Re: Topband: Interference on 1.821 From WRCR

[Gary Smith]

Not yet reading the other responses, yes, 
I did. I dropped down to .910 thinking I'd 
find them (hadn't heard their call). I 
scanned the broadcast band for maybe 15 
minutes and oddly couldn't find them on so 
I gave up and went back to trying to find 
the grid current reading issue in my amp.

But they were there this afternoon.

73,

Gary
KA1J

> Greetings,
> 
> Strange happenings this AM.  I heard a lot of hash on 1.821 and
> listened on AM to hear radio station WRCR.  They were commenting on
> the tower being covered in ice and other references to the FCC.  Did
> anyone else here this spurious signal?  73, Bob K3UL
> 
> _
> Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband
> Reflector
> 



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Topband: Measuring Common Mode Chokes.

[DXer]

Very interested in this discussion, as I embark on my common mode choke 
'journey'.


Got the toroids, and a NanoVNA.

73 de Vince, VA3VF

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

Topband: Measuring Common Mode Chokes

[Chuck Hutton]

In the past, I have simply used my N2PK VNA to measure impedance of the choke 
by connecting the shield of the coax to the VNA ports.

Recently I've been discussing common mode chokes with others who have a 
different methodology.
They prefer to do a transmission test through the choke and report the "common 
mode rejection".
This is done by placimg a crossover cable between the VNA output and the choke. 
The choke output is connected in a normal fashion (center to center, shield to 
shield) to the VNA input.

This does not seem ideal to me.
First, the choke is being driven in differential mode rather than common mode.
Second, the measurement depends on (varying) isolation between the coax center 
and shield. So it's not truly common mode rejection.

Am I on thr right track?
A handful of Googles has not netted me any clear summary of test methodology 
for reportimg CMRR. I fimd a small number of tests reportimg impedance.

Chuck

_
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Topband: Stew Perry Plaque Arrived !

[Mike Smith VE9AA]

Thanks to the plaque sponsor and to Tree and possibly others @ BARC for the
FB plaque for my mobile operation in last years contest.

It arrived in fine shape here today.

 

Don't forget to check https://www.kkn.net/stew/stew_plaques.html

for plaques you yourself might win in ~10 days time (or sponsor one-it's not
too late!)

 

I have also sponsored a plaque again this year and you don't even have to be
a top scorer to win it ;-)

What does Mike mean? (check it out to see)

 

CU (all of a sudden) in the next one.

 

Ho Ho Ho

 

Mike VE9AA FN66

p.s.-Rule 6 is the best.

Mike, Coreen & Corey

Keswick Ridge, NB

 

_
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Re: Topband: Temporary antenna suggestion for 160

[donovanf]

Hi Csaba, 


My experience is that an extensive radial system on the ground performs 
significantly better than a few elevated radials. I suspect its difficult to 
obtain nearly equal currents among a small number of elevated radials. 


There is nothing wrong with gull wing elevated radials, but in my experience 
they shorten the effective length of the vertical. 


73 
Frank 
W3LPL 

- Original Message -

From: "HA3LN"  
To: donov...@starpower.net 
Sent: Wednesday, December 18, 2019 8:57:40 PM 
Subject: Re: Topband: Temporary antenna suggestion for 160 

Hi Frank, 

So the gull-wing elevated setup should be dropped from the performance 
point of view, right? 

I have a 26m spider-pole and just wondering how to setup the radials for 
that but considering you wrote no sense to make the radials into 
gull-wing then. 

