Topband: VE6WZ Audio Files and EU conditions

[Steve Babcock]

At VE6WZ, the EU transpolar DX path on 160 has been excellent this winter 
season. Since Oct. 2017 there have been 220 EU DX that have made it into the 
log. I am very happy with the new remote station. RFI quiet rural QTH on the 
top of a very high hill. Game changing compared to the old city lot QTH.

For anyone interested in hearing how their TB signal sounds in VE6, I have 
uploaded some recordings of my QSOs from this season. I have not captured all 
of my QSO’s since sometimes I forget to turn on the recorder, and a few times I 
ended up with a corrupted file. Usually I am RX with diversity rx on the K3s…9 
circle array in the left ear, and 1000’ beverage in the right ear. Most files 
are best heard using headphones (who works DX on TB without headphones anyway?)
If you notice strange behaviour with my Keying or timing, it is because at the 
VE6WZ remote, I often have problems using the hand keyer, so I use keyboard CW. 
Before I can return to a caller, I need to input their call and RST so the CW 
keyer macro can send a reply. The files are listed by call, with filename 
indicating the date of QSO:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/12GqZMPZ4R2nPLGbOVho6AHGkV9tD_MHf 


This link is also available on my QRZ.com  page together with 
detail about the remote station.

73, de steve ve6wz.
_
Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband

Topband: Kostas' point

[Jim Thomson]

Date: Wed, 17 Jan 2018 15:07:04 -0500
From: 
To: "John Randall" , 
Cc: "MEZEY JIM" , "w1zc" ,
"W2WGK" 
Subject: Re: Topband: Kostas' point

http://www.contesting.com/_topband

Re: Topband: Kostas' point

[Dave Heil]

Do they keep DXCC records and listings?  Do they keep contesting 
records?    Sure they do.  Have individuals been disqualified from 
DXCC?  From a contest? You bet they have!  If technology is making it 
impossible to tell if someone is cheating, why bother to participate?  
Just make your own certificate on your PC, print it and buy postage 
stamps at your local post office.  When you work another 25 countries,  
paste a postage stamp on your homemade award.  It'll be just as valid as 
a DXCC certificate.  Operating skill is supposed to count for 
something.  Breaking the rules isn't.


Dave K8MN


On 18-Jan-18 15:00, Jeff Blaine wrote:
Another fellow pressed me on this.   What I should have said - that 
perhaps is more clear - goes like this.


1. Worry about your own operation --> because you can control it.

2. No point to worry about the other guy --> because you almost 
certainly have no control over it.


3. Point #2 does not in any way detract from what your personal views 
are.  Point #2 is NOT saying anything about the "rightness" of any ham 
operation practice.


If the guy asked me "can i use my web sdr to hear you better?" - Sure, 
I'm going to say "let's do it the old school way."  But they don't 
ask...  And I would be willing to bet they don't advertise either.  
I'm just going to log the QSO and move on to the next contact.  Point 
#2 is is simply a reflection of my personal belief that time wasted 
worrying about things for which I have no ability to significantly 
influence is wasted time - and the clock is ticking for all of us.


73/jeff/ac0c
alpha-charlie-zero-charlie
www.ac0c.com

On 18-Jan-18 7:46 PM, Dave Heil wrote:
So this is sort of like Olympic doping or other amateur endeavors 
where they keep score?


Dave Heil K8MN


On 18-Jan-18 05:38, Jeff Blaine wrote:
There is no real point of worrying about what the other guy is 
using.  We only can control our personal operation, and really have 
to leave the other end of the Q to manage theirs.


