Re: Topband: Ethics and the Individual

You conveniently clipped off the part where I said "as long as it hurts no one else". Don't play stupid games with me by rewording what I say and posting it in public to make it look like I said something I did not. Also, don't lecture me about ethics after that stunt. - Original

Re: Topband: strange propagation

This reflector has gone down the toilet with personal BS that serves no purpose except to pick fights. After 20 years, I'm leaving it.It sure went down the tubes. - Original Message - From: "Louis Parascondola via Topband" To: ;

Re: Topband: strange propagation

I can't be 100% sure but I think this will all wash down to the fact that stations are no longer licensed and the control operator is fully responsible. And I do believe that is the case. RHR has lawyers on retainer and I'm sure this has been legally looked at. I can get the ruling they go

Re: Topband: strange propagation

I would think a few fines issued by the FCC to the remote station holder, would shut these games down in a hurry. I wonder if the RHR station owners that are being leased out by individuals realize their liability in these circumstances. I think some people will be shocked with a certified

Re: Topband: strange propagation

RHR has stated that they require operators to operate "ethically" on their network. Exactly how to they define that term? Is it considered ethical for a ham in, say, Huntington Beach CA to call -- via a commercial remote in New York -- a station at the United Nations on 6m when the only

Topband: FCC regulations circa 1960's

I'm almost certain that all of his serious DXing was done from the water tower location. He also had a 160m station at his home, but it was on a very small urban lot and as I recall, he had only a low dipole up for 160m there. Whenever I heard him operating from the water tower site, he would

Re: Topband: Strange propagation

I am a 160 card checker, and I damn well DO check the times! I'm sorry to report that I have found cases where "impossible" QSOs were claimed, and reported them to the mother ship in Newington. I would sincerely hope that my colleagues would do the same.>>> But isn't it legal to operate

Re: Topband: 4 square

Used both the 4 square and 8 circle array by DX Engineering. Both work but, in my thunderstorm environment, I spent many hours and as many dollars as the systems originally cost repairing them over three seasons. This is despite keeping the systems powered off, except when being used. The guys

Re: Topband: RE; Ground screen Question

His reinforcing steel inside his driveway is probably way far out of the realm of Ufer grounds, due to it being small gage conductors. Aside from the great difficulty of boring into the concrete and adequately bonding to those wires, I wouldn't try this anyway out of concern that the current

Re: Topband: Received Signal Strengths

Typically, on 160M, I leave the preamp off for my beverages. The received noise floor for my N/S beverage (on CW) is usually S2 - 3 and for my phased EU beverages is S0 to S1. I have found the signal strengths of the received stations to be 1 to 2 S units down on the beverage and equal or

Re: Topband: Received Signal Strengths

marks on a rubber band. Great analogy Tom.If I were truthful with the signal reports for most of the topband DX worked here, using the S-meter with RX loops, I would be sending "209". I don't know how to really express it, but our S meters have index marks that say the same thing but

Topband: W1BB (NOT K1BB, whoever that is)

I remember this stuff well from the early 1960's. I got my feet wet in 160 because it was a hotbed for local mobile and ragchew activity in the Great Lakes area. Stew, W1BB, was "famous" on 160 because Stew was the main organizer and main promoter of all 160 DX work, including trans-Atlantic

Re: Topband: Using shielded CAT5 data cable as feedline foractive antenna; benefits of multi-turn K9AY loop/SAL/etc?

Sounds like you, Tom, and LZ1AQ are saying the same: in order for loops to be effective (low SNR and high signal levels), they must have large area and low reactance (inductance to be exact). Parallel loops or fat conduits increase the signal levels, while the CP configuration and other

Re: Topband: Using shielded CAT5 data cable as feedline for active antenna; benefits of multi-turn K9AY loop/SAL/etc?

2. He cites experimental data showing that coplanar crossed loops and multi-turn quad loops both offer very significant improvement in the recovered signalcompared with a single loop. See to check whether I got this right.

Re: Topband: vbog?

Has anyone tried a v-beam configuration on the ground, similar to a bog? Obviously, it would be longer. The intent would be to increase RDF. Or would that be a waste of time? Waste of time to increase directivity. Long wires laid on or near the ground fire straight down the length of a

Re: Topband: Commercial Antennas

My Ten Tec 238B L-Network tuner works well at 1500W. Some tuner networks, especially T-networks, can have very high currents through the shunt inductor. The largest issue with T tuners is capacitor value. Most tuners use generic 230-270 pF maximum capacitance caps, and that makes the

Re: Topband: beverage resistors at Mouser.com

If you are going to make the order, consider using several in parallel to improve the surge handling capability. I use 6x 2700 ohms here. 73/jeff/ac0c Be real careful with the resistor choice. A metal oxide or film resistor handles many times less surge than an OX or OY resistor. OX and OY

Re: Topband: Beverage Crow's Foot Ground Wire Pattern

What is the recommended pattern for the crow’s foot ground wires at each end of a two-wire reversible Beverage? Should ALL the ground wires be in the 180 degree plane behind the Beverage wire, or does it make any difference? I don’t imagine it’s a very good idea to put a ground wire under,

Re: Topband: re topband QRP

I disagree. Since it is a category I find that some operators appreciate the information. It sometimes leads to a discussion about our setups. With regards to miscopying someone. If you cannot intrepret the information sent because of a weak signal QRM or QRN you have not made a valid

Re: Topband: QRPers calling CQ in the SP ?

Of course, any frequency ending in a zero is almost guaranteed to have a constant broadcast station harmonic. I almost always hear them here, especially at night. And very often, that BC carrier is stronger than stations zero-beat with them calling CQ! Better to be slightly off of zero, if

Re: Topband: re topband QRP

On Fri,12/25/2015 12:24 PM, mstang...@comcast.net wrote: I operate QRP and normally give out that information as well as my power levels after the signal report. As a QRP op myself, I urge you to NOT do that. If I had worked to dig a weak signal out of the noise, I would interpret ANYTHING

Re: Topband: SB-1000

Thanks to all for info on the capacitor. The only place I had checked was rf parts but have not ordered yet. Also wanted to come up with a #8 brass washer. I'll go with a new original cap from Ameritron/mfj. I saw the plate choke there but not the cap, will follow the link. I'll still be on

Re: Topband: SB-1000

If you can't find the exact value of 170pf the ceramic 5KV door knobs at 200pf will work. Better yet even a couple of 500pf door knobs in series will give you 250 pf which will just mean a little less on your variable will tune. Another common ceramic door knob value is 500pf and three in

Re: Topband: SB-1000

Both are N750 types. You need a #6 lug, a short #6 screw (3/16th long), and some #16 bus wire plus a brass washer that Ameritron will have. The chokes come from Ameritron no matter where you buy them. Thanks Tom,Re. the lug, screw and wire, I'm assuming the capacitor I ordered from them will

Re: Topband: Heathkit SB-1000

Good point Tom, beginning with too little drive would require more load C than is available. That and the brass washer should be installed also. Hi Lou, The anti-corona washer was not in the SB1000 or early AL80A. It should be added if a user might happen to mistune. But I'd like to

Re: Topband: 160m LP to LP DX contacts in 2015

In order for us to respond to your allegations you will need to provide support evidence. We will need details on his actual antenna configuration, was he using a counterpoise of some sort, is he on a hill, how close is he to the water ? Do you have proof that he was running more than 5

Re: Topband: SB-1000

Just came off 20M, amp working fine. Went to 160 plate and load controls have no control, no output. Plate current climbs high with any added drive (45-50W) and blew both 10amp fuses.Off comes the cover.jimk2hn _ It might be something else, but I would bet the contact on the

Re: Topband: SB-1000

Thanks to all. I will go over it again today. I initially started out on 160 and then moved on to other bands. On 160 I could not get any increase in grid current, it came up but no increase with plate tuning but may not have applied enough drive. Staying below the 200ma grid and 400ma plate

Re: Topband: Weatherproofing F-type connectors

Apply some silicone dielectric compound (non-hardening silicone "grease") to the coax center conductor. That will keep moisture out and prevent corrosion. This actually belongs anyplace anything is threaded or clamped. It will displace from pressure and allow a connection, but it seal the

