Topband: de n7dd

[Larry via Topband]

i am in need of the connections for the Clark Electronics KB-2 beverage antenna 
switch box. There are 3 wing nut connections on the back of the box and I need 
to know what the input to each is.
Help would be appreciated. Please email direct to pace...@aol.com
thanks,
larryn7dd
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Re: Topband: ARRL 160M and 1830-1835 change

[Larry via Topband]

george,
i believe that those stations who have key clicks are truly not aware of their 
problems. 
a private email to the offending station may cure the problem. i really cant 
conceive that someone would do this on purpose, especially on top band.
larry    n7dd


-Original Message-
From: GEORGE WALLNER 
To: Tim Shoppa 
Cc: Jon Zaimes via Topband ; Jon Zaimes 

Sent: Fri, Oct 23, 2020 2:30 am
Subject: Re: Topband: ARRL 160M and 1830-1835 change

Tim,
You are right. In theory the window could work. But the problem is that 
those (non-DX) who violate the rules suffer no consequences. Therefore, 
those with the cheek gain an advantage.
But,..
A much (much) bigger problem is stations with strong clicks. I believe that 
some may be intentional. If you have strong clicks you will have fewer 
stations near "your" frequency. The result is a quieter frequency and a 
higher QSO rate! (While the rest of us get squeezed even more.)
In any case, clicks, whether intentional or just the result of either 
negligence or a poorly set up station, should not give the source station an 
advantage!

73,
George,
C6AGU




On Thu, 22 Oct 2020 21:42:02 -0400
  Tim Shoppa  wrote:
> George, in ARRL 160 the DX would *only* be looking for W/VE  if CQing during 
> the contest. So the DX Window concept has some value (if anyone ever 
> respected it which they didn’t).
>
> This is a fundamental difference from CQ160 where DX can work DX for points.
>
> Arguably DX-only-works-W/VE makes ARRL 160 less popular with some segments of 
> DX hams. It’s certainly a fundamental part of the ARRL 160 DNA.
>> On Oct 22, 2020, at 9:31 PM, GEORGE WALLNER  wrote:
>>
>>
>> If 1,830 - 1,835 is reserved for "intercontinental contacts", who will 
>> should CQ? The DX? He is not a DX on his own continent. These "DX windows" 
>> are not practical.
>>
>> 73,
>>
>> George
>>
>> C6AGU/AA7JV
>>
>>
>> On Thu, 22 Oct 2020 14:43:52 + (UTC)
>>
>> Jon Zaimes via Topband  wrote:
>>
>> Interesting Tim.
>>
>> November QST came in a few days ago, and the summary of rules in there says 
>> "1.830-1.835 MHz should be used for intercontinental contacts only."
>>
>> Dropping that rule was long overdue so glad to see it stated in the rules 
>> online. 
>>
>> 73/Jon AA1K
>>
>>
>> -Original Message-
>>
>> From: Tim Shoppa 
>>
>> To: topBand List 
>>
>> Sent: Thu, Oct 22, 2020 9:35 am
>>
>> Subject: Topband: ARRL 160M and 1830-1835 change
>>
>>
>> Also as I review this years ARRL 160M rules...
>>
>>
>> An earlier version of the rules (current in 2012) here
>>
>> http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Contest%20Rules%20PDFs/2012/2012-160M-Rules-V2.pdf
>>
>> says "6.1 The segment 1.830 to 1.835 should be used for intercontinental
>>
>> QSOs only".
>>
>>
>> The latest version here
>>
>> https://contests.arrl.org/ContestRules/160M-Rules.pdf notes that "6. the
>>
>> 1830-135 kHz window is no longer reserved for W/VE-to-DX QSOs in this
>>
>> contest".
>>
>>
>> Does anyone recall, when the rule was officially changed? It wasn't being
>>
>> well respected in some previous years if it was in effect.
>>
>>
>> Tim N3QE
>>
>> _
>>
>> Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
>>
>> _
>>
>> Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
>>
>>

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Re: Topband: Every mid week. . .

[Larry via Topband]

hi all,
last night was my first effort at top band for this season. i worked 10 EU 
stations on CW. only one was a new one but i dont care. it's just fun being 
heard in EU from the "almost west coast". mostly nice to renew acquaintances 
with old friends.
i have no interest in digital modes but more power to those that do. 
any DX on top band is a thrill and if the band is closed then there is always 
NetFlix.
73,larryn7dd 


-Original Message-
From: Mike Smith VE9AA 
To: topband@contesting.com
Sent: Fri, Oct 9, 2020 10:31 pm
Subject: Topband: Every mid week. . .

We see an announcement about "activity night" on Wednesday. (which borders
on begging and cajoling at times)

 

Every Thursday into Friday we see complaints from the same individual
talking about the lack of activity, where were you guys, do you have QRN or
whatever.(aka 'guilt trip')

 

It gets really really old.  I delete most of them w/o even reading them.
Every once in a while I open one 

up hoping the "ask" or "announcement" has changed, but nope.same old
whining.

 

Maybe some of us don't like working the same fellows mid week in the warmer
weather ? (QRN, other stuff going on in our lives)

 

Maybe some of us have pretty much worked all we want to work on 160m.

 

Maybe some of us now concentrate on rare DX, or contest QSO's or FT8 or SSB
(or any number of things)

 

This is not the 1950's or 1960's where we have to announce weekly where the
listening/CQing will take place.(and then complain about it the next day
when you don't fill your personal log book)

 

I am sure W1BB (and everyone else) didn't whine about the lack of activity
in their paper newsletters.

 

I already suggested to you (privately a year or so ago, to help you save
face) about some things you could do to improve "activity night" but you
have not even tried one of them. (a la CWops CWT awards, just to mention
one)

 

Please. Stop the whining.

 

Mike VE9AA

p.s.-I really enjoy the N6TR and VE6WZ (and others) reports.  Absolutely no
whining ! (aka 100% whine free)

 

Mike, Coreen & Corey

Keswick Ridge, NB

 

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Re: Topband: Rotator Potentiometer shunt fed twr

[Larry via Topband]

I use wire wound pots in both my rotators and have experienced problems with 
them burning out on certain TX frequencies. 
Wound some small toroid transformers and soldered them at each of the three pot 
leads (at the rotator). Problem solved.
larryn7dd


-Original Message-
From: Jim Brown 
To: topband@contesting.com
Sent: Sun, Aug 23, 2020 10:17 pm
Subject: Re: Topband: Rotator Potentiometer shunt fed twr

On 8/23/2020 2:39 PM, Phil Duff wrote:
> Aren't most rotors and their masts normally grounded thru the rotor body 
> and mast clamp & mounting bolts to their tower/support?

Antenna current at the joint between the two pieces of the rotator is a 
common source of IMD, as first articulated by W3LPL (although he calls 
it something else).

73, Jim K9YC
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Re: Topband: 160m activity and propagation

[Larry via Topband]

Hey Bob,
I found the season typical though signals in general were down from this part 
of the cycle. I did work 128 European stations in the CQ 160 which is a 
personal best for me.
There were many nights when I had the EU RBN lit up with huge reports but no 
answers to many CQ's. I blame that on the FT8 Phenomenal.
Larry

Sent from AOL Mobile Mail
Get the new AOL app: mail.mobile.aol.com
 On Thursday, February 20, 2020, W7RH  wrote:

Greeting all,

This season has been interesting not because of highlights but because 
of a noticeable change in propagation at least from my Arizona QTH. I 
will note from my perspective highlights have been few.

Yesterday Dave W0FLS was holding court calling CQ. I could just barely 
hear the DX in EU he was working.

To Roger G3YRO congrats but no QSO. You had a good 579 signal calling CQ 
at 0100 hours UTC. You had a break through the aurora wall and I did not!

In other news HL5IVL Kim, had a true 599 plus 20 signal calling CQ in 
the early morning here. Not another signal on the band.

In solar cycle 23 even though I was working full time on weird shifts I 
managed EU contacts almost daily with only a few periods of black outs. 
My operating habits have changed a bit to early morning through sunrise 
and sunset through sunrise in European Russia and Eastern EU. I stay up 
for Western EU if conditions appear to be good which for the most part 
they have not.

Missing this season has been European Russians. Where did they all go? 
Perhaps to another band? On the other hand there were many stations 
worked in Zone 15 primarily in southern end. With the exception of EA 
and CT zone 14 was a flop except for a couple big openings. SM5EDX was 
an exception.

Has anyone else noticed a change in propagation patterns? I'd like some 
input here with a focus and western US but midwest and eastern US 
welcome as well.

73

Bob, W7RH



-- 
W7RH DM35os

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our 
humanity." - Albert Einstein

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Re: Topband: Very little NA Activity

[Larry via Topband]

From my perspective in Arizona I would say that there have been a lack of EU 
stations active on 160. For example last Friday evening (Saturday morning in 
EU) I was being received by at least 6 EU RBN with huge reports but only one 
answer to many CQ’s.Conditions have been better than average this top band 
season but is everyone on FT8?Larry

Sent from AOL Mobile Mail
Get the new AOL app: mail.mobile.aol.com
 On Sunday, February 9, 2020, Roger Kennedy  
wrote:


Well, I've personally never really understood this desire (or obsession?) to
only want to work new Countries . . .

After all, it's more of an achievement to have a contact on Top Band with
someone 4,000 miles away in a big country, than it is to work someone 2,000
miles away on some little island!

I did start totting up countries worked on 160m back in the 70s . . . but
gave up actually counting once I had reached 100. (these days I'm pretty
sure my total must be over 300)

Roger G3YRO

-Original Message-
From: uy0zg [mailto:uy...@mksat.net] 

Nothing to do about

Many want to become famous - they only need new countries .. :

http://www.arrl.org/system/dxcc/view/DXCC-160M-20200209-A4.pdf#page=1=a
uto,-12,848


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Re: Topband: 200 Amp low pass filter for power mains?

[Larry via Topband]

Your local power company is responsible to provide RFI free power. If you have 
determined that your noise is not coming from sources in your home then a 
friendly phone call to the power company may solve the problem.
Most power companys have a trained RFI tech that can help.
Good luck.
Larry   N7dd 

Sent from AOL Mobile Mail
Get the new AOL app: mail.mobile.aol.com
 On Friday, January 24, 2020, Richard (Rick) Karlquist  
wrote:

On 1/24/2020 10:21 AM, Ron AE5E via Topband wrote:
> I think a good share of noise on 160 for me is coming in on the power line.  
> The ground mounted transformer is about 1000' feet away and serves other 
> homes as well as mine.  The lines are all buried.  Where it entered the house 
> I would like to try to suppress noise.
> I can turn off all lights, appliances, furnace, pumps, etc but the noise is 
> still significant.  If I drop the main breaker it is gone.  So that is why it 
> seems to me it is on the line when it enters the house.
> So thinking a 200 amp low pass filer before the breaker box might the a 
> solution.  Maybe it just needs to be bypassed with capacitors, I am only 
> speculating so far.
> So lets hear if from Topband guys who have figured this out!
> Ron, AE5E
> _

I suspect you still have something energized in your
house.  Try this:  turn the main breaker off and then
hold a pocket AM radio next to the energized mains
listening for noise and then  compare to the "de-energized"
lines in your house.  I am thinking you will hear
no noise in either case.  If your theory was correct,
you would hear noise on the mains coming in and
nothing on the house wiring.

In any event, a 200A RFI filter is a non-starter.

If the noise is somehow on the mains coming in, you
need to move your antenna away from your house wiring.
Possibly listen on a loop antenna that you can locate
in a corner of your yard, and then orient it to null
the remaining noise.

Rick N6RK
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Topband: de n7dd

[Larry via Topband]

does anyone know of a HV (20KV) capacitor with a value of approximately 500 pf 
that has a NPO value?
thanks in advance.
larry/n7dd
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Re: Topband: 2019 STEW PERRY

[Larry via Topband]

US1Q called me during the contest and was much too loud to be in the Ukraine. I 
am quite sure that he was using a remote TX station in the USA.
This would be a question for the contest administrator to decide on.
HNYn7dd 

Sent from AOL Mobile Mail
Get the new AOL app: mail.mobile.aol.com
 On Tuesday, December 31, 2019, Mike Smith VE9AA  wrote:

Hi Nick, 

 

I did not work US1Q during this years contest, so won't comment on that
operator (but I understand 100% what you are saying, even though your
English is not perfect, hi hi)

 

I have in the past, "worked" an Italian station on 160m (I forget the call)
at 5NN+30dB many hours after sunrise in Italy, so I know exactly what you
are saying.

 

Fortunately (I think) we 'hope' these fellows using USA remotes (and any
remotes, actually) are the 1/1000 of true operators and not every other
operator.

 

I can only surmise they find satisfaction in trying to fool everyone, but
personally I don't "get it" (don't understand)

They are only really fooling themselves and it's themselves that stare back
at them in the mirror every morning.

 

 

73 de Mike VE9AA FN66 (New Brunswick, Canada)

 

Mike, Coreen & Corey

Keswick Ridge, NB

 

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Topband: spotlight on tucson

[Larry via Topband]

just when i thought the season was fair at best i had a great evening working 
EU, 27 stations in the log with many at 599.
the surprise of the season was being called by UN9L. that's a new country and 
very rare to work zone 17 from arizona. only two others ,EY8MM and UA9MA in 35 
years at this location.
160 meters lives!
73,larryn7dd
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Topband: cosmic ray update

[Larry via Topband]

well that came out unreadable! try again.
scores over the past years:  2009   618,000,   2010    752,000(83 countries),   
 2011   600,000,   2012   324,000,  2013   367,000.
2014   312,000,    2015   319,000,    2016   278,000,   2017   372,000,   2018  
   384,000.
2009-2011 were very good years with many Europeans well over S9 at times. this 
season no EU has been stronger than S7.
hope for the best this year.
larryn7dd


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Topband: cosmic ray update

[Larry via Topband]

for what it's worth here are my scores from past years:2007   247,0002009   
618,0002010   752,000   (83 countries)2011   600,0002012   324,0002013   
367,0002014   312,0002015   319,0002016   278,0002017   372,0002018   384,000
certainly scores were dependent on conditions that weekend but no doubt 2010 
was by far the best.
European signals were constantly over S9 the entire season. so far this season 
no EU has gone over the S7 mark. (zero noise on the beverages)

hope that it gets better soon. it has been a very bad winter.
larryn7dd
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Re: Topband: Zone 2 for Far East

[Larry via Topband]

Congratulations Eugene. De n7dd

Sent from AOL Mobile Mail
Get the new AOL app: mail.mobile.aol.com
 On Friday, December 13, 2019, Eugene Popov /RA0FF/ via Topband 
 wrote:


I thank Jeff K1ZM/VY2ZM and Miriam VY2NA  for the great help to the stations of 
the Far East in contacts with zone 2.
My 160 is in full complement now!
 
https://forum.qrz.ru/attachment.php?attachmentid=244402=1576293813
 
 
73! Eugene, RA0FF
http://wwwq.qsl.net/ra0ff /
https://twitter.com/ra0ff/
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Re: Topband: H40TT on 160m

[Larry via Topband]

I think that you guys are missing the point. Knowing Wes I am sure that post 
was pure sarcasm. He is a CW op surpreme.LarryN7DD

Sent from AOL Mobile Mail
Get the new AOL app: mail.mobile.aol.com
 On Monday, November 25, 2019, Alan Swinger  wrote:

So, your computer worked him while you were out of the room and not at the 
rig!? If only there was an award for computers vice operators. - Alan K9MBQ


-Original Message-
>From: Wes 
>Sent: Nov 25, 2019 7:42 AM
>To: topband@contesting.com
>Subject: Re: Topband: H40TT on 160m
>
>Conditions are awful with horrible noise this AM.  Haven't figured out whether 
>it is local or what. I don't need H40 and I'm defiantly not a fan of FT8. 
>Nevertheless, I set up the rig and unsuccessfully called for awhile before 
>deciding to come into the office and check my email.
>
>I just stepped back into the shack and see that "I" worked him at 12:26:30 
>with 
>a -15 signal report.
>
>Wes  N7WS
>
>On 11/25/2019 4:46 AM, Gary Smith wrote:
>> I finally worked them, just a couple
>> minutes ago FT8 @ 11:30Z, on their 1.836
>> band plan, Right in the middle of my gray
>> line, 6:30AM local.
>>
>> I'm lucky to hear them at this time, I'm
>> 75' from AMTRAK and gray line is always
>> obliterated heavy commuter rail traffic
>> with me being 5 minutes away from New
>> London, CT, a major hub between Boston &
>> NYC. During the contest I missed several
>> gray line contacts because I couldn't hear
>> anything for 30 seconds with each passing
>> train and that's the busiest commuter
>> time.
>>
>> Grouse grouse...
>>
>> One of the impressive things I notice with
>> JTDX's FT8 waterfall, while the P3 shows
>> bright red obliteration of the signal and
>> headphones are also obliterated when the
>> trains pass, with the JTDX waterfall there
>> is almost no indication of the RFI from
>> the train passing. I was -22 & they were
>> -18 so the signals were low indeed.
>>
>> Ah well, they're in the log now. Love 160,
>> it's never a sure bet.
>>
>> 73,
>>
>> Gary
>> KA1J
>>
>
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Topband: a "WZ" kind of night

[Larry via Topband]

got home late, around 0630z and caught a huge EU opening at their sunrise. 
logged 16 EU in 20 minutes. yes!
finally the skip comes to the southern west coast. happy me.
larryn7dd
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Re: Topband: A Bit of Zone 2 History Was Made Last Week

[Larry via Topband]

gang,
you are missing the point. this thread has turned into a discussion of FT8 vs 
CW. again.
the original message is about jeff and miriam taking the time, effort and no 
doubt expense to give the deserving few a new zone. some day you may be lucky 
enough to need only one zone for WAZ. you may not be whining if it was zone 2.
imagine the delight for steve, VK6IR who completed his 5BWAZ! 
this is what ham radio is all about. my wife and i were fortunate to visit 
VY2ZM/VY2NA and finer people can't be found. i suggest that you find the time 
to write and congratulate them for their efforts rather than bitch about what 
mode they used.
just a thought,
73,larryn7dd


-Original Message-
From: Michael Walker 
To: Eugene Popov /RA0FF/ 
CC: k...@aol.com ; topband 
Sent: Mon, 11 Nov 2019 1:15
Subject: Re: Topband: A Bit of Zone 2 History Was Made Last Week

It is clear that the 160M is just full of grumpy old farts.  That is ok, we
are getting used to it.  :)

You'd think someone is making them use FT8.  No one said you had to use
it.  If you don't like it, just spin the dial or turn the radio off.

I have a pretty good hearing 160M station.  I see maybe 5 guys on CW.  For
you 5, that is awesome!!

I see double to triple  that on FT8.  If you want the screen shot that
shows the activity, just ask me and I'll send it to you.

For all you guys b*tching about FT8, how many actually turned on the radio
an called CQ?  This week?  This month?  This year?

I'm trying to work new countries on 160M CW.  I might hear 1 a month in
CW.  Maybe.    Not true in FT8.  The one and only exception is if there is
a contest.  Then, you guys don't get on because the band is then too
crowded.

Sounds like you need a new hobby, unless your hobby is complaining.

73 all.  Maybe I'll work you on the air.  Feel free to yell at me if you
hear me.  LOL

Mike va3mw



On Sun, Nov 10, 2019 at 7:10 PM Eugene Popov /RA0FF/ via Topband <
topband@contesting.com> wrote:

>
>
> Hi,
> Unfortunately, I learned very late about work plans from the 2 zone. I
> heard a short, quiet squeak in the CW, and later decoded the signal
> on 1840. Unfortunately, all the work was for JA friends, RX was only in
> 1908.
> May be later on 1840, but I’m no decode...
> For me, the 2 zone is the only one that is needed for 160m. Usually, guys
> coming to CQWW’s work only for Europe, no chance for us (Far East Asia).
> But I continue to hope and listen band :)
>
> 73! Eugene, RA0FF
> http://wwwq.qsl.net/ra0ff /
> https://twitter.com/ra0ff/
>
>
> >Пятница, 8 ноября 2019, 21:50 +11:00 от k1zm--- via Topband <
> topband@contesting.com>:
> >
> >08 Nov 2019
> >
> >
> >Hi Gang
> >Jeff and I just got back from a one week "mini dx'pedition" to ZONE 2.
> Three ferries and about a 2400km roundtrip drive to 50.112 North from PEI
> was made with the express purpose of giving ZONE 2 to our JA 160m friends.
> >Prior to our trip, only one single JA station had ever managed a qso with
> ZONE 2 on Topband and that was JA7HMZ about 35 years ago - so this zone was
> much needed by most 160m JA dx'ers.  Quite of few of our 160m JA friends
> have been stuck at 39 zones on 160m for many years - so this was our chance
> to help them get ZONE 2 for #40.
> >So without too much bandwidth - here is our report:
> >QRV 31 October to 04 November 2019
> >Roughly 350 stations worked on Topband - in 42 DXCC countries (we could
> have worked more but we took lots of time off in order to sleep and then
> get up for the JA window from about 0715z - 1110z.)
> >We tried some CW but signals were very very weak and FT8 proved the only
> possible way to complete contacts to JA.
> >It was pretty exciting to work these (6) JA friends:
> >JF8QNF
> >JA8EAT
> >JA7NI
> >JA1BK
> >JA8WKE
> >JA3FYC
> >We decoded no other JA signals on our side- but we know we were decoded
> by these other JA stations:
> >JH7PFD (two decodes)
> >JE6KYA (one decode)
> >JA1EOD (several decodes).
> >Epilogue:
> >We think that each JA qso that was made completed WAZ 40 on Topband for
> these JA friends. (meaning ZONE 2 was most likely their last one needed).
> >Steve VK6IR called us on ON4KST chat saying he had been chasing ZONE 2 on
> 80m for 5BWAZ for 45 years and asked if we could work him on 80m.  We did
> not know about 80m since the antenna had not been tested  for that band
> but, after checking it with my analyst, I found it resonated at about
> 3778kHz.  Steve said he could not do SSB there - so I asked him if he could
> do digital.  YES! was his reply and we managed a qso on FT8 a few minutes
> later.
> >After we uploaded our LOG FILE to LOTW (completed on 06 November) -
> within minutes there were 37 DXCC entities instantly confirmed via LOTW -
> including VK6IR and all (6) lucky JA friends we had worked.
> >So we are happy we helped some of our JA friends with WAZ 40 - and, at
> the same time, we are a bit  disappointed that we could not do more.  The
> A/K were lousy on nights one and two - things got better on night 3 

Re: Topband: Transmit High Pass Filters for BCB Interference

[Larry via Topband]

There is a 50KW AM broadcast station line of sight to my top band antennas. 
Caused huge problems at greyline because they are dawn to dusk transmitting.I 
built the HPF in the ON4UN handbook. As designed the rejection below 1.8 mhz 
was 60 db. With careful tuning of the coils and the use of a spectrum analyzer 
the rejection is now 72db.Problem solved.It's a simple project and cost me less 
than $20.Good luck.n7dd

Sent from AOL Mobile Mail
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 On Tuesday, July 30, 2019, Richard (Rick) Karlquist  
wrote:

On 7/29/2019 10:33 AM, Grant Saviers wrote:
> Here is what I used when I had the same problem 50kw line of sight 4 
> miles 1MHz.  Expensive, but worked very well.
> http://herostechnology.co.uk/pages/RF_Filters.html
> 

Yes, at 1 MHz, this would work well.  Other hams would be
advised that it is ineffective for QTH's with stations
high in the BCB.  The data sheet goes to a lot of trouble to
obfuscate this.  At my QTH, I have a strong BCB station
right at 1.7 MHz.  This fact rules out a large number
of filters.  You can see in the photo in the data sheet that
only 3 toroids are used.  This explains the poor performance
at 1.7 MHz.  As always, YMMV.

