Re: Topband: JA 160 changes - FYI

Great news. I now need to finally put up a JA receive array. It's going to be great to escape from the "dime-quarter" band combat zone during contests. It gets brutal down there on contest mornings trying to carve out a run frequency. Rick N6RK _ Searchable Archives:

Re: Topband: Ground Conductivity

A heuristic way to judge ground conductivity: If 160 meter Beverages work well, especially over 1 wavelength long, you don't have high ground conductivity. If Beverages are not particularly sensitive to end termination, you do have high ground conductivity. Rick N6RK _

Re: Topband: Ground Conductivity

On 3/23/2020 3:01 PM, Chortek, Robert L. wrote: A quick question for the collective wisdom on this esteemed reflector: How would one categorize the quality of ground consisting of grass. For example, if you live next to a large (many acres) open space made entirely of well watered grass,

Re: Topband: Any experience with 2N3553?

On 3/19/2020 10:04 AM, Don Kirk wrote: For grins and giggles I ordered 10 2N5109 parts on E-bay (from Asia). Also ordered new ones from Mouser which I just received today, and also had one that I purchased a long time ago from Mouser (all of my Mouser purchased Just FYI, Don (wd8dsb)

Re: Topband: CQ...CQ...CQ

On 3/17/2020 4:15 PM, VE6WZ_Steve wrote: Lets get out there and call CQ to stir up the band. (or ANY band for that matter) While you are CQ'ing, do you also check your own call on RBN to see where you are being heard? Would that differentiate between "dead band" and "lack of activity"?

Re: Topband: Slightly OT - amplifier noise

On 3/14/2020 4:07 PM, Jim Brown wrote: Another good advantage to the electronic schemes is that you don't have to go outside to rotate them when the noise that's bothering you is coming from a different direction. 73, Jim That is an interesting idea. I have been trying to figure out

Re: Topband: Slightly OT - amplifier noise

On 3/14/2020 3:27 PM, Greg - ZL3IX wrote: I used one of these systems (homebrew WA1ION) for a  couple of years in the early 2000s. My problem was a speed-controlled water pump (local water authority) very close to my QTH. The pump was in the same direction as most of the wanted DX, so a

Re: Topband: Slightly OT - amplifier noise

I am trying to understand what these noise cancelling schemes do that couldn't be done with a simple loop (rotating the loop until the noise drops into one of the null directions). You can easily prove to yourself with a hand held AM BCB receiver equipped with a ferrite bar antenna that even

Re: Topband: Slightly OT - amplifier noise

On 3/14/2020 10:20 AM, GEORGE WALLNER wrote: Steve, Sorry, I did not directly answer you question. Look at the specs of the IF3602. (But also look at the price!) George AA7JV JFET's have a channel resistance that has thermal noise like any other resistor. That sets the noise voltage for

Re: Topband: Hi Z amplifiers for 160m

On 3/13/2020 12:34 PM, Richard (Rick) Karlquist wrote: On 3/12/2020 4:29 PM, Mikek wrote:    I'll stick my neck out and suggest Dallas Lankford's '2 FET amp'.   If anyone has an interest, I have some more files in my computer. https://www.okdxf.eu/lankford/Hi%20Z%20PPL%20Loop%20And

Re: Topband: Hi Z amplifiers for 160m

On 3/12/2020 4:29 PM, Mikek wrote:   I'll stick my neck out and suggest Dallas Lankford's '2 FET amp'.  If anyone has an interest, I have some more files in my computer. https://www.okdxf.eu/lankford/Hi%20Z%20PPL%20Loop%20And%20Flag%20Arrays.pdf I    

Re: Topband: EZNEC

On 3/9/2020 8:02 PM, Chortek, Robert L. wrote: Good Evening, I’ve just downloaded the demo version of EZNEC and I am working through the tutorials. I’m trying to model a vertical with four elevated radials on 160 m. The problem I’m having is I can’t figure out how to separate the radials

Re: Topband: RBN and cluster spots

On 3/9/2020 12:45 PM, VE6WZ_Steve wrote: Hi Mike… My logic is that I want to see ALL spots…especially those from EU skimmers. Why? I have always displayed both EU and AS spots. One day, I saw a spot from AS for P5/3Z9DX on 15 meters around 4PM local. No spots from NA.' I fired up the

Re: Topband: YCCC 9 Vertical Array Preamplifiers

On 3/4/2020 1:39 AM, Lee STRAHAN wrote: Hello Henk and others, I can surely see your point about how interesting that would be to share all the circuit details. However you would have to understand that what you propose is exactly what I did many years ago. I published on the web my

Re: Topband: YCCC 9 Vertical Array Preamplifiers

On 3/4/2020 12:13 AM, Henk Remijn PA5KT via Topband wrote: I think it is more interesting for the Topband community that you publish your design and let the people build their own. 73 Henk PA5KT I'll let Lee speak for his own design, however here are some alternate design resources that

Re: Topband: T Top Verticals and yagis

On 3/1/2020 7:44 PM, Don Kirk wrote: Hi Rick, My first example is why NVIS can be useful.  I often can't hear stations 150 miles away on 160 meters using my TX vertical, but they are booming in on my pennant that has a much better response to higher angle signals (I could definitely

Re: Topband: T Top Verticals and yagis

On 3/1/2020 6:47 PM, Don Kirk wrote: Hi Rick, One more comment.  I believe AM broadcast stations try to avoid phase cancellation between skywave and ground wave, and therefore they try and avoid antennas that have a high angle lobe.  I'm pretty sure that's why the AM broadcast stations

Re: Topband: T Top Verticals and yagis

On 3/1/2020 5:26 PM, Mike Waters wrote: However, during stateside contests such as the ARRL 160, not having some NVIS would be a disadvantage. 73, Mike W0BTU How come AM broadcast stations don't need NVIS? Rick N6RK _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband -

Re: Topband: 9 circle RX array combiner board

On 3/1/2020 5:21 PM, K9FD wrote: I bought a supply from Mouser a month or two ago,  they had some on order,  probably all gone by now as the word gets around. 73 Merv K9FD I just ordered some from Mouser; "March 30" ship date. Over 4000 were supposedly available. Get 'em while you can!

Re: Topband: 9 circle RX array combiner board

On 3/1/2020 4:30 PM, donov...@starpower.net wrote: There's no shortage of 2N5109s on eBay for about one dollar each www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=2n5109&_sacat=0&_sop=15 73 Frank W3LPL Considering that Motorola ceased production in the year 2000, most of these are obviously

Re: Topband: 9 circle RX array combiner board

On 3/1/2020 2:22 PM, VE6WZ_Steve wrote: Just like some guys enjoy woodworking and making furniture that they may not really need, I like to build radio things just for the fun of the project even though I may not really “need” it. For three years I have been using the original 9 circle RX

Re: Topband: T Top Verticals and yagis

On 2/29/2020 9:56 AM, Guy Olinger K2AV wrote: Have to disagree on the no-use-for the horizontal leg. 73, Guy K2AV I would like to mention that I have worked Guy many times in contests and he consistently has a very solid signal from NC to CA. So he must be doing something right with

Re: Topband: VP8PJ & CP6/DK7PE

On 2/28/2020 11:21 AM, Andree DL8LAS via Topband wrote: hey topbanders, what a nice night, worked VP8PJ and CP6/DK7PE. And any other loud stations VE6WZ,  K1RX, K1WHS Hope condx will be good again  next days here in EU. 73 Andy DL8LAS Congratulations. Here in Northern California, I have

Re: Topband: CA on 160 м

On 2/27/2020 3:49 AM, uy0zg wrote: California in Ukraine on a real RX is very hard to hear. I have confirmation in LotW magazine of several callsigns from California. But I am completely sure that it was California, in only two cases - N6JV 2009 year, KG6I - 2010 In 2009, Norm, N6JV,

Re: Topband: T-loaded vertical

On 2/19/2020 11:50 AM, Ed Sawyer wrote: I have personally found that for Ts that are only 70 ft vertical, like mine, the ground losses of the long topped L are not as desirable as the cancelled out horizontal lobes of the T. If the T were say 90 ft of vertical, I don’t think the T adds as

Re: Topband: T-loaded vertical

On 2/18/2020 8:45 AM, N4ZR wrote: I keep seeing references to people using symmetrical wire top loading instead of the single wire of an inverted L.  My question is how to calculate the appropriate length for the two top-loading wires. At least 3 different answers: 1. If you want the

Re: Topband: Dacron & varmits

On 2/17/2020 11:53 PM, Gary Smith wrote: Coupla things. I need new Dacron, some I have is from the 80's & finally at its end. I bought some replacement but it's not what I had. What I had was greenish and solid braid, tough and incredibly resistant to nature. What my new "Dacron" is, is a

Re: Topband: RG-179 Coax

On 2/14/2020 1:04 PM, Jim Brown wrote: On 2/14/2020 11:40 AM, Fred Moeves wrote: Can you figure out impedance of coax with a device like the Rig Expert? Yes, if it's a model that can be calibrated, and if the calibration is properly done, and if it's a model that can export measurements

Re: Topband: RG-179 Coax

This is actually an excellent price. The "usual suspects" like DigiKey and Pasternack get quite a bit more. The cheapest miniature coax is RG174 (polyethylene) and even that is not so cheap, at least at the vendors above. Rick N6RK On 2/13/2020 4:21 PM, Roy Morgan wrote: Or The RF connection

Re: Topband: .TX Mica Caps

On 2/7/2020 6:15 PM, HP wrote: FWIW -- I was looking at All Electronics website last night - looks like they have unearthed a bunch of WW2 TX micas -at what looks like reasonable prices Reduced Price 0.0004 UF, 5000 VOLTS MICA CAPACITOR CAT# MC-401V5K Sangamo Type F2L Mica Capacitor. 2.32" x

Re: Topband: . Re: PTFE wire supplier

That store was never really cheap for wire. And they charged a large premium for PTFE. I'm happy for you if you got a bargain. In case you hadn't heard, the store was acquired by Excess Solutions. It will be interesting to see if prices are any better. Rick N6RK On 2/7/2020 3:56 PM, Jim Brown

Re: Topband: PTFE wire supplier

Have you checked ebay for surplus? On 2/6/2020 6:33 AM, Fred Moeves wrote: Looking for supplier of PTFE wire copper silver coated. Before retiring I use to get it free it was used in airfield ILS and regulators. I have used up all I had...18 or 16 AWG... I found some Granger and a little

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

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

Re: Topband: Any Linrad selective limiter noise blanker experts here?

On 1/22/2020 8:06 AM, Roger D Johnson wrote: Darn! Forgot the URL! http://www.ka7oei.com/syn_blank.html 73, Roger This is the "Kalman filter" I posted about earlier in this thread, although Kalman is my term, and wasn't used by previous writers. Let's say they independently reinvented the

Re: Topband: Any Linrad selective limiter noise blanker experts here?

On 1/22/2020 3:34 AM, Tim Shoppa wrote: Rick, there are irregularities in my noise - and in the previous utility line noises I've had at my QTH - that prevent any predict-the-exact-time-of-the-noise-spike-in-advance algorithms. OK forgot the Kalman filter. Back to brainstorming Plan B:

Re: Topband: Any Linrad selective limiter noise blanker experts here?

back loops average over many pulses and therefore suppress QRM since it averages out in the long run. Again, this was all published many years ago. Rick N6RK On 1/21/2020 10:30 AM, Jim Brown wrote: On 1/20/2020 2:28 PM, Richard (Rick) Karlquist wrote: In most cases, line noise is a repeatin

Re: Topband: Any Linrad selective limiter noise blanker experts here?

On 1/20/2020 7:43 AM, Tim Shoppa wrote: But in a 160 contest with a huge density of loud local signals, the rigs noise blanker's action just mixes all the super-loud dense signals together and isn't really effective anymore. Tim N3QE tsho...@gmail.com _ In most cases, line

Re: Topband: Topband resource

On 1/14/2020 4:30 PM, Roger Kennedy wrote: And there's definitely no radiation from the feeder ! The dipole is fed with good quality coax, there's a properly constructed 160m choke balun at the feedpoint . . . and anyway, most of the feeder isn't even vertical, as it runs horizontally

Re: Topband: Topband resource

On 1/14/2020 2:48 PM, Roger Kennedy wrote: "However, 160 needs vertical polarization for consistent long DX." So how is it that I consistently work all over the world on 160m with my horizontal dipole at 50ft?! (and my signals seem to often be pretty comparable with other Brits using

Re: Topband: Stew Perry

On the other coast, the big JA stations were 10 to 20 dB over S9 at my SR (1515 UTC), but then faded 1/2 hour later to S9. Jim was easily copyable, but no where near that strong when I worked him last night. Rick N6RK On 12/29/2019 1:13 PM, ws6x@gmail.com wrote: Another Top Band Challenge

Re: Topband: Temporary antenna suggestion for 160

On 12/15/2019 6:52 PM, Chortek, Robert L. wrote: Easy! Get a 60’ Spiderbeam Fibeeglaas pole. Run a wire up the side and top load it with two 44’ wires running out at 45 degrees or less. Mine was so easy to install I was able to it alone with any trouble at all in a few hours. Bob

Re: Topband: Topband relays

On 12/11/2019 5:13 AM, Tim Shoppa wrote: Not relevant to my topband setup, but For the high-impedance (ladder line) side of my switching, I use open-frame relays with the contacts pried a little further apart than stock. Example part is the McMaster Carr 7384K14. N6RK outlines the

Topband: Morning (W6 time) opening to European Russian today at ~1300Z during ARRL contest

11 or so years ago, I worked UA3AGW at 1500Z during the ARRL contest using only 100 watts then. That was of course at a sunspot minimum. We are now at the next SS minimum and this morning in the 1300Z hour, I again worked UA3AGW who called me during the contest. I also worked RK4FF, UD4F, RM4F,

Re: Topband: 160 meter QSL card checking

I attained 160 meter DXCC around 5 years ago. I don't feel that it qualifies me to check QSL's. Even though I did it from the west coast :-) I can see where say 25 years ago, 160 meter DXCC really meant something. Now that we have entered the FT8 era, digital DXCC has become far easier, and

Re: Topband: 160 skip distance

On 9/16/2019 5:36 PM, Larry wrote: 160 is absolutely capable of NVIS; I've tested it and 160 NVIS works on sideband with between 10 and 20 watts, or about 2.5 watts CW, so having a groundwave signal nulled by NVIS is possible. Larry W8ANT You should be able to get rid of the NVIS wave by

Re: Topband: Relationship Between Ground Wave and Low-Angle Radiation

On 9/13/2019 6:31 AM, N4ZR wrote: I don't think I've ever read anything on this topic.  Basically, what I'm asking is, could ground wave to a fairly nearby Skimmer be used as an analogue to low-angle radiation to assess the effectiveness of radial systems on an inverted L?  W3LPL is about 30

Re: Topband: Inverted L redux

On 9/2/2019 12:08 PM, N4ZR wrote: More as an experiment and a thought-provoker than anything else, I've started adding 50-60-foot, on-the-ground radials to my 135-foot inverted L.  In the latest incarnation I'm up to 4 radials.  On my ancient MFJ-259B the lowest SWR is 1.3:1 at 1825 KHz,

Re: Topband: Impressive demonstration of one dB of signal strength improvement

On 8/21/2019 8:16 AM, donov...@starpower.net wrote: These recordings are an impressive demonstration of the benefit of one dB of signal strength improvement in a weak signal situation. Click on the links on this website: www.ab7e.com/weak_signal/mdd.html 73 Frank W3LPL It seems to me

Re: Topband: Effect of trees on vertical elements?

On 8/15/2019 4:57 PM, John Harper wrote: Last year I used my 80m dipole-110-foot vertical feedline as a top-loaded vertical on 160 - it worked well as a transmitting antenna but was a poor receiver due to noise so looking for another option. Tnx/73, John AE5X https://ae5x.blogspot.com Have

Re: Topband: 160 portable vertical

On 8/7/2019 10:13 AM, Mike Smith VE9AA wrote: Your #1 friend will be 127' of vertical(ish) wire (ie: inverted L) and a few ground radial wires or better still 3-4 raised radials and a tall palm tree, The inverted L seems appealing because: 1. You can tune it to resonance by adjusting the

Re: Topband: FT-8 performance

On 8/1/2019 1:27 PM, James Wolf wrote: I think there is some misunderstanding of bandwidth using FT-8. The power limited Shannon limit I posted about today is independent of equivalent noise bandwidth The equivalent noise bandwidth of an FT8 detected tone is only 6.25 Hz. So -26 dB

Re: Topband: FT-8 performance

It is instructive to calculate the Shannon maximum theoretical data rate (power limited case) (refer to wikipedia page for Shannon-Hartley theorem). If S/N ratio (BW=2,500 Hz) = -24 dB, then S/N ratio (BW=1Hz) = -24 + 10 log 2,500 = -24 +34 = +10 dB. 10 dB converted to a dimensionless ratio is

Re: Topband: Transmit High Pass Filters for BCB Interference

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

Re: Topband: RFI on TB

On 7/25/2019 11:55 AM, Brian Campbell wrote: You can put me in that group as well. Here are just two recent examples. I'm with you both, never rule out your vertical! During one ARRL 160 contest a few years ago, conditions were such that I used my inverted-L over 90% of the time *even

Re: Topband: FCP vs Gull Wing Elevated Radials

On 7/25/2019 12:01 PM, Wes wrote: As to gull wing radials, Rudy Severns has looked at these too: https://www.antennasbyn6lf.com/files/antenna_ground_system_experiment_5.pdf Rudy's work is a treasure trove and I think I have everything he's written in a folder on my hard drive.  Believe me,

Re: Topband: RFI on TB

On 7/22/2019 3:59 PM, 57jndenn...@comcast.net wrote: I am uncertain this will cure problem, My TB and yagi coax shields are showing a noise signature on his analyzer. This was a shock as both coax cables have commercial bead type choke baluns. Jim K7EG I'm not shocked. Bead type choke

Re: Topband: [TowerTalk] Farming and Ham Radio don't mix too well.

My experience has been that if you need to mow a property that has "hazards" (tree stumps, logs, fence posts, wires, coax, golf balls, etc), you need to avoid belt driven "lawn mowers" and instead use a gear box driven "rotary cutter" of the "bush hog" or "stump jumper" type. These have pivoting

Re: Topband: FCP versus loaded or "T" radialsradials

On 5/5/2019 11:32 AM, Floyd Sense wrote: If the argument is that the FCP can't be accurately modeled, maybe someone can explain just why that is. 73, Floyd - K8AC You can't simply enter the geometry into modeling programs because you have 4 or 5 wires in close proximity to each other.

Re: Topband: Voltage at top of vertical and scaling?

On 4/17/2019 1:40 AM, Ulrich Weiß wrote: Would like to know how to feed the relay at the top of the vertical... regards Uli, DJ2YA Run a single insulated wire from the bottom to the top of vertical. Connect a 0.1 uF bypass capacitor from the wire to the vertical at the top. Connect

Re: Topband: Voltage at top of vertical and scaling?

On 4/16/2019 5:38 AM, Jim Miller wrote: Is there some zener like ionization at the top that limits the voltage? jim ab3cv Supposedly, if you run a kW to a mobile whip on 80 meters, and the whip has only a 1/4 inch metal ball on the top, you can get corona discharge, like a Tesla coil. I

Re: Topband: doublet as marconi

On 4/10/2019 10:33 AM, Mike DeChristopher wrote: My plan is a 200' doublet (100' each side) about 100' high fed with ladder line. At the base will be a legal limit remote autotuner and thereafter hardline to the shack. That setup should handle 10-80. On 160, I'd like to short the ladder line

Re: Topband: K2AV radiator vertical height....

On 4/5/2019 10:16 AM, Peter Bertini wrote: 4 to 8 ohms seems to be rather low for an inverted L... that seems to be more in line for a short vertical? I measured closer to 26 ohms using my analyzer at resonance. I'd expect some improvement in R losses, but I was more curious about the

Re: Topband: K2AV radiator vertical height....

On 4/4/2019 8:15 AM, Peter Bertini wrote: 65 of vertical run for the inverted L. My question is how much would this gain for DX contacts? Pete W1BR (ex k1zjh) _ The radiation resistance would double from 4 to 8 ohms. The counterpoise likely has more resistance than that, so

Re: Topband: Transmit antenna de-tuning relay.

On 3/23/2019 10:57 AM, Herbert Schoenbohm wrote: My tower is a Rohn 45 90 footer and there must be some way of detuning it via the skirt adjustment means to make it non-resonant at 1825 kHz This is similar to electrical towers being detuned near a direction AM station so their pattern is FCC

Re: Topband: 10 to 1 Ferrite Balun

On 3/19/2019 12:13 PM, Chuck Dietz wrote: Wouldn’t you connect the secondarys in series and the primaries in parallel? Chuck W5PR The ADT8-1T+ is a 50 ohm to 400 ohm transformer. Two connected in series results in a 100 ohm to 800 ohm transformer. If you instead connect the primaries in

Re: Topband: 10 to 1 Ferrite Balun

Correction ADT8-1T+ transformer Rick N6RK On 3/19/2019 12:01 PM, Richard (Rick) Karlquist wrote: On 3/19/2019 8:47 AM, Herbert Schoenbohm wrote: I am working on an RX antenna that requires about balanced 800 match to 75 ohm RG-6.  I have some type 43 and 73 ferrite binocular cores but since

Re: Topband: 10 to 1 Ferrite Balun

On 3/19/2019 8:47 AM, Herbert Schoenbohm wrote: I am working on an RX antenna that requires about balanced 800 match to 75 ohm RG-6. I have some type 43 and 73 ferrite binocular cores but since this is just an experimental RX antenna I wanted to use an easier approach. I have two commercial

Re: Topband: Great moments in Top Band History - 7P8LB

On 3/17/2019 4:16 PM, cqtestk4xs--- via Topband wrote: Don't feel too badly.  7P8 is about as far away as you can get from KH6. Because of antipodal focusing, farther away isn't necessarily more difficult. 73 Rick N6RK _ Searchable Archives:

Re: Topband: Top Loading Advice

If you model it, there will be a length that maximizes the radiation resistance, and that will be in the neighborhood of 1/3 of the height. They are already too long. Plan on using a base inductor to tune it to 1.83 MHz. W8JI used to explain that once you get uniform current in the main

Re: Topband: finding a site for greyline sunrise/sunset times

That's great Dave. I now have a new tool! Highly recommended. 73 Rick N6RK On 2/28/2019 5:20 PM, Dave AA6YQ wrote: * more AA6YQ comments below -Original Message- From: Richard (Rick) Karlquist [mailto:rich...@karlquist.com] Sent: Thursday, February 28, 2019 7:16 PM To: Dave AA6YQ

Re: Topband: finding a site for greyline sunrise/sunset times

On 2/28/2019 3:39 PM, Dave AA6YQ wrote: table of the next 30 days of sunrise and sunset times for the selected location and for your QTH. + One more mouse click will display a table of

Re: Topband: RX and TX remote direction switch

On 2/25/2019 9:17 AM, VE6WZ_Steve wrote: This is used to replace a traditional manual rotary or push button direction switch. Although a system something like this is required to control antennas at a remote QTH, it can be useful at 73, de steve ve6wz. _ I used to have 6

Re: Topband: Topband Digest, Vol 194, Issue 21

On 2/19/2019 10:13 AM, Jay Terleski wrote: The SAL-30 will be fine in a forested plot. Nothing unstabel with the pattern or performance as it is a very mature deisgn that does not push the paramaters of the preamp. The nice thing about it is it also forms the pattern before any gain stages so

Re: Topband: Topband V84SAA and ARRL Contest

This morning about 1 hour before SR, V84SAA had huge signals on both 160 and 80, working the contest. They were like the JA beacon stations JA3YBK/JH4UYB, which were also in fine form this morning as usual. Rick N6RK _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband -

Re: Topband: : V84SAA

On 2/10/2019 10:19 AM, Larry via Topband wrote: . 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. Larry/ n7dd I might have been that N6. I heard part

Re: Topband: Diversity RX audio example

On 2/6/2019 9:20 PM, VE6WZ_Steve wrote: Using a very narrow IF can be problematic when calling CQ and having callers most of the time being off my exact QRG. With a more open filter, and even with the EQ settings and APF, I can usually hear them. Of coarse I can also “see” them on the

Re: Topband: Diversity RX audio example

On 2/6/2019 3:46 PM, VE6WZ_Steve wrote: Regarding the APF. I too had an FT1000D, and I performed the mod to the APF. You are right, it did magically make signals pop out. One of the things that made it useful was that it was AFTER the AGC. Therefore, off frequency signals, no matter how

Re: Topband: CQ160 Conditions

On 1/28/2019 12:11 PM, daraym...@iowatelecom.net wrote: And not any better from the Midwest (Iowa). . . .both EU and Asia. 73. . . Dave, W0FLS When I worked you, I remember it took me several fills to get your call, even though it's on my mental list of familiar calls. That's not good

Re: Topband: CQ160 Conditions

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

Re: Topband: 160 Antenna

On 12/17/2018 9:10 AM, Gary Kohtala - K7EK via Topband wrote: Short the braid and center conductor and attach that to your tuner single wire connection.. It will work much better than connecting only one side. This willgive you a top loaded vertical or semi vertical. I've done it with100w

Re: Topband: Waller Flag

General response, not specific to the Waller Flag: For a number of good reasons, you should not expect a NF below 3 dB for any practical preamp. OTOH, virtually all radios have an internal switchable preamp. Let's say your radio is really pedestrian, and the internal preamp has 10 dB NF.

Re: Topband: Rather use N-type (was Re: The answer to PL-259

On 12/8/2018 11:34 AM, terry burge wrote: Thanks John, Now if some of us only knew where we get a solder pot to pxxx, excuse me, dip out coax in. Terry KI7M I've been shopping for them. You need a minimum of 1 1/4" depth for the PL-259. That rules out all the cheap ones. For ~$300

Re: Topband: Rather use N-type (was Re: The answer to PL-259

On 12/7/2018 6:07 PM, Tim Duffy wrote: W6NL asked me this question - would you run 1500 watts with BNC connectors? Tim K3LR Actually, I have gotten away with BNC connectors on 160 meters at 1500W for decades. YMMV! 73 Rick N6RK _ Searchable Archives:

Re: Topband: Rather use N-type (was Re: The answer to PL-259

On 12/7/2018 9:44 AM, herr42 wrote: Never seen uhf connectors in military.  Lots of N tho My two 500 foot RG-216 military surplus cables both eventually exhibited retracted pins on the type N connectors at both ends. I replaced them with PL-259's. My 150 foot RG-218 military

Re: Topband: Recommended Relays

On 12/7/2018 12:53 AM, k...@radioprism.com wrote: (1500W) "...has excellent RF properties..." "In more than 20,000 hours of 24 x 7 operation with the four StationPro's in the author's station, there has not been a single relay failure." A somewhat more robust relay is the Omron MJN

Re: Topband: Tennis Ball Launcher

On 11/30/2018 6:41 PM, klie...@myfairpoint.net wrote: 2.5" PVC is usually not a local item, so I ordered it on line along with all the bushings, reducers, caps, and threaded 90's. In California, you can get 2.5 inch pipe at Horizon Irrigation. They have stores in various

Re: Topband: Detuning TX ant + QSK

On 11/28/2018 5:18 AM, John Kaufmann wrote: Jim, I use Gigavac GH-1 vacuum relays for detuning my TX antennas when receiving. The contact closure/release time is 6 msec. You have to dial in enough QSK delay in your radio so that you don't hot-switch the relays. 73, John W1FV A quick