Thanks and 73! 
Csaba HA3LN / HG3N 
http://ha3ln.hu/ 


On 2019-12-16 22:04, donov...@starpower.net wrote: 
> Hi Mike, 
> 
> 
> Years ago my 4-square transmitting array used "gull-wing" elevated 
> radials sloping 45 degrees from the feedpoint at ground level to about 
> ten feet high. 
> 
> 
> When I replaced the radials with sixty 120-foot radials laid on the ground 
> I had to shorten the verticals by about five feet to maintain resonance, 
> suggesting that the current at the bottom five feet -- or so -- of the 
> verticals 
> was attenuated by the sloping radials in close proximity to the verticals. 
> 
> 
> As an aside, the performance of the array improved dramatically... 
> 
> 
> 73 
> Frank 
> W3LPL 
> 
> 
> - Original Message - 
> 
> From: "Mike Waters"  
> To: "thoyer"  
> Cc: "topband"  
> Sent: Monday, December 16, 2019 8:52:41 PM 
> Subject: Re: Topband: Temporary antenna suggestion for 160 
> 
> CORRECTION 
> 
> It was just pointed out to me that I neglected to mention that the 
> feedpoint on my 160m inverted-L was much lower than 10 feet high! 
> 
> The tuner sits on the earth, and the two wires go straight up from that to 
> the insulator block holding the antenna and the radials, which is less than 
> 4 feet high. 
> From that point, the two radials angle upwards at roughly 45° (?) to nearby 
> trees, and level out at 10' high to the North and to the South all the way 
> to the ends. (The South radial zigzags back and forth since the distance 
> from the base to the neighbor's fence in that direction is less than 1/4 
> wavelength.) 
> 
> I had photos of it online, but w0btu.com crashed. Looking for a place to 
> upload it to. 
> 
> I hope this makes sense. Sorry for the lack of details below. 
> 
> 73, Mike 
> W0BTU 
> 
> 
> On Sun, Dec 15, 2019, 8:22 PM Mike Waters  wrote: 
> 
>> Do the inverted-L, but use at least two 10' high 1/4 wave radials. 
>> 
>> Do NOT use an RF ground rod, or any radials on or near the earth. Just 
>> connect the coax shield to the junction of the radials and any remote 
>> tuner. At that point a good choke balun is necessary. 
>> 
>> Leaving out the choke or grounding the shield will result in very poor 
>> performance. 
>> 
>> 73, Mike 
>> W0BTU 
>> 
>> 
>> On Sun, Dec 15, 2019, 7:04 PM thoyer via Topband  
>> wrote: 
>> 
>>> With only 9 more to go for DXCC on 160 and all of the recent posts about 
>>> how good the band has been recently "best in years) I find myself with 
>>> no 
>>> antenna for the low bands and cringing after each post on how good the 
>>> band has been. 
>>> ... 
>>> Options - I have a 45' tower with TH6DXX, 6m and 2m yagis. I could easily 
>>> string a makeshift inverted L with about 45' vertical and around 100' 
>>> horizontal. This I could string up in a few hours. the Horizontal portion 
>>> would be pointed south. Not the best of configurations but that's what I 
>>> have to work with. ... 
>>> 
>>> Tom 
>>> W3TA 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
> _ 
> Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector 
> 
> _ 
> Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector 
> 

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Topband: Propagation observations

[Mark Lunday]

Not trying to agitate, just making an observation about 160 meters.

If I can easily copy FT8 signals  coming from EU on my simple inverted L at my 
North Carolina QTH a full 80 minutes before sunset on 160, is there any reason 
why I should not be able to make a CW QSO?

I always followed common wisdom from others on top band (and mostly for 80 
meters)...if the sun is up, DX is nil due to ionospheric absorption (VA2GU 
exceptions notwithstanding).

But I was copying EA8DO at 2020 UTC today, and not ESP...I could occasionally 
hear the audio tones.  So why can't I do a CW QSO?

And then there's the skewed long-path from US NE and Canada to VK6 that has 
been workable daily on 80 meter SSB.  Since JULY!  Thanks to K2RR and VA2GU who 
clued me in, and I was heard on that path in VK6in July.

So I am starting to listen BEFORE sunset on 80 and 160.  The mystery continues, 
especially with a spotless sun.

Mark Lunday, WD4ELG
Greensboro, NC  FM06be
wd4...@arrl.net
http://wd4elg.blogspot.com
SKCC #16439  FISTS #17972  QRP ARCI #16497

_
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Topband: Russian 160 meter contest

[r7lv]

   Hi guys!

  RUSSIAN 160 METER CONTEST 2019
 

International 160m contest named  RUSSIAN 160 METER CONTEST sponsored 
by the Radio Magazine and the Top Band DX Club.
 
Radio amateurs from all over the world may participate in the Contest. Results 
will be scored separately in three entry groups: European and Asiatic Russia 
(as per WAC definition), and the Rest of the World (World).
In general, new rules of the Contest are very close to that of the popular 
RUSSIAN DX CONTEST (exchange numbers, QSO points calculation, multiplier). 
Traditionally, the Contest is to be held on Friday preceding the third complete 
December weekend, i.e. from 20.00z to 23.59z in 1.8 MHz band. Modes are CW and 
SSB. In 2017, the Contest is to be held on December 20.
Only mixed mode entry (MIXED). Participants may work in two entry groups, - SO 
(single operator) and MO (one TX, 2 or more operators). Only one transmitted 
signal is allowed at any time.
It is allowed to use open DX networks in the Contest; use of any IP networks 
for distant reception and/or transmission, including WEB stations, is 
prohibited.
There are no mode change limits. Dupes are allowed in different modes.
Non-Russian stations send RS(T) and QSO serial number starting with 001. 
Russian stations send RS(T) and Oblast code, two-letter Oblast (Kraj, Republic) 
abbreviation they are transmitting from.
Russian stations: QSO with Russian station (within the same continent) scores 2 
points; QSO with Russian station from another continent scores 5 points; QSO 
with another entity in the same continent scores 3 points, QSO with another 
continent scores 5 points.
Non-Russian stations: QSO with Russian station scores 10 points (regardless of 
continent); QSO with own entity scores 2 points; QSO with another entity within 
own continent scores 3 points; QSO with another continents scores 5 points. Use 
DXCC list for entity definition.
Kaliningrad (UA2) is a separate DXCC entity and a separate Oblast multiplier, 
but points for QSO with Kaliningrad are counted as for European Russia.
Multiplier is number of entities worked (see DXCC list), plus Russian Oblasts 
number. Each entity and Oblast count for multiplier only once, regardless of 
mode. Use common Oblast abbreviations list (for example, see Russia Award 
rules).
Final result is total QSO points multiplied by total multipliers number.
Logs shall be in Cabrillo format. Lof file shall be named as YOURCALL.log or 
YOURCALL.cbr. Example: UA4AA.log. Message subject line shall consist your call. 
Log shall be attached to your message and sent to: cont...@radio.ru or uploaded 
via WEB interface at http://ua9qcq.com/contests/robot.php   or to r...@dx.ru  .
When using contest software for your log, do not forget, they are may generate 
the second Cabrillo file version, and some of them may generate the third 
Cabrillo version. The differences are not big, - they are about log headers. In 
order to avoid ‘talks’ with robot, it is necessary to check some positions in 
the log. Contest name shall be RADIO-160.
SO stations, line CATEGORY-OPERATOR: shall be shown as SINGLE-OP for the third 
Cabrillo version. Same for the second version, but it is in line CATEGORY:
MO stations, the third Cabrillo version line CATEGORY-OPERATOR: shall be 
MULTI-OP, the second version line CATEGORY: shall contain MULTI-ONE (note the 
difference please!). All Cabrillo versions, line LOCATION: for Russian stations 
shall contain 2-letter Oblast abbreviation.
Logs shall be sent within 15 days after the Contest completion (till January 5, 
2020, inclusive).
Top winners in groups are awarded with trophies from sponsors. 2nd and 3rd 
place winners are awarded with commemorative Radio Magazine contest 
certificates.
Non-Russians participants are awarded with certificates provided that not less 
than 50 QSO were confirmed in their logs.
Decisions of Contest Committee are final.

  See you on TOP !


73! Vlad
-- 
С уважением,
R7LVmailto:   r...@dx.ru   ua...@dx.ru   ua...@mail.ru

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Topband: Interference on 1.821 From WRCR

[Charles Otnott via Topband]

All,

I would like to thank Jon, AA1K, for taking
on the lead by calling WRCR's attention to
a technical problem. As a long, long time ago,
contract AM BCST engineer, I would rather
hear about a problem from a ham than an FCC
engineer.

Thank you Jon.

73 & Best DX
Charlie
WD5BJT

See September 2006 CQ Magazine for a published work.
www.qsl.net/wd5bjt
_
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Re: Topband: Interference on 1.821 From WRCR

[rgarrett5]

Oh my!  Of course, I meant Hello Jon et al.  Bob K3UL

-Original Message-
From: Jon Zaimes  
Sent: Wednesday, December 18, 2019 1:52 PM
To: rgarre...@comcast.net; 'Topband' 
Subject: RE: Topband: Interference on 1.821 From WRCR

It was loud here last evening and this morning. At first I thought it was some 
digital garbage from my computer since I had just
started using FT8. I could not copy the audio in CW or SSB modes on my K3 but 
it was clean copy when I switched to AM on 1820 kHz.

It peaked on my long 45-degree Beverage and the announcer mentioned something 
in "Westchester County" in New York so with some
sleuthing online and dual RX listening I matched it to WRCR's signal on 1700 
kHz in Ramapo, NY, about 160 miles NE of me.

Fellow topbanders from Alabama to Massachusetts on the ON4KST Low Band chat 
also reported hearing it.

I called the station's business phone line around 6 a.m. and the announcer (the 
only one in the building) answered and I explained
the problem. He said it might be due to "heavy icing on the tower." He later 
mentioned this on the air and there was some chatter
from listeners. He said he would relay the complaint to the general manager and 
chief engineer later in the day.

I also sent the station an email with the same complaint but I've not had any 
response.

I didn't notice any change in their signal at sunrise. They are licensed as
1 kw night and 10 kw day.

At 1:45 p.m. I am not hearing the signal on 1820, so this may have been 
resolved.

The station's phone number is 845-429-4695. An alternate is 845-362-5070.
  if anyone else would like to lodge a complaint should this return.

73/Jon

Jon P. Zaimes, AA1K
Tower climber for hire
http://www.aa1k.us/
Cell: 302-632-2353

Reviews of AA1K tower work on eham website:
http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/12922

Hug your favorite tower every day, and always stay connected to it.

-Original Message-
From: Topband  On Behalf Of 
rgarre...@comcast.net
Sent: Wednesday, December 18, 2019 8:17 AM
To: 'Topband' 
Subject: Topband: Interference on 1.821 From WRCR

Greetings,

Strange happenings this AM.  I heard a lot of hash on 1.821 and listened on AM 
to hear radio station WRCR.  They were commenting on
the tower being covered in ice and other references to the FCC.  Did anyone 
else here this spurious signal?  73, Bob K3UL

_
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Re: Topband: Interference on 1.821 From WRCR

[rgarrett5]

Hell Jon et al,

Thanks for the follow up with the station.  Hoping the issue has been resolved. 
 Seems like they knew something was going on with
the transmitter.

73, Bob K3UL

-Original Message-
From: Jon Zaimes  
Sent: Wednesday, December 18, 2019 1:52 PM
To: rgarre...@comcast.net; 'Topband' 
Subject: RE: Topband: Interference on 1.821 From WRCR

It was loud here last evening and this morning. At first I thought it was some 
digital garbage from my computer since I had just
started using FT8. I could not copy the audio in CW or SSB modes on my K3 but 
it was clean copy when I switched to AM on 1820 kHz.

It peaked on my long 45-degree Beverage and the announcer mentioned something 
in "Westchester County" in New York so with some
sleuthing online and dual RX listening I matched it to WRCR's signal on 1700 
kHz in Ramapo, NY, about 160 miles NE of me.

Fellow topbanders from Alabama to Massachusetts on the ON4KST Low Band chat 
also reported hearing it.

I called the station's business phone line around 6 a.m. and the announcer (the 
only one in the building) answered and I explained
the problem. He said it might be due to "heavy icing on the tower." He later 
mentioned this on the air and there was some chatter
from listeners. He said he would relay the complaint to the general manager and 
chief engineer later in the day.

I also sent the station an email with the same complaint but I've not had any 
response.

I didn't notice any change in their signal at sunrise. They are licensed as
1 kw night and 10 kw day.

At 1:45 p.m. I am not hearing the signal on 1820, so this may have been 
resolved.

The station's phone number is 845-429-4695. An alternate is 845-362-5070.
  if anyone else would like to lodge a complaint should this return.

73/Jon

Jon P. Zaimes, AA1K
Tower climber for hire
http://www.aa1k.us/
Cell: 302-632-2353

Reviews of AA1K tower work on eham website:
http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/12922

Hug your favorite tower every day, and always stay connected to it.

-Original Message-
From: Topband  On Behalf Of 
rgarre...@comcast.net
Sent: Wednesday, December 18, 2019 8:17 AM
To: 'Topband' 
Subject: Topband: Interference on 1.821 From WRCR

Greetings,

Strange happenings this AM.  I heard a lot of hash on 1.821 and listened on AM 
to hear radio station WRCR.  They were commenting on
the tower being covered in ice and other references to the FCC.  Did anyone 
else here this spurious signal?  73, Bob K3UL

_
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_
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Re: Topband: Interference on 1.821 From WRCR

[Jon Zaimes via Topband]

It was loud here last evening and this morning. At first I thought it was
some digital garbage from my computer since I had just started using FT8. I
could not copy the audio in CW or SSB modes on my K3 but it was clean copy
when I switched to AM on 1820 kHz.

It peaked on my long 45-degree Beverage and the announcer mentioned
something in "Westchester County" in New York so with some sleuthing online
and dual RX listening I matched it to WRCR's signal on 1700 kHz in Ramapo,
NY, about 160 miles NE of me.

Fellow topbanders from Alabama to Massachusetts on the ON4KST Low Band chat
also reported hearing it.

I called the station's business phone line around 6 a.m. and the announcer
(the only one in the building) answered and I explained the problem. He said
it might be due to "heavy icing on the tower." He later mentioned this on
the air and there was some chatter from listeners. He said he would relay
the complaint to the general manager and chief engineer later in the day.

I also sent the station an email with the same complaint but I've not had
any response.

I didn't notice any change in their signal at sunrise. They are licensed as
1 kw night and 10 kw day.

At 1:45 p.m. I am not hearing the signal on 1820, so this may have been
resolved.

The station's phone number is 845-429-4695. An alternate is 845-362-5070.
  if anyone else would like to lodge a complaint should this return.

73/Jon

Jon P. Zaimes, AA1K
Tower climber for hire
http://www.aa1k.us/
Cell: 302-632-2353

Reviews of AA1K tower work on eham website:
http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/12922

Hug your favorite tower every day, and always stay connected to it.

-Original Message-
From: Topband  On Behalf Of
rgarre...@comcast.net
Sent: Wednesday, December 18, 2019 8:17 AM
To: 'Topband' 
Subject: Topband: Interference on 1.821 From WRCR

Greetings,

Strange happenings this AM.  I heard a lot of hash on 1.821 and listened on
AM to hear radio station WRCR.  They were commenting on the tower being
covered in ice and other references to the FCC.  Did anyone else here this
spurious signal?  73, Bob K3UL

_
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Re: Topband: Interference on 1.821 From WRCR

[CUTTER DAVID via Topband]

A friend over here told me he was bothered by QRM on 1822 last week and we 
don't have any harmonically related MW stations that could cause that, so, it 
could be the same source.
David G3UNA/G6CP

