Topband: DK6ED Double Loop
Hi Guys, Has anyone tried building using the DK6ED Double Loop receiving antenna, as detailed in the March 2015 issue of QST magazine...? The rotatable system (i.e. Figure 1, page 35) just looks like a series-connected pair of ultra-miniature K9AY loops, to me... Thoughts / comments...? ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: What IS troubling about this report....
On 2015-03-15, at 9:10 AM, Larry wrote: Sometimes the DXpedition is its own worst enemy. If they ask for W6 and then relent after a couple tries to work the W6 and then works someone else sends the message is you guys can bulldoze me so keep calling. Many of the later DXpeditions have been much better at this and more persistent in working the station they were calling. The problem of persisting to work they station is that it ruins your QSO rate. Of course, all of those callers can ruin your QSO rate as well. Another classic one is DX lectures on don't call while I am working a station and then proceeds W6 59, now W4 59. The W6 59, now the other W6 is understandable. Both of those scenarios give rise to constant calling unfortunately. The E30 yesterday actually worked a couple of stations that I heard almost on his own frequency which doesn't help. Sadly, I think it was an E30 pile, E30 called someone and he didn't respond. E30 called again. Someone said something like Fred send your report and Fred dutifully sent his report. Another QSO in the log. Years ago I had heard that done on 2M several times. 73, Larry W6NWS Hi All, Talk about a DX-Pedition being its own worse enemy... As a guy with no lap top in the shack---hence, no immediate access to on-line chat rooms, spotting sites, etc.---what I hate most are those DX-Peditions that repeatedly work stations without ID'ing, or ID'ing only after some two dozen, or more, QSOs... Meanwhile, the proverbial ...hunt peck type sits there cursing under his breath, WHAT'S YOUR CALL SIGN...?! I can see where a Ham of a less than honourable disposition might be sorely tempted to put a brick atop the key wander away from the shack, jamming the entire proceedings...but seriously: does it slow the QSO rate all THAT much, to send your call sign at least every third contact, or so...? Not all of us have computers next to the rig---even less are blessed with ESP...! ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Question...
On 2015-02-27, at 4:04 PM, mstang...@comcast.net wrote: Eddy, You do have a computer in the shack. You are an internet operator. Ham radio was one of the first forms of social media. We used to discuss operating and contesting issues on the air with our nets. We replaced the radio social media with internet groups and chat rooms. I bet you're like me and spend more time on internet groups that on the air. We have met the enemy and it us. Mike N2MS Hi Mike, Yes, that is quite true: lately I probably spend more time in front of the computer, than I do in front of the rig. I keep telling myself that it's merely a phase I'm going through, but on-the-air QSOs just don't seem like what they used to be. Seem to be more challenging interesting encounters people on-line, than on-the-air, of late. ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Topband: Question...
Hi Guys, My appreciation of computers in the Ham shack, I'm afraid, is limited to placing the contest QSOs that I might make into Cabrillo format , post-contest, for benefit of to-day's contest sponsors---and I was dragged, kicking screaming all the way, into that stage, several years ago...! I don't know why, but my ...spidey senses always go on high alert whenever radio computers are mentioned in the same subject. No doubt that accounts for my ignorance as to to-day's Amateur scene...so I have an ignorant question, from an otherwise ignorant Ham: somebody please bear with me, kindly give me the condensed Coles Notes version in your reply... Specifically, suppose I want to work the (imaginary, of course) upcoming DX-pedition to North Korea that is being mounted as a distraction to basketball, by Dennis Rodman a few of his well-heeled Ham friends. I would dearly LOVE to log the operation on 160-meters CW---but I understand that their topband aerial will be limited to a very simple random 130' length of wire, thrown out a hotel upper storey window. Question: can I link myself via the internet to some remote ...rent-a-station in, say, nearby Japan, and use that station to QSO them, all the while using my callsign of VE3CUI...? Like I said earlier, it's an ignorant question, from an ignorant Ham---but I would like to know the answer, just the same...! Many thanks, ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Question...
Hi Guys, Wow...! What an interesting question I've posed re. my fictional ...working-North-Korea-from-a-remote-location scenario...! Amazingly enough, fully 7 of the direct respondents to me stated that---in one way, shape, or form---one COULD, indeed, have the physical ability to do just what I proposed...but whether it would be legal, or not, was questioned by about half of those respondents, nearly everyone made mention of the morality / honour in doing such a thing. The genie is surely out of the bottle, as somebody pointed out earlier. There are cheaters ...win-at-any-cost types in every field of endeavour---Ham radio is certainly no exclusion to this---and no doubt, more than a few of the rules will be vulcanized by some, as they have always been... But know what...? I personally don't care. I don't have a berth for my computer in my shack, neither do I plan to set one up there any time soon, either. And as I thought about the issue, it suddenly dawned upon me: the Amateur world is probably, right now, at a cross-roads much as I think it it was in the 1930's, 50's, when self-styled ...REAL Hams still built their own super-duper receivers, from scratch, and thumbed their noses at those appliance operators who purchased the offerings from Hallicrafters, RME, Hammarlund, etc. Somehow the hobby managed to survive through that well enough, I'm sure people will somehow find a way to incorporate this latest incursion into our comfort zones, as well. C'est la vie...! after all... ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Brave New World
On 2015-02-26, at 2:14 PM, W0MU Mike Fatchett wrote: On 2/26/2015 11:41 AM, Charlie wrote: Say there are 30 folks lined up on a chat board waiting their turn to call EP6T from WX1XXX when the band opens. The order of calling has been predecided, perhaps in sequence of log in. Everything is locked and loaded. This has already happened in the past long before the internet. It was called the DX Net... There used to be list takers for DX stations, too, as I recall---and I can remember proficient DX'ers likening such a practice to ...shooting fish in a barrel. ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Topband: Brave New World
Hi Guys, I am really truly surprised that nobody here has raised so much as even an eyebrow at this story: http://www.arrl.org/news/no-one-in-the-shack-as-station-logs-4200-contacts-in-arrl-dx-cw-contest The whole notion---to me, at any rate---compromises the very essence the ...joie de vivre! of operating on 160-meters, don't you think...? And to imagine that one of the perpetrators in all this is actually exuberant about his accomplishment... “...'No one was in the K4VV shack for the entire contest!' said Mike L*, W0**, who took part in the contest via K4** from his own shack in Virginia... This too is progress...? Oh well, I guess maybe it is. Time marches on, things evolve, things de-evolve, nothing stays quite the same. ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Brave New World
Hi Guys, Is the day very far off in the distant future when the physical human element won't even be needed at a radio station on the eve of a contest...? Just programme the event into the computer, hook it up to the rig...and then go off to bed. The next day you meander down to the shack, coffee in hand rubbing the sleep out of your eyes, to learn that in your absence, your station made some 5,000 QSOs, AND DXCC, twice over! Remember Dr. DX of the 1980's...? Shades of days yet to come---if , indeed, those days are not here already. At the risk of sounding like a dinosaur---on second thought, who cares? The dinosaurs ruled the earth for untold millions of years, to man's single million---just as insurance companies lawyers are spelling the demise of kids' playground toys and group get-togethers, computers will spell the end of the very essence that makes Ham radio fun. At least to dinosaurs like yours truly, anyway. ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: 160 QSO K1N
On 2015-02-14, at 3:33 PM, k2...@juno.com k2...@juno.com wrote: Never worked K1N on any band or Mode!!! You are a brave man, indeed, to proclaim that here on this venue...! ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: K1N On Line Log
How did we EVER collectively survive the dark ages of hardcopy QSL cards, s.a.s.e.'s, QSL bureaus, DX news sheets, and I.R.C.s, I wonder...? Is everyone that impatient while attempting to WORK a rare station, too...? All this angst and trepidation being displayed here...! I thought DX'ing, Ham radio, Topband were all supposed to be FUN, and not a hand-wringing exercise in anger worry management... ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Topband: The Future Of Ham Radio
Hi Guys, All of this talk about the use of remote receivers, DX spotting nets, etc. etc. etc. surely will have us all arrive to the point that our human individual efforts to develop a specialized killer Amateur radio station will be usurped and eclipsed by one, single thing: the computer. Just as streaming companies such as Net Flix have put an end to the neighbourhood video disc rental store, and paper hard copies are being stopped by The Yellow Pages due to on-line information availability, so, too, will DXCC become redundant by the use of remote receivers, contesting will degenerate into an electronic battle of computer systems, ad nauseam. In short, the human element will be effectively removed from the equation, and with it, any fun that we traditionally may have derived from such activities. That day surely is fast approaching when the intrepid radio op will be able to turn on his radios, set-up the computer, and then go peacefully to bed on the eve of a major contest...and to wake up, restfully in the morning, to wander down to the shack, coffee in hand, to learn that, in his physical absence, the station made well over 3000 QSOs in the contest, and exceeded minimum requirements for DXCC. In conclusion, I have seen the enemy of Amateur radio---and the enemy is us. ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: The Future Of Ham Radio
On 2015-02-05, at 10:16 AM, k8...@hughes.net wrote: It seems that newcomers want the easy way out, and technology supplies it. Instant gratification, regardless how hollow, seems to be the new goal. Brian K8BHZ Hi Brian, You know what...? I can see the day coming---probably sooner, rather than later---where contest organizers will either run a unique contest unto itself, or create a separate special category for existing ones---called Vintage Operating Entrant...or at least, words to that effect... Wannabe nostalgic participants in this class will have to sign a contest entry affidavit saying that they (A) never once benefited from the presence of a computer in the shack, (B) maintained a hand-written log only throughout the event (and to include said logs), and, (C) submit their printed check-log as an integral part of their entry. All just like in ...ye olden golden days of the late great Victor Clark (W4KFC) of the ARRL... Sound like a ridiculous proposition...? Hey, it's no more preposterous than the annual Straight Key Night' sponsored by the ARRL, or the AM QSO Party supported by the Antique Wireless Association. People are people, and all the modern-day challenges will surely quickly lose their lustre, and the yearning for a true spirited competition---mano-a-mano will return, even if only on a small scale... ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: The Future Of Ham Radio
Hi Kent, I respectfully disagree with you... ANY forum worthy of its salt---like the Topband Reflector, which I like, and very much, too---should WELCOME engaging, intelligent input from its members. By doing so, it retains its vitality relevance as an OPEN FORUM to the community which it serves. By turning its back on such activities, it runs the risk of choking on its own input of the ...same-old same-old drivel, from the ...same-old same-old select cadre of experts. While I do, indeed, agree that earlier comments here about deliberate interference to the current activities of the DX-pedition bordered exactly on the quoted ...posting of personal criticisms, attacks, etc., I think that we, as a group, only benefited a result of the discussion that ensued. Just MY $0.02 worth...! ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ On 2015-02-05, at 12:14 PM, KENT wrote: Seems to me that this needs to be reviewed!! Just My .02 worth 73 de Kent N8ZRD Topband -- 160 Meter Information ONLY About Topband English (USA) Welcome to the topband mailing list! This list is intended for the exchange of information on 160-related topics ONLY. Our goal is to keep 160 information content high and noise low. Please do not post general topics like equipment wanted/for sale, work me in the contest, E-mail addresses needed, etc. Occasional problem 160 QSL requests are OK but use this reflector ONLY as a last resort after trying the usual sources. Feel free to post 160-related questions, but request responses directly and then summarize them in a followup post. DO NOT USE THIS REFLECTOR TO POST COMPLAINTS, PERSONAL CRITICISMS, ATTACKS, ETC. VIOLATORS OF THIS POLICY WILL BE REMOVED IMMEDIATELY WITHOUT NOTICE. Be considerate of other subscribers who have bandwidth limitations and edit posts for brevity (include ONLY relevant excerpts of previous posts). When responding to a specific individual, think carefully before copying to the other 1700 of us on the reflector. Minimize noise, minimize bandwidth, maximize 160 information, act like gentlemen and enjoy! On Feb 5, 2015, at 11:57 AM, Eddy Swynar deswy...@xplornet.ca wrote: On 2015-02-05, at 11:14 AM, Anthony Scandurra wrote: I suppose we should go back to spark gap transmitters and coherent detectors, too... :-) 73, Tony K4QE Hi Tony, Oh gosh no, of course not! But by the same token, isn't it funny how the populace has embraced walking to the corner store for a loaf of bread, instead of climbing up into the ol' reliable Dodge Ram...? And how we are all urged now to eat healthy, ingesting foods with a minimum of processing...? And how we are requested to ...turn off your cell phones! before the start of a movie at your local cinema...? One can surely go on on with even more such scenarios, but the point is---I think, anyway!---that TOO much of an otherwise good thing can, in truth, be bad for you...and all this techno-wizardry has probably already taken us all well past the proverbial point of no return as radio amateurs, and firmly imbedded our feet into the fast-setting cement of the appliance operator... ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: The Future Of Ham Radio
