original YCCC combiner board. This is because the boards all have a low impedance ground plane that the F-connectors are 4-point soldered to. There is no (easy) way to isolate each connector from the ground plan

Topband: New 9 circle PCB with CMCs

Hello fellow DXers, Today I uploaded a YouTube video describing my new 9 circle combiner board PCB design that has small Murata SMD CMCs on each RG-6 feedline. I include PCB file links to download in both KiCad format or a zipped Gerber folder if you want to build your own. A BOM and an image

Topband: TB conditions at VE6WZ 2021 season

With the discussion about declining condx on TB, I decided to do a log extract to compare the last few years here at VE6WZ. I am fairly QRV on 160m CW, often calling CQ most nights and checking the spots for EU. Its very easy to do a log extract based on a time period and using a pivot table in

Topband: 160m last night

Last night the band was in fine shape again. It sounded like there was a lot of activity from NA. Kevin KL7KY was also working into EU. I logged 37 EU last night with a few “new, never logged on 160m” callsigns. 5B4AJC and OX7AM both had very good signals. A highlight was working Ash 3V8SH at 420

Topband: EU condx report, Pre-Stew and 7P8 at VE6WZ

What a difference a few nights make. Last night I logged 45 EU, and could have worked more had I not watched a TV show with the xyl. Some extremely strong EU signals into VE6 last night, and the 7P8 pileup was lit-up with EU callers. I was very happy to work 7P8RU last night on TB, since I was s

Re: Topband: Congratulations - VE6WZ

Thanks for the cograts, and thanks to Yasme for selecting me. I only got an email from Yasme a few days ago telling me about this. I am both very surprised and honoured, especially to be alongside those well respected past recipients. Although I can see the number of views on some of my videos, I

Re: Topband: VE6WZ loud as local today

Thanks Jim! I appreciate your compliment. I have a long way to go to catch up to you! Indeed I find building things to be a very big part of the hobby. Perhaps equal to, or even greater than operating. There are still many things we can home brew and experiment with in this hobby. Writing tech

Re: Topband: Results: "Fusing" Beverage Antennas From Falling Trees

Randy, I’m glad the system is working for you. I have 15 Beverage wires with about 2.5 miles (4km) of wire through dense old forest and will have down trees regularly after a storm. Perhaps every 2 weeks I have a down tree, and need to visit with the chain saw. I cant imagine if I had to repair

Re: Topband: EU Condx

Roger, It was great to hear you call in last night. Your signal was very solid. After our QSO when you went up band to CQ, you peaked even more and almost hit a real 599. Not to start the “low-dipole” thread agin, but honestly, that TX antenna really does work! I worked 16 EU last night. The ba

Topband: EU Condx

Congrats to Bob W7RH for working SM5EDX last week. Strong DX from AZ. I was RX on the QRG during his QSO, but I only had a very brief flash of Johns call. Here at VE6WZ my EU RX is at 30 deg or so, and this helps to shut down much of the late summer QRN from the US mid-west. I have had a number o

Re: Topband: VE6WZ yesterday in DL

Andy, I did not have my recorder running for our QSO, but I did take a screen shot of my Flex waterfall just after our QSO. Here is a link to the image. Your trace is FB between all the yellow QRN crashes. Karel OK1CF CQ is seen just up band. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HEL42Wo9XL94zjfcAXbV2

Topband: EU Aug 24

Last night the solar wind had stabilized at around 300km/s and was even dipping lower at times. I started calling CQ at 0300z. My sunset is at 2:48z. I saw OK1CF calling CQ on the Flex waterfall and I was able to log him at 0311 ut. with a solid signal. At 315ut Andy DL8LAS answered my CQ with

Topband: First EU this season

The geo-mag activity and solar wind finally settled down enough last night to allow the band to open over the pole into VE6. Gord VE6SV was calling CQ earlier in the evening and I saw him spotted by TF4X so I decided to start some CQ. I was also spotted by TF4X a few times, but around 0400z Mike

