Hi Trevor, Please share with us the details of your antenna and ground system Better transmit performance should be achievable
73 Frank W3LPL ----- Original Message ----- From: MR TREVOR DUNNE <ei2...@eircom.net> To: g...@ka1j.com Cc: ''''''topband List'''''' <topband@contesting.com> Sent: Wed, 06 Dec 2017 18:44:36 -0500 (EST) Subject: Re: Topband: ARRL 160 Running 1kw to a 55ft top loaded vertical over a decent radial field I found many many stations that I could hear quiet well that could not hear me, it's very disheartening, Is it my system or there's that's not working. I'm already planning improvements for next year to try to improve my tx performance, Trevor EI2GLB ----- Original Message ----- From: Gary Smith <g...@ka1j.com> To: topband@contesting.com Sent: Sun, 03 Dec 2017 21:25:26 -0000 (GMT) Subject: Topband: ARRL 160 This is the first major contest that I have taken part in a while, at least to the extent I actually put a real effort into it. Its taken a bit to get back in the game after my friend Pat became a SK this year. That said, I almost matched my score from two years ago when the band conditions were for me, far better for DX than this weekend. I was running QRP with a less than ideal antenna yet still managed 535 QSOs. It was frustrating to hear so much DX and not be able to have them hear me. I'm guessing I must've heard at least 15 countries that I didn't work. When running QRP on 160, you have to go for low hanging fruit. I'm sure it's the same for everyone. I was grateful that there weren't any storms happening locally this time and for the most part bands were pretty quiet. AMTRAK had its way with me at the Gray lines what with commuter trains running at that time but being a weekend made their schedule a little easier. One of the surprises was when K7RAT called me Sunday Morning so at least my QRP signals were getting up to Boring, Oregon. The band must've been good because his signals were truly marvelous here as well, one of the loudest & cleanest signals on the band and he heard me with no trouble. If that was you at the helm, thank you Tree for the multiplier! Sunday morning at Gray line was really something beautiful to see on the P3. 1/2 hour before there may have been 50-70 people CQing and then the waterfall became a Kaleidoscope with the band packed with people as tight as sardines up to 1875 or so. It's obvious when the band changes and the atmospheric noise is visualized as color in motion, in two dimensions. If you haven't seen the morning Gray line on a waterfall during a 160 contest, you're missing something interesting. Hope all had fun. 73, Gary KA1J _________________ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _________________ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _________________ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband