Topband: CW Activity Last Night
Good to see lots of stations on Top Band last night ! Signals were pretty good across the Pond, and peaking around 0300Z . . . . curiously the band seemed to fade out after 0400Z. Sadly, I still have a local noise coming from the West of me (the direction my Receive Loop is pointing, which usually yields a 10dB lower noise level than my Tx antenna) . . . As a result, I heard a few stations call me, which I couldn't properly copy, with QSB in and out of the noise. So apologies if you were one of those. I hope to get this noise source sorted soon. Anyway, thank you to all the stations that made the effort to come on 160m, and especially those who took my advice to SPOT stations on the DX Cluster (which certainly helps) Maybe we'll have even more activity next weekend ! 73 Roger G3YRO _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Topband: CW Activity
Well given the comments about lack of DX activity on 160m, I'm going to start the promotion of a Wednesday CW Activity Night again. (I hadn't bothered this Season up til now, due partly to very poor conditions, and also my recent Noise problem) There has traditionally been DX activity on Saturday night/Sunday morning . . . but I figure a lot of people have family commitments at the weekend. That's why I picked a mid-week day a few years ago to try and encourage people to all come on the band at the same time. As previously, I will post a Reminder on here each week - if you're not interested, please just ignore these messages! 73 Roger G3YRO _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: CW activity
Roger, I stopped by the shack last night to listen for sigs...heard nothing for 15 minutes or so. til the xyl called me to watch the Olympics. I need to warm up the amp and put out a few CQs instead of listening. Maybe tonight. Bob -From: topband-requ...@contesting.com To: topband@contestingcom Cc: Sent: Wednesday February 9 2022 12:01:16PM Subject: Topband Digest, Vol 230, Issue 10 Send Topband mailing list submissions to topband@contesting.com To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/topband /> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to topband-requ...@contesting.com You can reach the person managing the list at topband-ow...@contesting.com When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of Topband digest..." Today's Topics: 1. Re: Topband Digest, Vol 230, Issue 9 (Mamuka Kordzakhia) 2. Wednesday CW DX Activity Night (Roger Kennedy) -- Message: 1 Date: Tue, 8 Feb 2022 17:48:17 + (UTC) From: Mamuka Kordzakhia To: "topband@contesting.com" Subject: Re: Topband: Topband Digest, Vol 230, Issue 9 Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 May I open a new Topic? On Tuesday, February 8, 2022, 09:00:54 PM GMT+4, wrote: Send Topband mailing list submissions to ??? topband@contesting.com To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit ??? http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/topband /> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to ??? topband-requ...@contesting.com You can reach the person managing the list at ??? topband-ow...@contesting.com When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of Topband digest..." Today's Topics: ? 1. 8 Circle question (Jim Miller) ? 2. Re: 8 Circle question (w...@w5zn.org) ? 3. Re: 8 Circle question (Mike Fatchett) ? 4. Re: 8 Circle question (Jim Miller) ? 5. Re: 8 Circle question (Joe Subich, W4TV) ? 6. " LOW POWER " (Roger Kennedy) ? 7. Re: " LOW POWER " (uy0zg) ? 8. Re: " LOW POWER " (uy0zg) ? 9. " LOW POWER " (Roger Kennedy) ? 10. Re: " LOW POWER " (uy0zg) -- Message: 1 Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2022 16:38:09 -0500 From: Jim Miller To: topband@contesting.com Subject: Topband: 8 Circle question Message-ID: ??? Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" I'm looking at putting out an 8 circle but three of the antennas on the circumference may need to be seasonally placed since they would be on my neighbor's property. If those three were removed would the remaining 2 elements for each (opposite) direction left in place still produce a cardioid pattern if switched toward those directions?? I'd terminate the removed lines with 75 ohm terminations of course. I would leave the center element and the remaining 5 elements on the circumference in place year round to minimize seasonal work if needed. 73 Jim ab3cv -- Message: 2 Date: Mon, 07 Feb 2022 14:43:41 -0700 From: w...@w5zn.org To: Jim Miller Cc: topband@contesting.com Subject: Re: Topband: 8 Circle question Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed Jim, Which 8 circle version are you referring to?? The HiZ-8 or the Broad Side-End Fire (BSEF) 8 vertical array? The HiZ-8 uses all 8 verticals for each direction but the BSEF array only uses 4 verticals for each direction. 73 Joel W5ZN On 2022-02-07 14:38, Jim Miller wrote: > I'm looking at putting out an 8 circle but three of the antennas on the > circumference may need to be seasonally placed since they would be on > my > neighbor's property. > > If those three were removed would the remaining 2 elements for each > (opposite) direction left in place still produce a cardioid pattern if > switched toward those directions?? I'd terminate the removed lines with > 75 > ohm terminations of course. > > I would leave the center element and the remaining 5 elements on the > circumference in place year round to minimize seasonal work if needed. > > 73 > > Jim ab3cv > _ > Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband [1] - Topband > Reflector -- Message: 3 Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2022 14:45:17 -0700 From: Mike Fatchett To: topband@contesting.com Subject: Re: Topband: 8 Circle question Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed You might consider the 9 circle which uses 3 verticals for each direction.? It might be interesting to model that with missing elements in those directions but the other directions should work just fine. The 8 circle uses 2 pair of phased elements.? It is hard to speculate not know which elements would be missing.? It
Re: Topband: CW Activity Night
Cndx have been ok but with sometimes deep qsb that all but makes a station that was strong at first all but disappear. QSOs in the W3HKK log include: OM2XW - OK1CF - F5IN - DG1CMZ - SM5EDX - DL8LAS the last two nights, plus another 8 stations hearing my CQs on the RBN. A few spots have been seen for the & dxpedition from US stns along the East Coast. but no copy here. All in all, the spotlight opening phenomena is clear.2-3-4-5 stations on at once time. Tune in 30 minutes later and hear another 2-3-4 different stations. And 30 minutes later more of the same. Sigs have been peaking 559-569 against a background noise level here in central Ohio of S0. Station: IC7610 to ACOM 1000 ( usually 800w) and a 16m /52' tall INV-L hung in a walnut tree sloping to the east at a final ht of 15ft. 26 radials of #17 alum fence wire or #14 jacketed copper wire between 130' and 25', averaging 65 ft. The RX antenna is a SAL-30 pyramid of phased loops. 160M DXCC: 176/156 Bob W3HKK since 1956 age 79 ex: F7AL - 5A3TG - 9G1GS - ON8UD - PY8/W3HKK ( Amazon) - PS7/W3HKK ( -From: topband-requ...@contesting.com To: topband@contesting.com Cc: Sent: Wednesday November 18 2020 12:06:56PM Subject: Topband Digest, Vol 215, Issue 17 Send Topband mailing list submissions to topband@contesting.com To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit -- End of Topband Digest, Vol 215, Issue 17 _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: CW Activity Last Night
Roger, Last night I had CW QSOs with OZ7YY, OK1CF, OK1TP, IV3PRK, SM4DHF and ON7PQ. Most signals were very solid. It was great to connect t with Luis. I have had between 3 and 6 EU QSOs every night for the last week. I heard your CQ a few nights ago and called but you didn’t hear me. I was CQ last night along with a few others from NA. Indeed the band is alive! My radio time is limited because I am visiting my daughter and helping with the grandkids since she just delivered baby three a few days ago :-) I am set up on the kitchen table when time allows and connect to my remote with the laptop. 73, de Steve ve6wz From Babcocks iPhone > On Sep 13, 2020, at 2:12 PM, Roger Kennedy > wrote: > > > There were several of us Europeans on calling CQ DX last night . . . > > But despite RBN Reports being reasonable from NA Stations, I didn't hear > anyone get any replies. > > I'll certainly be popping on again tonight, in the hope of some contacts. > > Roger G3YRO > > > _ > Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Topband: CW Activity Last Night
There were several of us Europeans on calling CQ DX last night . . . But despite RBN Reports being reasonable from NA Stations, I didn't hear anyone get any replies. I'll certainly be popping on again tonight, in the hope of some contacts. Roger G3YRO _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: CW Activity
If you want to find out about QRN somewhere you don't have to ask on an email list. You can just go to windy.com or www.lightningmaps.org and see for yourself. Also lightningmaps has a gray line plot so you can see where dawn and dusk are. Rob K5UJ _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Topband: CW Activity
Had a lot of direct replies, saying most of you in North America still have a lot of thunderstorms, so it's usually still very noisy on 160m. We hardly have any thunderstorms, even in Summer over here . . . so now we're heading into Autumn there's no QRN whatsoever ! I shall come on the band around 0200 GMT tonight to see if anyone's around. 73 Roger G3YRO _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: CW Activity
I can't speak for others, but the last two mornings here in S. AZ have been pretty quiet. I worked ZL yesterday and two VKs this morning and I use my TX inverted-l on RX. This is supposed to be our rainy (thunderstorm) season, but we are having record high temperatures and record low rainfall, so not too many local storms. When we do have them, they are usually our afternoon and evening (your sunrise) making the band unusable, even if the antennas are connected, which they usually are not. Wes N7WS On 9/4/2020 1:54 PM, Roger Kennedy wrote: So do you guys still have a lot of QRN over there? Roger G3YRO _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Topband: CW Activity