Re: Topband: 160 condx

Luke, Thanks for being QRV! In fact thanks to VK3HJ, VK2WF, ZL1AZ, and VK3NX for being QRV on 160m almost every day during our NA summer. Every single day this summer that I have been at the radio before sunrise, one or all of the above have been QRV and workable on 160m. I am surprised that mor

Topband: 160m band condx 2018-21

Hello fellow low-band DXers…. Here is a 160m propagation report and trans-polar EU QSO summary from VE6WZ during the last 3 winter seasons. On a few charts I have consolidated Solar indices (SSN and Ap) as well as the solar wind data with my EU CW QSOs since 2018. I have been regularly QRV almos

Re: Topband: Signal source RF amplifier

ujut_5FdY > <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMujut_5FdY> > > GL and 73, > > George > > AA7JV/C6AGU > > > > > > On Sun, 2 May 2021 18:46:49 -0600 > > VE6WZ_Steve wrote: > > For field testing, I’m looking for some ideas for a very sm

Topband: Signal source RF amplifier

For field testing, I’m looking for some ideas for a very small RF amplifier to boost the output from a HCMOS 1.843 MHz oscillator. These oscillators will give me about 20 mW max, but I need a bit more since I plan to mount it on my small drone and will need a bit more range. My drone can lift up

Topband: Noise Canceller- How-to video

If you have ever tried to eliminate local noise using a phase box (noise canceller) like the MFJ-1026 or NCC-1 and been disappointed, you need to watch this video. This video explains how to use these boxes for specific local noise cancelling. This is NOT about pattern forming, null steering or s

Re: Topband: Summer Projects: Shunt Feeding a HDX589MDPL

Mike, In this video I explain exactly what you want to do. In fact this video is about shunt feeding the HDX-589mdpl….your exact tower. I explain how to adjust the tap height and spacing of the gamma wire to achieve a perfect match. https://youtu.be/cHlc5MTGTFM

Topband: Some trans-polar life

Last night 160m opened up over the pole into Europe with some very good signals. C92RU was making it into VE6 at around 0320UT with a fair signal, but I had no luck breaking the pileup. At 0320 SM5EDX made it into the log. Between 0400 and 0500z I logged IK7JTF, ON7PQ, EA6BF, F8IHE, G4UFK and G4

Topband: VE6WZ remote construction video

I was honoured to be one of 6 asked to present a slideshow to the Contest Club of Ontario 2021 Midwinter Zoom virtual meeting. Today I made a few edits and uploaded the presentation to my YouTube channel. The video may be of interest to some here on the TB reflector since I show how I designed a

Topband: The Magic-T (link correction)

Today I uploaded a video to my RX series which explains the Magic-T combiner. I have received a few emails asking me “how do I make the magic-T”? so I thought a video would be helpful. I show the method for winding and building the Magic-T combiner and I explain how it is used in phased RX anten

Topband: The Magic-T

Today I uploaded a video to my RX series which explains the Magic-T combiner. I have received a few emails asking me “how do I make the magic-T”? so I thought a video would be helpful. I show the method for winding and building the Magic-T combiner and I explain how it is used in phased RX anten

Re: Topband: W6 to EU openings last night

FB Rick, Its great to see the band opening up further south. The strange thing (as usual for 160m) is during the last solar min (~2009-11) it was more common for the guys down south and CA to be getting the good prop, while I sat on the bench with no signals. I wont even try to explain it, but

Re: Topband: Need Ideas For "Fusing" Beverages From Falling Trees

Randy, I have 15 Beverage wires that average about 900’ long. About 2.5 miles of wire. All the wires are in dense, old growth forest. I have trees falling ALL the time. Every wire has a counterweight concrete block pulley system to prevent breakage. When a tree falls on a wire (about twice a m

Topband: Trans-polar update from VE6WZ

After about 2 weeks in the AU penalty box with zero trans-polar DX making it to VE6, things have finally started to open up again. On December 10 the band started to show life. On Dec. 11 I was able to work 10 EU, and last night I had 18 trans-polar QSOs. With even slightly disturbed conditions,