Rick N6RK
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Re: Topband: Bouvet

[Larry via Topband]

Steve,

Sometimes when experiencing bad weather at sea it's prudent to turn your back 
to the sea and wait it out.

Check their position in a couple of days to see if they have returned to their 
normal route.

N7DD

Sent by Larry

On Mar 26, 2019, at 4:25 PM, Steve Lawrence via Topband 
 wrote:

They've turned back? - Steve WB6RSE


rows to show:showing spots for DX call: 3Y* 
 
send a spot  / search spot 
by callsign 
dedxfreqobstime
IN1FO  3Y0I    
 1820 [AN-016] turning back - see GPS tracking2036z 26 Mar <>

Dom's GPS:

> https://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0tARRAqk3ftzEN8piDb2UOWqGrnOX349o
>  
> 
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Re: Topband: XR0ZRC?

[Larry via Topband]

Hi all,
I started calling them around 0315z when they were peaking S9. That's very loud 
considering the beverage has no noise. Using all of my learned skills I just 
could not work them. I was using the second receiver, listening dual and trying 
to find a frequency that seemed clear. The operator was working European 
stations that I could not hear and then I heard him return to WA7NS who is loud 
here. He came back to him twice and WA7NS responded both times but no joy. He 
then came back to a PA2 station. Some minutes later he came back to WA7NS once 
again and completed the QSO. I followed suite, called on the WA7 freq and 
slowed down to 15 WPM. Immediate return.
Normally I would send at the same speed the DX is using but in this case the 
slower speed worked better. Surprising to me is that "tail-ending" worked also. 
Hint to the wise. 
I do not believe that they are hearing very well, working one station (last 
night) about every two to three minutes.
Good luck.LarryN7DD


-Original Message-
From: Wes 
To: topband 
Sent: Tue, 26 Mar 2019 22:31
Subject: Re: Topband: XR0ZRC?

I was copying them last night on 160 about Q4 through the static crashes, but 
judging by the size of the pileup on the panadaper screen and their widely 
known 
receiving problems I didn't bother to call with my peanut whistle. Of course 
conventional wisdom says that I should not hear them without a RX antenna.

Their operators seem to be a mixed bag.  On 40 meters about two weeks ago, they 
were actually changing frequency every so often.  I would think, where did they 
go and then see on the scope they moved down a few dozen Hz. Unfortunately, 
they 
did this in the middle of what I thought was our QSO.

Wes  N7WS


On 3/26/2019 12:37 PM, W7RH wrote:
> IMHO. Not just one but several Dxpeditions recently have had what seems like 
> vacation style operating while promoted as full time full efforts. Some from 
> hotels and resorts and some from less comfortable environments but subject to 
> big city noise. With the decrease in solar activity you would think a little 
> more low band effort would be in order.  I don't think FT8 is the answer for 
> them either. If they can't hear on CW their noise floor will be an issue in 
> FT8 mode too. I'm sure someone will argue that point but if you can't work at 
> least --18 then forget it.
>
> The XR0ZRC ops had a decent signal to the SW the last two evenings which was 
> really their first major show on CW. I was able to copy them for more than 2 
> hours each night until giving up.
>
> My thought is if you are going to run a KW and carry one along, then it would 
> only make sense they carry some wire, coax and transformers in a bag as well. 
> Shoot, even a K9AY could be carried in 3ft travel bag. While we can't make up 
> for TS QRN man made noise is another and sometimes challenging issue. IMHO
>
> RX firstTX second
>
> 73 bob, W7RH
>

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Re: Topband: Thanks

[Larry via Topband]

hi guys,
you have me confused. 4U1ITU is easy from southern arizona. Bordered by 
France/Switzerland and Germany all are easily workable.
I don't understand the "black hole" comments.
Larry


-Original Message-
From: Wes 
To: topband 
Sent: Mon, 25 Feb 2019 1:50
Subject: Re: Topband: Thanks

Even blacker I think, but with the noise and SSB splatter, who can be sure?

Wes  N7WS

On 2/24/2019 1:25 PM, w...@w5zn.org wrote:
> The propagation into Arkansas on 160 meters from 4U1ITU is pretty much a 
> black 
> hole. I can only imagine what is like further west
>
> Joel W5ZN

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Re: Topband: ARRL DX contest

[Larry via Topband]

Bob,

I was operating 20 meters and when the band closed I checked 160. This was 
around 0200z. The European's were very loud. Some were S9. Worked about 20 in 
10 minutes on a CQ. Lots of russia and east Europe. Band went dead after 30 
minutes but came back one hour later. It was the best opening of the season for 
me.

What a difference 400 miles can make.

Larry

Sent by Larry

On Feb 16, 2019, at 8:49 AM, W7RH  wrote:

Greetings All,

Spotty openings to Europe from the SW with one surprise contact LZ2WO just 
before sunset. Otherwise 1 G4, and a few EA stations. Also Q5 at Sunset was 
IK2CLB with no QSO.

After 0300 no further EU DX worked. The band went downhill rapidly. Off to bed. 
In the morning only a few JA and RT0C were worked.

Regarding V84SAA. Comments on the reflector were not cool. If you are going to 
work one in the contest then work them all as a multiplier is just that. Sorry 
if it's a dupe. However at my Sunrise you were doing contest exchanges. IMHO

73

Bob, W7RH

-- 
W7RH DM35os

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our 
humanity." - Albert Einstein

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Re: Topband: : V84SAA

[Larry via Topband]

Hi Wes, 

They have been very loud around 1300z, my usual potty stop. Worked them a few 
days ago on the first call and again this morning using the W7NQ club call. I 
only hear a few west coast stations calling them and the USA stations are 
having trouble hearing. They came back to a Calif station three times before 
the N6 answered. Pretty strange.

Went up the band and called CQ with no JA answer and no RBN spot. I found that 
very strange.

Just goes to prove the understanding of low bands by Jeff and Krassey. They had 
the same great signal on the Spratley operation also. My complements to Jeff 
for his great 160 meter efforts. Must be discouraging to call CQ for hours at a 
time with no answers and just listen to noise. THANKS JEFF!
Larry/ n7dd

Sent by Larry

On Feb 10, 2019, at 5:56 AM, Wes  wrote:

I first worked them on 160 on 2/8 @1201Z.  Very marginal so tried again with a 
sure QSO @1222Z. Went to 80 and worked them @1404Z.  This one didn't show when 
it should have in Clublog, so worked them again on 2/9 @1134Z.  I went to 40 
and worked them @1154Z.  Again, not sure they got "WS", maybe "WH" so I just 
worked them again @1222Z.  Listened on 160 and hear CQ and spotted them first 
@1229Z.  As I write this ~1250Z, they are 579.

Of course, none of this should be happening because I'm using an 55-foot 
inverted-L with 20 radials for TX and RX on 160 and a 45-foot high inverted-vee 
on 80 and 40 and everyone know these won't work:-)

Wes  N7WS


> On 2/9/2019 11:20 AM, cqtestk4xs--- via Topband wrote:
> Antenna here is a bent wire vertical with 60 radials and an SAL-30.
> As expected they were coming in from due west anywhere from 549-579 an hour 
> before my sunrise  until a little after my sunrise.  I called and called for 
> an hour with no contact, while they were working mostly EU and some Asia.
> Bill KH7XS
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Re: Topband: CQ160 Conditions

[Larry via Topband]

Hi Rick, 

You are correct. I am 425 miles from the ocean. As DF2 PY would like to say- I 
am located in the far LEFT COAST.

Either way the conditions were really poor for me with only 5 European stations 
in the log. I chased down EU spots that were normally extremely loud but 
nothing heard. I expect that it was much worse at  your location.

As they say, next year!

Larry

Sent by Larry

On Jan 28, 2019, at 1:04 PM, Richard (Rick) Karlquist  
wrote:



> On 1/28/2019 11:27 AM, Larry via Topband wrote:
> Good job. Unfortunately the conditions from the West coast were the worst in 
> the last 10 years.
> Funny band.
> Larry
> n7dd

Hi Larry, you worked me in the first minutes of the contest
in full daylight, hi.

AFAIK, you are east of Salt Lake City.  Also considerably south
of there as well. I would hardly consider your QTH the "west coast".
I often hear you working stuff I can't even hear.  Spot light
propagation etc.

73
Rick N6RK
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Re: Topband: CQ160 Conditions

[Larry via Topband]

Good job. Unfortunately the conditions from the West coast were the worst in 
the last 10 years.

Funny band.

Larry
n7dd

Sent by Larry

On Jan 28, 2019, at 10:31 AM, Jim - WS6X  wrote:

SOAPBOX: In my 36 years on TB, this was the best 160 weekend ever from my
little pistol station! Worked 58 EU in 26 DXCC, 5 AF in 5 DXCC, and 6 SA in
5 DXCC. The band was so wide open, as the propagation shifted, I had a
difficult time holding a frequency with full legal limit! Many West Coast
and EU sounded like locals.
EQUIPMENT: K3S in full diversity; AMP: ACOM 1500; TX ANTENNA: Inv-L, 62 feet
vertical, 40 radials; RX ANTENNA: (rarely used the entire weekend) 2-el
Hi-Z, Pixel Loop
See my results on 3830.
Thanks for all the Qs.
Jim - WS6X

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Re: Topband: Hi Z Antennas

[Larry via Topband]

Dennis,

I congratulate you on your efforts to make your top band receiving adequate 
despite your local noise. There have been too many poor excuses for remote RX 
sites. 

You exemplify the true ham spirit, experimenting with antennas that fit your 
needs at your location. I wish others would do the same.

See you in the contest this weekend and good luck.

73,
Larry
n7dd

Sent by Larry

On Nov 30, 2018, at 1:10 PM, Dennis W0JX via Topband  
wrote:

I have had a Hi-Z four square up since early 2012. It is a very good system for 
my needs. I have adequate land - although it was necessary to put it out in the 
front yard to get it away from the TX antenna - for the 80 foot per side 
layout. I see 18 to 24 db front to rear rejection depending upon angle of 
signal arrival. My system is probably compromised by power lines that border 
two sides of my property. The Hi-Z is connected to the second RX in my K3 and 
is used in diversity mode on 160 and 80.

For main RX on the low bands I used to have two, 450 foot reversible beverages. 
However local noise sources have made those beverages almost unusable in the 
past 5 years. Hence I was forced to put up antennas which have excellent rear 
rejection. For that purpose, I installed three "dual flag" receive arrays. 
These are similar to DHDL rx antennas developed by George, AA7JV except that I 
use two flag loops instead of the half deltas.

The flag antennas (really simplified Waller flags) have excellent rear 
rejection and make the AC power line noise almost non-existent. If you purchase 
the Bev-Flex, I do recommend installing it as a EWE or FLAG. If you go with the 
Hi-Z two element, make sure there are no antennas or large metal objects in 
near by proximity or you won't get the receiving pattern you need.

73, Dennis W0JX
Milan, OH 
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Re: Topband: N7NM's book

[Larry via Topband]

Hi all, 

Not home to check the QSL for date and time that I worked S21XX on what was 
definitely LP. My morning just before sunrise he peaked 589! That was a magic 
morning. One of the few memorable moments on the magic band.

Larry
n7dd


Sent by Larry

On Jul 15, 2018, at 8:25 PM, Hugh Valentine  wrote:

I have QSL from S21XX when I had the big antennas and many long beverages.
Feb 08,1997 @ 2342Z  80M CW.

I did not record the path in the computer log, but it was a special QSO.
If that can be extrapolated to mean anything from Georgia.just adding to 
conversation.

Val
N4RJ


-Original Message-
From: Topband [mailto:topband-boun...@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Bill Tippett
Sent: Sunday, July 15, 2018 4:25 PM
To: topband 
Subject: Re: Topband: N7NM's book

N4IS wrote:

Here ..page 36.

https://k9la.us/NM7M_The_Big_Gun_s_Guide_to_Low-Band_Propagation.pdf

I had never seen Bob's book before but thanks to JC for posting that

link.  There's a statement on page 93 which needs correction.  Bob wrote

that he had examined several logs provided by Joerg DL3DXX (including S21XX)

and "I never found a single 160 meter long-path contact, NOT ONE!"  Well,

maybe "not one" but actually three LP contacts with S21XX (SE direction

after NA sunset) that I know of (W4DR, N4SU and myself).

http://lists.contesting.com/archives//html/Topband/1997-02/msg00202.html


I was also surprised Bob omitted any mention of the N7UA <-> A61AJ (K1ZM

op) tests in November 2000 using 4-squares at each end of the path.  That test

proved to me that the SW (post NA sunset) and SE (pre A6 sunrise) directions

were real and not an RX antenna problem.  Note that this test was done prior

to publication of Bob's book in 2002.

http://lists.contesting.com/archives//html/Topband/2001-09/msg00088.html


Suffice it to say, we've learned much about this propagation

mode in the 15 years since Bob's book was published.


73,  Bill  W4ZV
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Re: Topband: KH1/KH7Z was a tough go

[Larry via Topband]

Here is my opinion:
15- weak but easily worked on SSB
20- loud and worked on both modes easily.
40- loud and worked on both modes easily
80- no antenna
160- extremely loud and easy to work. Can’t believe that someone on the west 
coast couldn’t make a contact!

Very good operation considering the time of year and antenna restrictions.

Thanks for the hard work. ATN on top band. 

73,
Larry
N7DD

Sent by Larry

On Jul 14, 2018, at 4:42 PM, terry burge  wrote:

I see this stuff about how easy or difficult the KH1 operation was to work. I'm 
on the west coast in northwestern Oregon and I personally found them one of the 
worst operations to hear from the Pacific I've ever worked. Worked them on 80 
and 40 for ATNO and on 20 and 17 too. The 80 meter contact was one of the 
hardest I've had on that band as they kept dropping into the noise floor. And 
I've had some pretty difficult contacts on 80 meter before but KH1/KH7Z is 
right up there with the hardest. These were all SSB contacts. I spent a lot of 
time trying to work them on 12 meters and some on 15 meters too. On 15 I should 
have managed to work them but they apparently went QRT right when they were 
coming up and I lost my chance. Didn't really need them on 15 having worked K1B 
on 20/17/15/10 back in 2002.


One thing I was blown away with was I worked E51JD, Jim on Raratonga, South 
Cook Islands with a good 57 or better signal but the KH1 was near impossible to 
hear on 15 meters at the same time. Judging from the map I don't think E51 and 
KH1 are all that far apart but the propagation sure was different. I'd guess 
about 1000 miles apart at the most but much closer to the equator. The Pacific 
is a big ocean we all know. On 12 meters I never did hear him on SSB. They 
would of been an ATNO on 12 so I spent a lot of time listening for them on 
there.


And as far as I know they did not work any SSB on 160. When I tried to hear 
them on 160 meters CW I don't think I could ever heard them but my CW is poor 
enough I might have heard them and not realized it. Everyone calling sounded 
like they were going 25-35 WPM which I just take my hat off too. I'm maybe 
15-18 WPM at the best of times, maybe. Copying beacons is about my extent on 
that mode.


Terry

KI7M

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Re: Topband: Baker Island DXpedition on 160

[Larry via Topband]

Granted that summer is not the best time but your efforts in activating this 
rare country are greatly appreciated. Good luck and “god speed”.

73,
Larry
N7DD

Sent by Larry

On Jun 13, 2018, at 12:26 PM, GEORGE WALLNER  wrote:

Rob,
You are right about the timing not being good, but it is way too late now to 
postpone the operation. Most of us are already in the Pacific or on a plane, 
the boat is being loaded, etc., etc.
This is the time we could get and these are the limitations we must live with. 
The circumstances at the FWS were conducive to issuing a permit this year. 
There was no guarantee that those circumstances would remain the same in the 
future. Please remember that, for Navassa we had to wait 18 years for the 
official "stars to line up". Also, fewer sunspots are supposed to be good for 
TB conditions.
As for antennas, of course taller would be better, but...we got the permit by 
agreeing, not arguing.
We have a new 160 m antenna design that I have been testing from C6AGU. With 
the help of a salt-water "ground" it will work OK. (NEC indicates a gain of 6 
dBi.)
73 and CU,
George


On Wed, 13 Jun 2018 11:55:10 -0500
Rob Atkinson  wrote:
> I respectfully suggest the Baker Is. dxpedition be postponed for a few
> years until band condx improve.  It makes no sense to me to mount this
> costly undertaking to a limited access location when propagation is in
> the toilet.   If USFWS is managing access, they've lately shown that
> they'll only approve trips to islands under their custodianship every
> 10 years or so.  If this is the case with Baker Is., then this trip
> will make another one in a few years impossible.
> 
> Another point I'd like to make is that a later trip might afford a
> chance to renegotiate what I consider a ridiculous antenna limit,
> which seems to be based on a ridiculous antenna design, namely the "43
> foot all-band vertical."Such a height with top loading might work
> okay on 80 meters but on 160 its efficiency will be poor.
> 
> 73
> 
> Rob
> K5UJ
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Re: Topband: Biodegradable staples

[Larry via Topband]

hi all,


living in Tucson where the ground conductivity is 15 (?) which would be the 
better receiving antenna?


300 foot BOG
300 foot BOG elevated 3-4 inches above earth
600 foot beverage 6 feet above ground 


note that i don't know what a lawn mower is either.


73,
larry
n7dd



-Original Message-
From: Rick Stealey 
To: Wes Stewart ; topband 
Sent: Fri, Jun 8, 2018 12:31 am
Subject: Re: Topband: Biodegradable staples

Oh, cactus plants, huh?  Your situation is simple - just tie the radial off to 
the cactus.

Problem solved.  Simple!


Rick  K2XT


From: Topband  on behalf of Wes Stewart 

Sent: Thursday, June 7, 2018 10:23:33 PM
To: topband@contesting.com
Subject: Re: Topband: Biodegradable staples

I want to see a barefoot child running around my cactus patch.  And what, pray
tell, is a lawnmower?

Wes  N7WS

qrz.com/db/n7ws

On 6/7/2018 1:29 PM, Rick Stealey wrote:
> You should never use steel staples in the ground.  Think for a minute. They 
> are sharp, rusty objects that stay a long time.  Imagine a barefoot child 
> playing in the area (after you are SK possibly).  Imagine a lawn mower grabs 
> a piece of radial wire and jerks it out of the ground with wire staples 
> attached.
>
> All you need to do is buy or make wooden dowels, drill a hole and string them 
> along the radial and pound down in.  Only need to be 4 inches long.  Simple, 
> cheap, safe.
>
>

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Topband: de n7dd

[Larry via Topband]

hi all,


can anyone tell me if there is common grey line between Kuwait and Tucson, 
Arizona?
especially where SR/SS match. if so what dates?


thanks,


larry n7dd 
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Re: Topband: Working dupes on a band

[Larry via Topband]

If you are a DX station please call me no matter how many times we have worked 
before. Its nice to know the band is open and that I am not calling CQ into a 
dark void.

Yes the RBN helps but there is no replacement for a real contact.

Larry
N7DD

Sent by Larry

On Feb 1, 2018, at 3:15 PM, terry burge  wrote:

Hi guys,


I see nothing wrong with working someone you have had more than one contact 
with before. At least as long as there are not people trying to work an ATNO. 
But that is where my rub comes from. Can't tell you how many  times I hear the 
'locals' working the DX night after night and making it near impossible to get 
a break and try to work those week European signals. I've been hearing this 
strange effect on 80 mtr phone where the static seems to ride on their signals 
making it that much harder to copy them. I don't hear that on NA or SA signals. 
Then when you can 'maybe' copy a signal report there is the W station 'just 
wanting to say hello again tonight and your are stronger than last night'! DX 
work is hard enough without having to compete with old home week. Sometimes for 
parts of the county like Oregon where I'm at you maybe get only a few minutes 
of time where you might hear a DX station. And hearing another 'you're 59+10 
over' again from the east coast to some DX just sucks!


So it may seem like being mainly concerned with 160 meter CW it is different 
but I do wish you would consider what it was like the first time you tried to 
work that weak DX signal and getting blocked out by someone just wanting to say 
DX they are stronger tonight that they were last night. You've been there and 
should remember. If there are some trying to get that ATNO, give them a break. 


I say again, there is nothing wrong with making friends and renewing your ties. 
Just don't stop some other weaker station from getting there chance. Same as 
you wouldn't jump in on top of their QSO to say 'how's it going' while their 
trying to pass signal report. 


Terry

KI7M

> On February 1, 2018 at 1:52 PM JL PFIRMAN wrote:
> 
> 
>My first post here,but read all the posts every day in fact look forward 
> to it! My feelings exactly Pete and might I add ,there are still gentlemen on 
> topband.This am at 1215z I was able to copy and have a good contact with 
> HL5IVL for an ATNO on 160.
>There were 3 or 4 others calling and Kim came back with W3T? after a few 
> more times he copied my call correctly. I just wanted to thank those who 
> stood by until I compleated my QSO,thanks again fellow 160 ops. PS it was a 
> peak at my sunrise. Jim W3TO
> 
>>> On February 1, 2018 at 1:16 PM Pete Rimmel N8PR wrote:
>> 
>> 
>>In my opinion, there is nothing wrong with working the same station 
>> on the
>>same band more than once. We used to do it all the time to assure we 
>> had
>>"insurance" contacts with someone we needed for DXCC or other award. 
>> Online
>>logs and ClubLog has limited that need to some extent, but not 
>> everyone has
>>a near-real time log we can check.
>> 
>>Now, with the advent of the CQ Magazine's Annual DX Marathon, There 
>> is no
>>choice but to work the same stations EVERY year to achieve the CQ 
>> zone and
>>Country totals for the year long Marathon.
>> 
>>I always hesitate to work the tough ones in a big pile-up if I have 
>> them
>>confirmed for DXCC, because I do not want to take the opportunity 
>> away from
>>someone who needs them for a new band country.
>> 
>>HOWEVER, I do try to work them eventually, usually when the 
>> propagation
>>favors my QTH, so I can add them to my totals for the year.
>> 
>>If stations cannot understand that, they should get with the 
>> program... They
>>could be in demand by everyone every year ! That should be something 
>> to
>>look forward to - being in demand !
>> 
>>I know this is different than thinking in the past, but that is the 
>> reality
>>of today ! I already have 60+ DXCC on 160 in January 2018 alone 8^)
>> 
>>73, PeteR N8PR
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>From: rayn6vr
>> 
>>In my mind, the station you are talking about is very inconsiderate 
>> and
>>lacking poor judgement.
>>It is a common thing to call and say hi to someone on TB when the 
>> condx are
>>slow or poor propagation.?
>>If I were to get such an email, I would never work thay stn on any 
>> band, any
>>mode, contest or not!
>>73,Ray?N6VR?
>>PS would like to know who it is so that I don't have the same 
>> experience.
>> 
>>...
>> 
>>HI Roger,
>> 
>>Thanks for the message, and interesting about the station you mention 
>> and
>>his website saying "no dupes".? I was shocked when I was told not to 
>> work
>>the European station again.? I just checked his clublog and in 6.5 
>> years I
>>had 

Topband: FT8

[Larry via Topband]

Pure and simple—-
No skill, no thrill.

n7dd

Sent by Larry
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Topband: coax soldering

[Larry via Topband]

hi guys,


planning on installing some more beverages. i have a roll of CATV 75 ohm cable. 
it is the kind with a double shield. aluminum wrap over tinned copper shield. 
there is some kind of sticky on the shield and i dont think that i can solder 
efficiently to it.


what is the best way to clean the "sticky" off the shield so that i can solder 
to it for PL259's?


thanks,
larry
n7dd 
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Re: Topband: Topband Digest, Vol 166, Issue 5

[Larry via Topband]

I disagree.

The inverted Vee, specifically, transmits vertically polarized
RF and has about the same gain as a 1/8 wave tee top ground plane
vertical, if EZNEC is to be believed.  Inverted Vees can also be
arranged in arrays.  They are useful DX antennas;  I got a 559 signal
report from a Dutch station early Sunday morning while running 700 watts
into an inverted Vee with the apex at about 55'. Note that my QTH is on
the west side of the Blue Ridge mountains.

The inverted Vee is easy to deploy (one hoist point), cheap to build (no
radials required), and while it won't compare with a full height 1/4
wave vertical for DX, it is not a bad compromise antenna.  Plus, if you
lower it, it works very well for regional NVIS, especially during the
daytime.

On 10/10/2016 12:00 PM, topband-requ...@contesting.com wrote:
> Message: 8
> Date: Mon, 10 Oct 2016 09:25:05 -0400
> From: Herbert Schoenbohm 
> To: topband@contesting.com
> Subject: Re: Topband: phased inverted V dipoles
> Message-ID: <1dc914c3-fffa-ffa6-60a4-8863173ad...@gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252; format=flowed
> 
> Probably not worth the effort as any dipoles less than 250 feet high are 
> serious cloud warmers.
> 
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Topband: ANtenna

[Larry via Topband]

Mike:   Given the stated constraints, I'd put traps on the ends of the
80 meter inverted vee and add more wire to make a 160 meter inverted
vee.  If you are short on space, fold the ends in towards the center.

regards,
Larry
W8ANT
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Re: Topband: Posting

[Larry via Topband]

hello all,


re: . We don't need to re-read everything from the post..



please do not snip out the previous comments! i, for one, don't read every post 
that comes into my e-mail. 


when i see a post heading that seems to interest me then i open it and it is 
very convenient to see all of the previous comments.


just my "two cents" worth.


73, larry n7dd



-Original Message-
From: Bill Cromwell 
To: topband 
Sent: Sun, Apr 10, 2016 11:32 pm
Subject: Re: Topband: Posting

Hi Jake,

Sometimes we forget and I don't suppose we want to excoriate people for 
forgetting sometimes. But we now know that some of the smart phones are 
not smart enough to allow editing in the replies. I believe mine 
accommodates clipping, snipping, and trimming. Meanwhile, when people 
regurgitate an entire digest with multiple copies of multiple messages I 
have come the point where I delete the entire mess without looking 
beyond the header - I'm not likely to find the relevant text even if I 
try to sort out the mess. I could have been enjoying a chat with the 
XYL, walking the dog or 

In the end I suppose the delete key is our only real tool.

73,

Bill  KU8H


On 04/10/2016 12:11 PM, jcjacob...@q.com wrote:
> How do,
>
>
> I've got to whine a little
>
>
> PLEASE!!! Edit or copy paste when you reply to a post. We don't need to 
> re-read everything from the post, just a snip-it.
> So, please learn how to copy/paste or otherwise edit, before you hit send.
>
>
> OK, done venting.
>
>
> 73 es GDDX
> K9WN Jake
>

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Re: Topband: VK0EK Operation From Spit

[Larry via Topband]

What doe's this mean? Can someone please explain?


I have a 14 minute window at their sunset, This would be my only opportunity to 
work them on top band assuming that they start 160 meter operation exactly at 
their sunset time. I have reported this to their "control" station but the only 
answer I received was that the information was received. W7 and most W6 won't 
work them?


73, Larry N7DD

 I'm sorry - but there will be no low band ops from spit - its specifically to 
get ATNO's for those who couldn't hear Atlas.
> 




-Original Message-
From: Chortek, Robert L. 
To: jim 
Cc: TopBand 
Sent: Tue, Mar 29, 2016 5:29 pm
Subject: Re: Topband: VK0EK Operation From Spit

Does this mean there will be no more opportunities during the West Coast 
sunrise?

Bob AA

Sent from my iPhone

> On Mar 29, 2016, at 10:01 AM, Jim Brown  wrote:
> 
> Got this in response to a question to the pilots.
> 
> They were not on 80 or 160 this morning.
> 
> 73, Jim K9YC
> 
>  Forwarded Message 
> Subject: Re: Next 40M CW to W6
> Date: Tue, 29 Mar 2016 04:19:25 +
> From: VK0EK 
> Reply-To: VK0EK 
> To: k...@arrl.net
> 
> Hi Jim,
> 
> I'm sorry - but there will be no low band ops from spit - its specifically to 
> get ATNO's for those who couldn't hear Atlas.
> 
> Thanks, 73, and Good DX!
> Heard Island Expedition
> _
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Re: Topband: Untoward (?) comments on 160

[Larry via Topband]

hi rob,


160 meters is all about hearing! you can't get that out of a "cracker-jax" box. 


it's not too difficult for guys with lots of property available but for the 
guys on small lots?? kudos to them. then there are remote RX sites but that's 
another story for another time.


160 meters is as much a challenge today as it was 35 years ago and will 
continue to be so for the next 35 years.


enjoy top-band, it's not as easy as you may think.


73, larry n7dd 



-Original Message-
From: Rob Atkinson 
To: topband 
Sent: Mon, Mar 14, 2016 4:45 pm
Subject: Re: Topband: Untoward comments on 160

>Amazes me; it takes years to accumulate enough skill and equipment to
>get on the air with a good signal, especially on 160 and then become
>a participant in the opposite mentality of what the sport is all
>about.

You are around 35 years out of date.  It was harder to get on 160 in
the days of the phony "all-band" rigs that covered 10 to 80 meters but
now that every plastic box had a button on it for 160 and you can get
a solid state plastic box amplifier that automatically switches bands
and tunes up and you can go buy a dipole that is cut for 160, getting
on 160 is about like getting on CB.

73

Rob
K5UJ
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Re: Topband: Stew

[Larry via Topband]

Yes, 160 meters IS a gentleman's band. Unfortunately ruined by people calling 
others "AH".


Bill, you should apologize to the K1 in question and please check your own code 
of conduct before condemning others.


Larry, N7DD 



-Original Message-
From: Jeff Kincaid 
To: TopBand List 
Sent: Sun, Mar 13, 2016 3:47 pm
Subject: Re: Topband: Stew

Surely he was trying to type "LID."  Note, however, that gentlemen may differ 
on who was the lid in his story.Jeff W6JK On Sunday, March 13, 2016 8:21 
AM, Glenn Wyant  wrote:Is" AH  " some sort of 
Gentlemans secret code ?  Surely it cant be what I think !  Not double 
standards in the Stew !  va3dxSubject: Topband: Stew> 
 Spent a total of 4 hours in the SP. Activity, at least from here in > east 
TN, was lower than previous. The logger got to the point where it > said "dupe, 
dupe, dupe"constantly.> DX would just appear out of nowhere...Italy, Germany, 
Venezuela.>  This morning I caught a VK6 working a K1 and tried to tail end. 
The > guy would not give up the Fx for a second to let me work the DX. I sent > 
AH, and he sent ?, I sent AH, and he sent ? Guess he didn't get it. I > was 
dialed up to 2kw at that moment so I know he heard me, but he was > not going 
to standby. The "gentleman's band" huh?> BILL K4OWR
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Re: Topband: A35T

[Larry via Topband]

I have been listening for a few days now. They have never had a readable signal 
until last night. For about 2 hours they were S7-S9 and hearing very well. 
Actually much better than the east coast stations that were calling. Spot light 
to my location? I dont think so because of the long opening.


I would like to commend the 160 meter operator who was excellent. He seemed to 
have a great sense of just how well the station that he came back to could copy 
him. In one case he came back to an east coast station about six times. During 
one transmission he gave the stations call at least 10 times. Great devotion to 
get him in the log.


Great job by the A35T team.


73, larry n7dd 



-Original Message-
From: Doug Renwick 
To: topband 
Sent: Thu, Feb 25, 2016 2:33 pm
Subject: Topband: A35T

They hear well but their TX, 339, is weak.  Got a 1 minute opening
(seriously) around SR and made the contact.

Doug/VA5DX

I wasn't born in Saskatchewan, but I got here as soon as I could.

-Original Message-

I am listening this AM to both sides of the A35T Top Band operation.  The 
signal from the DXped continues to be up and down, never strong and fading 
completely at times on very short cycles.

The result, with A35T now hearing quite well, is MANY, MANY NA stations ARE 
BEING HEARD and responded to by A35T, with the NA station never hearing the 
A35T response.

During the last hour this scenario has occurred with perhaps a dozen 
stations.  It is a shame.  After A35T responds 3 times, or more, with the 
call sign and sig report, with no response from the calling station, A35T 
has no choice but to return to CQing.

On the other hand, a LOT of stations ARE going into the log this morning as 
the terminator works its way across the continent.  Congratulations to the 
Top Band operator at A35T, who is doing it correctly under the existing 
conditions.

73, es CU all in the CQ 160 SSB contest this weekend.

de Milt, N5IA 

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Topband: de n7dd

[Larry via Topband]

hi bob (DU7ET),


you have done an outstanding job on top band this season. thank you for your 
devotion. you have given many a new country on 160.


have a safe voyage and may you have following seas. see you next season.


73, larry n7dd 
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Topband: sunrise/sunset dislpay

[Larry via Topband]

hello all,


This is a very interesting web site that shows sunrise and sunset any place in 
the world.


Take a look, I am sure that you will find it interesting,


http://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/south-georgia-sandwich/king-edward-point


73, Larry N7DD
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Topband: de n7dd

[Larry via Topband]

Conditions were awful from Arizona during the contest weekend. two and three 
days BEFORE the contest they were excellent to Europe. Guess that "Murphys Law" 
was in full effect. Too bad.


The first night only produced a handful of EU and the second night there were 
NO EU to be heard.



Look at the YouTube video that was sent to me by IK0IOL. You may find it 
interesting.




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mes-Wf7BpU





Would like to say it was fun but it was not this year. 