So do you guys still have a lot of QRN over there? Roger G3YRO _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Topband: CW Activity
Hi Rick I did try a Loop on the Ground a couple of years ago, and by the time I brought signals up to the same levels as my Tx antenna, the noise level was actually worse ! That's when I built my resonant Multi-turn Loop up in my loft. At least with that I was able to rotate it to null the noise as much as possible - and fortunately that ends up with it pointing East-West, which is the best direction for most DX from Britain. Most of the current high noise levels here in Britain are coming from the fact that the Internet is sent to most houses over existing copper phone wires . . . so the wires go up a 30ft wooden pole, and then fan out to the eaves of 8 or more houses . . . so there's one of these poles typically every 200 feet along each street. Those act as wonderful antennas, radiating the wideband hash from the Internet signals ! Fortunately, the phone wires in my street are underground (which is why I don't have an S9+ noise level, like most people in the city) . . . but at the end of my street there are dozens of phone wires, within one wavelength on 160m ! At least nearly all our mains cables in Britain are underground . . . 73 Roger G3YRO -Original Message- From: Rick Kunath [mailto:k...@yahoo.com] Sent: 08 April 2020 13:40 To: Roger Kennedy; topband@contesting.com Subject: Re: Topband: CW Activity Roger, Have you tried a LoG (Loop on Ground) receiving antenna? I have one here and it works wonders. Info at this site: http://www.kk5jy.net/LoG/ I built mine a bit larger but it's non-critical in construction. It worked wonders for me. It's also essentially invisible too. I wanted to try this so I got my hands on a 500 foot roll of twisted pair doorbell wire cheaply. I paralleled the wires for the loop and wound up using the twisted pair as a feedline to the shack. I have a 9:1 balun at the shack end. All the wire is on the ground even the feedline. It was just a quick lash up, but it worked amazingly well. I refined the install after that, and experimented with different sizes too. My loop is about double the size mentioned in the article. I was going to switch to coax buried feed and relocate the balun to the antenna end of the feedline, but it's been working so well I never got around to it. It might be worth a try. There is a Facebook group on the antenna too. Rick K9AO _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: CW Activity
Roger, Have you tried a LoG (Loop on Ground) receiving antenna? I have one here and it works wonders. Info at this site: http://www.kk5jy.net/LoG/ I built mine a bit larger but it's non-critical in construction. It worked wonders for me. It's also essentially invisible too. I wanted to try this so I got my hands on a 500 foot roll of twisted pair doorbell wire cheaply. I paralleled the wires for the loop and wound up using the twisted pair as a feedline to the shack. I have a 9:1 balun at the shack end. All the wire is on the ground even the feedline. It was just a quick lash up, but it worked amazingly well. I refined the install after that, and experimented with different sizes too. My loop is about double the size mentioned in the article. I was going to switch to coax buried feed and relocate the balun to the antenna end of the feedline, but it's been working so well I never got around to it. It might be worth a try. There is a Facebook group on the antenna too. Rick K9AO _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: CW Activity
Hi Roger You are lucky to live in a quiet city. In our cities, the 160 m range is completely destroyed. We build our antennas away from cities and even villages. Currently, I can’t get to my radio station - passenger buses were canceled (due to the search for coronovirus). --- Nick, UY0ZG http://www.topband.in.ua Roger Kennedy писал 2020-04-08 01:12: To Steve & Don Sadly I live in the city, so not only have quite a high noise level, but no room for low noise Beverage receiving antennas, like many other DX-ers use. So I'm sorry I couldn't copy you calling me last night. I do have a Receiving Loop I made a couple of years ago . . . but it's only about 6dB quieter than my Tx antenna at best. 73 Roger G3YRO _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Topband: CW Activity
To Steve & Don Sadly I live in the city, so not only have quite a high noise level, but no room for low noise Beverage receiving antennas, like many other DX-ers use. So I'm sorry I couldn't copy you calling me last night. I do have a Receiving Loop I made a couple of years ago . . . but it's only about 6dB quieter than my Tx antenna at best. 73 Roger G3YRO _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: CW Activity
