Re: Topband: TT8XX QSL Help

I read somewhere that Glorioso is a military base and all operators have to be French military personnel. Possibly, the limited pool of potential operators didn't include CW operators of DXpedition caliber. CW, unlike digital modes, actually requires skill, and considerable skill for

Re: Topband: HEBA antenna

No one has commented on the "High Efficiency" "Broadband" claims, so I will. No antenna of this size will simultaneously have both high efficiency and wide bandwidth, according to established limits in the literature. See K6OIK's Pacificon paper with the latest refinements to these limits.

Re: Topband: [TowerTalk] New N6LF Ground Probe Designs

On 3/2/2024 11:36 AM, Jim Brown wrote: On 3/2/2024 10:43 AM, Jeff Blaine wrote: I live in an area surrounded by farm lands and assume that the soil here is nice and conductive.  But I have no idea what that really means. There is no definite correlation between land being farmed and RF

Re: Topband: [TowerTalk] New N6LF Ground Probe Designs

On 3/1/2024 10:44 AM, Brian Beezley wrote: Rudy Severns, N6LF, has updated his writeup on ground parameter measurement with several new probe designs. A ground probe and NanoVNA I'm not trying to take away anything from Rudy's excellent work, but he doesn't explain in the posted article what

Re: Topband: Lack of DX CW Activity

On 1/6/2024 6:49 AM, Mike Smith VE9AA wrote: Bill KU8H OK, I'll be very honest and say that I don't really understand posts like this. For nearly 30 yrs I've run 160m mobile on again/off again (more off than on) and have I think 67 countries on Top Band. KH6DX/W6 famously worked

Re: Topband: NCC-2 antenna pattern?

I did exactly the same thing as what Tree describes. It worked pretty well using just a Kenwood TS-570 as the 2nd receiver. Getting a really deep null on the loop requires attention to various details: 1. RF leakage into the feedline 2. Nearby metallic objects messing up the pattern of the

Re: Topband: Solar Cycle 25 Update - Presented by Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA

Will this presentation be recorded? Kind of early for us on the left coast who work. 73 Rick N6RK On 11/13/2023 2:07 PM, Robert Urban wrote: Please join us and our special guest speaker for the Madison DX Club program on *Tuesday, 7:00pm **CST**:* *The Madison DX Club's November 14,

Re: Topband: Digiwave feedline

Have tested a bunch of coax from HD and Lowes, I would say it is some of the worst coax you will find. It goes by various meaningless "brand" names. I've never heard of "Digiwave". I recommend you return it for a refund and buy real branded coax from a real distributor (probably on line

Re: Topband: Bugs

On 7/6/2023 10:38 AM, w3...@roadrunner.com wrote: I stepped up to a keyer from my Lightning Bug in the early 90s' but could never get the hang of both. My fist kept wanting to do the bug W3HKK (since 1956) First of all: "its not your fault" There are many different keyers available, and then

Re: Topband: Top Band Frequencies

On 7/4/2023 1:18 AM, Karel Matousek wrote: I highly recommend please do not use the exact frequency of the transmitter to two decimal places with TWO ZEROs such as 1825.00 or 18031.00 but rather e.g. 1825.33 or 1831.75. Those exact frequencies are much more likely to have interference. 73,

Re: Topband: [PVRC] 2-element receiving arrays

On 3/30/2023 7:47 PM, Frank W3LPL wrote: Hi Dave, Anyone who has experimented with a high impedance antenna such as an end fed half wave has experienced the extreme environmental influence on the feedpoint impedance of a high impedance feed. The required spacing to trees and buildings is very

Re: Topband: 2-element receiving arrays

On 3/30/2023 5:54 AM, Pete Smith N4ZR wrote: Thinking ahead to next winter on 160, I'm interested in replacing my K9AY Loop with a 2-vertical phased array.  I'd like to homebrew the antennas and just buy or build the remote control unit for the shack. I'm looking for sources of components

Re: Topband: [RFI] Powerline noise question

I am going to start with the preamp kit DXE sells to go with the flag kit. This particular noise source is extremely strong so I am optimistic that it will be sufficient. I can add the preamp that came with my Pixel loop if necessary. Again, your recommendation means a lot. 73 Rick N6RK On