73/jeff/ac0c
alpha-charlie-zero-charlie
www.ac0c.com



---
This email has been checked for viruses by AVG.
http://www.avg.com

_
Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband


_
Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband


_
Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband

Re: Topband: E31

[daraymond]

There are always lessons to be learned from previous expeditions.  if 160m 
is a band upon which the team wants to focus, then a high-rise building top 
QTH is obviously not a good choice.  That said, we must realize there are 
many factors involved in choosing the QTH (such as public awareness which 
appears to be a priority for this op).  They were clearly having extreme 
trouble hearing. . . even southern EU had a tough time getting through. 
That said, they hung in there and did not give up.  Interestingly enough, 
they were hearing better the first night.  Not sure what to attribute that 
to as no apparent lightning in the area last night.  In any case, I'm sure 
they are doing their very best with the situation presented. 73. . . 
Dave, W0FLS

P.S.  Spreading out their QSX window should help some (they control that).

-Original Message- 
From: Victor Goncharskyvia Topband

Sent: Thursday, January 18, 2018 11:24 AM
To: topBand List
Subject: Re: Topband: E31

Last night they were weaker here in Eastern EU then the two previous days.
Have the country confirmed so didn't call.
Possibly future DX peditions will use the alternative RX antenna approach 
not to feed locals with cupper wires.
Fortunately, pingwins don't steal wires so hopefully the Bouvet beverages 
will be safe.

73

Четверг, 18 января 2018, 15:26 UTC от Mark K3MSB :




_
Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband

Re: Topband: E31

[Victor Goncharsky via Topband]

Last night they were weaker here in Eastern EU then the two previous days.
Have the country confirmed so didn't call.
Possibly future DX peditions will use the alternative RX antenna approach not 
to feed locals with cupper wires.
Fortunately, pingwins don't steal wires so hopefully the Bouvet beverages will 
be safe. 
73
>Четверг, 18 января 2018, 15:26 UTC от Mark K3MSB :
>
>Hi Steve
>
>I noticed the same thing.   The pileup was considerably wider,  but he
>typically stayed within the 1 to 2 KHz up slot.I had my bandwidth set
>to 1.2 KHz when I switched to his RX frequency, and my VFO was on 23.66 and
>it didn’t move for me to hear most of the responders!
>
>NT2X spotted him at 0328Z with the comment “160M bev ant stolen by locals”
> I have no idea if that was tongue-in-cheek or true, but it was obvious
>they were having RX problems.
>
>They had a wonderful signal last night (received on my BOG), but after a
>while of one QSO every few minutes I got a cup of coffee and headed
>upstairs to watch some Star Trek Voyager on Netflix. My consolation
>prize was working UK9AA for a “new one” on TB later in the evening (and man
>was he ever weak……).
>
>Hopefully things will improve tonight….   But I have 6.5 seasons of Voyager
>left in case they don’t…….
>
>73 Mark K3MSB
>
>
>
>
>
>On Jan 18, 2018 9:47 AM, "Steven R Daniel, D.D.S." < n...@comcast.net > wrote:
>
>> I called unsuccessfully for quite some time. I noticed that, on the
>> stations
>> I could spot, he stayed within the range of 1-2 up. I did not spot anyone
>> higher than that. Just FYI. Steve, NN4T
>>
>>
>>
>> ---
>> This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
>>  https://www.avast.com/antivirus
>> _
>> Topband Reflector Archives -  http://www.contesting.com/_topband
>>
>_
>Topband Reflector Archives -  http://www.contesting.com/_topband


-- 
73, Victor Goncharsky US5WE/K1WE (UW5W in VHF contests, ex UB5WE), P.E.
UARL Technical and VHF Committies
DXCC Honor Roll #1 (Mixed, Phone), 9BDXCC, 8BWAS
DXCC card checker (160 meters).
_
Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband

Re: Topband: Kostas' point

[Grant Saviers]

Good comments.

Another perspective: If we consider DXCC a "people performance 
measurement system", then experience demonstrates some problems with 
those systems:


1. Some participants will invent clever ways to gain an advantage, 
exploit rule loopholes, or cheat.
2. The measurement will create negative unintended consequences to the 
desired output.

3. Many will complain it is unfair.
4. The measures will be repeatedly changed by the "boss".
5. The "exogenous variables" will corrupt the measurement.
6. there are more...

Proof

1. remote station Qs, etc.
2. extreme bad behavior in pile ups, QRMrs.
3. this thread.
4. how the rules have changed in 50 years.
5. measurements based primarily on political entities are unstable.

I do keep count and try for more confirmations, but know Honor Roll is 
unachievable due to location, age, and only at it in earnest for 5 
years.  Closing in on 300 confirmed, but a long way to go on 160 DXCC.


Some I know on Honor Roll have commented, "I wish I had your 
motivation".  What is personally important once there?  It is an 
impressive accomplishment.


Grant KZ1W

On 1/18/2018 7:00 AM, Jeff Blaine wrote:
Another fellow pressed me on this.   What I should have said - that 
perhaps is more clear - goes like this.


1. Worry about your own operation --> because you can control it.

2. No point to worry about the other guy --> because you almost 
certainly have no control over it.


3. Point #2 does not in any way detract from what your personal views 
are.  Point #2 is NOT saying anything about the "rightness" of any ham 
operation practice.


If the guy asked me "can i use my web sdr to hear you better?" - Sure, 
I'm going to say "let's do it the old school way."  But they don't 
ask...  And I would be willing to bet they don't advertise either.  
I'm just going to log the QSO and move on to the next contact.  Point 
#2 is is simply a reflection of my personal belief that time wasted 
worrying about things for which I have no ability to significantly 
influence is wasted time - and the clock is ticking for all of us.


73/jeff/ac0c
alpha-charlie-zero-charlie
www.ac0c.com

On 18-Jan-18 7:46 PM, Dave Heil wrote:
So this is sort of like Olympic doping or other amateur endeavors 
where they keep score?


Dave Heil K8MN


On 18-Jan-18 05:38, Jeff Blaine wrote:
There is no real point of worrying about what the other guy is 
using.  We only can control our personal operation, and really have 
to leave the other end of the Q to manage theirs.


73/jeff/ac0c
alpha-charlie-zero-charlie
www.ac0c.com



---
This email has been checked for viruses by AVG.
http://www.avg.com

_
Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband


_
Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband


_
Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband

Re: Topband: E31

[Mark K3MSB]

Hi Steve

I noticed the same thing.   The pileup was considerably wider,  but he
typically stayed within the 1 to 2 KHz up slot.I had my bandwidth set
to 1.2 KHz when I switched to his RX frequency, and my VFO was on 23.66 and
it didn’t move for me to hear most of the responders!

NT2X spotted him at 0328Z with the comment “160M bev ant stolen by locals”
 I have no idea if that was tongue-in-cheek or true, but it was obvious
they were having RX problems.

They had a wonderful signal last night (received on my BOG), but after a
while of one QSO every few minutes I got a cup of coffee and headed
upstairs to watch some Star Trek Voyager on Netflix. My consolation
prize was working UK9AA for a “new one” on TB later in the evening (and man
was he ever weak……).

Hopefully things will improve tonight….   But I have 6.5 seasons of Voyager
left in case they don’t…….

73 Mark K3MSB





On Jan 18, 2018 9:47 AM, "Steven R Daniel, D.D.S."  wrote:

> I called unsuccessfully for quite some time. I noticed that, on the
> stations
> I could spot, he stayed within the range of 1-2 up. I did not spot anyone
> higher than that. Just FYI. Steve, NN4T
>
>
>
> ---
> This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
> https://www.avast.com/antivirus
> _
> Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
>
_
Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband

Re: Topband: Kostas' point

[Jeff Blaine]

Another fellow pressed me on this.   What I should have said - that 
perhaps is more clear - goes like this.


1. Worry about your own operation --> because you can control it.

2. No point to worry about the other guy --> because you almost 
certainly have no control over it.


3. Point #2 does not in any way detract from what your personal views 
are.  Point #2 is NOT saying anything about the "rightness" of any ham 
operation practice.