73,
larry
n7dd
multi by n7dd and w8tk

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Re: Topband: VP8STI Humor, Design engineer trauma

[Larry via Topband]

hi milt,


nothing heard in tucson and listened for hours. i was using a beverage pointed 
directly to them.


just started messing around and heard them with a beverage pointed at 200 deg. 
never loud enough to call but they were there. try that direction, it may work 
better for you as it did for me. 


worked SS many years ago so not to concerned but need SG so kind of getting 
familiar with the propagation. band seemed pretty good as i worked quite a few 
SA stations.


good luck to the needy.


73, larry n7dd  



-Original Message-
From: Milt 
To: topband ; W7RH 
Sent: Sun, Jan 24, 2016 6:16 am
Subject: Re: Topband: VP8STI Humor, Design engineer trauma

Bob,

I concur that this might be the reason that Top Band has been so difficult 
for propagation to our area.

I heard them the first night at Q4, right at our sunset.  They were working 
EU so I didn't call.  They promptly faded away, not to be heard again that 
night, or since.

I just finished nearly 6 hours under the earphones and I heard not a single 
dit the entire evening from VP8 STI.

And this evening there were some posts, including one by you, that said his 
signal was becoming discernable to the posters from out west.  Here; 
NADA

Anyway, it is fun, and the ol' lady sure has a bag of tricks.  I doubt we 
will ever know and understand all the vagaries of 160 Meter propagation.

73, and good night.  GL with your quest.

de Milt, N5IA


-Original Message- 
From: W7RH
Sent: Saturday, January 23, 2016 10:42 PM
To: topband
Subject: Re: Topband: VP8STI Humor, Design engineer trauma

Congrats to those out West that have VP8STI in the log. You guys
certainly had the good draw and the right angle. I did work them on 80m
using OMNI short vertical and 100W. They however were not even moving
the S meter.

I offer my theorem on why Western US contacts are infrequent in this
case. Using my station and beam heading to the SE I worked CE1/K7CA
using QRP. I could do that from early darkness until his sunrise.
considering I've worked all of south America with 100W the extra 1500
miles should not be difficult especially being a trans equatorial QSO.
The conditions would also have to be very disturbed with no direct polar
region influence.

Looking at the VP8STI website they provide topographic and satellite map
of their physical location which is located on Thule Island to provide
safe harbor. I note to NW is Mt Larsen about 2 miles away. It rises some
2500 ft and the terrain effectively disrupts everything below 15 degrees
or nearly half of their vertical beam-width. This antenna is not in salt
water and a good guess would be that it has about 30 1/4 wave plus
radials. They have a clean shot to Europe in the far field. The NW path
is broken by Thule Mountain and along the way is going to pass through
the Andes Mountains. I would suggest the ground reflection element in
this case is scattering, which also causes increased path loss. This is
much like attenuation cause by the Rocky Mountains to Europe from
western US. Of course this the height of the F layer is a factor as well.

Responding to an earlier post by K7TJR regarding K7ZV mountain location.
I will take a QTH with extensive wide open flat land or slightly sloping
down hill over a mountain top any day. The curvature of the earth and
far field reflection is important (slight far field gain). I am not
saying that a mountain top won't work for 160. Heck, it might be
possible to build an antenna that is flexible on take off angle.

73

Bob

-- 
W7RH DM35OS

Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not 
sure about the former.

 Albert Einstein

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Re: Topband: VP8

[Larry via Topband]

hi bill,


please accept my apology about working South Sandwich island previously on 160 
meters. i can only say that my countries worked on top band is sloppy at best. 
it consists of a countries list from the ARRL with check marks on the countries 
that i thought i had worked. i dont collect QSL cards except for my WAZ on top 
band.


going back through my old logs i find that i worked LU3ZY in 1978 but not on 
160 meters.


my mistake! going to pound some serious "brass" for VP8STI. getting to the 
point in my life that i don't really care about new band countries but if they 
are on i enjoy the challenge of a new one. 


73, larry n7dd  

  



-Original Message-
From: Bill Tippett 
To: larry P. 
Sent: Sun, Jan 24, 2016 10:41 am
Subject: VP8



Hi Larry,


I noticed you mentioned working S. Sandwich many years ago.  What station was 
that?  VP8SSI made a few Qs in 1992 with S. America but nothing else according 
to KJ9I (one of the ops).  Good luck with S. Georgia!


73,  Bill  W4ZV


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Re: Topband: K5P good job !

[Larry via Topband]

hi roger,


just what do you mean by "calling on top of someone else"? of course they are 
since a rare station creates so many callers that it is impossible to find a 
calling frequency that is clear. even if it seems clear doesn't mean that it 
actually is. there are probably tons of stations that you can't hear. for those 
who do not have the ability to "dual receive" do you expect them to check their 
TX frequency before transmitting? i would guess that you have never been on the 
DX end of the pile up.


if you want a clear frequency then try this- if the DX announces he is 
listening between 14205 and 14210 then cluster spot him listening on 14209.5. 
80% of the callers will move up which gives you the best chance when you call 
between 14205 and 14206. it's a PILE UP my friend, almost everything goes.


also, would you please include your call sign to the comments that you make. i 
am replying to roger who?


73,
larry
n7dd  

The big problem is that this "system" works! It's simple statistics. The more 
times you
send your call, the better chance of the DX picking it out of a pileup.

I don't think the people that do this give a rats behind if they're calling on 
top of
someone else. They are like people who cut in line ahead of you. It's all about 
them!

73, Roger




-Original Message-
From: Roger D Johnson 
To: topband 
Sent: Mon, Jan 18, 2016 3:45 pm
Subject: Re: Topband: K5P good job !

The big problem is that this "system" works! It's simple statistics. The more 
times you
send your call, the better chance of the DX picking it out of a pileup.

I don't think the people that do this give a rats behind if they're calling on 
top of
someone else. They are like people who cut in line ahead of you. It's all about 
them!

73, Roger


On 1/18/2016 10:00 AM, mstang...@comcast.net wrote:
>
> When someone is doing something wrong we should not "out" or embarrass them.
>
> You should try to settle the situation offline without leaving any bad 
> feelings.
>
> If you know the offender you should discuss it with him (or her) person to 
> person. Be diplomatic.
>
> Don't lecture to them, discuss it with them. You have noticed they are doing 
> something which interferes with good operating practices and also mention 
> that other listeners have noted the fact.
>
> If you cannot contact the person you can mention the offense on a contesting 
> or DX'ing forum such as this
>
> I find it is better to show them the way.
>
> Mike N2MS
>
>
>
>
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Re: Topband: Field Checking strange cards

[Larry via Topband]

hi lou,


i assume that S2 you mentioned would be Bangladesh.


i worked S21XX 04 feb 12, 1997 and received a report of 579. the card is in 
hand and has been accepted by the ARRL. 


they were worked both rx/tx from my location in tucson, arizona and is part of 
my WAZ 160 certificate number 259 (40 zones). each and every of the 40 zone 
stations were worked from right here!


i am extremely proud of my WAZ 160. it took years of effort with countless 
hours of listening. no remote, RBN or cluster (never spotted on my cluster 
host).


i would never question the morality of others because of their use of outside 
"aids" regardless of new rules or facilities. they can use whatever they want 
to accomplish a particular goal but when all is said and done i doubt that they 
will have the same sense of accomplishment.


herb, KV4FZ spent hours pounding away trying to work the K5P. so did countless 
others. i hope that you all get to put him in your logs. in my opinion that's 
what ham radio is really about.


73,
larry
n7dd 



-Original Message-
From: Louis Parascondola via Topband 
To: mgcizek ; topband 
Sent: Fri, Jan 15, 2016 8:24 pm
Subject: Re: Topband: Field Checking strange cards

Since I have personal knowledge of the S2 to Connecticut QSO as being valid, I 
would just be curious how many on here have worked S2 on 160 and has it 
confirmed.  Lou W1QJSent from AOL Mobile Mail-Original Message-From: 
Mike Cizek W0VTT To: Louis Parascondola ; 
topband Sent: Fri, Jan 15, 2016 12:32 PMSubject: Field 
Checking strange cardsLou, Larry, and the gang,Newington's instructions to 
Field Checkers state that our job is to verify that the information on the QSL 
cards is the same as is claimed on the application.  If we note anything 
"unusual", like a 160m QSO taking place in broad daylight, we note it on the 
application.  It is NOT our job to decide if the QSO is "good" or not.  This 
also applies to unauthorized operations like P5RS7, and the like.If I saw a 
claimed 160m QSO with S2 at 4pm local time, I would flag it on the application. 
 Then, I would go home, look up sunrise and sunset times for that date in both 
CT and the guy's town in S2, write it all up, and email it to the DXCC desk.  I 
have done exactly this before, and I know some of my colleagues have, as 
well.-- 73,Mike Cizek WØVTTOn 15-Jan-16 01:01, Louis Parascondola wrote:> Tom 
please comment on the 4pm QSL card from ct. Claiming S2 at 4pm > local time.>> 
Sent from AOL Mobile Mail>>> -Original Message-> From: Tom W8JI w...@w8ji.com>> To: topband topband@contesting.com>; Mike Cizek 
W0VTT mgci...@gmail.com>> Sent: Thu, 
Jan 14, 2016 09:42 PM> Subject: Re: Topband: Strange propagation>>> I am a 160 
card checker, and I damn well DO check the times! I'm sorry> to report that I 
have found cases where "impossible" QSOs were claimed,> and reported them to 
the mother ship in Newington. I would sincerely> hope that my colleagues would 
do the same.> But isn't it legal to operate anywhere in the lower 
continental USA to > make> a DXCC contact in the lower continental USA?>> As 
far as I know, they made that legal many years ago, and the contact> simply has 
to be made from the USA lower 48 no matter where.>> Where were all the 
complainers when they did that? As far as I'm > concerned,> that was the end of 
DXCC meaning very much. I wrote and complained. > Now it> is what it is.>> 73 
Tom>> _> Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband; 
target="_blank">http://www.contesting.com/_topband_Topband 
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Topband: Fwd: Strange propagation

[Larry via Topband]

-Original Message-
From: Larry 
To: barry.n1eu 
Sent: Thu, Jan 14, 2016 10:22 pm
Subject: Re: Topband: Strange propagation


More than once I have worked some Ukraine station in the 160 meter contest at 
S9 plus when it is broad daylight in UB5. Obviously they are operating a remote 
station. Guess I need to log them, Ha.


The kicker is when i receive a QSL card direct and they expect a return.


Yes I understand the need to integrate modern technology into ham radio. Remote 
stations,
remote receiving locations etc. My opinion is that if you cant operate from 
your physical location for what ever the reason then try another hobby.


Happy new year!


Larry
N7DD
 


-Original Message-
From: Barry N1EU 
To: topBand List 
Sent: Thu, Jan 14, 2016 10:06 pm
Subject: Re: Topband: Strange propagation

This is a BIG issue to grapple with.  It would make sense to me that a
callsign transmitted over the air should correspond to a station location
in a publically viewable registry and if the location of the transmission
deviates, the callsign needs to append /XX to reflect the station location.

73, Barry N1EU

On Thu, Jan 14, 2016 at 9:52 PM, Herbert Schoenbohm 
wrote:

> Dave,  What will happen then is that the RHR gurus will just jack up the
> rates to take the hams with deepest pockets. Additionally the laws of
> supply will kick in and more RHR station and others will invest in this
> scheme to put more stations on the air.  As this progresses the value of
> the entire DXCC program will diminish. There must be some brakes put on
> this before is is to late.  The other night I was thrilled to have an
> Italian station calling me on 160 only to learn later he was actually on
> the mainland via an RHR station.  Is this the way amateur radio is supposed
> to trend?
>
>
> Herb Schoenbohm, KV4FZ
>
>
> On 1/14/2016 5:28 PM, Dave Blaschke, w5un wrote:
>
>> Look at the situation; There are just a few stateside RHR for rent
>> locations. As more and more "hams" begin to use these sites to work
>> DXpeditions, the queue length to access one of these sites will become
>> hopeless long. JUST A THOUGHT.
>>
>> Dave, W5UN
>>
>> On 1/14/2016 6:33 PM, Herbert Schoenbohm wrote:
>>
>>> I have lost my amateur station in three major hurricanes over the years
>>> here, everything including radios (from water) and antennas. I have also
>>> rebuilt them a four different locations until I finally scrapped enough
>>> money together and bought a home next to a large salt pond. I have full
>>> remote station here but it only functions for contest operated by a cliff
>>> dweller in NYC who cares not for DXCC credit.  The problem with the US RHR
>>> deals is that it completely skews the process as far as the propagation
>>> differences across the fruited plan.  I would love to add to my DXCC totals
>>> as I close into the 300 mark.  USA stations can do this but is it ethical.
>>> It sure makes money for a pay to play amateur radio scheme. But is it the
>>> way you want low band Dx-ing to become?  I hope not as you only will need a
>>> computer and an internet connection and everything else that used to a
>>> worthwhile effort is trashed.
>>>
>>> I remember a former 160 meter DX pioneer, Charles O'Brien who originally
>>> from Illinois used a 1/4 wave bent Marconi and 25 watts to work a G
>>> station.  This is what we are or what we used to be. RHR I am afraid is the
>>> end of an era were perseverance and not vast amounts of  QRO muscle and
>>> money decided who was on top. That is a shame and perhaps to some a
>>> disgrace as it really chances everything including the respect we have for
>>> those who did so much with so little.`
>>>
>>> Herb Schoenbohm, KV4FZ
>>>
>>> On 1/14/2016 12:43 AM, Dave Blaschke, w5un wrote:
>>>
 I will say this:
 operating a remote station (for money) owned and managed by someone
 else will never be as satisfying as operating your own station, built by
 your hands. But than again, if you have no station, and are unable to build
 one up, what's your choice? I built (and rebuilt) a beautiful station and
 antenna system here over the past fifteen years, only to see much of it
 destroyed by storms in recent years. Now I am unable to rebuild anymore.

 Dave, W5UN

 On 1/14/2016 2:26 AM, Carl Luetzelschwab wrote:

> Ed N1UR said "It seems non-trivial to me as to how to maintain these
> remote
> stations."
>
> My guess is it was someone using the Portland, OR station in the
> Remote Ham
> Radio network (http://www.remotehamradio.com/the-stations/). The
> stations
> are available for a price.
>
> I don't know whose actual station that is - but I'm sure it is
> someone's
> home station (just like all the others in the network).
>
> Carl K9LA
> _
> Topband Reflector 

Topband: Bandpass filters for receive antennas

[Larry via Topband]

I have been following the discussion on front end relays with interest, 
and I was wondering
what sorts of bandpass filters folks are using for receive antennas.  
Right now my BOGs don't

have any.

I know of the W3NQN and similar filters;  I have a set for 80-10 that I 
use for Field Day.
I suppose I could make or buy a 160 BPF, but am not sure what effect 
this would have on receive.
I also have a set of coax stubs, and was wondering whether anybody uses 
stubs for 160.
Obviously, this would be a LONG piece of coax, but it would probably 
reduce out of band signals
by ~18 db IIRC.  I would be interested in what experience the members of 
the group have had.


Larry
W8ANT
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Re: Topband: Use of Remote Receivers During 160 Meter Contests

[Larry via Topband]

use of remote receivers should be allowed but only in its own class.


many of us have worked hard and long to make our present locations into a 
presentable 160 meter contest site. it would be absolutely unfair to have to 
compete with remote receivers.


why not use WEBSDR.ORG and be done with it? 


larry, n7dd
DXCC honor roll #1 (mixed, phone)
WAZ 160 meters 




-Original Message-
From: Mark van Wijk, PA5MW pa...@home.nl
To: John Crovelli w...@hotmail.com; topband topband@contesting.com
Sent: Sun, Mar 15, 2015 9:48 pm
Subject: Re: Topband: Use of Remote Receivers During 160 Meter Contests


I have contributed in the past to some of the Remote RX discussions and at some
point felt all was said.
But I let me ‘wrap up’ some of them and based on
general topics, vent my opinion here.


FUN
That is what this hobby is about,
right?
This is more focusing on the psychic level and can be had at any kind of
station and/or level of achievement.
It does require you to do a reality check,
verify which kind of personal or shared result you like best, and how to
leverage reasonable goals.
Opposed to the need for peer recognition, demand
respect (WTF is that in a hobby??) or crush the top 3 opponents, whatever it
takes.

Contesting since ‘87, has convinced me and my Hamradio friends; “it’s
all about enjoying the path”. But you knew that already, right?


ENDING IN THE
TOP 10 IN CONTESTING
Contesting is a superb mix between casual participants,
enjoying the numerous possibilities of a contest, giving some points, scoring
that rare one. And then there is the top level who compete at Olympic level and
have similar focus and dedication.
Like at serious sports levels; you need some
talent, but MUCH more years of practice, learning by doinga lot.
The
achievement comes from what you personally put into it.
Not taking any
“shortcut”.


THIS HOBBY IS ABOUT TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENT, INNOVATION
Damned well
it is!
It does not matter whether you are an XXL topband competitor owning a big
station, or you participate from a tiny home-QTH in the city, like me.
From end
of March till October  you do need to review, analyze, plan, investigate,
experiment week by week, to get to a better result next time.
At my new QTH,
starting with 3 different small RX antennas, the first time I ended up somewhere
in the #40’s  during CQWW-160-CW. The next time after a lot of experiments,
using other RX antennas (because local noise raised 8-15dB), diversity RX with
another special designed antenna and zillion changes in and around my shack, I
ended #13. This took me lots of designwork, which was monthly organized in a
planning file (XLS available on request).

Same for our club-station. At
numerous occasions the team built and tested antennas. Tried the new antennas
during other available contests. Rebuilt the whole shack again and again, took
it to the next level in contesting. Both incremental and major station
improvements are needed to get you and the team forward. At many levels we would
educate ourselves to sharpen both our knowledge and operator qualities.
At the
University of Technology in Eindhoven (PI4TUE) we enjoyed our antennas being
220ft AGL at a gigantic roof. But the QTH also proved to be a serious noise
challenge on the lowbands. It took 8 (!) years of experimenting to have a well
working Lowband RX antenna. 
Did we need a “shortcut” at that? Hell no! 
PI4TUE
was active in contesting for some 23 years. The large, high building was
recently closed. That allows us for finding new opportunities in the future next
to remembering the many happy hours of designing, building and
contesting.

Innovation, thinking out of the box, experimenting, incremental
improvements at all possible disciplines at your station is a must.

There
should not be a shortcut, just because it’s an easy way out.


REMOTE RX
STATIONS BEING A NOVEL TECHNICAL CHALLENGE.
Yes by all means.
In fact, we OWN
one for some 6 years now. We have been using it during many experiments at home
to compare our city antennas against the very quiet remote rx site. But during a
contest we refuse the “shortcut” and travel the 60 miles and build a TX antenna
on the site as well. 
Just today we built a fieldday-style contest station at
that site, preparing for the ladies of PI4YLC for their next weekends’ RDXC
participation. 

That is a leveled effort solution.
Opposed to an internet
shortcut.



THE NOISE CHALLENGED CITY DWELLERS
That is me too. I measure
background noise for 4 years now and have seen it rising from minimal 8 to 15dB,
depending on the direction. Noise cancellation (NCC-1 available) does help only
few dB because of the many noise sources and directions. 
I understand that some
have no option here and will build a remote rx site to accommodate their needs.
That is ok at your every day’s QSO, DX’ing, working that rare one etc..
Everyone’s own choice. But NOT for a game like competitive contesting. 

Giving
in to the new shortcut because...they demand it?
Please 

Topband: ham radio- NOT

[Larry via Topband]

it's sad, very sad about the changes to ham radio. i don't even believe it can 
be called that any longer. perhaps internet radio or remote radio can be 
best described as the present hobby.  


gone are the days that we hams were considered as a public service. gone are 
the days of experimentation, building your own antennas which required tuning 
and pruning. making your own receiver or transmitter is a concept unknown to 
the present generation.


remember Gus Browning? he was the guy who risked his life to take his suitcase 
radio to remote places in the world just so the chosen few could have a new 
country. remember the first expedition to Mellish Reef? the guys almost lost 
their lives in a broken down boat to give the masses a new one. i was there! no 
ice breakers and helicopters for us. lets all see who can work the new country 
on the most band/modes possible. 


how about the hams who were responsible for new radio innovations? Art Collins 
for one. many others.


i am considering selling my station and renting one for the next DXpedition or 
contest. i can easily be the big gun. probably win the 160 meter contest from 
the W8JI rent a station. maybe i will rent a huge station on the east coast and 
operate from my kitchen. beat the pants off you guys.


what about the little peanut. the young kid who has little money and cant 
afford the finer toys of ham radio. used to be an equal in the hobby to kings, 
generals, and high ranking politicians. not to mention other famous 
personalities. 


please find a new name for our hobby. it's not ham radio any longer. yes i can 
understand the need for remote stations, no CW, buy an antenna that tunes its 
self, use an expensive radio, rent a station and all of the new internet 
assisted utilities. if that is your interest please use it. just not for me. 
guess that i have been lucky to see this wonderful hobby in its glory days.


73,
larry
n7dd/60   (60 wonderful years of ham radio)

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Re: Topband: Yikes

[Larry via Topband]

Ham radio is sure changing and not for the better. $6 for a QSL card is 
outrageous. are they posting the logs on LOTW?


i wonder if those who kindly contributed to the expedition will have to pay for 
their cards?


larry
n7dd



-Original Message-
From: Doug Renwick ve...@sasktel.net
To: topband topband@contesting.com
Sent: Fri, Feb 20, 2015 1:47 am
Subject: Topband: Yikes


K1N club log is now up.  First QSO costs $6.00 USD.  That's got to be the
most expensive I have seen.  Anyone top that one.  I am not complaining!

Doug

There are some ideas so absurd that only an intellectual or lawyer could
believe them. - George Orwell, 1984



---
This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
http://www.avast.com

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Re: Topband: BoGs, BaGs and BuGs

[Larry via Topband]

Sent this before, and not sure it made it, or perhaps it was not worth 
responding to-


I have been contemplating listening antennas, and after hearing a 
friend work station after station that I could hear only down in the 
noise on my inverted Vee, while he was using a 500' Beverage on the 
Ground (aka BoG) I am convinced that I want to install several.
The best direction and distance I have is about 25/205 degrees true;  
I can put up a two way 1000' + BaG (Beverage above ground) with little 
to no elevation change.  That'll give me 2 wavelengths on 160 and 4 on 
80 meters. I have high terrain from about 60 degrees around to 200 
degrees true azimuth;  everything else is level or lower.


I can get about 500' due west ( high terrain immediately to the east) 
and about 700' at 50 to 60 degrees.


In order to get those, I would have to cross under high tension wires, 
and I was thinking that it would be best to run a BoG for those two, 
possibly even underground for the portion running under the lines.  I 
am thinking of using 16/2 copper landscape wire, which appears to show 
an impedance around 200 ohms.


Several questions for the group:

1) is it worth it to install a beverage at 25 degrees especially for 
160?  I'm not sure that I'd get much at that azimuth from FM19


2) I know that it is considered a bad idea to run parallel to power 
lines, but what about an oblique angled cross?


3)  the two BoGs would cover about 100' elevation change, perhaps 
more.  Will that ruin the directional pattern of the Beverage?


Any thoughts or suggestions?

Best to all,
Larry KD8WSP


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Topband: Deliberate interference

[Larry via Topband]

Tom said-

Message: 10
Date: Sat, 7 Feb 2015 23:58:32 -0500
From: Tom W8JIw...@w8ji.com
To:topband@contesting.com
Subject: Re: Topband: K1N DQRM Tracking Project
Message-ID: 94B927F7C90146B19C8C27DE0BC0388D@MAIN
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=iso-8859-1;
reply-type=original

It would be nice to set something like this up that works, but it would take
more than just how loud someone is.

Strength alone is pretty much useless. 


Well, strength by itself isn't conclusive, but it can be useful.
It depends on the MUF, the band, and the time of day.
It also requires someone to assemble and analyze the information.

If the jammer is are very strong, (+40 db or more) they're probably close.

If they are strong on a low NVIS horizontal
antenna but much less so on a vertical, (during the day on 160, 80 and 40)
they are outside groundwave or LOS and inside 300-500 miles.
If they are as strong or stronger on the vertical as they
are on the horizontal, they're probably inside LOS/GW range and can be DFd.

Three strength reports from the same general area can narrow things down a lot,
especially if there is local terrain.  That can really help.
Once the general area is known, LOS DF works pretty much as well on HF as it
does on VHF. A loop or a phased array of small verticals will give you a line,
and three lines gets you close.

I know where my neighborhood's active stations are, and not because of QRZ.com.
It does take time away from operating, but the principles of DF are not that 
hard to learn
and some practice can be eye-opening.

Best regards,
Larry KD8WSP







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

Topband: DX recognition

[Larry via Topband]

HAving been inactive for many years before getting back into ham radio 
last year,
I will not bore the list with my opinions on remote operation and how 
that is handled.


I would like, however, to ask a question.

Why doesn't some group of people start another DX award system that is 
more worthwhile?


That would be a chance to provide a system that corrects all the defects 
of the present DXCC

system without starting any conflicts with the present award.

73

Larry KD8WSP
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Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband

Re: Topband: Preamplifiers

[Larry via Topband]

andy,


for many years i used the Palomar preamp. it worked well in the presence of a 
50kw AM station on 1550khz. though it may be of older design and there are 
better pre-amps available it may be available at reasonable cost.


good luck.


larry
n7dd



-Original Message-
From: Andrew Ikin andrew.i...@btopenworld.com
To: Andy YO3JR andyru...@gmail.com; topband topband@contesting.com
Sent: Tue, Feb 3, 2015 1:55 pm
Subject: Re: Topband: Preamplifiers


Andy,

The Clifton Labs Norton and the RPA-1 are both Push-pull designs and thus 
have high +80dBm second order intercepts. This is essential to avoid BCB 
mixing products affecting TB.
Single ended amplifiers like the W7IUV may need some pre BCB filtering.

73

Andrew Ikin   G8LUG


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Re: Topband: Out-of-Turn Callers

[Larry via Topband]

hi frank,


as a matter of courtesy i sent KK6ZM a personal email suggesting that his 
behavior was totally wrong when calling K1N and that an apology on the topband 
reflector would be in order. 


his reply was something like stick it where the sun don't shine . he stated 
that he was only using a 53 foot long wire and could not possibly cause any 
damage to the operation. this ham is clueless and possibly his well known 
father who i consider to be a world class operator can explain proper 
operating practices.


73,
larry
n7dd



-Original Message-
From: donovanf donov...@starpower.net
To: topband topband@contesting.com
Sent: Tue, Feb 3, 2015 9:23 pm
Subject: Re: Topband: Out-of-Turn Callers


Hi guys, 

We've beat up KK6ZM enough for his honest mistake, we all make 
mistakes. By now I'm sure Patrick has heard from his well known 
father and his uncles too and there's no chance he'll make that mistake 
again. 

Its time to move on... 

73 
Frank 
W3LPL 


- Original Message -

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Re: Topband: V55V in SP

[Larry via Topband]

never heard the V55V during the contest but he was 599 plus this evening at 
0408z.


what a difference a day makes.


73,
larry
n7dd



-Original Message-
From: Richard (Rick) Karlquist rich...@karlquist.com
To: k1fz k...@myfairpoint.net; Topband topband@contesting.com
Sent: Mon, Dec 29, 2014 4:37 am
Subject: Topband: V55V in SP


On 12/28/2014 7:18 PM, K1FZ-Bruce wrote:

Worked V55V 12-28-2014 at 0424 UTC. Good solid contact. Took a break from 
the rig, receiver still on his frequency.Noted His signal was coming up as 
his sunrise was approaching.
   Then a station started calling and calling,  usually while the V55V was 
calling. Often starting to call while the CQ was in progress. This has to be 
blind calling. causing QRM   preventing others from making the contact. Please 
do not call unless you are copying the DX station.
   73
   Bruce-K1FZ
   www.qsl.net/k1fz/beveragenotes.html

I see many posters complaining about bad condx.
I worked nearly every station I heard, including
many east coast stations, using only 100W to a
vertical.  Big surprise was V55V with a very
solid signal 10,000 miles from the left coast.
That's a 48 point QSO.  I have noticed on other
bands that there seems to be a pipeline to V5,
I guess I can add 160 meters to the list.
No blind calling here.  I was able to raise him
with only a few calls.  Condx seemed pretty good
here.  I put up a low dipole for the contest,
but it didn't hear any better than the vertical
this time.  It was also interesting that the
difference in S meter reading between antennas
varied from 5 to 20 dB, the vertical being stronger.

Rick N6RK
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Re: Topband: Topband Digest, Vol 144, Issue 4

[Larry via Topband]

topband-requ...@contesting.com wrote:
Message: 10 Date: Wed, 03 Dec 2014 23:41:36 +0100
From: Martin dm...@t-online.de
To: topband@contesting.com
Subject: Re: Topband: Restistance of wire
Message-ID: 547f91a0.8080...@t-online.de Content-Type: text/plain; 
charset=utf-8; format=flowed Topbanders, thank you for your comments. 
Looks like this wire was a good choice (in fact, i couldn't resist as 
it was free), many use it for their beverages. Thank you all. Now back 
to the shop building that switchbox. Hear you soon. 


Martin, I cannot speak for the suitability of this wire for a Beverage, 
as I have no experience with them, but I do know that WD1-A has a high 
DC resistance and a higher RF resistance.


I also know that ON4UN does not recommend it.  My intention is to use 14 
gage stranded THHN house wire for a BOG;  will advise results when I 
have them.


L



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

Topband: 160 activity

[Larry via Topband]

I made a point when I was operating W1AW/8 to try to work 160 phone a 
few times.
The QSO rate was low compared to 20, but I think I made a lot of people 
happy, at least based on the comments I got, and for a QSO party, I 
thought that was the point.


A contest is a different kettle of fish altogether.  In some ways I am 
glad that 160 seems to be a refuge from the 15 second QSO. Not knocking 
contesting at all;  I have fun with it and love running a good pileup, 
and you learn a lot about your station and your skills doing that.  But 
when a contest is running, and you aren't in it, it's nice to have a 
place where you can go and have a nice relaxed chat if that's what you want.


160 is a good band for regional communications at any hour, and an 
interesting challenge for longer haul at night.  The people on 160 tend 
to be nicer than those on 80, for sure, another reason to operate 
there.  Although my CW is still a bit rusty, I worked a couple of folks 
on CW that asked me.  One of the WV team ran RTTY on 160 and had a great 
time doing it, too.


BTW, if anyone wants WV for WAS, drop me a line.

Larry
KD8WSP



topband-requ...@contesting.com wrote:

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than Re: Contents of Topband digest...


Today's Topics:

1. ARRL CW SS started. Why is nobody on 160? (Mike Waters)
2. Re: ARRL CW SS started. Why is nobody on 160?
   (Richard (Rick) Karlquist)
3. Re: ARRL CW SS started. Why is nobody on 160? (Mike Waters)
4. Re: ARRL CW SS started. Why is nobody on 160? (Mike Waters)


--

Message: 1
Date: Sat, 1 Nov 2014 21:34:51 -0500
From: Mike Waters mikew...@gmail.com
To: topband topband@contesting.com
Subject: Topband: ARRL CW SS started. Why is nobody on 160?
Message-ID:
CA+FxYXi3tuZKZ=rpj71gkutp3rxanvgebh_ouak16ff31xk...@mail.gmail.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

I just tuned across the low end of 160, and nothing (except one RTTY
signal)! Is my receiver broke? I expected to hear at least SOME CW.

I did just get struck by lightning a few days ago; maybe I have a problem I
didn't know about. But I hear RCR on AM loud on 1860. And yes, I do believe
the UTC date and time is correct here.

I assume that this contest is just not popular on 160.

http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/weeklycont.php#5620
http://www.arrl.org/sweepstakes

73, Mike
www.w0btu.com


--

Message: 2
Date: Sat, 01 Nov 2014 19:43:22 -0700
From: Richard (Rick) Karlquist rich...@karlquist.com
To: Mike Waters mikew...@gmail.com, topband topband@contesting.com
Subject: Re: Topband: ARRL CW SS started. Why is nobody on 160?
Message-ID: 54559a4a.7040...@karlquist.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed



On 11/1/2014 7:34 PM, Mike Waters wrote:

I just tuned across the low end of 160, and nothing (except one RTTY
signal)! Is my receiver broke? I expected to hear at least SOME CW.


We have a saying in the Northern California Contest Club:

If you're on 160 during SS, you are losing.

Rick N6RK
President NCCC


--

Message: 3
Date: Sat, 1 Nov 2014 21:51:15 -0500
From: Mike Waters mikew...@gmail.com
To: Richard (Rick) Karlquist rich...@karlquist.com, topband
topband@contesting.com
Subject: Re: Topband: ARRL CW SS started. Why is nobody on 160?
Message-ID:
ca+fxyxgpspff9d08weelej+7jq5snb3-sycrothczamxwqy...@mail.gmail.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

Thanks, Rick.

But some of us are more interested in 160 meters than winning a contest. :-)

73, Mike
www.w0btu.com

On Sat, Nov 1, 2014 at 9:43 PM, Richard (Rick) Karlquist 
rich...@karlquist.com wrote:


On 11/1/2014 7:34 PM, Mike Waters wrote:


I just tuned across the low end of 160, and nothing (except one RTTY
signal)! Is my receiver broke? I expected to hear at least SOME CW.


We have a saying in the Northern California Contest Club:

If you're on 160 during SS, you are losing.

Rick N6RK
President NCCC



--

Message: 4
Date: Sat, 1 Nov 2014 22:03:08 -0500
From: Mike Waters mikew...@gmail.com
To: topband topband@contesting.com
Subject: Re: Topband: ARRL CW SS started. Why is nobody on 160?
Message-ID:
CA+FxYXjUS5jpwwRgJnAPuwnUMipMk+a+U=yu36ul4vyhrnt...@mail.gmail.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

Hi Jim,

So THAT'S it! It's the ARRL's fault! :-)

I didn't realize that once per band was missing from this contest.

Thanks and 73,
Mike
www.w0btu.com

Amen. I get on 160 as often as I can - trying to get