Re: Topband: [RFI] Powerline noise question

Thanks Frank. You got me unstuck. I have ordered the DX Engineering Kits and the PL330 receiver. 73 Rick N6RK On 12/29/2022 7:53 PM, Frank W3LPL wrote: Hi Rick, I recently built a WB8DSB man portable flag antenna (March 2021 QST) for RFI geolocation, its performance far exceeds my

Topband: Noise investigation by FCC? (was: Re: ARRL 160)

On 12/7/2022 6:57 AM, Roger Kennedy wrote: To update on my Noise problem . . . I have had OFCOM engineers here this week trying to track it down. We came to the conclusion that I have TWO separate noise sources, that are both about the same strength. They have 73 Roger G3YRO Can anyone

Re: Topband: ARRL 160 meter contest

Did I miss the part about WHERE TO SEND THE PHOTOS, etc? Rick N6RK On 12/2/2022 9:40 AM, TreeN6TR wrote: This is a message from N5OT: Greetings. My job is to write up the 160 meter contest after the dust settles for the ARRL. The best writeups have lots of photos and personal stories.

Re: Topband: Top Band: Stew Perry Contest

I worked two JA's this morning near the end of the contest. However, their signals were not very strong. One of them, big gun JA5DQH, I had easily worked on phone last year. But I would say that the main problem with the fall edition of the contest is simply limited activity. By early in the

Re: Topband: ARRLWWDX-SSB Contest 160m conditions

On 3/13/2022 2:33 PM, Roger Kennedy wrote: Signals were still well down this weekend for the Spring Stew Perry, but came on the band a couple of times during last night, and managed 28 NA 73 Roger G3YRO In the Spring Stew, from the west coast USA, signals were excellent from the east coast

Re: Topband: Series LC to notch AM broadcast ?

On 2/20/2022 9:41 AM, jim.thom jim.t...@telus.net wrote: Has anybody tried using a simple series L-C to notch out ONE offending AM broadcast station ? I'm talking about wiring from hot side of coax...to Jim VE7RF _ See: MFJ-8504AN, AM Notch Filter 73 Rick N6RK

Re: Topband: TV coax + F-connectors

On 2/20/2022 7:46 AM, Radio KH6O wrote: Reading the comments about possible lack of uniform impedance and other short-comings, I remind myself that I'm an amateur, not a professional. A few milliwatts loss doesn't concern me. 73, Jeff KH6O _ The issue of non-uniform

Re: Topband: F connector how-to video

On 2/4/2022 8:58 AM, VE6WZ_Steve wrote: When you find a cable that you like, stick with it! Before falling in love with a cable, it is worthwhile to check its impedance accuracy vs frequency and its low frequency loss and the consistency of its velocity factor. Once you do this, you

Re: Topband: F connector how-to video

On 2/3/2022 7:29 PM, VE6WZ_Steve wrote: “Why the “F” won’t it go on ?” https://youtu.be/pE04tDpdhRA 73, de steve ve6wz _ YMMV, but what I do is actually use the conical spreading tool you show on the video (that you say doesn't work) and it

Re: Topband: Square "loop" antenna for 160

On 1/31/2022 6:22 PM, Radio KH6O wrote> I have to live with CC homeowner restrictions. I plan to erect a disguise wire antenna around the perimeter of my roof; total length will be about 190 feet. Elevation will be about 20 feet above ground and will be fed with 150 ohm twin lead.* My question

Re: Topband: Re CQ WW 160m Contest

On 1/31/2022 5:50 AM, Steve London wrote: Ron, I'm surprised you didn't have a better USA opening. From here in New Mexico, we had an outstanding Pacific opening on Saturday from 1215Z-1415Z. Many JA, but also: Same here. In a 40 minute period starting at 1240Z, I worked 40 JA's plus S

Re: Topband: 1:2 UNUN

Maybe this will help: I use a 1:2.25 Unun (3 to 2 turns ratio). It will match 22.2 ohms to 50 ohms. It is wound on a single 2.4 inch diameter core of 77 material. A pair of RG-58 coax cables are wound around it in tandem. I put on as many turns as would fit ... about 10 turns. The shields of

Re: Topband: Radials on ground v FCP

On 1/10/2022 1:13 PM, Jim Brown wrote: As usual, I agree with Rick.  But I'd like to observe that an extensive study of loaded mobile whips published in two parts in QEX about ten years ago showed that inductive loading, especially at the base, was a 73, Jim K9YC I wasn't clear. I

Re: Topband: Radials on ground v FCP

On 1/10/2022 10:42 AM, Kenny Silverman wrote: N6BT’s ring is pretty flexible in its dimensions. It can be 3 or 4 sides (or anywhere in between) and can handle some variation in symmetry. I’ve been having issues finding a solution to the high tree attenuation on my property and I had an

Re: Topband: Radials on ground v FCP

On 1/9/2022 8:22 AM, Richard (Rick) Karlquist wrote: electric fence wire works perfectly for elevated radials  Also consider N6BT's single spiral radial configuration as an alternative to FCP. Rick N6RK _ See: https://nextgenerationantennas.com/presentations-1 Rick N6RK

Re: Topband: Radials on ground v FCP

On 1/9/2022 4:51 AM, CUTTER DAVID via Topband wrote: Hi Rob I see copper prices have doubled in the last year. My intention is to compare and contrast the cost and performance of short verticals over a large field of ground radials v the very modest amount of wire required for the FCP. In

Re: Topband: Magnetic Loop Height Question

On 10/25/2021 8:32 AM, W7TMT - Patrick wrote: I'm looking to improve my receive situation on 160. Given the numerous limitations to my location it appears my best chance of seeing any improvement might be a small loop. All of the designs specify a minimum height of above ground. The DXE

Topband: Laser distance meters

I am considering replacing my 100 meter tape measures with a Bosch GLM400CL laser distance meter to use for laying out my next 160 meter circular array. I am wondering if anyone has any experience with this model or any other models that work to a range of 100 meters. (That spec eliminates the

Re: Topband: Vertical Dipoles on 160 Meters

On 5/7/2021 10:31 AM, John Crovelli wrote: For those who have limited space and are unable to lay out an effective ground system, the vertical dipole offers a very worthwhile alternative to an Inverted-L or low Inverted-V. I think of this as essentially an inverted-L with one elevated radial

Re: Topband: Aluminum fence wire for Beverage

On 4/13/2021 9:04 AM, Peter Krulewitch wrote: I tried the wire with some success but sag due to stretching created a problem. Wonder what your experience is and also use of steel fence wire. W2LL Sent from my iPhone _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband -

Re: Topband: 43’ 80 Meter Vertical

On 4/10/2021 1:16 PM, Chortek, Robert L. wrote: Hoping to get some guidance from the antenna gurus here. Can someone tell me if I added two top hat wires 16 GA THHN sloping at 45 degrees “about” how long they would need to be to resonate at 3.545 MHZ. Bob/AA6VB Robert L. Chortek After

Re: Topband: Adding 80 m to 160 m quarterwave vertical

On 4/5/2021 8:48 PM, Lloyd - N9LB wrote: Why not remove the 80m wire and simply run the entire 30m tall mast (with additional top hat) on 80m as a half-wave vertical? A "legal Limit" antenna tuner should handle it, or build your own 80m antenna matching unit. I did exactly what you

Re: Topband: 160 meter 1/8 wave

On 4/1/2021 1:48 PM, Dave Cuthbert wrote: Hi Doug, for now I will assume you mean an inverted-L with apex at 1/8 wavelength. Let's see what EZNEC shows for a top hat vertical at the extreme against the inverted-vee. We can refine the model with more input from you such as take-off-angle, top hat

Re: Topband: Elementary Inverted L questions

On 3/25/2021 11:39 AM, N4ZR wrote: Thanks to everyone who has replied so far, and apologies - I did a lousy job of describing the antenna.  First off - I set out to make it 1/4 wave (approximately 128 feet) long, and the starting length of wire (what I actually put up) was 140 feet.  