If the guy asked me "can i use my web sdr to hear you better?" - Sure, 
I'm going to say "let's do it the old school way."  But they don't 
ask...  And I would be willing to bet they don't advertise either.  I'm 
just going to log the QSO and move on to the next contact.  Point #2 is 
is simply a reflection of my personal belief that time wasted worrying 
about things for which I have no ability to significantly influence is 
wasted time - and the clock is ticking for all of us.


73/jeff/ac0c
alpha-charlie-zero-charlie
www.ac0c.com

On 18-Jan-18 7:46 PM, Dave Heil wrote:
So this is sort of like Olympic doping or other amateur endeavors 
where they keep score?


Dave Heil K8MN


On 18-Jan-18 05:38, Jeff Blaine wrote:
There is no real point of worrying about what the other guy is 
using.  We only can control our personal operation, and really have 
to leave the other end of the Q to manage theirs.


73/jeff/ac0c
alpha-charlie-zero-charlie
www.ac0c.com



---
This email has been checked for viruses by AVG.
http://www.avg.com

_
Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband


_
Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband

Topband: E31

[Steven R Daniel, D.D.S.]

I called unsuccessfully for quite some time. I noticed that, on the stations
I could spot, he stayed within the range of 1-2 up. I did not spot anyone
higher than that. Just FYI. Steve, NN4T



---
This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
https://www.avast.com/antivirus
_
Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband

Re: Topband: E31

[Greg]

And QUIT calling if he is not answering you!  Ridiculous behavior.  Patience 
and courtesy will help everyone.  73, Greg-N4CC

-Original Message-
From: Topband [mailto:topband-boun...@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Ron Spencer
Sent: Thursday, January 18, 2018 5:23 AM
To: Topband@Contesting. Com 
Subject: Topband: E31

​Solid copy on them from my ss to their sr. But obvious they were having great 
difficulty hearing. And also obvious some stations in pile were getting 
frustrated.

I'm very happy the folks there are putting in the effort to get on 160 for us! 
I think how frustrated THEY must be: travel all that way, spend time and money, 
and sit on 160 for hours knowing bunches are calling and not be able to hear 
more than a few partial calls. My thanks to them for hanging in there and 
giving us all at least a chance to work them.

On other thought. I know I've heard "up, up, up" and thought, what dummy's that 
for only to realize that, ah, would be me! We all do it. But please, please, 
PLEASE, once you realize it don't send "sri". Its just more QRM (this time 
intentional isn't it?). Just punch the split button and go work the DX.
Ron  N4XD​


Virus-free.
www.avg.com

<#DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2>
_
Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband

_
Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband

Topband: E31

[Ron Spencer]

​Solid copy on them from my ss to their sr. But obvious they were having
great difficulty hearing. And also obvious some stations in pile were
getting frustrated.

I'm very happy the folks there are putting in the effort to get on 160 for
us! I think how frustrated THEY must be: travel all that way, spend time
and money, and sit on 160 for hours knowing bunches are calling and not be
able to hear more than a few partial calls. My thanks to them for hanging
in there and giving us all at least a chance to work them.

On other thought. I know I've heard "up, up, up" and thought, what dummy's
that for only to realize that, ah, would be me! We all do it. But please,
please, PLEASE, once you realize it don't send "sri". Its just more QRM
(this time intentional isn't it?). Just punch the split button and go work
the DX.
Ron  N4XD​


Virus-free.
www.avg.com

<#DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2>
_
Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband

Re: Topband: Kostas' point

[Dave Heil]

So this is sort of like Olympic doping or other amateur endeavors where 
they keep score?


Dave Heil K8MN


On 18-Jan-18 05:38, Jeff Blaine wrote:
There is no real point of worrying about what the other guy is using.  
We only can control our personal operation, and really have to leave 
the other end of the Q to manage theirs.


73/jeff/ac0c
alpha-charlie-zero-charlie
www.ac0c.com



---
This email has been checked for viruses by AVG.
http://www.avg.com

_
Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband