Re: Topband: Trailer mounted mast earthing
Hi John, To add to Wes' excellent answer, I doubt whether the outriggers have a large enough contact area with the earth to cause any significant losses. More important is an effective choke balun on the coax at the feedpoint. On Wed, May 29, 2019, 6:03 PM John Farrer via Topband < topband@contesting.com> wrote: > ... My question is whether it is better to earth the trailer or leave it > floating with the outriggers on insulating pads in order to minimise losses > in the tower (not considering lightning protection). I appreciate that the > answer might be different for each antenna. Any thoughts please? > 73 > John G3XHZ > _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Trailer mounted mast earthing
Maybe not a worry where you are but if you float that over to Arizona, you better consider lightning and static electricity protection. Wes N7WS On 5/29/2019 4:03 PM, John Farrer via Topband wrote: GE all. I’m planning on installing a 160m inverted L and 80m vertical on opposite sides of a trailer-mounted 100ft steel telescopic mast. Both antennas will have K2AV folded counterpoises 10ft high as there is no space for ground radials. The ‘vertical’ wires will be 5ft away from the mast at the top and 15ft away at the base. My question is whether it is better to earth the trailer or leave it floating with the outriggers on insulating pads in order to minimise losses in the tower (not considering lightning protection). I appreciate that the answer might be different for each antenna. Any thoughts please? 73 John G3XHZ Sent from my iPhone _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Topband: Trailer mounted mast earthing
GE all. I’m planning on installing a 160m inverted L and 80m vertical on opposite sides of a trailer-mounted 100ft steel telescopic mast. Both antennas will have K2AV folded counterpoises 10ft high as there is no space for ground radials. The ‘vertical’ wires will be 5ft away from the mast at the top and 15ft away at the base. My question is whether it is better to earth the trailer or leave it floating with the outriggers on insulating pads in order to minimise losses in the tower (not considering lightning protection). I appreciate that the answer might be different for each antenna. Any thoughts please? 73 John G3XHZ Sent from my iPhone _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: FT-8 My Recent Experience
It seems to be a recurring issue herecan’t shake the elitist attitude. Do what you enjoy doing...don’t beat others up for doing the same...if you find yourself alone re-evaluate... Cecil Sent from my iPad > On May 29, 2019, at 5:39 PM, DXer wrote: > > Really sad to see that this 'comet' is already back in Topband 'orbit'. > > Do we have new list members, by any chance? People that are hearing/reading > about FT8 on topband for the first time? > > Nobody went to Dayton last week? What about the Topband Dinner? I was there, > and FT8 was not an issue. > > I must have missed the 'multitude' of posts about the Hamvention. > > 73 de Vince, VA3VF > _ > Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: FT-8 My Recent Experience
Really sad to see that this 'comet' is already back in Topband 'orbit'. Do we have new list members, by any chance? People that are hearing/reading about FT8 on topband for the first time? Nobody went to Dayton last week? What about the Topband Dinner? I was there, and FT8 was not an issue. I must have missed the 'multitude' of posts about the Hamvention. 73 de Vince, VA3VF _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: FT-8 My Recent Experience
AMEN... Pass the cornbread! K5DL Sent from my iPad > On May 29, 2019, at 4:22 PM, Eric Rosenberg > wrote: > > As one who has operated from obscure locatons (including 9L, J2, and YJ) > with gear that I carried on an airplane, I find your comments both naive > and snobbish. > > As I write this, I'm sitting in a room on small island (PJ7) running QRP > FT8 into a loop antenna on the balcony. Although I made a couple of Q's on > CW, my intent was to use FT8. All keyboarding... no mic or paddle. > > It's been lots of fun, and that's what ham radio is all about. TheFT8 UI > has lots of fascinating information, much of which I can use for future > travel. > > I'm not here to win any prizes or awards. I do have the extreme > satisfaction of giving 25 stations this rare mult during the WPX contest, > and making many more FT8 contacts as I've been on nightly for short periods > of time over the last couple of nights. > > And yes, they will all get paper QSL cads (remember them?). No computers > running in your shack? No need for LoTW! > > Remember when folks said SSB would kill ham radio? how about PSK vs RTTY? > AM vs FM on the VHF bands? The list goes on: packet clusters, the reverse > beacon network, LoTW, panadapters. Add FT8 as the latest cause of the > demise and/or death of CW, contesting, and ham radio (any or all of them). > What's next? > > So get off your high horse. It's not about you, it's about the guy on the > other end... the one *without* a tower, *without* a yagi, *without* an > amplifier and all the gizmos you may have. The guy who worked hard to work > you and then sent you a card via the bureau. Don't forget him! > > 73, > Eric W3DQ > At the moment PJ7/W3DQ > > -- > On Tue, 28 May 2019, Mark K3MSB wrote: > > I spent 9 days in Haiti as HH6/K3MSB a few weeks ago on a missions trip to > Les Cayes, which is in the remote southwestern part of the island. As the > fellow I was traveling with was a ham, we of course hung some wires at our > guest house and had some on-the-air fun. This was good as there really > isn't much to do in the evenings down there. Actually, aside from > reading, there isn't anything to do in the evenings down there.But I > digress. > > To protect the innocent (or the guilty) I'll call my friend “John”. > > I did CW and John did some CW but mainly FT-8.John wanted me to do some > FT-8, but after watching him for a bit I said to “wake me when it's time > for some real radio”. I've seen FT-8 before and I just can't get into > it. I can't get into any computer mode, mainly because I've been a software > engineer for almost 40 year and dealing with computers at home is a > non-starter with me.I like ARC-5s, BC-348s, and Navy RBB's > myself..But again, I digress.. > > > _ > Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: FT-8 My Recent Experience