Re: Topband: Low Dipoles

diation pattern plot shows the dipole end on. Rotate azimuth 90 degrees > and the two antennas show the same gain at 30 deg elevation. > > Dave KH6AQ > > On Fri, Dec 11, 2020 at 10:51 AM VE6WZ_Steve <mailto:ve...@shaw.ca>> wrote: > I know this thread has gone on-an

Topband: Low Dipoles

I know this thread has gone on-and-on-and on, but I felt I needed to add to the discussion. Regarding Roger G3YRO's 50 years of TB experience using a low dipole, I feel I need to support his observation from the DX side. This winter season since August I have had 56 QSOs with the UK, and worked

Re: Topband: Best conditions of the season

Strong DX Ron! It’s great to hear you guys out east working the trans-pacific path. de steve ve6wz > On Dec 11, 2020, at 6:11 AM, Ron Spencer via Topband > wrote: > > 160 was excellent this morning. Early (1138 with sunrise at 1214) heard, and > worked, Tad, JH1HDT. Not long after worked Kim

Topband: Broadside vs end-fire phasing of RX antennas

Here is a YouTube video I uploaded a few days ago that explains the difference between end-fire and broadside phasing. I show how this principle is applied to Beverage pairs in either end-fire en-echelon configuration or broadside configuration and I discuss the pros-cons of each. 4Nec2 models

Topband: Remote control set-up at VE6WZ

I have received a number of emails asking me how I control my remote station from home or when away. This new video compliments my outside and inside tours of my remote station. I show what my operation position is like at home, and I talk about why my radio of choice now is the Flex instead of

Topband: VE6WZ mid season report

Here is a 160m mid November report on the trans-polar European conditions and activity from VE6WZ. Generally conditions and CW activity have been good. If you haven’t been listening to 160m CW lately, maybe check it out! (assuming the geo-mag has settled down) Here are some stats from a VE6WZ l

Re: Topband: Looking for a 2n5109

Great idea solder leads to the SMD Larry! steve > On Oct 22, 2020, at 11:08 AM, Larry wrote: > > FYI, since the genuine 2N5109 is so difficult to source (and the 2N3866), you > might want to look at using a DCP68. This is a surface mount device that will > electrically replace the 2N5109 in th

Topband: Broadside phased Beverages-Observations

Here are some observations comparing broadside phased Beverage pairs and single wires, and the effect of AZ alignment on target DX. Does a 21 degree AZ change in Beverage orientation make a difference? At my remote station I have 15 Beverage wires ranging from 750' to 1,000' long. There are 3 sin

Topband: Stew Perry at VE6WZ

As Tree said the condx were pretty good this Saturday for the Lowband Jack version of the Stew contest. The trans-polar EU path was very steady throughout the evening. I managed to log 71 EU which I think is a one-night record for me on 160m. Last week I worked 51 EU one evening, but I think the

Topband: Big EU opening

Last night the band was in fine shape from western Canada to Europe. 51 EU calls were logged on 160m CW between 200-520z. Perhaps a one night record for me. Some signals were incredibly loud, sometimes over S9. The band was open right across Europe and into Russia. OH, SM, OZ, LA, LY, UA, SP, O

Re: Topband: Good Conditions, Little Activity

Hans… I’m sorry but I agree with Bob K3UL, perhaps we should stop the whining about lack of CW and get on the band ! If I look at my log for the 2 months since August, I have SM4DHF X13 QSOs, SM5EDX X5, SM2EKM X2, SM2LIY X2, SM7BIC X2. SM6CVX zero QSOs. I doesn't seem like everyone in Sweden h

Topband: 160m activity

There is still a great deal of CW activity on 160m ! What we need is more guys calling CQ and less just listening and saying that no one is active! With the usual very fast QSB on 160m, just scanning the band and listening for RBN spots will not work very well. Especially if everyone is just lis

