Re: Topband: Bob K4UEE silent key
Sorry to hear. Bob was kind and helpful to newcomers to the Topband as well. In 1993 Bob was with the AH1A DXpedition. I was using a balloon supported ¼ wave vertical to try to work AH1A. Early Sunday morning of the CQ 160 contest that year as the sun began to peek over the horizon, I copied AH1A calling CQ with a good signal. I looked out the window – oh no! The balloon had lost helium and now my antenna wire was floating only about 6 feet above the ground. No time to refill or fix it. I went ahead and called... AH1A came right back and logged. At Dayton I met Bob and thanked him for the contact. Told him about the antenna situation. He laughed, said "well done." And use a better balloon next time! * Jon N0JK Many topbanders bagged a 'rare' new one on topband tnx to Bob. RIP, old friend. Mark - on4ww. _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: DX Conditions
I have not been on 160 Meters much this winter season. I am a 6 Meter operator and that is where I spend my most of my time. I got on 160 Meters this morning to try for TX5S. But my main 160 antenna is down. I loaded up the rain gutter on our home, added a 40 foot extension wire over to a short cherry tree for a "low inverted L." Running about 50 watts. The SWR was low, but probably high ground loss. After a couple of calls – TX5S worked on FT8 "F & H" around 0845z on 1.836 MHz! The CQ 160M contest was taking place. I then switched to a TS-850 (my favorite CW radio) and worked a few contestants. Best DX was VE7ZO in BC. After the contest I was curious if I had any psk flags? Had two in Japan, of all things. The A index today is only 6. Eventually will get a real antenna back on 160M. Used to have a ¼ vertical. 73 – Jon N0JK KS _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Topband: Balloon Supported Verticals
I have used 1/4 wave balloon supported wire vertical for years. Usually a 5 ft diameter balloon. 8 - 16 50 ft radials. They work well, logged VK0EK with it with 100 watts. N0JK Sent from my Galaxy _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: KV4FZ
In addition to being a superb Topband operator, Herb also operated some on 50 MHz. I worked him back in May, 2017 on 6 Meter CW. Nice to see NØUU's note about him, as well as the others. Hope everyone stays safe. -- Jon N0JK _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: FT8 - How it really works
Jerry: Clever way to evaluate FT8 SNR reports with your VFO 1 and 2 comparisons. I often see positive numbers on FT8 160 meter signal reports for strong stations on FT8. For example -- if a station is S9 + 10 dB audible, then it reads a positive number for the FT8 signal report. At the risk of giving away a tip to improve FT8 SNR performance -- I use my 500 Hz CW filter for FT8 at times. It can definitely improve decoding on DX signals, particularly if many strong signals are in the 2,500 Hz passband on 160 meters. I encourage everyone to upgrade your software to WSJT-X v 2.0 Best wishes to all for the Holidays -- Jon N0JK While sitting around being bored and recovering from a gall bladder operation, I decided to do some experiments with FT8. First thing I did was upgrade the software to WSJT-X v2.0. I hope this post doesn't turn into another FT8 bashing session. My only goal was to understand how this mode works and what it can do and what it cannot do. -- Jerry, K4SAV _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Topband: Baker Island DXpedition on 160
Back in the 90's - KH6ND was active from Kure Is on 160M during July. He was very workable in North America in the early morning hours before NA sunrise. I logged Mike with 100 w and my balloon supported vertical. QRN from thunderstorms may be lower at that time. Europe may well have some short windows of opportunity as well. A safe trip to the KH1/KH7ZZ team. - Jon N0JK Hello TopBanders, KH1/KH7Z will be active on 160 from Baker Island from June 27 to July 6 (note that dates are tentative and may change -- please visit http://baker2018.net/ for updates). GL and CU, George, AA7JV PS: Donations are the life-blood of DXpeditions and this one is no exception. _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: FT8 - the end of 160m old school DXing?