Re: Topband: Antenna thoughts

On 3/2/2021 11:19 AM, Dave Cuthbert wrote: John, here are EZNEC results for your downward sloping inverted-L and your T-vertical. Inverted-L radiation resistance = 8 ohms T-vertical radiation resistance = 12 ohms When doing these comparisons on 160 meters, it is crucial to use the EZNEC

Re: Topband: Broad band antenna approach for 160 Contesting

On 2/28/2021 7:40 AM, Grant Saviers wrote: The nice thing about switched serial caps (if same values) for tuning upwards from a low resonance is the voltages are all the same. Plus caps and appropriate relays are cheap, easy, and small. Rick, I think you might have suggested this to me,

Re: Topband: Broad band antenna approach for 160 Contesting

On 2/27/2021 2:23 PM, Artek Manuals wrote: Rick et all he feed, The taps are relay selected .  Taps selected for a dip at 1816, 1840 , 1860, 1880, 1900 and 1920. SWR 1.3:1 from 1.8 to 19.5 which the my KPA1500 and Alpha 9500 both love. Dave NR1DX manu...@artekmanuals.com Thanks for

Re: Topband: CQ ssb contest

On 2/27/2021 11:01 AM, Tree wrote: My general comments about the contest. Back about 15 years ago - it seemed like there was plenty of activity above 1900. AA1K spent most of the contest in 1999 kHz. Maybe it was conditions - but it seemed to be a lot less going on this year above 1.9 MHz. I

Re: Topband: JA on 160m SSB

On 2/25/2021 10:14 AM, Saulius Zalnerauskas wrote: Hi, Just interesting how many of You worked JA's on SSB? Me never. Best time I know, but what frequency they prefer? Maybe it will happen this weekend during contest? Sam LY5W _ Just worked JA7BXS at 0906Z and JA5FDJ at 0907Z

Re: Topband: FW: The WD8DSB mini-flag antenna (LONG!)

On 2/26/2021 7:31 AM, John Kaufmann via Topband wrote: I think there may be some semantic confusion over the term "averaging" and how averaging affects noise when making spectral measurements, so let me clarify what I mean. My comments are specific to the P3 but are fairly Averaging is a

Re: Topband: The WD8DSB mini-flag antenna

resistor with a physical temperature of 300K, therefore the noise temperature of the system will never be less than 300K. It is easy to find an amplifier that gives a sensitivity within a few dB of a hypothetical noiseless amplifier. Rick N6RK On 2/24/2021 4:53 PM, Richard (Rick) Karlquist wrote: >

Re: Topband: The WD8DSB mini-flag antenna

On 2/24/2021 12:26 PM, n...@comcast.net wrote: Hi Rich " The problem here is that any loop antenna inherently has a noise temperature of 300K, because it is lossy, and because it "sees" the earth" Would you elaborate on that? Small loop 1/10 of wave length works very different from a loop

Re: Topband: The WD8DSB mini-flag antenna

On 2/24/2021 6:32 AM, GEORGE WALLNER wrote: Don, I put that note out because friends were asking if with a "ultra-low-noise" pre-amp they could use it for DX. Unfortunately, that's not the case. (I have tried.) George, AA7JV/C6AGU The problem here is that any loop antenna inherently has

Re: Topband: The WD8DSB mini-flag antenna

On 2/23/2021 6:18 PM, David Raymond wrote: Don. . .thank you for the very nice loop  article in QST.  And, thank something portable to home in on it.  Do you or anyone here  any suggestions for a reasonably good portable receiver with an external antenna jack (might be hard to find?) that

Re: Topband: The WD8DSB mini-flag antenna

For finding 160 meter noise sources, I use a C-Crane or Sangean pocket AM band radio tuned to 1710 kHz. It also has a very sharp null due to the ferrite loop stick antenna built in. The QST antenna does have the advantage of being unidirectional, but I can often triangulate with the pocket

Re: Topband: ARRL CW Contest

No EU prop to CA at all. I saw G3YRO spotted but heard nothing on my new 9 circle RX array. OTOH, I worked over 30 JA's between 0900Z and 1030Z. A fair number were reporting only 100 watts. Also worked ZM4T. I supposedly QSO'ed UZ3DD with the 9 circle beaming to Asia. I see that UZ3DD is

Re: Topband: The Magic-T

The 90 degree hybrid is a third type of hybrid combiner, distinct from the 0 degree and 180 degree types. It is typically used for 4 square phasing. All 3 combiners basically have a 3 dB insertion loss for signals having appropriate phase conditions. What you say is true to the extent that

Topband: The "Magic-T" vs 0 degree and 180 degree hybrid combiner/splitters

Ham radio literature often IMHO misuses the term "magic tee" to refer to a transformer-based 0 degree hybrid combiner/splitter. AFAIK, a magic tee is a WAVEGUIDE device as explained here: https://www.tutorialspoint.com/microwave_engineering/microwave_engineering_eh_plane_tee.htm and here:

Re: Topband: 160 Receiving Loops source?

On 2/4/2021 11:27 AM, Eric Rosenberg wrote: With my antenna supports gone and living on a small city lot (Washington, DC), I'd like to try an 80/160 loop. I have some physical limitations that make mechanical skills mediocre at best for building one, and am looking for an affordable source

Re: Topband: Looking for recommendation for cutting tool for RG-6 with CCS center conductor

On 2/4/2021 7:09 AM, Fred Moeves wrote: I got a cheap set from Home Depot. Ideal 33-522   Internet #300134420 Works on DXE RG-6 both kinds of cable. Works good for me. 73 Fred KB4QZH I think Fred is actually referring to Ideal 45-074. A reviewer of 45-074 on Amazon ("Jeff") wrote: "I

Topband: Looking for recommendation for cutting tool for RG-6 with CCS center conductor

RG-6 is a special case in that virtually all of it uses a copper clad steel (CCS) center conductor. Many fine wire cutting tools are designed strictly for copper, and can get ruined if used for steel. I also want the cutter to slice the end off of the RG-6 cleanly, rather than crushing it and

Re: Topband: CQ 160

I worked 3 of those in the first 1/2 hour. Only missed NE. Rick N6RK On 2/1/2021 12:22 PM, Wes wrote: I noticed that too.  NE, KS, SD, ND all missing.  No one on or do we have a skip zone? Wes  N7WS On 2/1/2021 5:15 AM, Artek Manuals wrote: Odd hole in the N. America prop� no ND, SD or

Re: Topband: One Way Propagation.

On 1/16/2021 3:20 PM, Roger Kennedy wrote: If you have an efficient transmitting antenna, and an accurately calibrated S Meter, I have found over the decades that most signal reports are pretty Reciprocal. 73 Roger G3YRO Even if: 1. Propagation were always reciprocal. and 2.

Re: Topband: Bev under high power transmission lines

On 1/15/2021 6:34 AM, Richard King wrote: I would suggest not putting a beverage there. Even if the beverage doesn't overlap the power lines, it will still be noisy because of the alignment. 73, Richard - K5NA On Fri, Jan 15, 2021 at 5:16 AM Michael Fischer wrote: Instead of a

Re: Topband: Oscillation in Narrow band tuned antenna.

On 1/13/2021 3:13 AM, Rune Øye wrote: I have been told that Oscillation in Narrow tuned antennas can occur and make damage to your equipment, radio or amplifier. It is really the first time I have heard about this potential issue. On 160m band, I use a Can you give us more details on this

Re: Topband: FCP Question

On 1/9/2021 3:22 AM, Guy Olinger K2AV wrote: Hi Rick, An answer to Rick and some number of others with inquiries off reflector Those with EZNEC V5 or V6, including the demo version, can find the help reference by starting EZNEC (it's identical in V4/5/6). Click on "Help" in the menu

Re: Topband: FCP Question

(Rick) Karlquist I am vaguely aware that for a 2 wire line, EZNEC recommends that you replace it with the EZNEC transmission line element. It also says that EZNEC will not model the effect of the line in common mode, AFAIK. In any event, the FCP consists of 3 parallel wires. I have no idea what

Re: Topband: FCP Question

On 1/8/2021 8:33 AM, Salvatore ["Ted"] K2QMF wrote: Hello Rick, Can you point me to the info on N6BT's spiral counterpoise?? Many Thanks and 73, Ted  K2QMF I'm also posting this reply to the reflector in case others are interested. I couldn't find anything N6BT published on this topic. I

Re: Topband: FCP Question

It would be interesting to compare an FCP to N6BT's single spiral counterpoise. It models well on EZNEC. The FCP, unfortunately, cannot be modeled with NEC, AFAIK. Rick N6RK On 1/7/2021 9:35 PM, WI6X wrote: Ted, Read through Jim K9YC’s "Power Point slides for a presentation about 160M