As one who has operated from obscure locatons (including 9L, J2, and YJ) with gear that I carried on an airplane, I find your comments both naive and snobbish. As I write this, I'm sitting in a room on small island (PJ7) running QRP FT8 into a loop antenna on the balcony. Although I made a couple of Q's on CW, my intent was to use FT8. All keyboarding... no mic or paddle. It's been lots of fun, and that's what ham radio is all about. TheFT8 UI has lots of fascinating information, much of which I can use for future travel. I'm not here to win any prizes or awards. I do have the extreme satisfaction of giving 25 stations this rare mult during the WPX contest, and making many more FT8 contacts as I've been on nightly for short periods of time over the last couple of nights. And yes, they will all get paper QSL cads (remember them?). No computers running in your shack? No need for LoTW! Remember when folks said SSB would kill ham radio? how about PSK vs RTTY? AM vs FM on the VHF bands? The list goes on: packet clusters, the reverse beacon network, LoTW, panadapters. Add FT8 as the latest cause of the demise and/or death of CW, contesting, and ham radio (any or all of them). What's next? So get off your high horse. It's not about you, it's about the guy on the other end... the one *without* a tower, *without* a yagi, *without* an amplifier and all the gizmos you may have. The guy who worked hard to work you and then sent you a card via the bureau. Don't forget him! 73, Eric W3DQ At the moment PJ7/W3DQ -- On Tue, 28 May 2019, Mark K3MSB wrote: I spent 9 days in Haiti as HH6/K3MSB a few weeks ago on a missions trip to Les Cayes, which is in the remote southwestern part of the island. As the fellow I was traveling with was a ham, we of course hung some wires at our guest house and had some on-the-air fun. This was good as there really isn't much to do in the evenings down there. Actually, aside from reading, there isn't anything to do in the evenings down there.But I digress. To protect the innocent (or the guilty) I'll call my friend “John”. I did CW and John did some CW but mainly FT-8.John wanted me to do some FT-8, but after watching him for a bit I said to “wake me when it's time for some real radio”. I've seen FT-8 before and I just can't get into it. I can't get into any computer mode, mainly because I've been a software engineer for almost 40 year and dealing with computers at home is a non-starter with me.I like ARC-5s, BC-348s, and Navy RBB's myself..But again, I digress.. _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: #1 W1BB
Hello Joe, Same here, I also need 6M DXCC (May never get it), and I have all the DXCC available for the lower bands. I asked the DXCC bureau why not a DXCC that covers all the HF bands, and they used the endorsement answer and that there's no need for an expanded award. I nicely thanked them and suggested it is a worthy concept and they would sell many plaques for it if they created it and make many hams happy to have it on their wall. I got nice lip service saying "NO", in reply, and that was the end of my pushing them on it. FWIW, I do not have those endorsement stickers on anything, I think I threw them away, I like my certs looking as they came, not like a camper with Good Sam bumper stickers on them. 73, Gary KA1J > > > There was no reply and to this day, nearly 50 years later they have > > never allowed such an award. > To the contrary - ARRL offer endorsement plates for 160, 30, 17, 12 > and 6 meters that can be attached to a 5BDXCC plaque turning 5BDXCC > into 6BDXCC - 10BDXCC. Mine is missing only the 6 Meter plate. > > 73, > > ... Joe, W4TV > > > On 2019-05-29 2:27 PM, Herbert Schoenbohm wrote: > > Yes indeed about Stew Perry. The ARRL really fooled around with > > the 160-meter DXCC award. But even worse, when they issued me mine I > > realized I had the first ever 6-band DXCC. I asked the powers that > > be if the would issue me this. The answer was "no way." I said > > then "If a 5-band DXCC was such an accomplishment then why would a > > 6-band DXCC be also?" There was no reply and to this day, nearly 50 > > years later they have never allowed such an award. So I made one up > > on the computer and just hung it to the wall. Case closed. as > > the ARRL is not very member-friendly but you already knew that. > > > > Herb, KV4FZ > > > > On Wed, May 29, 2019 at 1:35 PM Greg Chartrand via Topband < > > topband@contesting.com> wrote: > > > >> The first time I met with Stew he had his 160 DXCC application in > >> ARRL hands for quite a while and they would not issue the > >> certificate or tell him whether they would or not. His position was > >> in effect, I guess I have some enemies there. He was quite a > >> gentleman about the whole thing again saying in effect I know I was > >> the first if they acknowledge it or not. Quite a man! G. > >> > > _ > Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband > Reflector > _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: #1 W1BB
