Topband, addictive? By far my most memorable QSO was my first topband DX: a QSO through the LORAN QRM with Armin DL1FF from my college station W1KMV in 1965 using a Viking Valiant, a Hallicrafters SX-101 and an 80 meter dipole with the feedline center conductor and shield shorted together.
Hmm... I wonder if I remembered to set that Valiant to 50 watts DC input power, the nighttime power limit in 1965? Last night I had another memorable QSO, but much easier than that first QSO: TN2T for Topband DXCC #300. 73 Frank W3LPL ---- Original message ---- >Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:03:47 -0800 (PST) >From: "Jim F." <j_fit...@yahoo.com> >Subject: Re: Topband: My First DX >To: "Jerry Keller (K3BZ)" <k...@verizon.net> >Cc: "(REFLECTOR) Topband" <topband@contesting.com> > >Jerry, >Yes it is indeed addictive. The other morning I called NH7O in HI and he came >back. >and I am still on an amazing high. > >You never know. > >I was running a K1 at 5 watts CW with a clandestine wire in the woods >from my condo here in NH, and almost fell over. The addiction began here :-) > >An old(er) timer once said to drink lots of water before going to bed >as an aid to waking up often during the night. > >I don't need any extra water to get up often at my age, and this 160m >compulsion may be ruining my health. And not only that, I almost wore >out my old keyboard checking LOTW so often until the KH7O QSL arrived. > >I am now winding this huge toroid transformer and wondering how to plant >an FCP discretely in the woods in back of the condo. Total madness. > >The excitement is building ! > >Congratulations and good luck ! > >jim / W1FMR > > > >From: Jerry Keller (K3BZ) <k...@verizon.net> >Subject: Re: Topband: My First DX >To: "Raoul Coetzee" <raoulcoet...@yahoo.com> >Cc: "(REFLECTOR) Topband" <topband@contesting.com> >Date: Monday, January 23, 2012, 6:26 PM > > >Heartfelt thanks to Raoul and all the many other topbanders that have emailed >me their congrats and best wishes here on the reflector (you know who you >are). I’m surprised and touched by the generous welcome you’ve given me. Now I >see why 160M is called the “gentleman’s band”. Me even more happy now. > >73, Jerry K3BZ > >From: Raoul Coetzee >Sent: Monday, January 23, 2012 6:16 AM >To: Jerry Keller (K3BZ) >Subject: Re: Topband: My First DX > >Congrtas but Be warned: its addictive!! > >Be prepared for waking up at all hours to look for dx on 160m, to build better >and worse antennas, to read up on 160m while it is light outside, >arranging your habits to sync with sunrise and sunset. >From now on when you see a sunrise and you do not have a radio on, you will >always wonder what rare dx my be on 160m that you are missing! >Enjoy, its a wonderfull journey! >Kind regards, >Raoul ZS1REC >CWops 338 > > > >-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >From: Jerry Keller (K3BZ) <k...@verizon.net> >To: (REFLECTOR) Topband <topband@contesting.com> >Sent: Saturday, January 21, 2012 6:44 AM >Subject: Topband: My First DX > > >Pardon my exuberance, but I worked my very first Topband DX this evening... >PJ4C on Bonaire. Me happy. > >73, Jerry K3BZ >_______________________________________________ >UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK > > >_______________________________________________ >UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK >_______________________________________________ >UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK _______________________________________________ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