On 2015-02-05, at 11:14 AM, Anthony Scandurra wrote: I suppose we should go back to spark gap transmitters and coherent detectors, too... :-) 73, Tony K4QE Hi Tony, Oh gosh no, of course not! But by the same token, isn't it funny how the populace has embraced walking to the corner store for a loaf of bread, instead of climbing up into the ol' reliable Dodge Ram...? And how we are all urged now to eat healthy, ingesting foods with a minimum of processing...? And how we are requested to ...turn off your cell phones! before the start of a movie at your local cinema...? One can surely go on on with even more such scenarios, but the point is---I think, anyway!---that TOO much of an otherwise good thing can, in truth, be bad for you...and all this techno-wizardry has probably already taken us all well past the proverbial point of no return as radio amateurs, and firmly imbedded our feet into the fast-setting cement of the appliance operator... ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Foreign stns using NA remotes for K1N
On 2015-02-04, at 12:45 PM, David Raymond wrote: I mentioned last week that we would be seeing over seas stations using US based remotes stations to work K1N. It was mentioned here that this won't happen, and that the US remote station operators monitor this activity carefully and do not permit it. Well, it is happening. I have personally witnessed on IT9 station and one JA station using clearly NA based remote stations to work K1N on 160m. That's probably just the tip of the iceberg. It's rather obvious when they are on 160m and are 20 or 30 db stronger than the din of the DX stations calling. There will be more. Incidentally, they were not signing at /W#, /K#, etc. Realistically it's probably not preventable but saddening. Why not just get rid of the radios entirely, instead, have some sort of an on-line chat fest, similar to the old Dr. DX computer add-on of some 30 years ago...?! Senor, we doan neet yoor steenkeeng propagation heer, annaways...!!! ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: [Bulk] Re: Out-of-Turn Callers
Hi Guys, We're all flogging a dead horse here---enough already. People do make mistakes---did anyone not read Jon's (AA1K) ...confessional here earlier?---s**t happens. Get over it. I really am amazed at the herd mentality displayed by people, assembling to viciously ceaselessly attack any one individual for a perceived faux pas: years ago I was afflicted with a dilemma that I was really truly wrestling to understand, and to correct---KEY CLICKS, to be exact... I endured countless anonymous transmissions of KLIX directed my way at the end of my transmissions, and the gang had a gay ol' time lambasting me on the chat room over my perceived selfishness, and insolence...and all this, DESPITE my repeated please for guidance / help / advice / ANYTHING as to how I might correct my situation, and in so doing not be a continued nuisance to others on 160... But just how many of the resident self-styled experts and gurus stepped forward to assist me...? NONE. Only ONE GUY kindly stepped forward to critically assess my keying, and to give me his experienced assessments---ONE. And he was hardly one of the usual blow-hard, opinionated members of the crowd. In fact, far from it. So if I have a personal bone to pick in all this melee, so be it. I will admit that I was probably one of the first to jump on top of the accused yesterday---but in light of other information that I learned of later, I apologized to the individual, and he graciously accepted it. So again, enough is enough: we ALL are capable of making mistakes, either through some fault of our own, or by the direction of others---but remember, this IS supposed to be, after all, The Gentleman's Band, and gentlemen aren't supposed to harbour grudges. ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Preamplifiers
On 2015-02-03, at 1:19 AM, Charlie Cunningham wrote: Hi, Eddy I used one of the old Ameco vacuum tube preamp/pre-selectors, that I borrowed from my friend, bill, K4CIA, for my KAZ terminated receiving loops several years ago. It was great! - had plenty of gain and because it was vacuum tube, it wasn't susceptible to damage from transmit RF picked up in the loop. I no longer have the KAZ loop, but I'm going to build another one. Bill had a second newer JFET version o fthe Ameco, that I bought from him. I expect I'll have to take more care with protecting the JFET device. T he old vacuum tube Ameco pream work great onn 160, 80, 40 and 30m, where I used it. F course I didn't need it with the 5-band quad for the higher bands - mostly on loop on 160, where the antenna gain was low, but it was a very quiet antenna, and I heard things on 160 that I couldn't hear before. I ran the Ameco into the receive antenna input on my FT-1000MP. Worked great! 73, Charlie, K4OTV\ Hi Charlie, Yes, they do, indeed, work great for me, too... I have both the AMECO nuvistor version here that I place before my old back-up Drake R-4---and which I got for a mere five bucks at a Hamfest!---as well as the solidstate version that I had before my K9AY loops Beverage antenna. As I mentioned before, if overly strong signals happen to overload either one, I merely reduce the gain on them. Why any Ham who sees these wonderful old devices practically being GIVEN away at 'fests doesn't pick them up, is beyond me---I guess the more proper thing to do anymore is to whip out the ol' VISA card, to buy a more modern designer pre-amp! ~73!~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: K1N and JA
On 2015-02-03, at 11:41 AM, Lennart m wrote: GM/GE all, I recall VP6DX at Ducie Island was using two ways to fight dQRM; slightly moving TXQRG up/dwn which brought difficulties to the jammers to follow; QSX up 4 and then dwn 5 for example. Those who did not copy could hardly call at the right QRG. I spent a lot of time listening and I found this system proved to work very well on 160. What say Milt? 73 Len SM7BIC Hi Len, I think that what I would do here, personally, if I was an integral part of a DX-pedition, is to actually exchange 599's with the repeat offender (at least it might finally shut him up, right?), and then never confirm the contact, post-expedition... But not being a subscriber to Lotw, I don't know if such a thing is even possible these days...in the pre-electronic days, when hard-copy QSL cards dictated everything, it would have been an easy thing to black ball a repeat offender in that manner---but to-day...? I don't know. ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Out-of-Turn Callers
On 2015-02-03, at 2:11 PM, Jim - WS6X wrote: Say what you want to about KK6ZM. In my opinion, K1N shot himself in the foot when he didn't follow his own in instructions. Jim, WS6X Hi Jim, That has to be CARDINAL SIN #1 if you're a DX-peditioner, as it's YOU who calls the shots, and sets the sequence of events that might unfold, based upon YOUR actions directives... It only encourages behaviour as was earlier noted. Chaos lawlessness is the price to be paid by all for such a lack of due diligence... Maybe they should have a list of Pre-Historic DX-Pedition Operations in QST, besides one reserved for stations that want to get into the log sheets...! ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Preamplifiers
On 2015-02-02, at 4:08 PM, Andy YO3JR wrote: Can someone recommend me a good preamplifier for the beverage antennas on 80/160m? Best regards, Andy YO3JR Hi Andy, All I ever used here was an old AMECO-brand pre-selector that I paid $10.00 for, I believe, at a Hamfest... If signals get too loud distort, all I do is reduce the gain on the thing. Works perfectly for me, even if it isn't ...politically correct in to-day's Topband scene...! ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: EP6T and outside world
On 2015-01-23, at 7:34 AM, Mike Waters wrote: Dave, this sort of immature behavior on the low end of 160 is rather unusual, especially when we compare this sort of occurrence to the higher HF bands. You're certainly correct that this sort of behavior is getting worse, and not just in amateur radio. But don't give up on 160 because of a few idiots. What you experienced is the exception, rather than the rule. There's a reason that 160 is still rightly called the Gentleman's Band. :-) Hi Mike, 160 stopped becoming the Gentleman's Band ever since mainstream manufacturers started incoroporating a spot marked 160 on the front of their rigs linears... ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: 78th Anniversary of First Ham License
Hi Paul, Congratulations on such effective staying power...! Good on you. The SK column in our TCA magazine (put out by The Radio Amateurs of Canada---our version of the ARRL) regularly lists the actual ages of those Hams who have sadly vacated this earth, in favour of that great big Ham shack in the sky---and it's really quite amazing at how many of us ripen to the ranks of the late 80's 90's...! I guess radio amateurs are into something good---as you have discovered, I am sure, there... Congrats again---and here's to the NEXT 78 years...! :o) ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ On 2015-01-19, at 8:41 PM, Paul Elliott wrote: Today I have the extremely good fortune to celebrate 78 years of being a licensed ham. On a day late in January 1937, in Kingsville TX, I came home from school and found a small envelope waiting for me. Inside was my license, dated January 19, 1937: operating privileges Class C, station call sign W5GGV. I was 14 years old at the time. 73 Paul W5DM _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Beverage on Ice
Hi Roger, So very sorry to learn of your mobility issues there with that broken leg...! Personal mobility---or, rather, the LACK thereof!---is something that I have come to know only all too well here, what with my dual knee replacements of 2013. Just a personal thought, or two, from me here: I would think that that ...laid-atop-the-ice antenna that you'e proposing would behave like a BOG antenna---and for that reason, I think I would rather have it insulated with plastic along its entire length, rather than relying solely upon an enamel coating to serve as its insulation. Anyway, FWIW! Stay warm, and RECOVER ASAP, Roger... ~73!~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ On 2015-01-16, at 4:51 PM, Roger Parsons via Topband wrote: I know that Beverages on Ground have been discussed on a number of occasions, but: I live on the shores of a reasonably large lake, and at this time of year it will be frozen to at least 2' and possibly 4' or 5' deep. I believe that ice is a pretty good insulator, so I wonder about the effectiveness of a wire just laid on the surface? It would be impossible to retrieve the wire in the spring so it would have to be fine enameled copper. Even that may not be very environmentally friendly? If the wire survived the first couple of days it would be frozen into the ice - it would be at risk from snow machines until that happened. This is just speculation from enforced idleness - I cleverly managed to break my leg during a foolish last check of my receive antennas before Christmas - so I can't even get into the shack, let alone onto the lake. I was not very hopeful in any event that EP6T would be workable from here, but I am determined somehow to get there for K1N... 73 Roger VE3ZI _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Recommended Antennas for 160M/80M Receiving
On 2014-12-21, at 12:23 PM, Roger D Johnson wrote: I just drafted a reply to Mack's question delineating the problem I've had with my vertical arrays. After I sent the e-mail, an idea popped into my head. I wonder if my problems have to do with ground conductivity? The soil here in New England is poor (2 mS) and beverages are known to perform well over poor ground. Dave, W0FLS, has had good results with his 8 circle but he has substantially better ground in Iowa (15 mS). Could those of you who have had better results with your vertical arrays than with Beverages let me know what your local ground conductivity is? If there is a correlation, I might see if putting down some radials will improve the situation. Thanks, Roger N1RJ Hi Roger, Before the devastating ice storm of December 2013 here, I had a 1500' long Beverage aimed to South America, a K9AY loop in the same direction: the loop would out-perform the wire 95% of the time, so I ended-up essentially listening on it, exclusively. ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Confusion in ON4UN's Low Band DXing radial length calculations.
On 2014-12-19, at 12:21 PM, k8...@hughes.net wrote: I can’t agree with this “conventional” thinking. Why does a piece of wire magically lose it’s length just because you lay it on the ground? The electrical length changes because of Vf, and it’s resistance changes because of the lossy ground, but it’s still a piece of wire. I’m going to try to attach a posting I did back in 2006. If it doesn’t work, I will follow with a separate posting. Brian K8BHZ Hi Brian, The very same reason that it ...magically loses its length when it's incorporated as part of a run of coaxial cable, I guess...! Some parts of Ham radio are STILL black magic---aren't they...? Maybe THAT'S one of the many reasons that we love it so... ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Topband: Fwd: Fw: Shortened Radial Experiments
Begin forwarded message: From: Eddy Swynar deswy...@xplornet.ca Date: December 19, 2014 3:04:32 PM EST To: k8...@hughes.net k8...@hughes.net Cc: topband@contesting.com Subject: Re: Topband: Fw: Shortened Radial Experiments For several years here I was most fortunate, I think, in being able to work the Topband world with my 3-element phased extended inverted L array---and all I used for a ground plane was 24 insulated copper wire beneath each L, laid atop the lawn. And that was it! Hi Again All, I forgot to mention: each of those ground radial wires was just 66' long. ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Confusion in ON4UN's Low Band DXing radial length calculations.
Hi Doug, As I understand it, the velocity factor of 50% applies for radial wires that are simply laid atop the ground, not buried in any way... But of course, I COULD stand to be corrected..! ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ On 2014-12-18, at 4:18 PM, Doug Turnbull wrote: Dear OMs and Yls, I am replacing raised radials for 160M inverted L with ground mounted radials mostly because I could not readily get the raised radials up high enough in my wood and also because of maintenance problems. This inverted L goes up 100 feet at its top before levelling out for the final 32' or so. It should I believe have a strong vertical element. ON4UN's book Low-Band DXing 56th edition is generally excellent but I do find the coverage of ground radials both confusing and somewhat contradictory.This surprises me for what is pretty much considered the bible. On page 9-14 the text states that the velocity factor falls for ground mounted radials to the the order of 50-60%, which means that a radial that is physically 20 meters long is actually a half-wave long electrically! This example is for 80M not 160M.However in the examples found on page 9-15 the velocity factor change is ignored.I understand the velocity factor change and have always accepted this. It generally did not pay to try and cut radials precisely to a given wavelength.I accept the radial length vs. radial number charts but is this an electrical length in free space or a length considerably reduced due to velocity factory change?Example 3 ignores velocity factor correction and from what I can see this correction is ignore in most of the text concerning ground radials. What does one do? Who does one believe. While I am talking about a 160M inverted L; I did reference the SteppIR BigIR vertical manual, page 18.Lengths should be scalable.I find no mention of velocity factor and the shortening effect which is experienced. The recommendations are not very different from those in ON4UNs book. So does this mean one ignores the change in velocity factor? I appreciate some guidance with this matter. I would like a radial field which would take me to within 0.5/1 dB of the maximum achievable for reducing near field losses. 73 Doug EI2CN _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: KP1
On 2014-10-23, at 8:34 PM, Jeff Wilson wrote: Thanks for the memories Herb.I was surprised to see you had the KV4FZ call way back then! I just dug out my K4IA/KC4 Navassa Island SWL QSL to VE3PE2NL (thanks Popular Electronics!) from June 24, 1969...20m SSB 0411Z QSO with WA6ROU. Now finally a chance for a real QSO, and on Top Band!!! QSL showed a BW photo of nasty cliff side landing zone. All Drake RX/TX pairs. Thankfully it is not in the Indian Ocean! Can't wait for Januarywill have to put up the South Beverage, but probably won't need it with this team! Best Wishes, 73 Jeff VE3CV _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband Hi Jeff, I was VE3PE2RT back in that very same time period... Thank YOU for the memories...! ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Skimmer calibration
Hi Guys, Thank goodness the QRP-types amongst us all don't seem to be so fixated obsessed with such intricate minute details... If they were, most would probably never even get on the air with their peanut-powered rigs...and why would they? There'd most likely be assaulted by dozens of gurus lurking in the sidelines, ready to advise them that what they are attempting to do goes beyond the realm of possibility. ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Modeling the proverbial vertical on a beach
Hi Guys, ENOUGH of the ...modeling the proverbial 'vertical on the beach' already...! My delete button is beginning to wear out. Just ...Build it, and they will come. Period. ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Topband: Fwd: Fwd: Re: VE7BS Silent Key
Begin forwarded message: I wonder if you could post the following on the TopBand Reflector, that Bob Eldridge VE7BS is now a Silent Key. He passed away on July 15 at Lions Gate Hospital in North Vancouver, BC after a short stay. He was 93. Hi Ed, Bob's column in TCA was one that I especially looked forward to reading each every month. On occasion he would borrow from captions taken off of this reflector, thus giving us Topband enthusiasts some national exposure... RIP, Bob... ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Not so ood in the contest last night
On 2014-02-22, at 11:45 AM, Herb Schoenbohm wrote: Don't feel bad Don as last night I only worked three stateside stations K3ZM, W8PR WD5R. I must have spent two hours calling W8PR at night but heard me until at my sunrise. I run an Alpha 87A and a quarter wave vertical but all the other stateside stations called just ran their CQ machines and apparently I could not even work Florida station in here 10 over 9 and only 1200 miles away. Even Jeff VY2ZM who has super ears could not even hear a single character of my call. So as the song goes you gotta know when to hold and when to fold. So I decided to thrown the main breaker to the ham shack and save some money on electricity. Herb, KV4FZ Hi Guys, It's comments like yours, Herb, that make me somewhat glad that Mother Nature effectively robbed me of any Topband activities here this year... I detected a decline in conditions for at least 2 years prior to this season, from all accounts, the 2013-14 session has MORE than earned any Rotten Tomato awards hurled its way...! :o) ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Yikes! Heavy snow, freezing fog and 23 degrees F in Raleigh, NC
On 2014-02-12, at 4:50 PM, Carl wrote: Hey, you had plenty of advanced warning this one was going to be brutal! You can NEVER EVER properly prepare for what hit us here, Carl---NEVER. ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: DX Summit connection problems
On 2014-02-09, at 5:21 PM, Herb Schoenbohm wrote: I use DX-Summit at times to monitor topand activity. But for some reason the connection is rejected via my normal ISP. However when I use by Android on ATT there is no problem connection. The same ability to connect is via another computer hooked to a different IP address. One local ISP is blocked and the other isn't. I just hope someone can help me with this as there must be some simple solution. On the DX Summit site I can not find a help or contact person to send my problem to. Thanks, Herb Schoenbohm, KV4FZ _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband Hi Herb, I gave up on the DX Summit YEARS ago... Suddenly I couldn't post spots, simply gave-up trying to find help. Found refuge in this site, however: http://www.sk6aw.net/cluster/ Maybe you will, too...! ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Antennas down at VE3CV - Ice Storm!
On 2013-12-25, at 9:40 AM, Jeff Wilson wrote: Well the ice storm did a job here. Hi Guys, Well, the truth be known, I haven't uttered so much as a single peep on Topband at all this season: the dual knee replacements of last July here have left me in constant pain in both legs, while the spirit may well have been willing, the flesh was not---certainly not at the prospect of unrolling 72 ground radials beneath the seasonal 3-element phased inverted L array No matter: the power outage here started late Saturday night, didn't ease-up until 9:50 PM on Monday. In the interim, ice-laden trees branches took down the end supporting tree of my northern L, as well as the end supporting tree of my eastern L. The coup de grace was a massive bunch of tree branches that came crashing down upon my two K9AY loops in the back yard. We lost a LOT of nature's antenna supports with the 1 coating of ice that we received here---and the temperatures have been so cold as to keep the ice exactly where it has been since the past weekend. One good spell of high winds, I can see even MORE fallen trees outages of hydro electric power. Ain't wintertime just a grand glorious thing...?! (NOT!). Oh well, from what I've been hearing, 160-meters hasn't been any great shakes this season, anyway...small consolation maybe, I know, but I'll take any every bit that I can take! ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: DX Window
It's always refreshing to tune the window hear the odd DX station, or two, residing therein, working many of the ...less-than-KW domestic stations... A welcome change from the usual hurly-burly of strong North American CQ TEST machines that otherwise permeate the entire band, wall-to-wall. ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Easy-to-learn 160 contest logging program?
On 2013-12-04, at 10:55 AM, Mike Waters wrote: I know, it's a little late to be asking this, but does anyone have any suggestions for a free, simple logging program that will work for the ARRL 160 this weekend? It would be nice if it also worked for the Stew Perry at the end of the month? I don't care about rig control or anything like that. Just logging and dupe checking. I just tried CT for DOS (ran it in a DOS emulator in Linux), but it looks like it has a learning curve. And besides, its seems that you have to enter the call AND grid before it reports a dupe. I was going to modify an old DOS Pascal logging program I wrote years ago, but that wasn't as easy as I thought it was going to be. The Turbo Pascal 3 compiler floppy seems bad, and the Pascal code won't run under newer version of any Pascal IDE I tried. Any advice would be appreciated. 73, Mike www.w0btu.com Hi Mike, I am FAR from being ANY sort of a computer friendly kind of a guy, believe me...! But I have found SD---by EI5DI---to be THE easiest computer logging programme to use: http://www.ei5di.com/ Newer versions will cost you, but the older ones (which I believe you can still download) are free...and I have used them successfully many times in the past for a number of 160-meter contests... Good luck, vy ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Easy-to-learn 160 contest logging program?
On 2013-12-04, at 3:21 PM, Bill Cromwell wrote: Even though I'm not a *real* contester I'll try those. Maybe a little less work prepping an electronic log submission. That part would be nice. Hi Bill, I'm like you: try as I might (and I really truly did try, too---ONCE!), I simply can NOT marry a computer with my Ham shack here. I use SD strictly for post-contest Cabrillo log generation. PERIOD. No, I will NEVER EVER win any contests with this mind set---but then again, neither do I care. I just like to get on, make some contacts, when the enthusiasm flags, retire to other things to do. Leave the rabid dog-fighting for the serious types, who deserve to win anyway by keeping abreast of all of the ...latest the greatest. And more power to 'em, too! ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Connector grease
On 2013-11-24, at 8:59 PM, n0...@juno.com n0...@juno.com wrote: I would not use petroleum jelly on any electrical connector, especially to flood it. That is bad advice, no matter what source recommends it. Hi Guys, I applied Vaseline petroleum jelly onto the coax connectors of my inverted L antennas at the end of each October, and re-opened same in April, to allow me to stow away the feeders for this seasonal antenna---there was NEVER any evidence of corrosion, or harm done, in that 6 month span. I'd been doing this for some 6 years, too. I received this tip from someone who used to do extensive work with a cable TV company in northern Ontario: he said that the practice was de riguer with the staff. ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Topband: Vertical Antennas
Hi Guys, While I most certainly agree with what others such as Tom (W8JI) might offer here as to the value of TRUE A vs. B comparisons when it comes to how effective an antenna may be, I won't let a little thing like expediency deter me from erecting---and using---a ...less than stellar antenna... Case in point: at our summer cottage (a two storey affair, with an upper balcony), I lashed together some aluminum tubing to tie to the railing on the second floor with bungy cord: I made up the balance of its length for a 1/4-wave 7-MHz vertical with a re-cycled old electrical extension cord dropped down from the aluminum, which terminates at the feed point some 3' above physical ground. I then unrolled 2 insulated counterpoise wires, 1/4-wavelength long, in opposite directions. Surprisingly the doggone thing works very well into Europe, no doubt testament as to the effectiveness of the stations of our European friends(!) as much as anything else at this end of my QSOs...but the point is, it works quite well with just the 100-watts that I might pump into it from my now-ancient Yaesu FT-980 transceiver. So don't despair, and---as the Nike slogan so aptly puts it---JUST DO IT!!! ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: The Beverage Antenna Handbook
On 2013-08-05, at 10:45 AM, Bob Cutter wrote: I have an excellent copy of this 1977 classic by Victor A. Misek, W1WCR. $25.00 shipped in the US. Contact me off list. Hi Bob, It's a very good book, bar none, but Vic's insistence upon running a ground-mounted parallel ground wire beneath the Beverage antenna itself runs counter to the theory that a poorly conducting soil at he base of the antenna is the very key to the design's success (hence the reportedly poor performance of Beverages erected at the sea shore). The parallel ground wire would effectively negate the resistance of the earth below the Beverage, in Vic's designs... I'm surprised that more Hams haven't made this same observation. I believe it was Tom (W8JI) who first noted this to me several years ago, and it made sense at the time...indeed, still does, to-day. ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Don W6AM
On 2013-07-27, at 4:33 PM, Herb Schoenbohm wrote: While I was attending the infamous DX event at Visalia, CA a big convertible rolls into the parking lot a the Holiday Inn. I think it was a Buick or Cadillac, not sure. But I clearly remember the W6AM license plate and a very large whip on the back bumper. I sheepishly introduced myself to the Don and noticed a Vibroplex strapped down in the center counsel but I never had the courage to asked to peak in the trunk or see what the number of alternators on the fan belt. Even on 40 CW from the West Coast as W6AM/m Don was King. The only thing today we have close to that are the feats of another Don (KH6DX) who I understand accomplished a 160 meter DXCC from his car. Hi Herb, If you ever get the chance, read that biography that was written about W6AM a coupla years back: most interesting stuff! Don was on the ...leading edge of a LOT of Ham radio frontiers back in his day, bar none. I even have W6AM/m in my logbook for a 40-meter CW QSO we had when I first got licensed back in the early 70's. I wish I'd had the foresight to request his QSL, but alas, hindsight is 20-20 vision, right...?! ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Wall warts
On 2013-05-08, at 10:40 AM, John Harden, D.M.D. wrote: I am not offended at all relative to the fine whiskey deal. To begin with I'm too busy to worry about trivia such as that. I agree, John---there's nothing at all wrong with a fine whiskey, anyway...! If that's not some PC kop's thing, then he / she should mentally superimpose the words ...re-constituted septic sludge in place of whiskey, then get on with his / her life...such as it is. ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ All good topband ops know how to put up a beverage at night. _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: 'Re: fine whiskey is a daylight beverage
On 2013-05-07, at 1:35 PM, n...@juno.com wrote: offensive? How about Tuesday? Is THAT offensive too? sheesh! How about replacing it with nothing! I find the current one offensive and dont think any forced signature is warranted. Oh PLEASE let's leave all of the PC BS OFF of this Reflector, just have a bit of fun, OK...?! ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ All good topband ops know fine whiskey is a daylight beverage. _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Fw: Mike, VK6Hd.
On 2013-04-12, at 11:05 AM, Bruce wrote: Passing of VK6HD. Mike will be greatly missed especially by 160 meter DXers. Kim Lyon VK6TM ( son of VK6LK ) On 12/04/13 09:39, Robin Lyon wrote: It is with great sadness that I inform you that Mike died this morning. As you are aware, I regarded him as a close friend and I shall miss our weekly skeds. For the record, Mike was the top Australian operator on the current DXCC Honor Roll. Hi Bruce, Gosh, but that is VERY sad news indeed... Mike's signal was doubtlessly the very first VK6 Topband log entries with MORE than a few stations on this side. I will miss his presence on the band, as will many others, I am sure. ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ All good topband ops know fine whiskey is a daylight beverage. _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Using GE silicone as antenna sealant.
On 2013-03-16, at 12:39 PM, wa3...@comcast.net wrote: Gents.. be very sure that if you pick GE silicone sealant.. (RTV or whatever you call it) DO NOT use the kind that has acetic acid in it.. Back in the early days of NASA rocket launches off Wallops Island NASA lost a rocket they launched. It failed because they had used RTV that had acetic acid and it had corroded the connections.. litterally. A friend of mine W3AUN was one of the people responsible for this launch.. Be sure to pick SILICONE II sealant (with emphasis on the II), no matter the brand...! It's true: the regular stuff exudes that vinegary-smelling stuff as it cures that is VERY corrosive. Back some 30+ years ago we used the bad stuff to secure a variable capacitor inside of a weather-proof box as part of the delta match tuning network for a 40-meter multi-element loop on Field Day---when we opened the box the next morning to see why our tuning had changed, all of the components in the cap that could rust did, in fact, do just that, on account of the locked-in vapours! So beware what you buy...! ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _ Topband Reflector
Topband: TX5K
Good Day All, The superlative performance being executed currently on 160-meters by the TX5K expedition is, I feel, a tribute to the operators' style of: (A) Sending their call sign REPEATEDLY after nearly each transmission; (B) Separating their receive frequency from their transmitting frequency by a good 12-KHz; (D) Announcing their listening frequency REPEATEDLY so as to leave no room for any doubt whatsoever, and, (E) Engaging in a constant REASONABLE CW SENDING---not too fast, not too slow---and NOT hitting any function key that instantaneously sends ...599-73-TX5K-QRZ at some 50 WPM, as seems to be all the vogue these days. Their proven successful pile-up technique in these ways should serve as a benchmark for future DX-peditions to pattern themselves after, IMHO... ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Elevated Radials EPILOGUE
Good Day All, Well, after sifting through all of the responses to my original posting, and reviewing the different sites recommended by specific denizens of Topband, I've come to the conclusion that I will have to stick to my current design of 24 radials, each 1/8-wave long, per L... I believe that a minimum of two elevated radials would be the absolute minimum that I would have liked to try at my location---unfortunately, physical limitations of the property here would allow extended radials (i.e. going off in opposite directions to one another) beneath just one element in my 3-element array: the other 2 elements would benefit from a fully extended ( elevated, of course) single radial only, with the other twin being meandered about the property lines of the real estate that is available here... While this arrangement might prove to be an effective compromise of sorts---compared to the questionable system that I currently employ---I don't know that I'd want to commit next year's Topband DX season to an arrangement that might be grossly inferior to what I now have, as tempting as any elevated set-up might be...and the current ground system has carried me through some 7 years of reasonably reliable faithful service to date... So---bad knees notwithstanding!---I guess I'll have to stick to the tried true here, hope that the propagation gods might render me better assistance next season, than they have this year. Thanks again for all of the input that I received from everyone... ~73!~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Elevated Radials
Good Day All, Wow...! I received well over TWENTY responses from the Topband crowd in the matter of elevated radials vs. those simply laid atop the ground---many thanks to all for sharing your insight personal experiences with me. For benefit of the curious who asked, as well as for my own benefit here, I shall attempt later to summarize everyones' answers, and condense them in a presentable way that may (or may not!) be a good source of reference material for possible future use... Stay tuned---and many thanks again to all who took the time to write... ~73!~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Elevated Radials
Good Day Again All, Well, I've done my best to summarize all the respondents' comments in the matter of elevated vs. ground-mounted radials---and I'll try now to summarize these in a single-page format for benefit of all to see... The results are certainly interesting, and some are as different from one another as we might be physically! In any event---and FWIW---here goes: (A) Is it true that a couple of elevated radials are just as effective as the optimum amount of buried ones...? -It depends. -Don't know. -Don't know. -If 2 or more are used, maybe. -It depends. (B) What is the ideal number of elevated radials that one should use...? -It depends upon their height. -2. -2 to 4. -7 to 8. -1 to 5. -2. -8. -1 to 2. -16 to 32. -16 to 32. -The more the better. -Any amount, but use pairs (ex. 2 to 4, 6 to 8, etc.). (C) How many elevated radials are just enough...? -Enough to overcome ground losses establish resonance. -2. -2 -2. -2. -4. -4 (8 is overkill). -1. -32. -8. -Depends upon soil quality (D) How high should these radials be...? -The higher the better to clear pedestrians, animals, etc. -10'. -6' to 8'.-6' to 8'. -12' to 14'. -7' to 8'. -6' to 15'. -20'. -6' to 10'. -8'. -10' to 12'. -20'. -1' to 10' (but the higher the better). (E) Would it be a requirement that I raise the feedpoints of my L's to the same height as the elevated radials, or can I simply leave the bases where they are now (at ground level) simply slant the radials upward with no effect upon performance...? -Gull wing arrangement OK. -Feed point should be 8' high. -Not sure. -Makes no difference. -Gull wing OK. -Gull wing OK. -Not sure. -Same height as radials (to minimize ground loss). -Makes no difference. -Optional. (F) Is it OK to bend the elevated radials to fit property allotments...? -Slight bends OK. -Yes. -Yes. -Yes. -Not sure. -Not sure. -OK, but gradual bends only. -No. -Yes. -Best kept straight. (G) What is the desirable length of an elevated radial...? -Quarter wave. -Quarter wave. -Quarter wave. -Quarter wave. -Quarter wave. -Quarter wave. -Quarter wave. -Quarter wave. -Quarter wave. -Quarter wave. -Use short radials with a common coil. -Quarter wave + height above ground. (H) Should any existing connections to real earth at the base of the L's (i.e. a ground pipe) be completed severed with a system of elevated radials...? -If radials one quarter wave long, makes no difference. -No ground. -No ground. -With a ground, there'll be noise on receive. -NEVER ground. -No ground. -No ground. -No ground. -No ground. -No ground. Additionally, four respondents recommended using a choke balun at the feedpoint...one person avowed that a single elevated radial was the equivalent of 30 ground radials...another stated that 8 elevated radials were super good, but that even 1 to 2 would be good...another affirms that one simply can not beat the optimal number of buried radials... Several recommended this site as an excellent reference as well: http://www.antennasbyn6lf.com/2012/02/elevated-radial-ground-systems-some-cautions.html I personally haven't taken a look at it myself here, but it is most certainly on my to do list! I hope my effort here might help dissipate some of the fog surrounding elevated radials, vs. ground-mounted ones---certainly there's stuff here that I wanna digest still...and again, I thank one all for their feedback, trust that I've done justice here to your many responses... ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _ Topband Reflector
Topband: Elevated Radials
Hi Guys, Forgive me, please, if I'm re-hashing a bit of the ...same-old, same-old here, but I am really curious as to any real world experiences that might be out there in the matter of elevated radials, vs. those that are simply laid atop the ground... My arthritic knees here are making the chore of rolling, unrolling, my seasonal 24-radials-per-L-element radials (I have THREE of them here!) just that, i.e. a VERY painful chore...and barring the possibility of there being a new bionic knee replacement(s) in my future, pray tell me: (A) Is it true that a couple of elevated radials are just as effective as the optimum amount of buried ones...? (B) What is the ideal number of elevated radials that one should use...? (C) How many elevated radials are just enough...? (D) How high should these radials be...? (E) Would it be a requirement that I raise the feedpoints of my L's to the same height as the elevated radials, or can I simply leave the bases where they are now (at ground level) simply slant the radials upward with no effect upon performance...? (F) Is it OK to bend the elevated radials to fit property allotments...? (G) What is the desirable length of an elevated radial...? (H) Should any existing connections to real earth at the base of the L's (i.e. a ground pipe) be completed severed with a system of elevated radials...? This morning I happened to work a NJ station with elevated radials that almost pegged the S-meter on my 751A---the short distance between us notwithstanding, obviously something was working very well for him there! Thanks in advance my vy ~73!~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Webinar - The first Top Band DX Contest â? the 1921 Transatlantic Test
On 2013-02-24, at 8:18 AM, James Rodenkirch wrote: Tha's a great topic and I'm sure Frank will add a lot of interesting information. About twenty years ago, I became interested in the 1921 transatlantic tests and slowly began collecting information. The fall, 1921 issues of QST are a great source as is the Radio Club of America's (RCA) early 1950s publication on 1BCG. That publication gives a detailed explanation of the antenna and is copied from an article by George Burghard from the February, 1922 issue of QST. Hi Guys, There was once a rather extensive collection of QSTs from the 1920's that originally belonged to the original 3XN, whose new home was the reference section at the University of Western Ontario's (London, Ontario) main library for years years... When the staff de-commissioned the magazines some years ago, as an alumni of the school I was fortunate enough to have been the very happy recipient of each very issue: amazingly, select copies from the early 20's---when the League was sponsoring its Transatlantics---have pencilled-in notes from OM Langford's hand itself in the margins, listing the call signs of the stations that he heard on this side of the Atlantic at the time of the tests! They are true gems, and I value each every issue here immensely... ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Genius I tells ya, pure Genius
On 2013-02-12, at 9:37 PM, Gary Smith wrote: Calling DX on your dummy load means there are two dummys in the shack... Looks down, shuffles feet... Hi Gary, Don't feel so bad... Back in the mid-70's---when my Ham buddies I were so much younger, and indulged on a semi-regular basis in liquid refreshments that were a tad spunkier than your usual Dr. Pepper soft drink---I was giving a demonstration to a friend of how well my Heathkit SB-400 Hallicrafters S-77A worked on 40-meters. Well, the ...wobbly pops came out at about the same time as I cruised the band: signals were down somewhat, but I still managed to raise a VE2 that was about a 559. Upon completion of the QSO, I noticed that the antenna had been disconnected from the antenna tuner the whole time! Somehow the tuning of the transmatch allowed it to become a dummy load in of itself---yet there was the VE2 in the log, as large as life itself... ...What a pity that youth is wasted upon the young...! ~73!~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: G3FPQ SK
On 2013-02-10, at 10:15 AM, Roger Parsons wrote: From the Daily DX: G3FPQ, David Courtier-Dutton, passed away on Sunday February 3rd. He was 79. Hi Roger, That is very sad news, indeed... I always likened David's signal akin to being ...the beacon of Britain---if HIS signal couldn't be heard, it was of little use to tune around the band! Best to simply switch-off the rig go upstairs watch television. He will surely be missed by many on this side of the great divide between NA Great Britain. ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Snap and seal connectors
On 2013-02-06, at 8:32 AM, Tom W8JI wrote: As a standard practice, and from field experience, we flooded the center of the connector with clear silicon dielectric compound. A suitable material is readily available at almost any auto parts store as Dielectric Tune Up Grease in a silver squeeze tube. Standard practice with some cable TV systems here in Ontario is to use Vaseline-brand petroleum jelly as an aid against water intrusion corrosion... Here, with my L's, I use ordinary PL-259 / SO-239 coax connectors at each base: I apply Vaseline to the prongs of the PL-259's, and swab a bit onto the threads of the SO-239's , before mating them. I then apply a VERY generous coat of Silicone !! sealant all over the pair, well beyond the end of the connector on up the coax cable... Come Spring, when it's time to stow the antenna, I simply get an X-acto knife, make a longitudinal cut into the silicone (being careful not to cut TOO deep), then peel off the silicone... I've done this for some 6 years now, with nary a problem with water intrusion---and the connectors come apart just as easily as the day that I Vaselined them... Call the technique red-necked, or hillbilly, it works for me---and it uses cheap, readily-available, material... ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Coupla things
On 2013-01-28, at 7:57 AM, Tom W8JI wrote: I hope everyone attempts to contact a person in private first, and only uses public means when no private contact info is available or they are creating an imminent disaster. The respectful thing, however, is always direct communications unless something prevents that. That should go without saying. Hi Tom et al, Alas alack, that sort of thing simply does NOT happen in to-day's Topband world... Far too often, the unwitting perpetrator is often lambasted skewered---behind his back, of course---on the likes of The ON4KST Chat Room with fellow like-minded gentlemen...and more often than not, some anonymous aide will kindly and repeatedly send FIX KLIX at the end of the victim's transmissions on the air... That's really a TREMENDOUS help in root-causing someone's travails with clicks...and I know this only too well, because I myself as the victim in just this very same sort of character assassination. Anyone with any history on ON4KST site will recall some weeks ago how the brethren all tackled N2** for his clicks---and the fall-out has been---from what I can see, anyway---that that person now rarely, if ever, shows his face on 160-meters anymore. And as recently as early last week, at least one stalwart from the north-east seemed to derive great pleasure in skewering a certain VE1 about his clicks: well, it turned-out that the bad station in question had some other issue there that had nothing whatever to do with clicks. I know, because I personally telephoned the owner behind the VE1 call sign in question personally, the situation was immediately---and easily---remedied. Would that EVERY such case be treated in the same manner, Tom, exactly as you describe as I acted upon---but sadly, it does not. And it leaves so-called transgressors feeling hurt, angry, dis-enfranchised, and no closer to any sort of resolution than before. Whither the Gentleman's Band...? Sadly, it seems to have devolved by times into the personal playhouse of a select few self-styled noblemen who have apparently lost the true Amateur spirit... Just my $0.02 worth...let the flaming begin. ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Coupla things
Hi Tom, I agree 100% with the idea of of somehow having a central repository of click ailments cures: that would offer a struggling newbie to the ailment a quick ready source of ideas possible contacts as to a cure(s)... I have ascertained that my case here had to do directly with the plate current meter that I was employing in my 2x813 amplifier: it was reading FAR too low, with the consequence that I was using more drive than necessary on the linear to achieve textbook specs. I believe the situation is now well in hand, however, and I am greatly appreciative for the patience assistance extended to me in this regard by way of Bill (VE3CSK): would that EVERY sufferer of clicks whom we might encounter on the air be so fortunate... ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ I don't have much of an opinion on it one way or another, except I'm sure most people appreciate direct contact more than public (any chat room, cluster, or reflector is public) contact if possible. The exceptions being something that just can't wait, or no way to contact someone directly. It would be interesting to keep a list of problems and cures. It isn't correct that it is always the radio, always the amplifier, or even that it is always either the radio or amplifier. Sometimes it is the antenna, or things around the antenna. When we had terrible old receiving equipment with horrible dynamic range and poor skirts, and even the perceived best gear like Collins fell into that class years ago, we couldn't all bunch up 250 Hz from someone else. Things problems now were not problems when our receivers forced us to be a kilocycle or more away from strong signals, and when receiving and transmitting antenna technology wasn't nearly so good. We have a new level of problems now. _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Coupla things
Hi Gary, I do find it disquieting to have someone obviously trying to copy my call and another contester come on top of my attempts and with their stronger signal, send their call over mine so the other person hearing them clearly replies to them instead. I'm running legal limit and the guy overpowering me is 20 over so I know he heard me, he just pushed me aside like a shopper at Macy's Bargain Basement. Yes it's a contest but I don't find that kind of bullying to carry much honour. The old saying of ...All's fair in love war applies here, I'm afraid! bullying just goes with the turf, I will admit that non-practitioners DO have quite a learning curve to go through before becoming used / immune to it... - I was SP and called one fellow out west who was fairly faint. When he replied immediately, he was much, much stronger. It could be that his amp warmed up and he just turned it on that second he replied but that seems unlikely, it was remarkable how quick the reply and difference in signal. After a bit I kept thinking how unusual that was as in 30 years I've not experienced that kind of change without an amp being turned on. Then I got to thinking perhaps he had a 4 square or better and has his station set so when he logged my call, it accessed a hamcall database and then automatically switched to my direction without him manually doing a thing. I don't remember which call he has or I'd ask him. Is this something that people are doing? Seems ideal. You can experience sorta the same thing, Gary, on receive, if you employ different directional antennas for your ears: the difference(s) can really be quite astounding by times! - Interesting how different the signals are. There was one guy who had what sounded like RF on his signal and made him stand out. I wonder if that was by accident or intentional. Funny you should mention that---at one point this morning I was answered by a station from New York who would have been an ideal candidate for participation in the AWA's annual 1929 QSO Party! He was very broad raspy-sounding, and was obviously sending with a straight key. Anyway, he completely obliterated the other two stations who were calling me, so naturally I responded to him first. And that was good---except when he moved off-frequency to answer others, was so wide that all I could hear in my passband was his signal! Hi Hi. I don't honestly believe that he was a serious contender---most likely just wanted to make some Q's with a vintage transmitter. He never stuck around too long anyway, I rather enjoyed the experience... - Same idea with the different range of key clicks. I have a K3 and inrad 250 Hz filters on both receivers and had the digital filter set as narrow as possible to 50 Hz and even with this rigs fine Rx, there were quite a few stations I could tell far away that they were there. Their clicks were so loud they obliterated DX well more than a KHz away. I had to wait till they listened and tried to pull out the DX call or reply to me. Most sitting on their frequency had delightfully clean loud signals and no clicks. It's too bad some people drive their amps so hard and make it hard for others to be around them. Maybe it's part of their plan. I think that it's entirely feasible for a select selfish few to do something like that, Gary, but in truth, 99% of those with offensive signals in that regard probably aren't even aware that they're generating key clicks (contrary to the opinion of certain denizens of the band). Properly coupling one's rig to a linear seems simple enough on the surface, but it is NOT necessarily so. So much focus is put upon transceivers as being the major culprit in this regard, that focus is lost upon the proper whys wherefores of our linear amplifiers, how we might treat them. I think the Amateur community at large would benefit tremendously if the self-styled technical gurus in our midst might devote their time to well-written essays analysis of the key click phenomenon BEYOND the simple realm of the transceiver, per se, rather than engaging in character assassination on the likes of the ON4KST Chat Room with others of a like mind. It reflects poorly upon the character of the part icipants, and NOBODY benefits from such behind-the-scenes sniping---least of all those who might bear the pain of clicks being heard on the band...! ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: alternative to vacuum variables
On 2013-01-24, at 2:33 PM, Pete Smith N4ZR wrote: One of the reasons I have mot gone to high power on 160 is the cost of capacitors for my omega match - at least $300. Anyone know of any workable alternative? I remember someone writing about using coiled-up RG-8, RG-213 or maybe Teflon coax. Where can I find more information? Hi Pete, I've used a short length of RG-58 coax for just that purpose in one application here, to supplement the C from my air variable at the base of one of my extended inverted L's... There's nothing at all wrong with that, I don't think, as long as the coax is simply padding existing C---I don't think you'd want to use the coax for a LOT of capacitance, though: if I recall correctly, one foot of RG-58 has some 25-pfd. of capacitance---to get, say, 200-pfd., would you really want an 8-foot coil of coax in your system...? ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _ Topband Reflector
Topband: My Source of RFI...
Hi Guys, If you'll recall my request for help ID'ing the ...daily-at-7:30-AM-sharp RFI that I'm experiencing here on 160-meters, a number of respondents suggested that it's probably my northern neighbour's treadmill machine... Well, I think you were correct! I just stumbled upon this sound snippet from the ARRL: http://www.arrl.org/files/file/RFI%20Sounds/treadmill.mp3 My noise matches that recorded almost to a tee---especially the last half... Thanks for everyone's input... ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Problem with Sensor Lamps
On 2013-01-18, at 4:24 PM, Martin wrote: A fellow ham has a problem with noise on 160m. The band is unusable due to noise peaking 9+20 24/7. I think the source is a sensor lamp in his neighbours house. The neighbour complained about the lamp switching on and off when Lutz transmits . I know this has been discussed here, please push me in the right direction. Hi Martin, Awhile back my son installed a set of those hand-capacity sensor lights for us here beneath the kitchen cupboards---they are quite nice-looking when activated, are the type that if you touch the sensor button three times in succession, the lamps' intensity will increase accordingly... I found the very same thing here: on any band, my RF would trigger the lights to activate, and when they were on, the RFI in my receiver was terrible. The only cure that I am aware of---and it works for me---is to COMPLETELY UNPLUG the lights from the AC mains before an operating session in the shack. When I first brought this subject up some months ago, I do not recall reading of ANY fixes beyond that, unfortunately... ...Hardly the sort of news that you'd want to hear when it's a neighbour being affected, surely, but that seems to be the nature of the beast, sadly... ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _ Topband Reflector
Topband: Conditions On Topband...
Greetings All, So---with DX conditions being the way they are on 160 this season, all...anyone read any good books lately...?! Hi Hi The band still does hold surprises to the patient dedicated here: this morning KL7J suddenly literally came up out of nowhere, was quickly peaking at my QTH to a good 569, before I had to QRT at around 1200Z. You just never know, do you...?! ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _ Topband Reflector
Topband: RFI / Interfering Phenomenon...?
Hi Guys, I wonder if what I've been experiencing here is strictly a local case of RFI, or if others are hearing it to, especially at stations near southern VE3-land...? Specifically, since roughly early December (when I first noticed it), at precisely 1230Z each day, at around 1820-KHz, a loud whir-whir-whir noise suddenly starts up that is very raspy broad...it can be heard at roughly 21-KHz spacings each way, up down the band, and the entire progression very slowly moves down in frequency... It's hard to put into words: imagine the whirring police siren from the film Smokey The Bandit, only with a very raspy / rough tone, and very broad. It peaks here with my K9AY that's pointing due north, causing me to suspect that it may well be some automatically timed gizmo that my gadget-crazy neighbour several hundred feet north of me may have acquired ...put into actionbut then again, it could be something else, emanating from who-knows-where... Is anyone else experiencing this right at 1230Z, or am I the sole lucky winner...? :o) My operations on 160 are not especially affected by this, as I usually pack it in around 1230Z, anyway---still, it HAS piqued my curiosity... ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: RIG PROTECTION FROM BEVERAGES
On 2013-01-15, at 4:25 PM, Wayne Willenberg wrote: I have my 2 reversible Beverages (designed by Tom, W8JI and sold by DX Engineering) installed and am thrilled with their performance! Now I can listen in 4 directions, one at a time of course, with greatly reduced noise. Stations I could never work suddenly pop out of the noise when I switch to the Beverage. I did so much research on the construction and installation of the Beverages, I feel really stupid because I didn't think of one possibly critical aspect (nor did I see it discussed). I have the 75 Ohm coax from the Beverages connected directly to the receive antenna input on my FT-5000. If high voltage should get induced by lightning, isn't it going to fry at least the front end of my receiver? How you you provided for this possibility? Hi Wayne, Obviously you do not employ any sort of an isolation (matching) transformer between your Beverages rig...? I wonder what harm (or good...?!) installing a 2.5 mh. RF choke might do for you, placed right at your rig connecting the centre conductor of your coax feeder to ground...? Remember the 2.5 mh. choke that's installed right at the antenna output of your linear amplifier...? Your amplifier doesn't even know it's there, until such time as the output coupling capacitor in the lead to your pi tank might short-out, whereupon the RF-blocking capabilities of that choke would be exposed to DC, and in so doing serve as a direct short of your B+ voltage to ground, blowing your fuse... In theory, I s'pose, a lightning strike---a surge in DC voltage in your Beverage feeder---would act in the same manner, passing that DC surge directly to ground, as well... OK all you gurus, experts, Poindexters, weisenheimers, brainiacs out there reading this---LET THE FLAMING BEGIN...! :o) ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _ Topband Reflector
Topband: RFI / Interfering Phenomenon?
Hi All, Many thanks for all of the responses to my original query of this morning... General consensus has it that the noise here is some sort of switching power supply, possibly linked (according to SEVERAL respondents) to an exercise treadmill. It ONLY starts at 7:30 AM sharp, so it is most definitely NOT related to a furnace (it gets pretty cold here in VE3-land during the night---why would a furnace only start doing its thing that late in the morning, right...?). The good news...? Well, if it IS, in fact, an exercise machine, I suspect that the noise will ebb, along the very same lines as the enthusiasm of the user! Hi Hi. And such enthusiasm for steady regular work-outs seems to wane a lot faster, than it does slower... BTW, for those who suggested it, the QTH here is in the country---NO industrial sites / facilities for many miles here, and of those that do exist, they are all miles to the south south-west of me---and the noise peaks from the north. I am still curious as to the exact closure of the noise, too, which I have yet to do... Thanks again to all respondents---your thoughts are much appreciated here. ~73!~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: RIG PROTECTION FROM BEVERAGES
On 2013-01-16, at 10:22 AM, Wayne Willenberg wrote: Thanks to several of you who responded, I now know the larger concern should be the Beverage feeding my transmitted signal back into the receiver. This is probably of particular concern since I always use my linear at about 1500W when transmitting. Hi Again Wayne, I assume that by ...antenna input on your transceiver, you're referring to a RECEIVE ANTENNA ONLY jack (probably RCA-style) at the back of the rig...? (My assumption must be correct, otherwise you're using the Beverage for BOTH transmitting and receiving---very doubtful!). Anyway, assuming that it's a receive antenna ONLY port that you mean, take a close look at the schematic of your rig: I'll wager that---being a Yaesu---the jack is automatically grounded whenever you go into transmit mode, and by extension, you can save yourself the $$$ required that it might otherwise have taken in purchasing an after-market grounding device for your station... I emphasize Yaesu here only because I own both a Yaesu FT-980 as well as an Icom 751A, both of which were made only a few years apart in the late 80's: when I ran my linear with the Yaesu exciter, and using a Beverage receiving antenna, I experienced no difficulties whatsoever---however, when I put the 751A in line with the amp the Beverage, the transmitting envelope displayed on my Heathkit SB-610 monitorscope was shockingly atrocious. Of course, I used the separate receiving antenna port in each rig on both of these occasions, and pondered the whys wherefores of the difference...until such time as I looked closely at the Icom schematic, discovered to my surprise that the separate antenna port was NOT grounded at all when in transmit mode...and that the QRO emitted by the linear was being picked-up by the Beverage, and sent right back into the Icom, creating untold misery with RF feedback. It is my understanding that other Icoms exhibit this same shortcoming in their design. A homebrew external relay box here solved the problem for me: it utilizes a 12 VDC relay that is activated by the 751A, and which grounds the receiving antenna whenever I transmit. Total cost of the fix...? ZERO dollars---this is where an ample ...junque box (and innate stinginess!) can pay dividends, however small... Hi Hi ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ _ Topband Reflector
Topband: CG3CUI
Good Day All, In case anyone was wondering who in the world that CG3CUI station was that you worked during the SP event out of grid square FN03, here's the explanation: in honour of the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II's reign as monarch, we otherwise lowly VE types were granted the privilege by our Industry Canada authority to use the prefix CG---but only for 29th and 30th December (VA-types could use CF, VO VY stations were authorized the use of CH CI, respectively). I thought there would have been more Canadians using the special prefix(Esc), but it appeared to me that I was the SOLE Canuck to have taken advantage of the opportunity---at least on the occasion of the SP, anyway...so if anyone worked me, congrats: you snagged yourself a rare one! Hi Hi So, there you have it: CG3CUI was just plain ol' VE3CUI, bedecked in seasonal garb reflective of the festive season...! (Sorry for any resultant confusion.) ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ ___ Stew Perry Topband Distance Challenge coming on December 29th.