With springtime QRN quickly developing and many of us having temporarily decommissioned our antenna systems due to lightning (including me), we have to expect activity to be down. This is really unfortunate for our southern hemisphere friends who are so very good about remaining QRV during their summer season. While I've never had a lightning problem in the shack (below grade single point grounding system before anything comes into the house) I have lost plenty of things out at the antennas (Comtek phasing/switching units, Hi-Z electronics, even coaxes feeding Hi-Z elements)Come early fall I and a lot of others will be QRV once again. 73. . . Dave, W0FLS -Original Message- From: VE6WZ_Steve Sent: Tuesday, April 07, 2020 10:23 AM To: Roger Kennedy ; topband Subject: Re: Topband: CW Activity Roger, You had a very solid and strong signal here in VE6 last night so your low dipole is working for TX, but you could not hear me calling. Your CQs were too long, because often by the time you finished your 5th or 6th CQ, the QSB took your signal down, and the peak was missed. Short CQs and short exchanges are much preferred on 160m. A 3X2 CQ is more than enough. Last night I was able to work SM5EDX, DF2PY, DL8LAS, ON7PQ, IV3PRK, PE5T, PA3FQA, G3XHZ and G3OQT. Luis IV3PRK was very weak and we struggled to complete the QSO, but in the end we made it. I know I had other EU callers, but the QRN from US T-storms made copy difficult. Fortunately, my EU RX puts most of the QRN off the side. I’m sure it was a challenge for much of NA because of the high QRN. 73, de steve ve6wz Well there are quite a few EU stations on CW, calling CQ DX every night . . . but getting very few replies. I had about a dozen NA QSOs on Saturday night . . . but I've been on every night since, and no calls whatsoever! (although RBN reports were quite good, so the band IS open) Roger G3YRO _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: CW Activity
Roger, You had a very solid and strong signal here in VE6 last night so your low dipole is working for TX, but you could not hear me calling. Your CQs were too long, because often by the time you finished your 5th or 6th CQ, the QSB took your signal down, and the peak was missed. Short CQs and short exchanges are much preferred on 160m. A 3X2 CQ is more than enough. Last night I was able to work SM5EDX, DF2PY, DL8LAS, ON7PQ, IV3PRK, PE5T, PA3FQA, G3XHZ and G3OQT. Luis IV3PRK was very weak and we struggled to complete the QSO, but in the end we made it. I know I had other EU callers, but the QRN from US T-storms made copy difficult. Fortunately, my EU RX puts most of the QRN off the side. I’m sure it was a challenge for much of NA because of the high QRN. 73, de steve ve6wz > Well there are quite a few EU stations on CW, calling CQ DX every night . . > . but getting very few replies. > > I had about a dozen NA QSOs on Saturday night . . . but I've been on every > night since, and no calls whatsoever! (although RBN reports were quite good, > so the band IS open) > > Roger G3YRO _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: CW Activity
Hi Topbanders, I have been taking part in SPDX Contest 160 / cw for many years. I usually have no more than 5 qso from North America stations in my log. This weekend I broke my record in the number of all connections 311 qso and in the 29 qso with W / VE,. I have to thank many US / VE operators for their patience when I asked them to repeat their control number again. I live on a small plot and I can only afford one triangle K9AY. Regards Andy SP6AEG Ham Radio Since 1959 -Original Message- From: Topband [mailto:topband-bounces+andrzej_aeg=interia...@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Thomas Hoyer via Topband Sent: Tuesday, April 07, 2020 1:54 PM To: ro...@wessexproductions.co.uk; topband@contesting.com Subject: Re: Topband: CW Activity I don't know where those RBN's are but here in southeastern PA at my station I have only heard two EU stations both during the SP contest. I'm on every evening from about to 0200. TomW3TA -Original Message- From: Roger Kennedy To: topband Sent: Tue, Apr 7, 2020 7:30 am Subject: Topband: CW Activity Well there are quite a few EU stations on CW, calling CQ DX every night . . . but getting very few replies. I had about a dozen NA QSOs on Saturday night . . . but I've been on every night since, and no calls whatsoever! (although RBN reports were quite good, so the band IS open) Roger G3YRO _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: CW Activity
I don't know where those RBN's are but here in southeastern PA at my station I have only heard two EU stations both during the SP contest. I'm on every evening from about to 0200. TomW3TA -Original Message- From: Roger Kennedy To: topband Sent: Tue, Apr 7, 2020 7:30 am Subject: Topband: CW Activity Well there are quite a few EU stations on CW, calling CQ DX every night . . . but getting very few replies. I had about a dozen NA QSOs on Saturday night . . . but I've been on every night since, and no calls whatsoever! (although RBN reports were quite good, so the band IS open) Roger G3YRO _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Topband: CW Activity
Well there are quite a few EU stations on CW, calling CQ DX every night . . . but getting very few replies. I had about a dozen NA QSOs on Saturday night . . . but I've been on every night since, and no calls whatsoever! (although RBN reports were quite good, so the band IS open) Roger G3YRO _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