Re: Topband: W6 to EU openings last night

On 1/4/2021 12:43 PM, Roger Kennedy wrote: I didn't come on last night . . . but I've been working across to Texas, Colorado and Arizona over the past week or so. What sort of time were your QSOs Rick? (will look out for you tonight) 73 Roger G3YRO The openings were around 0400 to 0500

Re: Topband: Cage wire performance

On 1/4/2021 7:05 AM, Kenny Silverman wrote: where the wires connect at a point on the top, but with a 4 foot spread of the wires near the ground. This adds about 15-20 kc to the 2:1 bandwidth per the model. Will a 2-wire section like this always behave as a wide/fat conductor or do I have

Topband: W6 to EU openings last night

Last night I was surprised to be able to work SM0GNU, UR0MC, HA8JI, and almost worked IZ4ZZB from my central CA QTH. Especially UR0MC in zone 16 who gave me a 599 report. I don't think I have worked that zone since the ARRL 160 contest during the last SS minimum. All signals had slow deep QSB.

Re: Topband: This report generated on Sunday, 27-Dec-20 at 20:29.

On 12/28/2020 8:11 AM, Tree wrote: Okay - let's end this discussion now. US1Q has entered the Stew as a check log - he is not eligible for awards. It is unsportsmanlike to use a remove receiver to help stations get more points. Also - please note US1Q was disqualified in the 2020 CQ 160 CW

Re: Topband: Stew Perry Contest

On 12/28/2020 6:49 AM, Stan Stockton wrote: I can see myself with my thumb over the end of a water hose before the CQ 160 Contest trying to spray water on power line insulators! 73...Stan, ZF9CW _ This is extremely dangerous! Don't do it. The power company has special

Re: Topband: 160 L and radials

On 12/11/2020 6:49 AM, w3...@roadrunner.com wrote: Bought three acres in the country here in central Ohio, where the general ground conductivity articles feel we have good midwestern loam soil. Well, MY soil is more like semi clay but it is agricultural land. Corn and soy farming in particular.

Re: Topband: Suggested Frequency

On 12/2/2020 12:02 PM, Joe wrote: Our club is working on a project where we will be able to use a AM Broadcast antenna on 160 meters. Joe WB9SBD Th I wouldn't get too excited about this project. The big groundplane is nice, but doesn't replace the "vertical on the beach" at all. The

Re: Topband: Stainless Steel for coil taps.

On 11/16/2020 7:58 AM, Wes wrote: Nickel is not OK. I could tell a war story about gold plating over a nickel barrier where the plating shop skimped on the gold. Wes  N7WS On 11/16/2020 4:05 AM, Rob Atkinson wrote:   EF Johnson and perhaps others used steel nuts and bolts that were plated

Re: Topband: Stainless Steel for coil taps.

I need to correct some misconceptions: On 11/16/2020 6:24 AM, Tim Shoppa wrote: Conductivity of Copper: 5.85 x 10^7 mho/m Conductivity of 301 Stainless: 0.14 x 10^ mho/m Stainless is 42 times worse conductor than copper. 1. Because of skin effect, the surface resistance is inversely

Re: Topband: OT - Bonding Radials at Intersections

On 11/6/2020 1:10 PM, Carl Clawson wrote: Frank, “Must” is a strong word. What goes wrong if you cross them? 73, Carl WS7L Also, if insulated wires are used for radials that cross over each other, is that to be treated differently than bare metal wires that cross over each other and touch

Re: Topband: Looking for a 2n5109

On 10/22/2020 9:22 AM, Edward stallman wrote: I remember about a year ago a discussion not to buy the 2n5109 transistors from E-Bay sellers . Some searching shows the 2n5109 has been discontinued for many years . So is anyone that's been saving one for many years willing to part with it ? I'm

Re: Topband: 160m activity

On 10/9/2020 8:26 AM, VE6WZ_Steve wrote: There is still a great deal of CW activity on 160m ! What we need is more guys calling CQ and less just listening and saying that no one is active! In the Summer Stew, I enjoyed a good rate for an hour or two after west coast sunset, then my rate

Re: Topband: RX Power over Coax

On 10/7/2020 7:45 AM, Grant Saviers wrote: Rick, Did you CM choke the power and signal leads?  or the whole cable? Grant KZ1W I should clarify that the CAT-5 was only used to drive relay coils. It did not power up a preamp, because I did not need a preamp. In place of a CM choke on the

Re: Topband: RX Power over Coax

Exactly right. I had trouble with "critters" chewing my coax. Nothing bad happened until it rained. Then the rain got into the coax and the water interacted with the DC voltage on the coax; terrible noise. With the DC off, there was no noise even when soaked. I converted the DC feed to CAT-5

Re: Topband: [bevantennas] Ground screen under beverage....

