Re: Topband: Digital on 160M stats
Forgot to mention all of my contacts on 160 are JT-65 or JT-9. On 5/22/2017 12:26 PM, Tim Shoppa wrote: We've had a lot of heated discussions the past week. But we also have at our fingertips, some actual statistics. In Clublog stats, nobody in North America has more than 54 entities worked on 160M with digital modes. The leader with 54 entities on 160M digital is W1VT, a well-known and very respected ham who is adept at DX'ing on all bands and modes from a modest station. I don't think there's a flood of digital activity going on there quite yet although I will admit the trend is towards increasing activity. Does anyone on the topband list, have more than 54 entities on 160M digital? Tim N3QE _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband -- Art Roberts W1AER Tariffville, CT FN31ov JT9 and JT65 _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Digital on 160M stats
I just checked my QRZ log and I find that I have 55 contacts on 160 and this is with a rather poor antenna. I would think that there are many hams with _many_ more contacts that what I have. On 5/22/2017 12:26 PM, Tim Shoppa wrote: We've had a lot of heated discussions the past week. But we also have at our fingertips, some actual statistics. In Clublog stats, nobody in North America has more than 54 entities worked on 160M with digital modes. The leader with 54 entities on 160M digital is W1VT, a well-known and very respected ham who is adept at DX'ing on all bands and modes from a modest station. I don't think there's a flood of digital activity going on there quite yet although I will admit the trend is towards increasing activity. Does anyone on the topband list, have more than 54 entities on 160M digital? Tim N3QE _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband -- Art Roberts W1AER Tariffville, CT FN31ov JT9 and JT65 _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: To JT or not to JT
This sounds like a question that will always be around. To me the great thing about all of this is the increase in activity on a band that does have some rough times with propagation. I know that for myself, using the JT modes along with my very inefficient antenna and 'low' power, has certainly helped me work many stations on a great band. It also has encouraged me to improve my station for 160. 73 es DX Art w1aer On 5/20/2017 1:51 PM, DXer wrote: Right! When we see some of issues that are popping up now, such as remotes being used outside ones entity but claimed as inside, to argue about which mode is worthy or not, is misguided. In addition, is not like 160 is a crowded band. :^) 73 de Vince, VA3VF On 2017-05-20 1:25 PM, rick darwicki via Topband wrote: There is no question. get them anyway you can mixed. If you want an all CW, SSB or Digital, go for it but don't belittle guys that don't have 500 ft. beverages in 6 directions and full size 4 squares for transmitting. I have 91 countries on topband with an S-7/8 noise level and if it takes JT to get the last 9, so be it, then I'll worry about picking up the others on CW later. We don't hear whining that the all CW guys haven't gotten with the 21st century and don't know how to use modern technology, it the AM/SSB flap all over again. Next thing you know people will start complaining "he worked him in June, not the REAL DXer's season" hi hi hi Rick N6PE== There are more planes in the ocean than submarines in the sky _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband -- Art Roberts W1AER Tariffville, CT FN31ov JT9 and JT65 _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: 160 in daylight
Hi Gang, While working at a beginner level on 160, I have dabbled with the band for many years. The subject of daylight operations brought to mind on interesting occurrence. After I returned from Vietnam, in 1969, I setup a basic station which included 160. There was a total lunar eclipse for the East coast during that time in '69. One of the test being run on 160 was if the propagation would change to night time conditions during the eclipse. Worked beautifully, as the sun went away, the band got better. From my QTH in Northern Connecticut, I was hearing Florida stations at the peak. Since I was running low power and a marginal antenna, I was not able to contact anyone, but it was very interesting to hear the change. Several years later I was stationed in Northern California and again was on 160. There was some local daytime activity in the area. Again some interesting propagation occurred then too. I remember one station had a rapid QSB from S9 to S0 and back, and they were like 10 miles away. I figured it was the ground wave and possible sky wave interacting. Some afternoons I do get on JT65 and start listening and calling CQ several hours before sunset and I think it helps stir up activity. Bob, I am glad that you brought up this side of the Top Band. Art w1aer FN31ov On 5/13/2017 11:26 AM, Mike Smith VE9AA wrote: Hi Bob, Welcome to 160m ! Milt Jensen N5IA (sk) used his huge array in the 160m contests to work thousands of miles east and west while he was in full sunlight. (In fact I believe he was the one who sponsored a plaque for daylight operation only in the Stew Perry Contests) For some of these exciting reports (too lengthy to reproduce here) go to 3830scores.com and type in N5IA. Look for the Stew Perry Contests (SPTDC) and his call N5IA(N7GP) then read his DAYLIGHT reports. Incidentally the first real exposure to daylight DX I personally experienced was from CY9AA in 1997 when myself, Doug, VE1PZ and Dennis, K7BV setup on that tiny rock in the Gulf of St. Lawrence (N. Atlantic area). We had a wonderful balloon supported 1/4wl wire vertical tied into a massive copper groundscreen (leftover from a VLF beacon) and a salt water Fresnel zone. With that setup and legal limit we were able to work EU a cpl hours before sunset on that desolate rock. An unforgettable experience. Big stations like VY2ZM, VE1ZZ, etc. do the same all the time. It still is exciting ! >From my home with a small-moderate sized 'array' of 2-inverted L's phased I can SOMETIMES work EU just a little before sunset (pre-grayline) here and have worked out as far as KH6/VK/ZL to a little after sunset here(post grayline). Hardly full sun, but it does show what can be done when you think it not possible. Have fun ! Mike VE9AA Mike, Coreen & Corey Keswick Ridge, NB _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband -- Art Roberts W1AER Tariffville, CT FN31ov JT9 and JT65 _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: 160m Sloping Vertical Antenna?
On the thought of a low dipole: Years ago in Northern California, as an experiment, I had a VERY low dipole and got some strange results. Listening to a local station, in the afternoon, there was very deep QSB. We were able to talk, but with difficulty. 73, Art W5AER On 12/24/2014 4:53 PM, Jim Brown wrote: On Wed,12/24/2014 1:05 PM, Jorge Diez CX6VM wrote: Half of one of the half go to the other side, like an inverted V That would be a pretty low dipole on 160M, and verticals tend to be far more effective on 160M than low dipoles. 73, Jim K9YC _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
