Topband: Nice surprise in Stew
I hadn’t plan to participate in the Spring Stew but went to the station this weekend to prepare for WPX later this month. Testing out DXLog and a SunSDR2 PRO transceiver I decided to make a few contacts just to see in what shape the band was. At 2250 I found NP2X and logged him quite easily using 800 watt, but then it wasn’t much of interest around so i continued with other things. A little later just after 0030 I decided to listen around again. I found Herb KV4FZ calling on 1818 but he was quite weak, so I didn’t bother. I was getting tired so I killed the power to the amp and left the shack to go to sleep. Back in the house I realised I forgot my phone charger in the shack and went out again to get it. Through the headphones on the desk I heard someone working Herb who now had popped out from the noice, he was 559-579 on my N/W pennant. I powered up the OM amp again and starting to tap my fingers on the table waiting anxiously for the thing to heat up. 180 long seconds… about 100 seconds in I hit F4 and sent a call once, just to make sure the TX antenna switches we are lined up and ready. About 15 watt barefoot from the SunSDR2 PRO. Bam! Herb came back to me in an instant with no hesitation. 15 watt, 8000 km! That was magic, it made the weekend for me! Unfortunately the other eight contacts logged where high power, otherwise the km/watt average would have been great. 73 de Björn, SM0MDG SE0X _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: best headphones for cw
Chuck, I use Bose QC25 active noise cancelling headsets. They are very comfortable to wear for hours in a contest, much more comfortable than any “DX headset” I have tried. They are better mechanical quality than their predecessor the QC-15 and they fold to a smaller package for travelling. When the battery drains they keep passing audio to the ear phones. For SSB I use the ModMic boom microphone which attaches to the headphones using an adhesive magnet (http://sunsdr.eu/product/modmic/ <http://sunsdr.eu/product/modmic/>). It has a high quality electret capsule that with the proper EQ settings can mimic a HC4 capsule for SSB contests. Active noise cancel headsets are a little expensive but well worth it, especially if you do longer sessions with phones on your head. Passive noise cancelling headphones normally put lots of pressure to your ears. 73 de Björn, SM0MDG SE0X > On 17 Jun 2016, at 22:07, Charles Yahrling <cfytech2...@gmail.com > <mailto:cfytech2...@gmail.com>> wrote: > > Looking for tips for headphone types for K3, CW only, so need 1/4 inch > stereo jack. > > Object is to isolate from ambient noise in the shack, such as relay clatter > from 1K-FA amp when keying. > > Been using a cheap set that came with Yamaha keyboard - I like how they > attenuate hi freq band noise, but > tend to overdrive at high audio gain levels. Main problem is relay noise, > which throws off my keying at times. > > tnx in advance > > 73, chuck AB1VL > _ > Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband > <http://www.contesting.com/_topband> _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Stew Perry Preliminary Results
> On 30 Dec 2015, at 21:36, Tree <t...@kkn.net> wrote: > > Note that the dates for the 2016 events have been decided and posted. > There might even be a surprise for those of you who can't get enough Stew. > > 73 Tree N6TR This is great news!! The spring event is very a good idea, I like it! Even more interesting to me is the new schedule for the winter event. I was just a few days ago thinking to myself that the winter event always collide with other events during the holidays, and it would be better place just before Xmas. This will make it a lot easier for me to participate with a better effort, and I believe others might feel the same too. Even the October dates makes more sense to me. Its going to be a fun year on top band, time to sharpen the sword! :) HNY! 73 de Björn, SM0MDG SE0X _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: 160M EWE Problems
On 09 Dec 2015, at 01:49, Mark K3MSB <mark.k3...@gmail.com> wrote: > The EWE is aimed directly at the vertical part of the inverted-L, about 25 > to 30 feet away. The transformer end is towards the Inv-L.I didn’t > think about that when I put it up. Hi Mark, This is what I would change if possible. The TX antenna will re-radiate noise it picks up. This is probably what is picked up by your RX antenna. Do you have space to move the EWE away from the inv-L? Best of all is to put it in a place where it has the inv-l in its back and a minimum of noise sources in its forward facing direction. I am using pennants located around 130 ft away from the TX antenna. I have more noise picked up from the TX antenna (and the building) on my N/W pennant which pattern somewhat includes the direction of the TX vertical. Maybe you can make a test by reversing the antenna in its current position to see if S/N improved when facing away from the inv-L. 73 de Björn, SM0MDG SE0X _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Topband: 8Q7BM QRT