Re: Topband: QRP

I have been puzzled with this question for a long time... Given the progress on antenna and Rx-capabilities (over the years) and say typical transceiver output power (100W), how come it has become so rare to witness (experience) low power to low power QSO's (over the USA to EU path) during

Re: Topband: 4SQ around tower

I am in the process of clearing land for full size 80m 4SQ. I have two questions for the group: 1) How much and what kind of degradation should I see if I place the 4SQ elements around my tower. The tower is 90' and has a 4 el 40 m yagi at 90' and 6 el tribander at 105'. Currently I have no

Re: Topband: 4SQ around tower

Thanks for the great reminder! The chapter does in fact describe exactly what I have been planning. It also gave me the most important piece of information- as long as the tower is grounded, which is the case, it has no impact on the 80m 4SQ. If that is the actual statement, it is not a

Re: Topband: ON4KST low band chat

Thanks, but that doesn't fix the 40m clutter in the ON4KST lowband chat. That's what I meant. For me, adding 40m to the chat simply ruined it. I'd be willing to pay to have it work like it used to, just 160 and 80. 40 meters is more like 20 meters than a low band. From this part of the USA,

Re: Topband: DX on 160, was: Topband QRP WAS

On 12/5/2015 5:43 PM, Mark Lunday wrote: Bill, a question about your 160 meter antenna. I have learned from the wise old-timers on this message board that a vertical antenna with broad-banded behavior is a lossy antenna. Same with a vertical antenna that shows 1:1 match. Some people might

Re: Topband: 2 wl loop, worth the effort?

You are misinterpreting the model data by looking at the shape of the pattern rather than the relative strength of the pattern at angles of interest. Example -- the so-called "take off angle" simply shows the vertical angle where the signal is the strongest. FAR more important to look at the

Re: Topband: 2 wl loop, worth the effort?

You said "Compared to a vertical, there could be 10-30 dB difference in favor of a low dipole (less than 150 ft high) within a few hundred miles.", and I was pretty much trying to make the same point but indirectly since I don't have a dipole on 160 meters. The original poster mentioned

Re: Topband: 1/2 wl verticals and spaving

I'm glad to hear that it's that simple. I used the same principle when the verticals were dedicated to 40M and were 1/4wl tall where I fed them with 3/4wl and 5/4wl coaxial runs. The gain and side nulls were impressive.>>> Carl, This is real simple to handle. With a 1/4 wave or odd 1/4

Re: Topband: Diversity-capable transceivers

Barry, It is more than just second receiver quality. For maximum diversity effect, the receivers must use a common time base for both channels. They do not have to be phase synced (unless blended into mono), a person's brain will learn around that. The channels should not drift phase when on

Re: Topband: fixing beverage

I've been doing FFT-based measurements since 1982. I suggest that you try a technique before you criticize it. Your analysis is badly mistaken. Jim, Factually, the little bumps or even big bumps on VHF are meaningless for active problems on lower frequencies. They might predict a future

Re: Topband: fixing beverage

There are multiple ways to do TDR. I like the way that this unit does it -- an inverse FFT of a frequency sweep. http://sdr-kits.net/VNWA3_Description.html To expose small perturbations in the feedline or system, make the sweep at VHF/UHF. To see only the more gross defects, sweep from about

Re: Topband: fixing beverage

Any antenna analyzer with variable frequency can be used as a TDR of sorts. Anything will work. The method is very simple. You simply observe how far apart in frequency the repeating gyrations in impedance are, and use standard 1/2 wave formulas to convert the difference frequency to

Re: Topband: fixing beverage

I notice that my USA beverage is lower in 3-4 S units that some weeks ago. 5-20 dB. Depending on receiver and where it is at on the S meter. That has to be a poor connection, open, or short between the receiver and the Beverage transformer end of the Beverage. It cannot be at the

Re: Topband: Mag loop 400W if possible.

Loss is I squared R. as the current is lowered then loss drops rapidly. That isn't true. Loss as a percentage or as a ratio to applied power is exactly the same in a linear system. 6 dB loss is 6 dB loss whether at 1 milliwatt or 1 megawatt. _ Topband Reflector Archives -

Re: Topband: Mag loop 400W if possible.