> On 18 December 2019 at 15:09 David Olean  wrote:
> 
> 
> I think I did. I could hear voices and a broad peak of crud around 1820 
> that was several kHz wide. I did not try to identify it. I just grumbled 
> and went away and did something else.  I heard it after sunset last 
> night, the 18th.  Normally, if I hear any BCB crud it will be much later 
> when signals are horrendously loud.  I have a BCB filter, and it is 
> effective with late night signals. I normally do not hear any BCB stuff 
> other than weak birdies on 1800, 1810, 1820 etc.  I live in SW Maine.
> 
> I answered a few 160 CQs last night. Both were OZ signals. The first 
> station had trouble hearing me. He was 559. Station #2 was louder and I 
> gave him 579. I received a 339.  Maybe I had the amplifier plugged into 
> the dummy load instead of the 160 feedline.
> 
> I went back to my workbench and got back at working on an old R-392 
> receiver. When I was a young guy just out of school, I was in the Army 
> and we had Collins R-392 receivers in our unit. It was similar to an 
> R-390, but was re packaged to fit in a jeep and be out in the mud and 
> dirt. It had a hermetically sealed case and ran with 28 volts on all the 
> tubes.  My receiver had been "worked on" and the result was a basket 
> case with all of the cams out of sync. There were missing slug racks and 
> slugs. The main tuning dial did not cover the entire range. It was an 
> interesting night working on putting it all back together and trying to 
> get it to work. The PTO needed work too. I stayed up past 1:30 local 
> time, so missed my sunrise. :-(
> 
> 
> Dave K1WHS
> 
> On 12/18/2019 1:16 PM, rgarre...@comcast.net wrote:
> > Greetings,
> >
> > Strange happenings this AM.  I heard a lot of hash on 1.821 and listened on 
> > AM to hear radio station WRCR.  They were commenting on
> > the tower being covered in ice and other references to the FCC.  Did anyone 
> > else here this spurious signal?  73, Bob K3UL
> >
> > _
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Re: Topband: Interference on 1.821 From WRCR

[David Olean]

I think I did. I could hear voices and a broad peak of crud around 1820 
that was several kHz wide. I did not try to identify it. I just grumbled 
and went away and did something else.  I heard it after sunset last 
night, the 18th.  Normally, if I hear any BCB crud it will be much later 
when signals are horrendously loud.  I have a BCB filter, and it is 
effective with late night signals. I normally do not hear any BCB stuff 
other than weak birdies on 1800, 1810, 1820 etc.  I live in SW Maine.


I answered a few 160 CQs last night. Both were OZ signals. The first 
station had trouble hearing me. He was 559. Station #2 was louder and I 
gave him 579. I received a 339.  Maybe I had the amplifier plugged into 
the dummy load instead of the 160 feedline.


I went back to my workbench and got back at working on an old R-392 
receiver. When I was a young guy just out of school, I was in the Army 
and we had Collins R-392 receivers in our unit. It was similar to an 
R-390, but was re packaged to fit in a jeep and be out in the mud and 
dirt. It had a hermetically sealed case and ran with 28 volts on all the 
tubes.  My receiver had been "worked on" and the result was a basket 
case with all of the cams out of sync. There were missing slug racks and 
slugs. The main tuning dial did not cover the entire range. It was an 
interesting night working on putting it all back together and trying to 
get it to work. The PTO needed work too. I stayed up past 1:30 local 
time, so missed my sunrise. :-(



Dave K1WHS

On 12/18/2019 1:16 PM, rgarre...@comcast.net wrote:

Greetings,

Strange happenings this AM.  I heard a lot of hash on 1.821 and listened on AM 
to hear radio station WRCR.  They were commenting on
the tower being covered in ice and other references to the FCC.  Did anyone 
else here this spurious signal?  73, Bob K3UL

_
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Topband: Interference on 1.821 From WRCR

[rgarrett5]

Greetings,

Strange happenings this AM.  I heard a lot of hash on 1.821 and listened on AM 
to hear radio station WRCR.  They were commenting on
the tower being covered in ice and other references to the FCC.  Did anyone 
else here this spurious signal?  73, Bob K3UL

_
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