Re: Topband: Strange Condx
On 2012-12-16, at 6:47 PM, Herb Krumich wrote: Friday late afternoon around 4 pm (EST), I was listening to 160 and was hearing many signals from Europe and Russia. Some were quite loud. I probably called at least a dozen different stations with no luck. My transmit antenna is an inverted L which is about 85 feet vertical. I even went outside to make sure the horizontal leg was not disturbed due to wind. I operate EME on 144 mhz and have had times where signals would only go one way. Was this the case ? Or could it have been storms which would have produced high levels of noise on their receive end ? After a radio club dinner, I went back to 160 and was able to work two stations in Europe with single calls from me. I'm going to try the SP contest next weekend for some fun Isn't this the greatest hobby ever ? Herb K2LNS Hi Herb, Many times I used to go down to the shack right at our local sunset here, try snag a few of the European stations on the band that were easily getting across with 569 - 579 signals---but the only stations able to work them on this side were always considerably east of me, in VE1- W1-land... A window of opportunity for my ability to get them would come about an hour later. It always seemed like local sunset conditions favoured being able to hear the DX to the east alright, but most times one had to bide one's time on the eastern end of the path until the sun had really truly settled down, in order to work them. It was frustrating, to be sure, and by times made me long for a sea-side QTH in the Maritimes...! ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ ___ Topband reflector - topband@contesting.com
Re: Topband: The Idiot's Guide To Bi-Directional Two-Wire BeverageConstruction...
Hi Guys, Many thanks to one all for sharing your ideas experiences with the two-wire bi-directional Beverage antenna with me...it's quite obvious that there's a wealth of know-how and experience out there in such matters. The jury is still out here re. the antenna's adoption into VE3CUI - VE3XZ: I already have a 1500' south-terminated Beverage, 50% (or more) of which crosses over some very wet, low-lying marshy land in my back 40 (including a pond). I guess because of the good ground afforded by this reality, the Beverage can't hold a candle to my K9AY loop when temperatures are above freezing...but when ambient air is below 32F for more than a couple of days, the Beverage here starts to come into its own. If I was to try a bi-directional two-wire affair, I'd want to keep it the minimum recommended length---and that would mean that its entire run would have wet soil beneath it... Oh well, as the saying goes, you can't have enough antennas for 160...and even if the system was useable only on those below-freezing days, it might still be a worthwhile project to undertake, such that my ability to copy the JA stations might be enhanced (the whole reason as to why I'm even thinking of this)... ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ ___ Topband reflector - topband@contesting.com
Topband: The Idiot's Guide To Bi-Directional Two-Wire Beverage Construction...
Good Day All, I wonder if I might prevail upon any all with some first-hand real-world experience as to the criticalness (if any) between the two wires running the length span of a 2-wire bi-directional Beverage...? Just how important is a continuos pre-set distance between the wires, anyway...? And who was it that came up with the necessity of equally-spaced wire...? And how did they determine the optimum distance the wires...? Would a span of power line cord (a.k.a. zip cord) do in a pinch...? Zip cord sure would simplify things greatly for my location here... As I say, any all comments from first-hand experience are not only welcomed, they're solicited, before I plunk down any serious coin for a good run of lamp cord! Hi Hi ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ ___ Topband reflector - topband@contesting.com
Re: Topband: Fw: GAP VERTICAL QUESTION
On 2012-12-12, at 6:28 PM, Scott MacKenzie wrote: Personally, I use an 80 M loop - I like it especially for stateside contest like Sweep or FD. Nice solid signal on 40M and 80M. By far, the absolute BEST DX antenna that I've ever had the pleasure of using for the low bands is the inverted Bobtail array (40-meters): no radial fields required, super-easy to feed, all-wire construction, bi-directional, stealthy, and---for me, at least---a real band opener on both direct, and long path, circuits... I only wish that I had the wherewithal here to put one up for Topband! I guess it could be done by bending the three vertical elements alright, but I'd still have trouble here attaining even a 60' elevation...(sigh!). ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ ___ Topband reflector - topband@contesting.com
Topband: Antique Wireless Association---Topband Edition
Good Morning All, Well, the dust has pretty much settled down upon this year's 160-meters portion of the Antique Wireless Association's 1929 QSO Party (barring any stalwarts who might show-up tonight before the close of the event at 2300Z, that is)... I made a grand total of just 7 QSOs on 1.8-MHz---but the icing on the cake---for me, at any rate---was working VE7SL in British Columbia some 15+ minutes well AFTER my local sunrise this morning, and just THREE MINUTES before I was going to pull the plug anyway! That ain't too shabby a performance, coming as it did through the able work of a pair of 83 year old type 227 receiving tubes of unknown heritage that comprise the final PA stage of my 1929-style homebrewed Master-Oscillator-Power-Amplifier transmitter! It was very nice working a few of the 160 regulars, too, who stopped by to say hello... ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ ___ Topband reflector - topband@contesting.com
Re: Topband: DX window
On 2012-12-06, at 10:37 AM, Gary Smith wrote: I stand by my suggestion and I don't see my suggestion as nonsense in the least. Go here and read section 6.1 http://www.arrl.org/160-meter - The ARRL who host this contest state plainly that this segment should be used for intercontinental QSOs only, ergo: the DX window. Since US VE are disregarding this directive and using it selfishly to the detriment of the others in the contest who are playing by the rules, I say the offending stations should be penalized for ignoring the rules. What is nonsense about that? My point is the W/VE should not be within the DX window calling CQ in the first place. I can't imagine anyone would be there calling CQ and expect a constant pileup of DX to be calling them. What is more likely is they may feel by being in that window they will be in a perfect location to get the maximum DX multipliers and by holding that bandwidth in that limited and specific segment, minimize the # of multipliers others will be able to get. Hi Gary, I agree with your sentiments 101%, FWIW... Alas alack, nothing will ever come of it: our Ham society to-day seems to have embraced the domain of society at large, in that we'd rather go out of our way, rather than to offend the offender. Is it in keeping with our seemingly universal mantra anymore of being politically correct...? Or have we collectively suddenly become oh-so-very-kind to one another that the last thing we'd want to do is tell someone that maybe---just maybe!---their behaviour is not quite up to standards...? I don't know, it sure beats me: just as I am still gobsmacked by the ...shy retiring Topband person(s) who, a few years ago, would anonymously send transmissionsklix right at the end of my transmissions, who would besmirch my otherwise good name on various sites because my signal didn't quite measure-up to some ethereal golden standard in the eyes (and ears) of that beholder... Maybe that's the key...? The Kilocycle Kop(s) should dedicate time energy to park in the DX window, send WINDOW HR at the conclusion of each every CQ by NA stations...?! (Where are those Kc Kops when you need one...?!) ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ ___ Topband reflector - topband@contesting.com
Re: Topband: DX window
On 2012-12-05, at 11:33 AM, Lennart M wrote: Well, from a DX perspective I do not care much about band differenciation, we do have equal distance to Far East and the Pacific as to SA, NA east coast being close by and when 160 opens to NA west coast and KL7/KH6 they are good enough to break thru any other pile, this is a Hobby Hi Len, Yes, for sure, but keep in mind that we're only talking about the setting aside of a mere FIVE KILOHERTZ of the band for this use! Now, a 5-KHz preserve may not mean much to a super NA CQ TEST machine, but it could mean all the difference in the world for making cross-continental QSOs for many---on BOTH sides of the signal path. ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ ___ Topband reflector - topband@contesting.com
Re: Topband: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 3Y0IOF
What's this...?! NO planned list operation...?! And you dare to call yourselves a DXpedition...?! T'is to laff...!!! ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ On 2012-12-03, at 6:26 PM, Bryan Buck wrote: HAHAHAHAHAH FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE After a lot of negotiation we are pleased to announce a multinational team of twelve is to undertake a Dxpedition to Bouvet Island from 25 March 2013 to 5 April 2013 using the callsign 3Y0IOF. We will be operating 24/7 with five stations covering all bands 160m-10m. We understand that Dxpeditions are all about you - the DX operator - therefore we are pleased to announce some exciting new innovations. We appreciate many of you feel you should not have to make any effort to work us. Accordingly, we are offering you the chance to call us on the telephone when you are ready for a QSO. That's right, we will give you a phone number and when you are ready you can ring us and we will immediately cease to work the pile up and call you on a frequency of your choice. Not only that, we will also ensure an email is sent to you directly after the QSO to confirm you are in the log. Furthermore, we are organizing a team of experts who, if you wish, will fly in and set up your rig on the required frequency, connect the antenna for you and make sure the heating or ventilation is on so it is nice and warm or cool in your shack as the case requires. Don't worry about propagation. We will make sure there is some between us as we understand that is our responsibility and it's our fault if there isn't. If that is not for you then don't worry we are just as happy to work you in a pile up. We realize that we will need to operate in accordance with your operating habits so therefore we will understand if you call over the top of another station we are trying to work, or when we are specifically calling a part of the world you do not reside in, or if you are simply calling aimlessly or while we are transmitting, or even if you call when you cannot hear us. We will do our best to work you despite all this and yes we know it's our fault if you do not make it into the log. We wish to acknowledge the value Frequency Cops bring to a Dxpedition so to recognize this we are going to specifically publicize some times when we will arrange for some operators to deliberately call us on our frequency instead of split. Frequency Cops can even register their availability with us to help us ensure these periods get maximum uptake by the Frequency Cop community. During these periods the Frequency Cops will be able to say or send up up! to their hearts content. (Note: we will make sure we tell the pile up to listen up and not down as the recent PT0S Dxpedition has taught us that Frequency Cops don't know how to send down in CW). We also don't want the tuner uppers to feel left out and like them we feel dummy loads are completely overrated. So when we are ready to transmit on a band we will give them the opportunity to tune up on our frequency before we start working the pile up. Each period will start with us sending our callsign and QDL (Quick Dummy Loaders) so they will know when to commence tuning up on us. We will allow for at least five minutes for this as we know how important it is for the tuner uppers to make sure their finals are good and ready. We acknowledge if they go bang it's our fault. Depending on demand we will every now and then send QDL while working a pile up so any tuner uppers late to the party can tune up on us as well. Unfortunately we will not have cluster access while we are on Bouvet but we know this will not stop you posting announcements and comments on the cluster about our Dxpedition. Some suggestions for you to try include saying what band you want us to QSY to or mode to operate on, the quality of our ops and the usual loud, can't hear them here, thanks for 7th band or yee hah comments. Likewise as we noted above we understand it's our fault if you cannot work us and therefore we accept in that case you will post on the cluster calling us the worst Dxpedition ever. We can't wait to be of service to you. The 3Y0IOF Team ___ Topband reflector - topband@contesting.com ___ Topband reflector - topband@contesting.com
Re: Topband: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 3Y0IOF
On 2012-12-04, at 11:59 AM, Bill Cromwell wrote: My antenna isn't very good and I have only 20 watts TX power. Can they accept an emailed QSO? Hi Bill, I'll try that again (had a power failure here!)... They will accept an e-mail QSO only via LotA, and an eQSL only! (There---that's better! Hi) ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ ___ Topband reflector - topband@contesting.com
Re: Topband: DX WINDOW
On 2012-12-01, at 12:54 AM, Carol Richards wrote: That so called dx window on 160m does not exist...It hasn't existed for many years. Well FWIW, I personally think that the notion of keeping 1825 - 1830-KHz clean of NA stations calling CQ is a good one... We bemoan the fact that this contest is, in essence, just a WAS contest, or, ...Son of SS---but what of the DX station that might enter this fray with the express purpose of working a new State, or two, but that can't be heard because of all of the CQ machines grinding away on the band...? The are few incentives for an overseas station to take part now as it is: why create another dis-incentive by turning a blind eye to all of the domestic pollution in that 5-KHz segment...? I enjoy tuning that segment myself, on the chance of hearing anything outside of the USA Canada: if I do, I'll work them---then leave the window. It's the gentlemanly thing to do, IMHO...! ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ ___ Topband reflector - topband@contesting.com
Re: Topband: November 30-December 2 -- ARRL 160 Meter Contest