Re: Topband: Which compromise receiving antenna

On 11/26/2018 7:48 AM, gregg.w6i...@gmail.com wrote: Pete: I'm using RG6 for my beverages. They are switched, bidirectional. Performance seems to be equivalent to a single wire beverage. They can also be deployed as a BOG. RG6 is cheap, and I built my own transformers and switches. If you

Re: Topband: ARRL DXCC - 160 Meters - Station Location and Boundary

An additional wrinkle concerning a remote RX site at a distance within 100 km: I used to have such a setup. The non obvious advantage of it is that it allows for FULL DUPLEX operation ON THE SAME FREQUENCY. This is like QSK on steroids. Depending on the circumstances, this can be a huge

Re: Topband: Vertical antennas aren't always best for DX everywhere - the facts

Holy YMMV. Thanks for your great posting of what most of us didn't know (I know I didn't). Do you have any numerical data concerning the ground conductivity in VK6 vs the VK east coast? The conductivity at my QTH is around 30mS, so obviously you are in an alternative universe by comparison. I

Re: Topband: Vertical and horizontal polarized antennas

On 11/17/2018 3:42 AM, Roger Kennedy wrote: I think most people know I use a horizontal 160m Dipole as my main antenna . But my 6ft Receiving Loop is vertically polarised . . . so it's quite Roger G3YRO Assuming you mean the loop is a 6 ft diameter circle, you would typically have

Re: Topband: 160m Condx

A related issue is that frequencies ending in 0 and 5 tend to attract casual operators who can't hear DX. Many times I have heard them start up and call CQ on top of DX. I like to choose a frequency ending in 2.5 to avoid the casual ops. On the high end of 40, this neatly avoids BCB stations,

Re: Topband: Which compromise receiving antenna

. Once their inventory of phase combiner and direction switch kits is sold out, those will also be discontinued. YCCC, as a club, has no intention of selling kits. 73, John W1FV -Original Message- From: Topband [mailto:topband-boun...@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Richard (Rick) Karlquist

Re: Topband: Which compromise receiving antenna

On 11/6/2018 10:46 AM, donov...@starpower.net wrote: Could you install two or three short verticals over a total length of 120 feet? The YCCC three element array is a superb choice if you can. The Hi-Z arrays are also worthy of consideration.

Re: Topband: Gamma match success

On 10/15/2018 10:43 AM, Tree wrote: I replaced the variable cap with a home made cap using RG8. I had one Sometimes, capacitors made from coax are lossy. I modeled your coaxial capacitor using Simsmith (very easy to do) and the Q turns out to be 340, if I did it correctly. So the

Re: Topband: antenna analyzers

On 10/12/2018 12:02 PM, AC0RL via Topband wrote: I have found that antenna analyzers can get screwed up on long antennas if there are nearby transmitters; AM stations or any other transmitter that can swamp out the input to the analyzer. I live 1/4 mile from a 1kw am station and I cannot use

Re: Topband: Toploaded vertical - SWR

On 9/18/2018 4:19 PM, Joe Subich, W4TV wrote: 2) use a 4:1 auto-transformer at the feed point - your antenna    analyzer says the real impedance is about 15 Ohms.  A 4:1    auto-transformer will get the SWR down to about 1.2:1. Generally speaking, you will get a wider bandwidth with a

Re: Topband: alternative to shunt fed tower

I am getting a paywall that says only pages 1 through 8 are free. Can't get to this article. Without reading the article, the folded cage around the tower sounds exactly like shunt feed, not an *alternative* to shunt feed. Rick N6RK On 9/16/2018 10:03 AM, N7DF via Topband wrote: In the April

Re: Topband: Call for antenna ideas

On 9/14/2018 10:28 AM, Simon Ravnič via Topband wrote: At S53M contest station we are well organized for 40m & up but are lacking lower band TX antennas. I suggest 2 element vertical arrays phased for a cardioid pattern such that the nearest tower is directly off the back. This takes

Topband: Private thanks to you on your posting vs W0BTU RE topband Leaving

Off the reflector: Thanks Mark for posting this "rebuttal?" to W0BTU. His rules are way too stifling for my tastes. On another reflector, some bozo was going off on me saying I didn't know what I was talking about, etc. when I was trying to give him some friendly advice. The moderator asked me

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