A similar situation regarding digital modes took place on 50 MHz this summer. In the case of 6 meters, JT65 and FT8 are now the predominant modes for DX work on 6 meters. During terrestrial sporadic-E openings, there are very few DX stations now operating CW or SSB on 6. Meteor scatter is the realm of MSK144. If you want to work DX on 6 meters now - digital is where it is at. - Jon N0JK One can think of FT8 as a Pinball machine or a video game. You click "here" at the right time and maybe the ball falls just right and the other station comes back to you. If not, you click again. Preserve the CW/SSB mode awards. Jim - KR9U _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: 160 meter L
I fly a balloon vertical for 160 meters (1/4 wavelength) with 8 radials. For 80 meters I use a standard tuner right at the base feed point to match it = ~ 1/2 wave. It gets out quite well. Voltages would be high so use appropriately rated coils/capacitors. This may be another option for a two band inverted L if one does not wish to use a trap. - Jon N0JK > I have a 75-80 1/4 wave vertical. It has 20 1/4 wavelength radials. I > would like to run an inverted l up the radiator and horizontal for the rest > of the radiator both antennas fed with same feed line. - Doug. WD8Z _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Topband: VP6J
Nob and Ken were very loud this morning on 1.823.5 MHz to KS, logged at 1201z using the rain gutter on our house and 100 W. A few minutes later the house started shaking and the ceiling fans swaying was it the 160 prop. Gods angry for my contact ? No -- a 5.6 earthquake in Pawnee, OK felt as far away as St. Louis, MO. - Jon N0JK _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: low band propagation at solar min
The topic of fewer sporadic-E openings since 2011 and their geographical distribution (Europe has far more Es than North America) will be reviewed in the August, 2016 QST WA50 column. - Jon N0JK "Speaking of the last minimum, I noticed E skip on 50 MHZ was better here than in the last few seasons. I worked a JA in 2010 and 2011 but have not heard one since, despite diligent listening. Far fewer EU openings as well for me. I don't know if this is normal or a fluke, as I started on 6M in 2009. Sorry about the VHF comment on the Topband Reflector." 73 Charlie N8RR _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: VK0EK on LoTW
Ed is right, and I received a note from KK6EK thanking for the donation he sent from Heard. I am looking forward to an old school "hard copy" QSL card as well. :-) N0JK Moreover, if you contributed DURING the operation, they got their LotW list updated and your QSOs were QSL'd on LotW within a day of your online donation. They clearly had the IT portion of the project nailed. Ed W0YK _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: K5P good job !
K5P was surprisingly solid on 1.821.5 with just a wire attached to one of the rain gutter downspouts this morning in eastern KS around local sunrise. Motivated me to put up a wire inverted L today, will see what tomorrow brings. - N0JK > They had great sigs this AM. Heard Jack VE1ZZ work them around 1025 utc > after I shovelled the driveway in the dawn. > > Hoping to see more posts from W8JI. I'm not remotely qualified to > rank his substantial expertise and contributions to this group. > > 73 > Joe VO1NA _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: K1N 5,399 q's on 160 M
I consider VP6DX to be one of the top all time 160 meter DX operations. Despite being thousands of miles from North America, they worked many small stations including me (at the time had just moved so a random wire thrown over the house and 100 watts). K1N had a great signal on 160, well over S-9 most nights - but seemed to be having difficulty hearing callers. Despite a full size inverted L, I was not QSO 5,400... - Jon N0JK IMHO the operations at 5A7A, K5D, K1N, R1MVW, HK0NA, TS7C,and TX5K did an extremely good job and were able to take advantage of the proximity to major population areas. They had to have a good station and great operators, and had to be on the ground long enough to take make the large amount of Qs. But, and again IMHO, the operations at VP6DX, T32C, and ZL8X are OUTSTANDING because they had to overcome the big one; DISTANCE, for nearly 100% of their Qs. Now to separate those three just a bit. ZL8X did 4,206 Qs with a crew of 14 operators and 18 days of operation. T32C did 4,985 Qs with a crew of 41 operators and 32 days of operation. VP6DX did 6,671 Qs with a crew of 13 operators and 17 days of operation. 73 de Milt, N5IA _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: K1N 5,399 q's on 160 M