8Q7BM is now QRT. The last night of activity provided a little more than 40 log entries. Right after dinner two JA stations where logged using a split RX on 1812. After this the band went quiet. The band opened later than usual into EU. At 2130 some EU stations started to appear and 2218 NA opened with weak signals. Getting an opening to NA was sweet, but it was also hard with only 100 watts. Several stations failed to log me, I could read them OK but they where not able to hear my response. With quite a few I spent several minutes trying to respond to their calls. EU disappeared 2240, then a little later NA faded out. The total opening to NA lasted from 2218z to about 2300z. Nothing was logged in my SR. Only fragments of a call where heard, maybe Tom W8JI? Right after SR the 160 vertical was taken down and the station packed in its Peli. At 1400 local/0800z we depart on a small sea plane for Male where we will check in to our international flights back to Stockholm. A total of 160 unique calls and a few dupes where logged on 160. During the two weeks I was also active a little on 15, 12 and 10. But most of all where where enjoying the sun and the sea in daylight hours. Thanks to everyone in my log and to those who struggled but didn’t succeed. I am sure 8Q will be on air soon again. 73! 73 de Björn, SM0MDG 8Q7BM SE0X _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: 8Q7BM on Topband
Here is another update from 8Q7BM; Wednesday evening FT5ZM started so I moved away from 23.7 to 33.7. I was calling from about 1430 and on. Heard OH5KW 579 during the evening and logged VK3EW and A45XR. Other than that it was FT5ZM and their weak pileup heard here. On Thursday morning I started well ahead of my SR (at Wed 2315). I heard SM, OH, DL and OM stations around 539 in the FT5ZM pileup, but no luck hooking any of them on 33.7. At 0003 Thursday morning my PSU blew up. Fortunately I brought a spare as I don’t really trust the cheap Asian switch mode supplies. They are handy to carry, but they fail. This is my second of the same brand and model failing. I am now using a small “Gamma HPS-1a” PSU. It is minimalistic and I hope it will take the beating and survives to the end. Thursday evening there was no activity as we were celebrating my girlfriend's birthday with a many course fine dinner at the fancy hangout on the island. On Friday morning I heard LA1MFA call CQ and tried unsuccessfully to get though to him. Back on 33.7 LA1U called me a few minutes later and and got logged at 2335. After this nothing heard and nothing worked until my SR. I will be back tonight again then In my SR tomorrow. Look for me on 1833.7 +/- QRM. 73 de Björn, SM0MDG 8Q7BM SE0X _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Compromise vertical loading questions
Thanks for all the input received. In short it seems like lifting the coil would not do much difference. Raising/increasing the angle of the top loading spokes might be the better option. Then of course moving the antenna to the water and improving the radials including some going into the water should make the most improvement. Unfortunately I can not move the antenna much more. Putting it on the beach would be hassle as it had to come down every morning and go up again in the evening. To much activity on the beach in daytime :) I will see what I can do with the top loading spokes. The wind has changed today, it might help or it might not. Thanks again for all the input received on the reflector and in private. 73 from the Maldives de Björn, SM0MDG 8Q7BM SE0X On 29 Jan 2014, at 12:47, Björn SM0MDG bj...@sm0mdg.com wrote: Here are some question for anyone with more tech skills than me; My compromise vertical at 8Q7BM is made of thin wire attached to a DX-Wire 15 meter glass fibre pole. The vertical wire goes all the way up, but as the pole’s top sections are very thin/weak the three top loading spokes (each 12 meter long) are attached at about 13 meter. The antenna has a 1/4 elevate radial towards the water at 2-3 meter height. The whole structure is within 1/4 wave of the water line. The antenna is self resonant at 2.2 MHz and I use a coil wound on a water bottle to bring it down to 1.8. The coil appears to be about 8-10 uH according to online calculators. My questions are; How much I can improve by moving the coil up. What improvement should I expect if center loading at about 7 meter? How about moving the coil all the way up to the top loading spokes? Is it worth the effort? (the pole won’t support much up there). My top loading spokes are sloping more than the recommended angle. According to the ON4UN Low Band book I got the impression that the difference should be minimal when close to salt water. I have tried to slope them less, but easily get in trouble with the weak pole in the wind. And there are pats to the beach every where so options are few. Which one of the two above actions would be the most beneficial? Move the loading coil higher up or rearrange the top loading spokes for a better angle? 