The question always is the amount of area inside the loop and keeping the most distance between opposing sides. There are no tricks or magic. It is all about low resistance and maximum physical size. More loss will help it handle more power for a given capacitor voltage, but you don't want

Re: Topband: RX PREAMPS

I have used the HI Z rx system and also the DXE ones. HI Z said in the past no need for a sequencer to get power off the amps if the xmit ant was close to the rx system antennas. Close I would say 60 foot. DXE has always suggested using a sequencer to get power off the amps during xmit. I

Re: Topband: Mag loop 400W if possible.

His 400W TX power will likely be ~10 watts ERP if he does a good job on construction. 390W will be nothing but heat. :) - Original Message - From: "Barry N1EU" To: "topBand List" Sent: Sunday, November 15, 2015 8:59 AM Subject: Re:

Re: Topband: Why do rodents eat coax?

Squirrels and rats can be a problem, but mostly my cable chew issues have been from raccoons. I used to trap them and deport them a few miles. Now I just I bury my cables. Even a few inches of dirt is enough. Where they come up out of ground, I sleeve them with cheap plastic sprinkler pipe.

Re: Topband: Fwd: BCB Interference

The first thing I would do is find out if it really is AM BCB stuff, or SW BC, or what it actually is. BCB filters won't help if it is a 3 MHz SWBC, or something just above 80 meters. Filters also will not help if it is rectification in the antenna system, or a real signal from mixing or a

Re: Topband: 160m & 80m RFI issues requesting ideas for ANC4 senseantenna to cancell out local noise

Does the SNR of the targeted noise source vs. other signals on the sense antenna, matter in this application? To null a particular noise, you want the noise antenna to have the highest unwanted noise pick up possible and the least amount of signal or other background noises. If the noise

Re: Topband: 160m & 80m RFI issues requesting ideas for ANC4 senseantenna to cancell out local noise

I have an intermittent RFI issue that comes from a subdivision about a 1/4 mile away. To combat the noise I have been trying to use my ANC4 and I built a sense antenna out of an 80m hamstick that I put 20 feet in the air yesterday for a trial to cancel the noise on 80m (cheap and easy

Re: Topband: RFI - and lots of it (negative fuse)

My Icom radios come with the power cord fused for both negative and positive. From what you say, I should remove the negative fuse if I install the radios in a vehicle. Now when the radios are at the fixed station the same power cord is used (both lines fused), I understand that the negative

Re: Topband: RFI - and lots of it

Way back in the '90s, when I served on the SAE automotive RF immunity and emissions (EMI & EMR) committees, questions about why we have negative-lead fuses in ham radio gear came up from time to time. (Many of us on the committees were hams.) The reason we were given is that there was a

Re: Topband: RFI - and lots of it

Yes, or where other premises grounds are tied together. Systems like Telco, CATV, satellite, even lightning rods if there are any, building steel if there is any. It doesn't matter where in the world we live, electrons all follow the same physical laws. There are three things that should

Re: Topband: RFI - and lots of it

I have and electrician coming next week who says he will check things out and first of all ground the breaker panel to two ground rods 7 feet apart. I thought the grounding was put at the meter but he says they don't do that anymore. I think the old meter, before we had the new one put in had a

Re: Topband: interconnecting cables

I am curious about terminating RG-6 cable connections in the ham shack. I have been using several types of adapters, i.e. F female to BNC male, F female to UHF male, or F female to RCA. I use F's up to the actual radio stuff, then I am forced to use what the radios use. I have a lot less

Re: Topband: RFI - and lots of it

I have driven copper ground rods in about ten years ago, then wrapped a couple turns of #4 wire around the top and soldered that to the rod using plumbers solder. These connections are as good today as the day I soldered them. Plumbers solder works very well outdoors for me. I use it on

Re: Topband: RFI - and lots of it

Everything you do properly to reduce the chance of common mode noise being conducted into the house will also reduce RF feedback, power line fault damage, and lightning damage risks. Even if it makes no difference in noise, it pays back in increased safety. This house had expensive lightning

Re: Topband: Re. RFI - lots of it

I forgot I had this up with pictures. http://www.w8ji.com/power_line_noise.htm _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband

Re: Topband: Re. RFI - lots of it

Rain on the way so will know for sure what conditions are best. Hopefully not the same as Tim or Kriss since this is big Lake effect snow country although you'd think snow would melt at an arcing area. We are expecting 60mph winds tomorrow and rain. Regardless, power company is sending someone

Re: Topband: ADC Overload from MW transmitters

I think the problem here is some people read this as a SDR radios never overload, or are superior in every case. Apparently one person thought they were junk because multiple modest strength signals would add up to overload them, and that triggered the response that was misinterpreted to mean

Re: Topband: ADC Overload from MW transmitters

I'm still of the opinion --right or wrong-- that there will *always* be hams using analog technology that will be able to out-hear anyone using an SDR (even DDS) to copy very weak CW signals at the low end of 160. *But I have an open mind.* I think it was Barry N1EU that disagreed with me on that

Re: Topband: ADC Overload from MW transmitters

complicated. - Original Message - From: "bruce whitney" <zuce...@yahoo.com> To: <topband@contesting.com>; "Tom W8JI" <w...@w8ji.com> Sent: Monday, October 19, 2015 11:59 AM Subject: Re: Topband: ADC Overload from MW transmitters This has been an i

Re: Topband: FW: Commond mode choke for Beverage

I tried 7 & 8 turns, but it resolved too high in freq. Use 9 TURNS on a core-stack of five (5) of P/N 2631803802 cores. That’s the Mix #31 core. The attenuation of any choke significantly depends on the common mode impedance, and impedances from shield to ground. Many times just a few

Re: Topband: SDR Mythbusters - ADC Overload myths debunked...

The opinion expressed in the Flexradio editorial about noise blankers being completely harmless, is not an opinion, it is even false. It really isn't an accurate or factual technical article. It is a sales brochure meant to enforce the love each of us have for a particular system, in this

Re: Topband: Bandpass filters for receive antennas

Where can I find a schematic for a good high pass filter that rolls off at 1700 kHz? I can't even have back to back diodes here on Beverages without amplifiers, because the accumulation of hundreds and hundreds of BCB stations sum to more than two volts peak. With a 10dB gain amp, I can

Re: Topband: SDR Mythbusters - ADC Overload myths debunked

On Sat,10/10/2015 2:15 AM, Steve Ireland wrote: Of course, I was talking about using a DUC/DDC in a single transmitter/receiver urban/semi-rural station setting on a quarter to half an acre block, which is the setting in which the vast majority of people who subscribe to this reflector would

Re: Topband: SDR Mythbusters - ADC Overload myths debunked

None of the below has anything to do with overload from local transmitters. :) Or did I miss that part? - Original Message - From: "Steve Ireland" To: "Topband reflector" Sent: Tuesday, October 06, 2015 9:51 PM Subject: Re: Topband: SDR

Re: Topband: BOG question

Frank et. al, The ground does indeed affect the Vf however different types of wires/cables are affected differently and the only way to know for sure is to measure the Vf yourself. I use old telephone cable ( None of it, including the cable type, affects the spacing of elements. That was

Re: Topband: BOG question

I believe there is a large influence of height above ground on VF. From a theoretical basis, this has been "known" since Wise's classic paper "Propagation Of High Frequency Currents In Ground Return Circuits" (1934). This was experimentally verified in the Litva and Rook report from the CRC

Re: Topband: BOG question

I think this is a wording issue. We all understand the difference between VF in the transmission line and VF in free space. What caused difficulty was the term "arriving at". I took this to mean "at the antenna" not free space, as there's no need to mention the antenna if the desired meaning

Re: Topband: K1FK to JA Via 160-Meter Long Path

In the summer, I often worked far northern Europe east or south east at my sunset. Sometimes it is day after day. I've worked some far east Asians, but not Japan, east or south east at my sunset. Where it is dark or almost dark, the signal might go. _ Topband Reflector

Re: Topband: DX Engineering 4-Square RX Antenna: Element Amplifiers?