Topband: South Europe last night

Good trans-polar last night again into VE6, but QRN in EU made QSOs difficult. A surprise opening into more southern EU with IK7JTF and IV3PRK making it into the log in spite of high QRN in the Mediterranean. Here is a CQ from IK77JTF recorded here at around 430 UT: https://drive.google.com/file

Topband: EU opening again

A surprise trans-polar opening into VE6 tonight…the AU has finally cooled down enough for the northerly path to open. Starting around 0230z EU signals started to emerge. SM5EDX was first followed by SM4DHF, DL8LAS SM7BIC and OZ7YY. G4UFK called me but the QSB took him out after I sent the report s

Topband: First EU of the season

Listened for DL8LAS and SM5edx but only a faint trace of SM5EDX CQ on the waterfall at 0300z. Started CQ at around 0400z and I was spotted by TF4X, G4HSO and ON6ZQ RBN skimmers so I new the band was open. The QRN was quite bad, but Pat ON7PQ called and made it above the crashes for the first E

Re: Topband: 1610 KHz AM Channel in USA

Starting earlier this spring and for the last few months both Nick and a few others have piqued my interest in MW BCB DXing and listening to these low-power TIS stations. I have found that a reliable channel is 1710 kHz were I have been able to copy both WQFG Hudson County NJ, and also Travis A

Re: Topband: Tuning a 2el parasitic array

Hi Rick, Yes you can field test for max F/B, but that is far from ”simple” and easy to do. I have done it. Many times over the last 22 years. With a Yagi on the tower I used both an external source as well as an external RX in the field and tried to tune for max F/B. Using an external source I

Re: Topband: Sloping Ground

Sam, Yes…I think it would be worth it! My purpose built low-band remote QTH is on a prominent hill surrounded by farmland in all directions. My QTH at the crest of the hill is about 300’ above the surrounding land and it slopes gentle in all directions. Also my Beverage arrays mostly all slope

Topband: Tuning a 2el parasitic array

This morning I uploaded a YouTube video explaining the method for tuning any 2el parasitic array. I do some experiments in my workshop using the Nano-VNA on a small 2 el Yagi to explain mutual coupling. Then using 4NEC2 I show the relationship between the dip in real R (point of maximum couplin

Topband: Beverage field switching

I have received a number of email questions asking how I switch my Beverage wires in the field. Here is a video that shows the design of my cascaded 2 relay high isolation 4 relay switch box, as well as my latest design that uses 1:1 binocular core "braid breaker” transformers to replace my lar

Re: Topband: Activity Topband Left Coast Perspective

As Bob says, the band has been open to OC and JA with some excellent signals every morning for the last month or more. There is a regular east coast group that have been making it through when the conditions are good which is amazing. But I am a bit surprised that there are not a few more west co

Topband: Winter season 2019-20 conditions

This winter the DX conditions on 160m have excellent at VE6WZ. I did a log export for the 10 months from August, 2019 till May, 2020 and excluded all VE, and USA QSOs. 2,495 DX QSOs 886 unique callsigns 115 DXCC Trans-polar Europe/Africa: 1,603 QSOs 513 un

Re: Topband: Measure dipole on ground to get VF of BOG.

Mikek, I made a number of measurements of my Beverages last summer including using TDR to estimate physical length. This depends on knowing the VF of the wire. However, If you know the physical length length, the using the TDR function you should be able to derive the VF of the BOG. Here is

Re: Topband: [TowerTalk] Measuring resonance of a yagi element

the model and go with it > > Thanks a million for your reply and input. It's definitely a keeper. > > 73 > Tom > K0SN > > > On Thu, Apr 23, 2020 at 12:01 PM VE6WZ_Steve <mailto:ve...@shaw.ca>> wrote: > Tom, > Yes. there is a MUCH simpler way to

Topband: Spring DX

Common darkness between VE6 and EU is getting shorter by the day, but as long as the geo-mag cooperates, the band remains open. Last night I was able to work ON7PQ, ON8DM, G4UFK and G3XHZ from between 0400-0500z. Lots of QSB, but signal strengths high on the QSB peaks. Early last week I was ab

Re: Topband: CW Activity

Roger, You had a very solid and strong signal here in VE6 last night so your low dipole is working for TX, but you could not hear me calling. Your CQs were too long, because often by the time you finished your 5th or 6th CQ, the QSB took your signal down, and the peak was missed. Short CQs and sh

Topband: Skewed polar path condx

Last night DL8LAS and SP3HLM were logged on 160m but the ONLY copy was via a skewed path over South America, a 90 deg skew path from direct. This was not a “subtle path skew”, but very dramatic with absolutely zero copy on the direct NE or even east path. Not even a trace on the waterfall when

Topband: 9 circle and Beverage arrays modelling comparisons

Yesterday I uploaded another YouTube video to my RX antenna series. Using 4NEC2, both single-wire and broadside phased Beverage arrays are modelled to study the RDF and forward beam-width. The 9 circle vertical array is compared to both single and broadside Beverage arrays and the advantages of

Re: Topband: CQ...CQ...CQ

> While you are CQ'ing, do you also check your own call > on RBN to see where you are being heard? Would that > differentiate between "dead band" and "lack of activity"? Yes. I always check RBN to see if my CQ is being spotted in EU or VK or JA etc. However, a few comments about the RBN networ

Topband: CQ...CQ...CQ

With many hams around the world staying home and "practicing social distancing” to “flatten the CV-19 curve”, what a great time to be on the radio! Lets get out there and call CQ to stir up the band. (or ANY band for that matter) There may be some out there that somehow think calling CQ is just

Re: Topband: Was it a plane, was it a bird, was it Luis (IV3PRK) on 160 meters CW this morning?

Yes it was!! I was also very surprised when Luis IV3PRK answered my CQ last night. During the last min (2008-11) Luis was pretty much QRV every night. My last QSO with him was Jan 2019. Condx were quite good last night into EU, but not many callers….perhaps most were recovering from a weekend

Re: Topband: RBN and cluster spots

Hi Mike… My logic is that I want to see ALL spots…especially those from EU skimmers. Why? First of all I want to use my own radio to decide if I can hear them. My own RBN skimmer will only decode a small fraction of what I can copy with my own ears. If my RBN skimmer is spotting any EU, then

Re: Topband: RBN and cluster spots

As Henk says, I too use the VE7CC “CC Cluster” program. It is a great program that runs in the background, and becomes the DX cluster and Skimmer aggregator that will port the spots to whatever logging program or cluster display you use. In the VE7CC program you can select which conventional pac

Re: Topband: RBN and cluster spots

hip sailed many years ago. Many worthwhile things appear on the cluster > that never appear on RBN. If you really want to know what's going on you > need to be watching both. 73. . .Dave, FLS > > -Original Message- From: VE6WZ_Steve > Sent: Sunday, March 08, 2

Topband: RBN and cluster spots

This winter I've noticed that when CQing on 160m, if I get spotted on the “conventional” packet cluster, I seem to get more action. I’ve always found this surprising because usually with 3 seconds (!!!) my call is spotted on the RBN network, so why doesn't everyone already know I’m CQing there?

Topband: EU condx last night

Last night the trans-polar EU path was open to VE6 although the QSB was very deep. 22 EU made it into my log. At first the band seemed poor, with only very weak signals bubbling at the noise level. Bob W7RH appeared to have the spotlight working some N EU that I couldn't hear. For me the band s

Re: Topband: 9 circle RX array combiner board

(Steve_Library.pretty > folder with the mod files) > > I would like to refactor your pcb a bit and thus need to recreate the > schematic and would like to be able to import other components and not loose > your designated footprints. > > Warren, KD4Z > >

Re: Topband: 9 circle RX array combiner board

Hi Rick, Yes, the 2N5109s are almost un-obtainium now, but a few months ago Mouser stocked them and maybe DigiKey, but now they are out-of-stock. Even the 2N3866 substitute is hard to find. Over the years (2 decades) I have built at least 10 of these amps, and still have a supply of a dozen or