73 de Björn, SM0MDG 8Q7BM SE0X _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: 8Q7BM on Topband
Hi, Last night was very quiet here on Topband. I was CQ’ing from about 1435z to 1700z in burts. Heard a UX6 station 579 that did not hear my calls. Around 1510z I heard SM5BIC calling CQ with a 559 report in the peaks, I was not successful with getting Len’s attention. A LA1 station was also heard, but very weak. at 1715z I worked 4K6FO, but nothing else on the band. I switched off around 1730. In my sunset I called for 40 minutes non-stop, starting around 0050. There was no response. At breakfast I found out that SK3W is the only skimmer to have detected my call on Reverse Beacon Net. Scandinavians should try in my SR. I will be back on tonight around 1430 to 1700 and then again in my sunset on 1823.7 (+/- QRM) or somewhere else if Amsterdam Isl occupies that part of the band. If propagation improves I might be motivated to stay around longer in the evening, but as of now it is quiet and lonely here on TB. Some would argue that it is the way it should be in paradise :) GL! 73 de Björn, SM0MDG 8Q7BM SE0X _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Topband: Compromise vertical loading questions
Here are some question for anyone with more tech skills than me; My compromise vertical at 8Q7BM is made of thin wire attached to a DX-Wire 15 meter glass fibre pole. The vertical wire goes all the way up, but as the pole’s top sections are very thin/weak the three top loading spokes (each 12 meter long) are attached at about 13 meter. The antenna has a 1/4 elevate radial towards the water at 2-3 meter height. The whole structure is within 1/4 wave of the water line. The antenna is self resonant at 2.2 MHz and I use a coil wound on a water bottle to bring it down to 1.8. The coil appears to be about 8-10 uH according to online calculators. My questions are; How much I can improve by moving the coil up. What improvement should I expect if center loading at about 7 meter? How about moving the coil all the way up to the top loading spokes? Is it worth the effort? (the pole won’t support much up there). My top loading spokes are sloping more than the recommended angle. According to the ON4UN Low Band book I got the impression that the difference should be minimal when close to salt water. I have tried to slope them less, but easily get in trouble with the weak pole in the wind. And there are pats to the beach every where so options are few. Which one of the two above actions would be the most beneficial? Move the loading coil higher up or rearrange the top loading spokes for a better angle? 73 de Björn, SM0MDG 8Q7BM SE0X _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: 8Q7BM on Topband
Hi Gang, A quick update from 8Q7BM: I was on Topband yesterday in several bursts between 1430z to 1730 and then again in my SR between z and 0130. Only one UA0 and two EU where logged in the evening. The band was very quiet with almost no activity. In the morning just before my SR there where only fractions of a K1 station heard on 1820.2, no one came back to may calls on 1823.7. I will on again tonight from 1500z and tomorrow morning for my SR starting at around z. Look for me around 1823. QSL via Tim M0URX and LoTW. 73 de Björn, SM0MDG 8Q7BM SE0X _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Topband: 8Q7BM on Topband
Hi gang, I am currently on a vacation trip in the Maldives and are active in CQ160 with a very simple setup. I am using a 15 meter high top loaded vertical on the beach with only a few 1/8 radials on the ground/in the sand. I am running a TS-590S barefoot and don't have an RX antenna, so please be patient and excuse me if I am deaf. Top band activity will probably be limited to this weekend plus one or two more days after the contest. If you need 8Q please email me but bear in mind that my email access is limited it once is twice a day as wifi is only available in the bar. QSL via Tim M0URX. Contacts will be uploaded to LoTW when I return home. 73 de Björn, SM0MDG 8Q7BM SE0X _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Spiderbeam mast UV Resistance?