On 2012-11-29, at 6:15 PM, Herb Schoenbohm wrote: Again this weekend the ARRL presents the worst and most unfair 160 meter competition ever devised. I must sound like a broken record on this problem but I have sent letters and e mail to members of the CAC to asked them to allow the US Territories to be what they are DX as it is impossible to even get listed for an effort that if I was treat like VP2V which I can see from my house, I would at least have a chance, in fact i would have come in first lace in the past few years as a DX station. The CAC, the few who will write me back, say that any changes to rectify a totally unfair contest, is out of their hands and decided by a special secretive group inside the ARRL, who are not contesters at all. BTW for the purpose of this contest KP2 is counted the same as Navassa and Puerto Rico counts as Desecheo. Now how is that for a totally nonsensical approach. Maybe you could demand Navassa credit on 160 after working me, but I really doubt that the DX desk will be amused. In the Pacific, Guam and Hawaii all count the same as KH8 and KH8S in the vast Pacific region thousands of miles apart. None have even a chance to do well with the decks stacked against them. So they just don't participate at all. I had thought that in protest this year I would phase my Beverages on Europe and only listen to help out those who need the Virgin islands on 160. Yet out of my concern for showing good sportsmanship I will work anyone I can hear. But there is a request I have in return: If I work you and give you the rare VI section, please take a few minutes after the contest to send an E mail to your division Director and copy the members of the CAC about fixing this long lingering unfairness. The E mail addresses are available on the ARRL website. The message is simple DX must be counted as DX as the VI, PR and all the other U.S. Territories are in their other DX contests. Also Gary, KD9SV has a great write up in QST but only is given two pages and can't mention the efforts of only a few east coast big guns. No matter how hard I try there is no way a station outside of the 48 states can even get mentioned. ARRL Field Day has a write up that is 13 pages long. So one can think that 160 meters is still an after thought and those I try to reach out to at HQ really don't care. Maybe i should get a bigger thrill out of working someone in SJV or SB or whatever but DX is DX and if the ARRL whats to have a 160 meter DX contest, this is not a good example of one. It never has been. Cheers, Good luck and I will reluctantly see you in the contest. Hi Herb, Your note reminded me of last year, when both you and (I believe) Frank---V01HP---expressed frustration with the Contest Advisory Committee at the ARRL... At that time, I established a dialogue with one of the committee members who was situated in western Canada: as I recall, Frank had success in expressing his concerns to him, but I don't recall the outcome of your efforts. Did you, in fact, make a connection to the CAC through that particular window of opportunity...? If, in fact, you did establish contact with the liaison, it surprises me that the ARRL has been so inactive in addressing your concerns this way...in fact, it is a MAJOR disappointment, in light of past performance on their part years ago. ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ PS: I am wondering now how Frank made-out with his concerns...? Are you reading this, Frank...? ___ Topband reflector - topband@contesting.com
Topband: Antique Wireless Association 1929 QSO Party
Good Day All, Without a doubt, this weekend will see the band wall-to-wall full of Hams engaged in the ARRL 160-Meter Contest...however, the second weekend coming will see participation of a number of QRP 1929-style transmitters taking part in the annual AWA-sponsored 1929 QSO Party. Complete rules may be seen by clicking onto: http://www.antiquewireless.org/pdf/kelley_rules.pdf This year marks the very first time that the use of 1.8-MHz is allowed. Contenders will limit activity to just the bottom 10-KHz of the band, however, so as not to disrupt any regular routines on Topband. So---if there is no DX responding to your repeated calls, and you've already pasted your fill of postage stamps into your collection's album(!), have a listen to the bottom of 160, close your eyes---and be transported back in time some 83 years: this is really truly the way things sounded on the bands right around the time of the Big Crash of '29! It's a unique very rare opportunity to gain insight into the roots and history of this wonderful passion that we call Amateur radio... ~73!~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ PS: Yours truly will take to the air the second weekend with a homebrewed balloon-envelope type 227-tube Hartley oscillator driving a pair of 227's in parallel...input? A bone-crushing 10-watts! ___ Topband reflector - topband@contesting.com
Re: Topband: November 30-December 2 -- ARRL 160 Meter Contest
On 2012-11-30, at 9:32 AM, Tree wrote: CAC members have a fairly limited role in situations like this. They are only called in to advise on specific questions that are handed down from HQ. They then go off and collect data on those questions. Think of them as survey coordinators who collect data from members of their division and roll that up into a report that goes back to HQ. The ARRL160 isn't everyone's cup of tea. It does however have a fairly long history as being an event that gets people in the USA and Canada fired up and on topband.. It is sort of like the ARRL Sweepstakes - but only on 160 meters. DX QSOs are allowed - but it isn't an international contest really. It is a very boring contest from Zone 21 for example. Hi Tree, My successful experiences with the CAC go back some 25 years ago... I recall, in one instance I petitioned them to get away from using Maritimes as a multiplier in some event (SS, maybe...?), in favour of separate multipliers encompassing the individual Canadian provinces. In another, I petitioned that for Field Day, Canada incorporate a unique Canadian-style Novice station, to equate the American Novice allowance for the event... Both motions were passed in less than one year's duration. One other time I even petitioned them to allow AM phone on the occasion of the annual Straight Key Night! That idea was not adopted, but it did make it into the minutes of one of the CAC meetings...! The process I followed was simple enough: I simply sent snail-mails to the CAC director, and the regional rep for my area. That's all it took... But than was then, and this is now---things change with time, I'm sure, and not necessarily for the better, either... ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ ___ Topband reflector - topband@contesting.com
Re: Topband: Topband season dismal from Colo so far....
On 2012-11-26, at 7:18 PM, BP Veal wrote: Not hearing a lot this season, yet, on topband or much at all on 80M either- at least from DM79 using our backyard Cushcraft MA series verticals and K9AY loop, LP, with the TS590S- Really night and day versus the last couple of years where we had a lot of luck getting into EU several times and KH6 was a pop-shot- - All of our equipment checks out, but DX for us right now is a few of the big gun stateside coastal stations-- Reverse beacon confirms we stink from here.hi hi Hoping for better condx next week- Nothing remarkable on 160/80M in CQWW this past weekend, but we did work our first EU, (DF9ZN) on 30 meters this morning LP at 14:30 GMT, so maybe low band condx will improve- See you all soon for ARRL 160M as W0ANT M/LP- Hi Paul, This season on the band seems to be one which rewards only the most dedicated of operators: in other words, You snooze, you lose! as I have been guilty of doing so often here myself...! Certainly---from what I've read here, experienced first-hand myself---160 DOES continue to still have its fleeting moments: but for the most part (to me, at any rate) it is hardly up to past standards. Case in point: two seasons ago, the band basically folded its tent for easy DX in January here, almost right after Christmas---last season it refused to yield easy pickings BEFORE Christmas---and this season I can't say that I've seen ANY continuance of the salad days like we experienced in the all the years prior to those mentioned. I always figured that the old axiom of, As sunspots increase, conditions on 160 decrease held true only because the bulk of Ham operators migrated to the higher frequency bands at those times, thus leaving Topband relatively desolate: and the reverse rang true to form in that as the number of sunspots decreased, the band improved, simply because these same migrants came back to 160 because of deteriorating propagation on 10-, 15-, and 20-meters... However, I am increasingly of the opinion that maybe the old axiom really IS true, and NOT for any reason(s) that might be attributed to any mass migration of operators. Perhaps high solar activity IS really truly the bane of 160-meters, after all... ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ ___ Topband reflector - topband@contesting.com
Re: Topband: ROD NEWKIRK, W9BRD/VA3ZBB SK
On 2012-11-20, at 12:22 PM, Bert Barry wrote: I have just learned this morning that Rod Newkirk, VA3ZBB/W9BRD died last night. Old time DX'ers will remember the column How's DX - by Rod Newkirk W9BRD which appeared monthly since some time in the 1940's until the 1970's. About 20 years or so ago on 40m CW, Rod, W9BRD worked Betty, VE3ZBB. Skeds followed. Then letters. Then visits. Then marriage, and a move to Ottawa for Rod where he has lived for about 20 years, obtaining the call VA3ZBB. He also retained his old call W9BRD. Rod has been in poor health and living in a constant-care facility for several years, with daily visits by Betty. They were a great couple, and regularly attended our weekly QCWA breakfasts for many years. We will miss him! Hi Bert, Many thanks for that note...very sad news, indeed. I grew up reading How's DX? in QST---I especially loved his ...continued adventures of grommethead schultz. Those stories were rip-roariously funny to me. I especially liked the one about Schultz losing his mind over the fact that he'd misplaced the details of ...expeimental antenna no. 9: Strongest NA signal, bar none! and, You interfere with Thailand QRO phone net! were written on letters he'd received, days after discarding the details of his wunderkind aerial... And then there was the DX Hoggery Poetry Depreciation Society, the contents of the poems therein being probably even MORE applicable now than when they were first written...! R.I.P. Rod, thanks for the wonderful memories... ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ ___ Topband reflector - topband@contesting.com
Re: Topband: High expectations for the Hi-Z
On 2012-11-18, at 12:50 PM, Mark Lunday wrote: So I have high expectations. I spoke with Dick on Friday. If I get half the satisfaction from the system that I did from the terrific customer service, then I will be happy. I just want to be able to HEAR the DX on the low bands that I cannot hear now. Hi Mark, Sometimes the simplest of things can make the biggest of differences... Case in point: some years ago I was whining to my friend Ivan (VE3DO) about how I rearely heard any Europeans on Topband. What sort of a receive antenna are you using? he asked. Receive antenna...?! I was using the same L here on both transmit and receive... Put up a K9AY loop, he advised. I declined. Kept on whining. Put up a K9AY loop favouring Europe! Ivan insisted. Finally, to shut him up, I went out back, spied a choice tree limb to toss an 85' triangular wire into, and let fly with my weight-tied-to-a-string. I recall that at one point I fell flat on my back doing this, but I persevered---and raised an easterly-only K9AY, fed with Dollarama-brand coax cable. Well, that night tuning around, I must have thought a thousand-and-ones I-told-you-so's directed at Ivan: the band was near-dead, there were no signals on it, I thought that maybe the feeder was somehow open. Suddenly I came across a G3---then a DL7---and even MORE Europeans! They weren't loud by any stretch, but the signal-to-noise ratio made it seem like they all just jumped up out of nowhere! On my L, only the very strongest Europeans could be heard---at about 569, tops. On the K9AY, they were well above that because the band was so QUIET. Weak signals---still quite readable---on the K9AY were completely inaudible on the L. I was completely amazed and astounded... Three days later I incorporated an east - west switching set-up---7 days later I erected a complementary north - south K9AY. If your experience there follows mine here, John, you're in for a MAJOR treat, I'm sure... ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ ___ Topband reflector - topband@contesting.com
Re: Topband: Covered /bare antennn wire
On 2012-11-15, at 3:42 PM, Bruce wrote: Dry blowing snow or high wind can cause quite some voltage build up on a antenna, especially a long one. It is possible to draw quite an arc to ground. There have been reports of high voltage electrocutions from antenna static build up in Short Wave Broadcast stations. A short stick was mandatory for maintenance periods. And yes, I did work at a shortwave station with 500 KW transmitter output. So receiving antenna wire insulation could have some benefit if the voltage on a bare wire is leaking to a tree limb or across an insulator. Beyond some point all insulators can fail. Indoor antennas do hear static, but I have never seen any evidence of voltage build up. ( The building may provide adequate insulation.) Out of curiosity, has anyone ever really done testing of voltage buildup on a insulated antenna wire, VS a non-insulated wire ? Indoor antennas VS outdoor antennas of equal size? Hi Bruce, I am not so sure that the notion of insulated vs. uninsulated wire holds true in long wire spans... Case in point: years ago when I first erected my 1500' long Beverage antenna here, I was specific in using insulated wire though its entire course because it runs through a grove of trees at one point. Well, one day, in the advance of an approaching storm front, I decided to ground the end of the Beverage in my shack. I could feel a tingling sensation as I man-handled the wire, negotiating my way to the common ground pipe that I have running the length of the back of my operating table...imagine my complete utter shock as I neared the wire to this same pipe, and managed to induce 1/8 long blue arcs from the pipe to the wire! Since that time---FWIW---I have always had a rugged 2.5 mh. RF choke clipped between the wire's end where it attaches to the matching transformer, and ground. In theory this acts as a static drain, I guess, but does not induce signals to ground. I've heard that a multi-megohm resistor will do the same thing at this point... ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ ___ Topband reflector - topband@contesting.com
Re: Topband: Covered /bare antennn wire
On 2012-11-15, at 4:35 PM, Bruce wrote: Good point Mike, but I am hoping someone has done definitive testing between insulated and un-insulated wire concerning voltage build up. If the voltage is lower with insulated wire there is less to bleed off, and possibly lower noise activity. Hi Bruce, I am a tad confused by your reasoning, so please excuse me...! Are you implying that some amount of voltage build-up is OK somehow? I don't get the logic in that---to me, it's all or nothing. What's to be gained by having less voltage to bleed off, s. more? An RF choke to ground doesn't care if it's a lot, or a little: it just does its job, end of story... I'm no expert by any means, but please enlighten me as I think I've obviously missed something. Thanks! ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ PS: FWIW, I always endeavour here to use insulated wire in ALL of my antenna projects---even radials laid atop the ground. I guess in the case of wire up in the air, I still subscribe to the belief (urban myth...?) that rain snow discharge themselves on bare wire, static electrically speaking. For the minimal extra expense of insulated vs. bare wire, it's one less thing that I have to worry about, rightly or wrongly! Hi Hi ___ Topband reflector - topband@contesting.com
Re: Topband: PT0S
On 2012-11-12, at 10:14 AM, Les Kalmus wrote: I heard the same thing you did Gary but I wasn't able to break the pileup on either band. I hope I can eventually get through what is among the worst intentional QRM on a DX station that I have heard. There really should be a way of ...outing some of these deliberate QRM generators... I realize that some of the stuff is being generated anonymously, but we all know the call signs of one, or more, REPEAT offenders---guys who continually insist upon calling out of turn, guys who repeatedly send their call signs right over top of existing QSOs, guys who repeatedly call on the DX stations transmit frequency, etc. etc. etc. ...in short, guys who just continually refuse to get it. Years ago I wrote to ARRL suggested they publish a monthly list of DX station non-QSLers in QST---much like they had a column called Pre-Historic Signals in 1929 when they were actively pushing to get Amateurs to raise the bar in the quality of their signals---but I never received so much as even an acknowledgement of my idea. I guess it wasn't in keeping with being polite gentlemanly. Let's face it: the situation is HARDLY improving...and wishing / hoping / praying / keeping our fingers crossed will not help make these louts take-up stamp collecting, instead of DX'ing. What will it finally take until we collectively say, Enough is enough!...? ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ ___ Topband reflector - topband@contesting.com
Topband: Outing The Scofflaws...