~ .5 dB might make as much as a change from 25 dB F/B to 20 dB. I wouldn't expect it to be noticeable. - Original Message - From: "Jeff Maass K8ND" To: "Topband Mailing List" Cc: "'Jim Galm'" Sent: Tuesday, September 22,

Re: Topband: Waller Flag Question

I would just like to understand what Tom is saying. I almost think he had noise figure confused with noise temperature at one point. Correction to my previous e-mail, first sentence in second paragraph. should have said "When I studied preamps and NF ~30 years ago, I thought the NF of the first

Re: Topband: Waller Flag Question

Tom, I'm afraid I disagree but agree with some of that, I am using a 43dB gain preamp since 2010 with not a single failure yet, but I understand your point. It is so delicate to implement that most of fellow that try it fail. Even aluminum enclosure does not shield it enough, 40 dB gain is

Re: Topband: Waller Flag Question

Thank you, JC: I don't know where this coming from ,but the gain you need for a VWF modest size is 20db for vertical polarization and for horizontal HWF you need 40db on 160m, on 80m divide this by 2, you need only 20 dB and on 40m 10 dB a NORTON preamp is enough. All situations you need a

Re: Topband: Waller Flag Question

Thanks for the insights. I have no doubt the theory is correct. My sense, though, is that in the denser suburbs, we live in a "fog" of local radio noise, generated by the scores of digital and other devices that surround us. A similar observation was made 20 years ago by Brian Beezley,

Re: Topband: Waller Flag Question

The on-line materials about Waller Flags says that a modest size WF would need about 40 dB of gain to boost the signal to a usable level. One of the postings says that cascading two preamps of 20 dB each seems to add extra noise, and they talk about developmental work being done on a single

Re: Topband: Bandpass filters for receive antennas

Bandpass filters do nothing for in-band signals -- their only function is to reject OUT OF BAND signals. The primary reason for using bandpass filters IS for RX. A good 160M bandpass filter would be effective at reducing overload from AM broadcast stations. So would a high pass filter. There

Re: Topband: KD9SV-OK1RR relays ??? (RX Front End Protector)

The Array Solutions device also uses the transformers to increase the voltage at the diodes then steps it back down which means that the diodes are not doing their limiting at 50 ohms. Therefore, your set of 2 series diodes or even one diode each direction is limiting at a higher power level

Re: Topband: FRONT END SAVER

There is nothing magical about a front end saver, IMHO. Several years ago I built my first, a simple unit employing a pair of Panasonic PCB-type relays which grounded both the RX antenna port on my transceiver and the beverage antenna input to the preamp/switching system on transmit. As long

Re: Topband: KD9SV-OK1RR relays ???

I added a BNC female connector in the rear panel of my old Yaesu, FT747 (It is an FT80C, the commercial version with metallic chassis) few months ago. I was using that BNC to feed an SDR receiver using the same antenna. If i add a SPDT switch also on the rear panel and RE-WIRE the BNC

Re: Topband: KD9SV-OK1RR relays ???

I'm not sure goosing the pull-in voltage is always a good idea. It may shorten the initial closing time a bit, but (depending on the relay) it can aggravate contact bounce, doing more harm than good. It also stresses the relay. Done properly, it doesn't hurt a thing. The proper way is to use

Re: Topband: KD9SV-OK1RR relays ??? (RX Front End Protector)

That's similar to mine, but mine has two 1N4148 diodes in series, back-to-back, total of four diodes. However, after I did that, I got to thinking that it would be better with only two. Or that there was no need for four. (Don't ask me to explain, it's been a long time since I've thought about

Re: Topband: KD9SV-OK1RR relays ???

remember the details but it was something like hitting the relay with higher than usual coil voltage/current and it shortened up the relay pull-in time. It might be more complicated in this application than needed. I don't have the URL to Measures' site but it can probably be found by a search.

Re: Topband: KD9SV-OK1RR relays ???

Your FT-747 only has one antenna input. It does not have a second receiver. It doesn't even have a receive-only antenna input. You cannot transmit and receive at same time. Why do you need a front end saver? It needs a preamp saver or a receiver antenna saver, not a front end saver. Any old

Re: Topband: KD9SV-OK1RR relays ???