Jim, My experience with the 18 meter poles is that they survive 2-3 winter seasons here. I have been using the Spiderbeam mast to make a top loaded vertical guying it at three levels. What happens is that the pole flexes in the winter storms and the material weakens with time. As the pole is very flexible it is also vulnerable to long term exposure to wind. Maybe supporting it at a fourth level will help extend its lifetime. 73 de Björn, SM0MDG VP2MSW V21BM SE0X On 29 aug 2013, at 14:14, Jim Garland 4cx2...@miamioh.edu wrote: My 26m Spiderbeam mast is made of a shiny black fiberglass material. Have users of this or the shorter Spiderbeam masts had experience with how well the masts hold up to UV radiation? My QTH is at 7000 ft elevation and the sun shines 330 days/year, so UV degradation is a big problem. I've used Krylon UV-resistant spray on my SteppIR yagi and it didn't seem to help at all. I've heard that a water-based urethane paint works well, but don't know if it would bond to the Spiderbeam mast. Also, the top of the mast is very flexible and thin, so the weight of the paint might also be a problem. Any suggestions? 73, Jim W8ZR _ Topband Reflector _ Topband Reflector
Topband: VP2MSW
TB Friends! I am active from Montserrat as VP2MSW for a couple of days. Got on Topband yesterday/this morning using a inverted dipole from the tower at VP2MDG, but have no RX antennas. I have some intermittent static on S9 levels, but in between crashes I have decent copy of EU for anyone interested. The band was OK up until Scandinavia SR when it went totally quiet. I guess the need in NA for VP2 is well filled, but feel free to keep me busy. I will be on tonight also, but that might be the last night for me on TB from here. In daytime I am on and off on higher bands when time permits. QSL is via M0URX direct or OQRs. Log is going to be uploaded to LoTW when I return back home. 73 de Björn, SM0MDG VP2MSW V21BM SE0X ___ Stew Perry Topband Distance Challenge coming on December 29th.
Re: Topband: Pennant Transformer
On 14 nov 2012, at 22:42, VO1HP fda...@nfld.net wrote: --- so for two turns I do this: one turn is: - up through one side and down through the other side. another turn is - continue up one side and down through the other --- that makes two turns...is that correct? Winding 7 turns would follow same procedure winding the wire over the primary wire and have the leads out the opposite end of the core from the primary? I hope you can follow my primitive description. Am I on the right track? Too me that looks correct. If you use enameled CU wire be careful if the edges of the core are sharp, then might scratch the insulation open. I use an antenna analyzer to verify my transformers once they're done and mounted into their housing. Just put the 900 ohm resistor on the loop side of the transformer an measure the impedance on the coax side. 73 de Björn, SM0MDG SE0X ___ Topband reflector - topband@contesting.com
Re: Topband: Stew Perry Warm Up
On 21 okt 2012, at 11:32, Cormac Gebruers ei4hq.m...@gmail.com wrote: Hi all, Stew Perry warm up. View from the EI4HQ chair (operating EI100T): It was lonely :-( Whether it was the effects of the M class flare at 1815UTC or something else, I had lost the will to keep fighting by early morning and bailed out at that point. Thanks for the QSO yesterday Cormac (and anyone else in my log), Topband was weak here in SM, not many DX logged in SP. Longest distances were RC0F in the East (7183 km) and FM5CD in the West (8062 km). A few UA9 and A65BP also made it into the log. I head KV4FZ, KK3AN and K1LT in my sunset, but none of them got my call, I guess it was noisy in their end. I used an 18 meter top loaded vertical with two elevated radials, 1 kW and was listening on my two pennants facing N/E and N/W. 73 de Björn, SM0MDG SE0X ___ Remember the PreStew coming on October 20th. http://www.kkn.net/stew for more info.