There was no reply and to this day, nearly 50 years later they have never allowed such an award. To the contrary - ARRL offer endorsement plates for 160, 30, 17, 12 and 6 meters that can be attached to a 5BDXCC plaque turning 5BDXCC into 6BDXCC - 10BDXCC. Mine is missing only the 6 Meter plate. 73, ... Joe, W4TV On 2019-05-29 2:27 PM, Herbert Schoenbohm wrote: Yes indeed about Stew Perry. The ARRL really fooled around with the 160-meter DXCC award. But even worse, when they issued me mine I realized I had the first ever 6-band DXCC. I asked the powers that be if the would issue me this. The answer was "no way." I said then "If a 5-band DXCC was such an accomplishment then why would a 6-band DXCC be also?" There was no reply and to this day, nearly 50 years later they have never allowed such an award. So I made one up on the computer and just hung it to the wall. Case closed. as the ARRL is not very member-friendly but you already knew that. Herb, KV4FZ On Wed, May 29, 2019 at 1:35 PM Greg Chartrand via Topband < topband@contesting.com> wrote: The first time I met with Stew he had his 160 DXCC application in ARRL hands for quite a while and they would not issue the certificate or tell him whether they would or not. His position was in effect, I guess I have some enemies there. He was quite a gentleman about the whole thing again saying in effect I know I was the first if they acknowledge it or not. Quite a man! G. _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: #1 W1BB
Yes indeed about Stew Perry. The ARRL really fooled around with the 160-meter DXCC award. But even worse, when they issued me mine I realized I had the first ever 6-band DXCC. I asked the powers that be if the would issue me this. The answer was "no way." I said then "If a 5-band DXCC was such an accomplishment then why would a 6-band DXCC be also?" There was no reply and to this day, nearly 50 years later they have never allowed such an award. So I made one up on the computer and just hung it to the wall. Case closed. as the ARRL is not very member-friendly but you already knew that. Herb, KV4FZ On Wed, May 29, 2019 at 1:35 PM Greg Chartrand via Topband < topband@contesting.com> wrote: > The first time I met with Stew he had his 160 DXCC application in ARRL > hands for quite a while and they would not issue the certificate or tell > him whether they would or not. > His position was in effect, I guess I have some enemies there. He was > quite a gentleman about the whole thing again saying in effect I know I was > the first if they acknowledge it or not. > Quite a man! > G. > > _ > Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband > Reflector > _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Topband: #1 W1BB
The first time I met with Stew he had his 160 DXCC application in ARRL hands for quite a while and they would not issue the certificate or tell him whether they would or not. His position was in effect, I guess I have some enemies there. He was quite a gentleman about the whole thing again saying in effect I know I was the first if they acknowledge it or not. Quite a man! G. _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: FT-8 My Recent Experience
amen to another computer free shack. I too waste much time on 'puters as it is. however to each their own. I did enjoy the story. Renée, k6fsb On 2019-05-29 5:57 a.m., Rob Atkinson wrote: I can't get into any computer mode, mainly because I've been a software engineer for almost 40 year and dealing with computers at home is a non-starter with me.I like ARC-5s, BC-348s, and Navy RBB's myself.. Same here. Computer science major; 30 years in front of monitors and keyboards all day; database management, writing codeand I know hams who spend days and days fiddling with PCs and logging softwareWhy? What a waste of valuable radio time in my opinion. Not only do I reject computer "modes," but I run a computer free shack. Great FT8 story by the way. 73 Rob K5UJ _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector . _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: FT-8 My Recent Experience
Back in the good old days, all we had was PSK-31 and we were proud to have it. It was uphill both ways in the snow. Don W4DNR Quoting Rob Atkinson : I can't get into any computer mode, mainly because I've been a software engineer for almost 40 year and dealing with computers at home is a non-starter with me.I like ARC-5s, BC-348s, and Navy RBB's myself.. Same here. Computer science major; 30 years in front of monitors and keyboards all day; database management, writing codeand I know hams who spend days and days fiddling with PCs and logging softwareWhy? What a waste of valuable radio time in my opinion. Not only do I reject computer "modes," but I run a computer free shack. Great FT8 story by the way. 73 Rob K5UJ _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Topband: FT-8 My Recent Experience
> I can't get into any computer mode, mainly because I've been a software >engineer for almost 40 year and dealing with computers at home is a >non-starter with me.I like ARC-5s, BC-348s, and Navy RBB's >myself.. Same here. Computer science major; 30 years in front of monitors and keyboards all day; database management, writing codeand I know hams who spend days and days fiddling with PCs and logging softwareWhy? What a waste of valuable radio time in my opinion. Not only do I reject computer "modes," but I run a computer free shack. Great FT8 story by the way. 73 Rob K5UJ _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