Topband: 9 circle RX array combiner board

Just like some guys enjoy woodworking and making furniture that they may not really need, I like to build radio things just for the fun of the project even though I may not really “need” it. For three years I have been using the original 9 circle RX array kit that I bought from DX-engineering,

Topband: Broadside Beverages and Diversity observations

This is the first winter season using my broadside phased Beverages pairs. I have a pair for EU, JA, North and OC. In each case they are about 950’ long and are spaced 400’ apart. Each wire is fed with equal length RG-6 to the centre point and are combined in-phase using a zero degree hybrid com

Topband: EU condx

In spite of a geo-mag K index of 3 and elevated solar wind above 350 km/s, the trans-polar path from VE6 to EU has been open the last few nights. Last night the EU pile-up for both the HU1 and TI9 was amazing. Here is a screen shot of the Flex waterfall which shows the EU callers. https://drive

Re: Topband: Beverage performance VS term resistor

Hi Dave, I use 4Nec2. It is freeware and calculates RDF directly: https://www.qsl.net/4nec2/ steve ve6wz > On Jan 24, 2020, at 7:21 AM, Artek Manuals wrote: > > Steve > > I am curious, what antenna modeling program are you using that gives direct > readout in RD

Topband: Beverage performance VS term resistor

The recent experiments with my Beverages in the cold weather has raised some comments about the termination resistor and the antenna performance. I received a few emails asking about F/B. I made the comment that it really is'nt worth the effort trying to get the termination value exact. Close i

Re: Topband: [TowerTalk] Beverage impedance change in cold WX solved

; On 1/22/20 1:18 PM, VE6WZ_Steve wrote: >> Thanks Jim! >> I didn't look at the Fair Rite catalog, but yes…its there on page 8. I am >> using 73 material Binocular cores. >> The temp. coefficient for 73 material is .65 % per deg C. My temp change is >> about 50 d

Topband: Beverage impedance change in cold WX solved

A few days ago I posted a video explaining some experiments I did adding short radials to my feed and termination grounds on the Beverage. During that week temperatures went as low as -41 C at the station. The mystery has been solved. I wondered if the frozen ground was limiting conductivity and

Topband: Changing Beverage impedance in cold WX

Over the years I have noticed my Beverage feed impedance will change during the winter. My station is configured to take analyzer sweeps in the shack of any of my 12 Beverage wires. All 12 wires show the same change in impedance compared to the summer. Two days ago I did some experiments to se

Topband: Changing Beverage impedance in cold WX

Over the years I have noticed my Beverage feed impedance will change during the winter. My station is configured to take analyzer sweeps in the shack of any of my 12 Beverage wires. All 12 wires show the same change in impedance compared to the summer. Two days ago I did some experiments to se

Topband: Musings on multiple 160m QSOs

Speaking of multiple QSOs with the same stations on 160m…. please do not hesitate to call me if you hear me on Topband no matter how many QSOs we have had! I am a 160m QSO collector. The more the better. I don't get bored working the same guys over-and-over-and-over on TB. Each opening is a n

Topband: Excellent conds

The band is rock’in in case you have missed it. I went for a walk with the xyl yesterday afternoon, and returned to the house at around 3 pm local (2200z). The sun was still high in the sky (thats a relative thing at this time of year at 51 deg N). Sunset is not until 23:38z. I noticed that th

Topband: DX conditions and activity

DX conditions and CW activity from VE6 has been excellent so far this season on 160m. I did a log .csv export and a few pivot table runs on the VE6WZ log from September till December 18. This season stats for the 4 months so far, AF / EU- 982 QSOs, 360 unique calls, 44 DXCC AS- 294 QSO’s, 194

Re: Topband: Wednesday 160m DX CW Activity Night

Last night I worked 46 EU from 0300z till about 0600. In spite of the elevated solar wind, the band was in great shape into VE6. de steve ve6wz > On Dec 11, 2019, at 3:48 PM, Roger Kennedy > wrote: > > > Not sure what conditions are like, but I hope we'll get a few stations on > tonight ! >

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