Here's an idea that I'll toss up into the air as a (possible) first step in bringing a few of these lawless characters to heel: Maintain some sort of an open-to-all web page that is frequented by would-be future DX'peditions that contains a master list of the call signs of those habitual displayers of stupid behaviour and poor decorum in pile-ups. Members of this select club would have earned their posting ONLY if their repeated crass procedures were duly noted and recorded by no less than THREE previous DX-peditions, and/or TEN domestic listeners attempting to get through in a pile-up... I think that such numbers would effectively rule-out the possibility of error, especially such numbers as might be posted by actual past DX-peditions. From the sound of things, DX-peditions are fast going the route of the lawless wild, wild west anymore. How long will it be before those who go through all of the considerable financial logistical hurdles in mounting such forays in the far flung corners of the world might finally throw up their hands in disgust say that all of the work is simply not worth it...? If anyone has any better suggestions for improvement, let's hear them...after all, we Hams are supposed to take considerable pride in our being a self-policing lot---so what are we waiting for...? ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ ___ Topband reflector - topband@contesting.com
Re: Topband: Outing The Scofflaws...
On 2012-11-12, at 11:08 AM, cqtestk...@aol.com wrote: Nice idea, but the majority of the really terrible stuff is done by guys who don't sign their calltuning up, or pretending to be the DX station, or some kind of intentional interference. We've all done the wrong VFO thing and sent our call on the DX stations freq. That is easily identified but not the main problem. As far as a bad guy list...what's to stop someone from sending yours or my call over and over on the station, thereby getting us on the bad guy list. Maybe it is someone you or I supposedly POed in the past, or maybe the guy is just plain nuts and used our calls at random. The problem in the 60s and 70s was mostly stupidity and traffic cops. I agree it's gotten much worse than that now. Hi Bill, I thought of that, believe me, and have come to the conclusion that the very same idiots who deliberately jam DX-peditions are most likely simply frustrated by the fact that they never made it into the DX station log on their first call---so they'll legitimately continue to attempt to make a QSO, and in their enthusiasm to do so would, in all liklihood, NOT be adverse to calling out of turn, calling blind, etc. etc. etc. In other words, they would eventually be caught listed. Yes, EVERYONE has called on the wrong VFO, etc. That's why I place emphasis on REPEATED transgressions, and NOT one off incidents... As for some lout deliberating pirating your call sign getting you blacklisted, you're absolutely correct: there would have to be some sort of a legitimate appeals process in order that one might clear one's call...but again, these are only thought starters as to possibilities. The only SURE thing right now is that certain fools on the air are robbing both DX-peditions and legitimate DX'ers from pleasure in this hobby, and that is NOT right. Yet there has been little, to no, relief in sight to date... ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ ___ Topband reflector - topband@contesting.com
Re: Topband: Outing the Scofflaws - Getting Old
On 2012-11-12, at 12:35 PM, Jerry Keller (K3BZ) wrote: This topic is getting old. Here's another point of view: Why should I let myself get aggravated over the poor operating habits of others? Why should their bad behavior take up my valuable time to give them the attention they want? I can't be bothered writing complaints or naming names or outing anybody. I have enough on my plate just to watch my own operating behavior. I have enough to do to try my best to comply with some sort of standard (such as the DX Code of Conduct http://dx-code.org ). There will always be jammers, cops, tuner-uppers, and those that call a lot but listen little the only meaningful thing I can do about it is to minimize my own mistakes. Every serious DXer I know says ignoring them is the best policy. DXing in general (and breaking pileups in particular) is a challenge and these guys are part of it. Making the contact IN SPITE OF THEM just makes it that much sweeter. Hi Jerry, I beg to differ with you...! If this topic is considered to be old, then it is so because no individual and / or group has bothered to take it on, and instead, have chosen to simply live with it, or in other words, appease the transgressors... Am I aggravated over the poor operating habits of others...? You better believe that I am. All of us should be! It takes a LOT of work and dedication to build a decent, competitive station and antenna system for 160, and when someone deliberately malicious refuses to play by the rules like so many others are attempting to do, I get GOOD and mad. The whole malaise is getting far too large widespread to ignore. And as I said before, if costly labour-intensive DX-pedition efforts continue to be increasingly stymied by the deliberate and malicious stupidity of others, who can blame the organizers of such events if one day they all simply shrug their shoulders say, M'eh! Ain't worth the trouble. ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ ___ Topband reflector - topband@contesting.com
Topband: Yippee...!
Hi Guys, Well, I'm DELIGHTED to say that I've heard my first European DX of this season on Topband, in the form of DL6FBL calling CQ Contest...and this, a good half hour before my local sunset here. HEARING some DX is certainly believing---that the band may NOT be a total wash-out after all this season, that is...! Now, actually WORKING some DX is another question! Hi Hi. ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ ___ Topband reflector - topband@contesting.com
Topband: The State of the Union
Hi All, Well, I'm happy to report that Sandy wasn't quite the ...Frankenstorm that the media predicted it would be in these parts... ...Still, having said that, we did lose the better parts of three mature trees, and we were at a loss for electricity for some 12 hours. By comparison to NYC NJ, we here in VE3-land are a blessed bunch, for sure. No damage, or ill-effects, were suffered whatever by any of the 160-meter wire creations that are cradled in our trees, thank goodness. I wish conditions on the band would at last come alive: I listen to the likes of AA1K, VE1ZZ, VO1NA and others in the morning, all calling CQ DX, in hopes of actually hearing some DX respond---but no such luck! I hope this is NOT a sign of things to come on Topband... ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ ___ Topband reflector - topband@contesting.com
Topband: Travails of The New Topband Season...
Good Day All, I am slowly unrolling all of the radial wires here for my seasonal three inverted L antennas---I say slowly because the arthritis in my knees has turned what USED to be a one day jaunt, into a protracted laboured affair. Anyway, I have two L's completed, with one to go... But as if to add insult to injury here, I had the misfortune of unknowingly rolling about in a clump of poison ivy(!) last week, when I was readying the first L...! There are few things worse than having to contend with the after-effects of that nastiness. I only just hope that Topband conditions this year will MORE than make-up for all of my travails, and that the spotty effects of the past two years will quickly fade into distant memory...along with my poison ivy, that is...! ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ ___ Topband reflector - topband@contesting.com
Re: Topband: Long Daytime Propagation
On 2012-10-08, at 12:12 PM, Jim Brown wrote: While we're talking about propagation, I'd like to understand what form I'm experiencing during the beginning hours of 160M contests. They start at 2 pm out here on the left coast, which is at least 2 1/2 hours before sunset, depending on which contest. Within the first year after moving here, I've had a dipole at 120 ft and a Tee vertical with a lot of radials. I find that I can repeatably work the better stations at distances of 800 miles or so on the vertical, but don't get even a QRZ? from the dipole (I'm 70 miles S of San Francisco, so that includes Seattle, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, and parts of WY, MT, NM, and CO. Now, 120 ft is only a quarter wave on 160, so that's still a low dipole, and the radiation at low angles isn't as much as from the vertical, but the difference seems greater than just angle. So I'm wondering what form of propagation this is at this time of day? Could it be ordinary ground wave? Also by 3 pm I can always hear the stronger stations from W9 and VE3, but can almost never work them. I understand the differences in the noise levels between my daytime and their darkness, and there's also the fact that they're all listening with NE RX antennas. But again the question is, what form of propagation is this? W9 and VE3 are 2,000 miles from me, and the path is in daylight! Hi Jim, One of my personal pleasures in working the 160-meter contests is the fact that the band is surprisingly open at times that are unexpected... It's fun to work into the mid-West, and as far south as Georgia, practically at high noon! I have no idea what propagation mode(s) comes into play on such occasions, but it is definitely there, and quite real. Signals are NOT especially strong, but they are readable... One of the many joys lures of Topband, to be sure...but a pity that such activity seems to make its presence known only during contest situations! ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ ___ Remember the PreStew coming on October 20th. http://www.kkn.net/stew for more info.
Topband: Nice Condx!
Hi Guys, I'm in the process here of installing my Icom 751A in the Topband operating position (and relieving my Yaesu FT-980), this morning had occasion to tune around the band just to see ...what's what... What a most pleasant surprise to be greeted by a QRN-less band! I copied Jon (AA1K) working a VK6, but couldn't hear the Aussie...and up the band N6O was calling CQ P getting the odd response. The rest of the band was quiet and sounded most inviting! One more grass harvest ahead of me, I believe, then I'll be ready to make some noise on 1.8-MHz---but if to-day is any indicator, I SHOULD have made efforts to get on much earlier... ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ ___ Remember the PreStew coming on October 20th. http://www.kkn.net/stew for more info.
Re: Topband: 1810
On 2012-10-03, at 8:04 AM, Rick Stealey wrote: One thing I would suggest - standardize on receiver settings. I used CW, 400 Hz bandwidth on my K3, no preamp of course. Hi Guys, Not to sound rude or demeaning, but do you know what I would suggest...? STAY OFF OF 1810-KHz. There's never any DX way down in that part of the band anyway... ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
Re: Topband: 1810
On 2012-10-03, at 8:35 AM, James Rodenkirch wrote: Oh, so now it's all about DX and not about the little guy? Did you forget that 1810 is listed as the QRP frequency? I've heard Jon, AA1K, down around there calling CQ DX several times in the morningand I recall making lots of Qs down that way during last year's CQ and ARRL contests; Sheesh! I vote for figuring out how to get a message to the el heffies that there are interlopers down there and to do sumpin' about it! Oh Brother...! Who would have thought that the Political Correctness Kops would have migrated down to 1.8-MHz in such earnest...?! A thousand apologies, sahib! I promise that I'll be a good little Topband Dxer from now on, will keep my big fat trap shut...! : ) ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ ___ Remember the PreStew coming on October 20th. http://www.kkn.net/stew for more info.
Re: Topband: Fishing beacons redux
On 2012-10-02, at 3:45 AM, Robin wrote: but they are a C H E A P crystal controlled MOPA with a 6-8 meter long whip. the ID runs on a cycle like Merv says. The beacons have something like 36 D cells for power - ballast and cheap batteries Hi Robin, I had to smile to myself when I read your note! Here we are with our full-sized inverted L antennas phased arrays coupled to legal limit amplifiers, yet we're receiving some stiff competition from rock-bound simple MOPAs with whip antennas...! Hi Hi There's some sort of irony at play here, to be sure...! ~73~ de Eddy VE3cui - VE3XZ ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
Re: Topband: Fishing beacons redux
On 2012-10-02, at 9:54 AM, Milt -- N5IA wrote: The irony is the beacons are floating in the environment we all would literally 'kill for' to have in our back yards underneath our BIG antennas. There is nothing like a salt water ground plane! Amen to that reality, Milt...! ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
Re: Topband: Fishing beacons redux
On 2012-10-01, at 8:17 PM, Mike Waters wrote: Nearly every time I have ever called CQ on top of a fishing beacon on 160 --except the very weakest ones-- it disappeared. I assumed they changed frequency. I don't think it was a coincidence. I've heard others who had the same experience. Hi Mike, I've noticed that very same thing here myself, more often than not (certainly not in ALL cases, though): it's like they're somehow programmed to shift to another frequency if there's any interference to the one that they're on. I don't know if they're that sophisticated, or not. Certainly the fishermen who listen for these things would have to be savvy as to frequency agility...which leads me to ask, are they somehow CW-literate, too...? VERY doubtful on BOTH counts! Most likely the receive technology is somehow automatic, a machine does all of the de-coding for them... ~73~ de Eddy VE3CI - VE3XZ ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
Re: Topband: Response to W8JI's comments about using a K2AV foldedcounterpoise at VK6VZ
On 2012-09-24, at 7:02 PM, Bob K6UJ wrote: Also, I totally agree with your statement when multiple things are changed in a randomly cluttered environment it is impossible to single out a single factorI am guilty of making multiple changes to an antenna system and then making assumptions as to what caused the change. My process now is only change one thing at a time, then evaluate and continue on. :-) Ah yes, the pursuit of the proverbial RED X, as espoused by an American quality control guru...! Don't ask me for his name, as I've forgotten it since I retired---but the ONLY sure-fire way to confirm the existence of the RED X is to be able to turn what you're attempting to fix either off, or on, by activating or de-activating it. So simple! Removes all of the other noise that could be interfering with any true root cause. ~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