It seems to me that a very fast operating preamp protection circuit could be constructed employing a good fast saturating NPN switching transistor across the antenna path. In receive mode the collector-base junction would have substantial reverse bias and the transistor can be chosen for low

Re: Topband: Best wire antenna for roof top location

Hmmm! Let's remind ourselves of Nuradi's situation. The roof is 110m high, 45m x 33 m. Corner to corner is less than a wavelength on 80M, more than a wavelength on 40M, but the distance to a corner from a wire strong between the two corners is less than a quarter wave on 80M, less than a half

Re: Topband: [Bulk] Best wire antenna for roof top location

And remember -- the roof of this building is 110m, so a horizontal antenna is high enough to have pretty good low angle radiation! See Large buildings are not towers or poles. Buildings have a significant amount of large conductive metallic things and noise generating junk inside. A

Re: Topband: [Bulk] Best wire antenna for roof top location

Some years ago, on 80 meters, an LZ station had a horizontal between two tall buildings and had a very strong signal. 73 Bruce-k1fz Between buildings is entirely different than on a building roof. Full context is important. As I said: A simple vertical antenna has elevation pattern mostly

Re: Topband: Which is best for copying the weakest DX - DSP or the ear-brain combo?

I'd like to know whether it's ever been established that some very talented hams can out-hear the best SDRs and/or DSP available. Can a skilled ear-brain combo (such as some highly-skilled and talented 160 meter contesters) beat state-of-the art digital signal processing when it comes to copying

Re: Topband: alternative feedpoint capacitor

My top-loaded vertical needs a series 260pF capacitor at the feedpoint to match the 53 + j335 impedance (1.825 MHz) to my coax feed. I have a few different air-variables I could use, but I was wondering what sort of fixed capacitors would be suitable in this application. Max power is 1500w. I

Re: Topband: Fwd: Fwd: ARRL Board meets next week - I'm looking for input

I don't understand the sudden hysteria, except it may be Internet driven. Around 52 years ago, my first or second 160 meter California contact was with remote W6YY. I can't remember if W6VSS Dale or W6YY was first, but that was when the band was split and the power limit was maybe 25 watts

Re: Topband: Video Switch for Low Band Antenna switching

BTW, besides having to rotate this switch only 22.5 degrees,it turns very smoothly. I fiddled with the spring tension and lubed it for just the right amount of torque without being sloppy. In the 1970's, I started with a rotary switch, but didn't like it. I used push buttons from a

Re: Topband: A Bit Off Topic

Any suggestions appreciated on an effective electrical panel lightning protection device for my panel breaker box. Thanks and 73, Bob K3UL Bob and all, Keep in mind, spacing between conductors is typically very small compared to conductor length. Although there can be exceptions, virtually

Re: Topband: Binocular Cores

I'm with you up to this point, Tom, but here, you're mistaken. An effective common mode choke is dominantly resistive in the frequency range where it is to be used. The reactive component of the choke can be cancelled a length of feedline that is capacitive at the operating frequency, which

Re: Topband: Binocular Cores

That's good info, if you understand how to interpret it. It's not clear what u' amd u are. And the info on their site doesn't tell you just how good (low losses and reactance across a wide bandwidth, among other things) a matching transformer is made from a 73 material binocular core. They only

Re: Topband: Topband loading coil

I have an inverted L antenna resonant on 80m, I decided to add a loading coil to the base to bring it on frequency for TopBand. I wound a 2.5mm wire coil 16 turns on a bit of square Paxoline board by drilling holes into the board each side and feeding the coil through the holes, a bit of a

Re: Topband: Binocular Cores

You really need to do a single loop through the core windows and measure the impedance with some sort of analyzer. Even an MFJ259B with a short connection to the jack will work well for this. If the resistance equals the reactance down somewhere around 2 MHz, it is 73 material. If R=X

Topband: Unun and Balun on vertical

An UN-UN is un balanced to unbalanced. Is that what you have ? A vertical is unbalanced. It isn't that simple. Most Ham antennas are neither perfectly balanced nor perfectly unbalanced. They are somewhere between. For example, a 1/4 wave groundplane with four perfect radials is mostly

Re: Topband: Antenna relays

With silver-cadmium relay contacts I use on my ladder line switching, I find I have to occasionally transmit a dit to get receive to work again, especially if I haven't been on the radio in hours or days. My mental model is that I have to blow through the surface contamination. Would definitely

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