Re: Topband: Solar Flare

[Mike Waters]

Those power and telegraph lines were MANY hundreds of miles long, and
likely thousands of miles long.

I seriously doubt whether even the severest of solar storms --not even the
famed Carrington Event-- would damage anybody's 160m antenna systems
anywhere on earth. Not even a 1000'+ Beverage.

My antenna disconnects are for thunderstorms. I wouldn't bother to unplug
my 580' Beverages, even if there was a brilliant aurora dancing overhead.
They are protected by 90V GDTs, but I doubt if they would even fire.

73, Mike
www.w0btu.com

On Tue, Apr 25, 2017 at 3:31 PM, Stan K  wrote:

> If a big solar flare can melt telegraph wires, overload power lines, etc,
> might it not be of concern to 160 users that have lng Beverages, and
> many have long dipoles too, that just might pick up enough from a huge
> solar flare to do some major damage to the antenna or equipment?
>
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Re: Topband: Solar Flare

[Alan Swinger]

 . . . which is I and many others have Big Switches and other means to 
disconnect feed lines and ground them to prevent equipment damage and hopefully 
to antennas.
Alan K9MBQ


-Original Message-
>From: Stan K 
>Sent: Apr 25, 2017 4:31 PM
>To: topband@contesting.com
>Subject: Re: Topband: Solar Flare
>
>If a big solar flare can melt telegraph wires, overload power lines, etc,
>might it not be of concern to 160 users that have lng Beverages, and
>many have long dipoles too, that just might pick up enough from a huge
>solar flare to do some major damage to the antenna or equipment?
>
>Just my 2Hz worthand it's often not worth even 1Hz.
>
>73
>Stan K8LL
>NW Ohio, USA
>10-10# 76801
>FP# 3255
>100WattsAndAWire# 1939
>Propagation is our master . . . but sometimes the master is cruel!
>
>
>On Apr 25, 2017
>
>This kind of post does not belong on this reflector. It contributes
>nothing to Topband knowledge and only shows flawed logic on the part of its
>author.
>_
>Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
_
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Re: Topband: Solar Flare

[Stan K]

If a big solar flare can melt telegraph wires, overload power lines, etc,
might it not be of concern to 160 users that have lng Beverages, and
many have long dipoles too, that just might pick up enough from a huge
solar flare to do some major damage to the antenna or equipment?

Just my 2Hz worthand it's often not worth even 1Hz.

73
Stan K8LL
NW Ohio, USA
10-10# 76801
FP# 3255
100WattsAndAWire# 1939
Propagation is our master . . . but sometimes the master is cruel!


On Apr 25, 2017

This kind of post does not belong on this reflector. It contributes
nothing to Topband knowledge and only shows flawed logic on the part of its
author.
_
Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband

Re: Topband: RBOG installation

[Guy Olinger K2AV]

On Tue, Apr 25, 2017 at 12:54 PM, James Denneny <57jndenn...@comcast.net> wrote:
> Yes, I can raise blade cut to 3 inches.  I prefer a closer cut for neatness.
> However, I am contemplating pinning the wire with DXE ground staples every 5
> to 10 ft versus burying the wire an inch into the soil.  I am concerned the
> latter approach might defeat signal reception.

As a BOG wire gets truly close to true dirt, or notched into it, the
velocity factor of BOG can undergo a very large changes, quite some
number here in the NC environs went below 50% velocity factor. The
loss of the RX antenna does increase, but I always tell people that
BOG's need an amplifier.

For RX antennas, the issue is not gain, it's pattern. A BOG a little
on the long side that gets really close to dirt can become
*electrically* long enough to approach zero front to back, or even
reverse pattern, a confusing condition responsible for a lot of the
BOGs-don't-work reports.

It is a good thing to start with to get the BOG right down on true
dirt, not just a pile of dead grass. It's more stable there, because
the pattern/gain drift of gradually going down

My blunt advice is to do the work to lay it right down on true dirt,
just barely notch it into the dirt, do the work to get it to the right
length, and DEAL with an RX amp if you need it. It will solve the
drift problem so neatly documented by N6LF and you won't be cutting it
up with your lawn mower any more.

73, Guy K2AV
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Re: Topband: RBOG installation

[David Harmon]

I cut the grass closely then used DXE radial wire and DXE staples to hold
down the wire to the surface.
No need to bury the radials as the grass will grow over in a few months
especially of you do it now just before the growing season. 
I did 90 radials this way and ain't seen them since!
I use a Kubota tractor style mower and have not cut a wire yet.
One thingpull the radial out and put the first staple near the end.
Align the staples so that they are not 90 degrees to the radialalign the
staple WITH the radial so that the staple has maximum contact with the wire.
The DXE wire does not snarl coming off the reelcouldn't have been
easier.
I stuck a large screwdriver through the reel and then into the ground.
Then I measured and cut all 90 radials and then laid them out...
It's all been out there now for 10 years and the antenna still measures at
the base as I installed it.

73

David Harmon
K6XYZ
Sperry, OK

-Original Message-
From: Topband [mailto:topband-boun...@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Brian
Pease
Sent: Tuesday, April 25, 2017 1:18 PM
To: topband@contesting.com
Subject: Re: Topband: RBOG installation

Google "garden staples ebay".  $11.50/100 free shipping.

On 4/25/2017 12:54 PM, James Denneny wrote:
> My garden tractor lawn mower ate one of my RBOG's.  I thought 2.5 inch 
> blade height was sufficient but the updraft from the mower deck lifted 
> the wire into the blade.
>
>   
>
> Yes, I can raise blade cut to 3 inches.  I prefer a closer cut for
neatness.
> However, I am contemplating pinning the wire with DXE ground staples 
> every 5 to 10 ft versus burying the wire an inch into the soil.  I am 
> concerned the latter approach might defeat signal reception.
>
>   
>
> Comments?
>
>   
>
> Jim K7EG
>
> _
> Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
>

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Re: Topband: RBOG installation

[John Harden, D.M.D.]

I get them from Home Depot imthe garden shop...

73,

John, W4NU

On 4/25/2017 2:17 PM, Brian Pease wrote:

Google "garden staples ebay".  $11.50/100 free shipping.

On 4/25/2017 12:54 PM, James Denneny wrote:
My garden tractor lawn mower ate one of my RBOG's.  I thought 2.5 
inch blade
height was sufficient but the updraft from the mower deck lifted the 
wire

into the blade.


Yes, I can raise blade cut to 3 inches.  I prefer a closer cut for 
neatness.
However, I am contemplating pinning the wire with DXE ground staples 
every 5
to 10 ft versus burying the wire an inch into the soil.  I am 
concerned the

latter approach might defeat signal reception.


Comments?


Jim K7EG

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Re: Topband: RBOG installation

[Brian Pease]

Google "garden staples ebay".  $11.50/100 free shipping.

On 4/25/2017 12:54 PM, James Denneny wrote:

My garden tractor lawn mower ate one of my RBOG's.  I thought 2.5 inch blade
height was sufficient but the updraft from the mower deck lifted the wire
into the blade.

  


Yes, I can raise blade cut to 3 inches.  I prefer a closer cut for neatness.
However, I am contemplating pinning the wire with DXE ground staples every 5
to 10 ft versus burying the wire an inch into the soil.  I am concerned the
latter approach might defeat signal reception.

  


Comments?

  


Jim K7EG

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Re: Topband: JT-65

[Mike Waters]

How about JT-9? It's even more sensitive on 160m than JT-65, and only takes
up 1/10 the bandwidth. Here it is in JT's own words:

physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/wsjtx.html

73, Mike
www.w0btu.com

On Tue, Apr 25, 2017 at 11:47 AM, rick darwicki via Topband <
topband@contesting.com> wrote:

> It is totally amazing, I have an S-7 noise level, cannot hear a peep of
> any kind of audio and I decode signals and make contacts with the ghost
> stations on 1838.I hope 8-9 DX guys come up so I can finish DXCC on 160 hi
> hi Rick N6PE
>
_
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Topband: RBOG installation

[James Denneny]

My garden tractor lawn mower ate one of my RBOG's.  I thought 2.5 inch blade
height was sufficient but the updraft from the mower deck lifted the wire
into the blade.

 

Yes, I can raise blade cut to 3 inches.  I prefer a closer cut for neatness.
However, I am contemplating pinning the wire with DXE ground staples every 5
to 10 ft versus burying the wire an inch into the soil.  I am concerned the
latter approach might defeat signal reception.

 

Comments?

 

Jim K7EG

_
Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband

Topband: JT-65

[rick darwicki via Topband]

It is totally amazing, I have an S-7 noise level, cannot hear a peep of any 
kind of audio and I decode signals and make contacts with the ghost stations on 
1838.I hope 8-9 DX guys come up so I can finish DXCC on 160 hi hi Rick 
N6PE==
There are more planes in the ocean than submarines in the sky


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Re: Topband: Bouston TX 160

[Dan Edward Dba East edwards]

k5rk, and n5dg kick my butt regular-like from that part of the state.
ck in on on4kst chat
73, w5xz, dan, in Longview

 

On Monday, April 24, 2017 9:57 PM, Richard Beerman  wrote:
 

 Is there anyone active on Topband in Houston, TX who monitors this reflector? 
Just looking for someone locally who is interested in 160 Meters. Dick  W5AK
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