On 10/1/2020 10:53 PM, donov...@erols.com wrote: The engineer who lead development, testing and evaluation of the array explained that the ground mats served two purposes: - almost completely suppressed signals received by the sloping ends of the Beverages by making them into efficient

Re: Topband: Beverages and VK

On 9/16/2020 8:46 AM, Tree wrote: antenna. At a previous QTH - I would sometimes find a low dipole buried in a small ravine was my best RX antenna. Another indicator that a high angle was a play. Tree N6TR Observed same thing here with 1/2 wave dipole at 30 feet high. A similar dipole

Re: Topband: Horizontal Waller Flag

On 9/12/2020 5:26 AM, Mikek wrote:  My Technical knowledge is limited but, I have built directional AMBCB antennas. Feed line isolation is critical to make a directional antenna, directional! I have been criticized and been told, coax cable does not pick up signal. Must be I don't use the

Re: Topband: Horizontal Waller Flag

On 9/11/2020 8:06 AM, David Cole via Topband wrote: My next and final problem - when I have the tower retracted approx 25ft and the fiberglass stub mast I have good acceptable directivity - If I then raise the tower by 20 feet then the polar plot is and directivity disappears - lower the

Re: Topband: Rohn 25 Vertical questions.

On 8/19/2020 10:28 PM, donov...@erols.com wrote: Hi Ron, 700-1200 foot spacing should provide good in-band receiving capability. SDR receivers won't work for in-band receive, you must use a traditional transceiver such as the K3, K4HD, FTdx5000, IC-7800 etc. Micro-arcing is caused by

Re: Topband: Windows 10 Update heads up

I still prefer Windows 7 too... 73, Luke VK3HJ Windows 7 wasn't a safe harbor in the first place. Last October, I was running Win 7 for my PC with Flex installed. An update blew out the CAT driver. As a result, I missed the Stew Perry. To make a long story short: Flex and their 3rd

Re: Topband: Windows 10 Update heads up

On 8/16/2020 8:21 AM, Anthony Scandurra via Topband wrote: There is no monthly, yearly, or ANY fee for running a Flex radio. There is an UPGRADE charge when going from one major revision to the next (for instance, from version 2.x to 3.x) which is OPTIONAL. You don’t need to perform the

Re: Topband: Windows 10 Update heads up

On 8/14/2020 1:26 PM, Brad Rehm wrote: Phil, I've turned off updates for the maximum allowed 35 days on Pat's and my computers but not on my new laptop. I use it occasionally to access my Flex, so it will be my "canary in the coal mine" for future updates. For now, if it survives the next

Re: Topband: Windows 10 Update heads up

For Flex users: For the second time in less than a year, a Windows 10 update disabled my Flex CAT and DAX drivers. After hours of time spent with Flex, I learned I am supposed to disable auto updates. Also, before doing an update manually, I was supposed to uninstall the Flex software. Now I

Re: Topband: 1610 KHz AM Channel in USA

Any BCB radio with a ferrite bar antenna can usually null out power line "noise", etc. Of course, that noise/QRN is not the proverbial Additive White Gaussian Noise (AWGN). Maybe you meant to say "noise isn't always AWGN". 73 Rick N6RK On 7/5/2020 3:34 AM, Rob Atkinson wrote: Tnx for

Re: Topband: 1610 KHz AM Channel in USA

On 7/4/2020 4:35 PM, Rob Atkinson wrote: I'm not following the reasoning here. How are listeners never fighting noise below 1710 kc? In some cases noise (or by noise are we thinking of QRM?) is worse on medium wave broadcast channels because noise is usually AM and so are the desired

Re: Topband: Adding 80m to 160m receive array

On 7/4/2020 9:21 AM, gjpur...@gmail.com wrote: For those using uses short, umbrella wire loaded verticals, I've posted an article on adding 80m to a 160m array. It can be viewed or downloaded at: https://w6ayc.com/w6ayc-adding-80m-to-a-160m-receive-vertical/. 73 Joe W6AYC

Re: Topband: 1610 KHz AM Channel in USA

On 7/4/2020 8:55 AM, Tree wrote: Been testing my new SW Beverage using the 1610 kHz channel. This channel is mostly (if not entirely) low power stations - including the TIS Tree N6TR _ I used to have three 400ft bidirectional beverages that aimed at 30, 90, 150, 210, 270,

Re: Topband: Summer Stew Perry

On 6/21/2020 3:41 PM, List Mail wrote: I worked K7RAT (with some difficulty) and that was all. Luke VK3HJ From California, the band was basically only active from sunset until about 0500Z, at which point K7RAT was the last man standing, and it didn't seem like he had much rate. He was

Re: Topband: Tuning a 2el parasitic array

On 6/21/2020 7:06 AM, VE6WZ_Steve wrote: This morning I uploaded a YouTube video explaining the method for tuning any 2el parasitic array. I do some experiments in my workshop using the Nano-VNA on a small 2 el Yagi to explain mutual coupling. Then using 4NEC2 I show the relationship between

Re: Topband: Soldering aluminum coax shield to copper wire

On 6/1/2020 8:11 PM, Jim Brown wrote: On 6/1/2020 7:42 PM, Chuck Hutton wrote: I wish to solder copper wire to the shield. I understand the question, but since you've so far received no responses, I wanted to point out what "the industry" and other hams have done. 73, Jim K9YC OK,

Re: Topband: 160m Vertical

On 5/16/2020 4:31 AM, Rob Atkinson wrote: On 5/15/2020 8:27 AM, donov...@starpower.net wrote: ""A more reliable approach is a tuner in your shack. The extra coax cable loss from elevated VSWR is insignificant on topband."" Another disadvantage of a tuner at the shack end is that the match

Re: Topband: INV L matching

On 5/14/2020 9:26 AM, Tom | SP5XO wrote: d, wideband match. Since short vertical inv L over reasonable ground should have roughly 20 OHm impedance that could work here as well. The matching network that will maximize bandwidth is an autotransformer wound on a 2.4 inch diameter ferrite core.

Re: Topband: Herbert Schoenbohm, KV4FZ: Silent Key

I am happy for him that he lived long enough to get his license restored. Rick N6RK _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector

Re: Topband: [TowerTalk] Measuring resonance of a yagi element

On 4/23/2020 7:40 PM, VE6WZ_Steve wrote: Tom, Yes. Just sweeping from the end of the coax in the shack should show the same dip of R at the correct frequency. (The absolute R value (in Ohms), and X value will not be correct because of the feedline transformation, but the frequency of the R

Re: Topband: BCB Filter Recommendation?

On 4/17/2020 6:22 AM, Joe wrote: Is radio manufacturers that include steep filters and even attenuators in their radios to block AM Broadcast band signals. Then advertise that their radio covers from 50 KC to 60 Mhz! Sorry NO IT DOES NOT!!! It is extremely sad when a ten buck radio with

Re: Topband: BCB Filter Recommendation?

On 4/16/2020 2:45 PM, Jeremy Maris wrote: Make your own! Use this site to design your filter. http://www.iowahills.com/9RFFiltersPage.html Attached are the values I used back in 2016 when the G4AQG FT-1000MP had intermod problems with a new Beverage. I built a 9 pole Chebyshev high pass

Re: Topband: RG-6 Delay cables

On 4/8/2020 1:28 PM, Lee STRAHAN wrote: Even if the copper center conductor expands, the way the cable connectors are made allows the copper to simply push in the connector past the connection point maintaining its physical length. Very astute. You may have explained this paradox.

Re: Topband: RG-6 Delay cables

On 4/8/2020 10:37 AM, Lee STRAHAN wrote: Good morning from Oregon Top-Band people, Cable loss was -.61 dB at 59 Deg. F, And -.58 dB at an averaged cable temperature of 23 Deg. F. 59 Deg. F 23 Deg. F 1 - 74.59 DEG -74.60 DEG. 2 - 74.59 DEG -74.60 DEG. 3 -

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