George: Thanks for the note. All the K1N ops did an outstanding job ! That is an excellent tip re. getting on after European sunrise and before JA sunset for DXpeditions on the low bands. I got up a number of nights ~ 2 am - 4 am CST to try for K1N. I was successful on 40 and 80 meters with K1N during this time slot. - Jon Jon, I was one of the 160 m operators. NA callers were thick during the evening hours when they were competing with EU, making for some difficult pile-ups, but after midnight (and EU sunrise), often there were very few NA callers. George AA7JV _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: KP1
Thanks Herb for the note and memories. I found my KC4DX card. Worked on 20M back in 1972 when I just had received general class privileges. At the time I had no idea I had worked a rare one. I used the Heath SB-401/SB-300 and a Hy-Gain vertical. KC4DX's main radio was the Swan 500C radio. Wayne Green, W2NSD/1 was one of the ops. Yes, the Wayne Green. More info. about KC4DX here. http://kc4dx.com/ Looking forward to working KP1 on the Top Band. - Jon N0JK Message: 1 Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2014 00:34:47 + (UTC) From: Jeff Wilson jjw5...@yahoo.ca To: topband@contesting.com topband@contesting.com Subject: Re: Topband: KP1 Message-ID: 1464259376.198200.1414110887279.javamail.ya...@jws100111.mail.ne1.yahoo.com Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Thanks for the memories Herb.I was surprised to see you had the KV4FZ call way back then! I just dug out my K4IA/KC4 Navassa Island SWL QSL to VE3PE2NL (thanks Popular Electronics!)? from June 24, 1969...20m SSB 0411Z QSO with WA6ROU.? Now finally a chance for a real QSO, and on Top Band!!!? QSL showed a BW photo of nasty cliff side landing zone.? All Drake RX/TX pairs.? Thankfully it is not in the Indian Ocean!? Can't wait for Januarywill have to put up the South Beverage, but probably won't need it with this team!? Best Wishes, 73 Jeff VE3CV _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Topband: Re TX5K op
They seemed to hear well on 160 and were very loud right before sunrise yesterday. Unfortunately the op copied me asNOOK and kept sending b4 as I tried to correct my call. Guess N0OK was already in the log. Sun came up and they were gone. N0JK _ Topband Reflector
Topband: QRP/Poor antenna stations ARRL160
While not running QRP, my antenna in the ARRL 160 was loading up the rain gutter on ourone story rental duplex in Lawrence, KS. Maximum height is about 10 feet above ground, a marginalTop Band antenaa at best. I set up to hand out some contacts in the contest. Oddly, it loaded easilywith a MFJ tuner. N0TT, N0NI, W0SD, AA1K and about 80 other stations heard me, most on first or second call Saturday night. Best DXwas probably KA6BIM/7 in Oregon. Good ops and patient with the weak signal crowd. I found it easier to work stations after mid-night as many of the big ops were hungry for QSOs. Butseveral stations were not worked who kept calling CQ over and over with almost no time listening... - N0JK Some harder than others. W0SD gave my QRP signal a real good try early in the evening, but couldn't get the exchange. I'll certainly try again tonight. N0TT and N0NI heard me almost right away, but it took some repeats to get in their logs. They were my best DX last night. I worked several NM stations, but WD5COV, even when on his 20 over S9 west-facing TX antenna, never gave me so much as a QRZ for the several dozen times I called, and had his auto CQ set for a very short recycle time. If you're going to work weak signals, both sides of the QSO need patience, operating skill, and good ears. There are FAR too many alligators on the band. Doing the math, 20dB down from 1.5 kW is 15 watts, and a 5W signal would be S8. If your noise level is S8, IMO, you have no business running 1.5kW! - K9YC ___ Topband reflector - topband@contesting.com
Topband: Rain gutter redeux
I got on early Sunday morning around 1000 utc after getting home from work. Added another 28 QSOs using the gutter antenna. Conditions better to the east coast with K8PO ME and VE2OJ PQ worked. Numerous W2s and 3s loud around 1100 utc. Noise level high on it and probably more potential contacts possbile had I used a seperate receive antenna. Ended up around 130 contacts using a simple stealth antenna. - N0JK ___ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
