Re: Topband: Shunt feeding the Skyneedle
the vertical section was still suppressed and the top 29' was resonating. With this in mind I decided to run a shunt wire from the top to see where the antenna resonates. Here's what I found.. I was afraid the tower was messing up the L. This is what happens when they are are nearly resonant. You can't measure tower resonance with a drop wire. The drop wire is a stub or shorted transmission line in parallel with the common mode impedance presented by the drop wire and tower combination. It is just a mess of stuff going on. The MFJ read 380 ohms at 1825 and the X is way off the scale. I inserted an EF Johnson 10-160pf air variable capacitor at the base.in series.and was able to tune the antenna to 60 ohms and the X=22. If I played with the cap there was a real sharp drop in reactance showing X=12. The air variable was about ¾ meshed. Reducing the lenth (tap point height) of the drop wire is a better way to get impedance right. Or, better still, use a multiple wire drop to make the drop diameter look larger. That will reduce Q, require more C, and should reduce impedance. You are so close at 60 ohms I would not worry. Adjust the cap for lowest SWR. What is the SWR?? _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Shunt feeding the Skyneedle
So, i'm assuming you're suggesting that I drop the gamma arm down to the 67' level and see what the impedance looks like? If so, I'm guessing the series C required to tune would increase in value? There will be some tap point where the shunt capacitor is not required. Eliminating the shunt cap will increase bandwidth, reduce voltages, and improve efficiency. I'm not sure where the point is, but if I were doing it, I would just leave the tap point alone and move a shorting wire to the tower from the shunt wire up and down along the shunt wire and look for 50 ohms J0 when reactance is nulled. _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: FT5ZM
Rats, back in the chase, must have been a slim. Just checked clublogs FT5ZM log and the 160M Q didn't show up but my 17M contact an hour a half later did. I know I heard them come back to me so it must have been a slim but geez with the signals like they were, it sure sounded like their signal. Ugh... Gary KA1J Fingers crossed it wasn't a slim I worked. The signals were in out but for 4-5 minutes I could hear them clearly. Time'll tell. If I did get him it was greatly because the kiddies weren't playing so hard today. 73, Gary KA1J --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.com _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.com _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: FT5ZM
Gary, I know I worked them on 40 SSB last night, and I do not appear in the log. So, I checked about a dozen other guys in the spots for 40 SSB last night who supposedly worked them after I did. None of them appear in the log either. Methinks there are some bands missing in today's upload! 73, Tony K4QE On Mon, Feb 3, 2014 at 5:18 PM, Gary Smith g...@ka1j.com wrote: Rats, back in the chase, must have been a slim. Just checked clublogs FT5ZM log and the 160M Q didn't show up but my 17M contact an hour a half later did. I know I heard them come back to me so it must have been a slim but geez with the signals like they were, it sure sounded like their signal. Ugh... Gary KA1J Fingers crossed it wasn't a slim I worked. The signals were in out but for 4-5 minutes I could hear them clearly. Time'll tell. If I did get him it was greatly because the kiddies weren't playing so hard today. 73, Gary KA1J --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.com _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.com _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: FT5ZM
Yes, anything is possible. I got a couple of emails last night from guys saying they heard the Q but between those bastard jammers QSB on a really faint signal, I am not 100% I heard a TU in return, I thought I did. I did hear their report but did they hear mine back? I might have ended up not in the log. I really don't want to add to the noise of others trying to make the Q if I'm already in the log, FT5 is so difficult to make on TB on the east coast/central NA and I want all of us to get it. I really don't feel good about having at it again because of not knowing I guess I have to. 73, Gary KA1J Gary, I know I worked them on 40 SSB last night, and I do not appear in the log. So, I checked about a dozen other guys in the spots for 40 SSB last night who supposedly worked them after I did. None of them appear in the log either. Methinks there are some bands missing in today's upload! 73, Tony K4QE On Mon, Feb 3, 2014 at 5:18 PM, Gary Smith g...@ka1j.com wrote: Rats, back in the chase, must have been a slim. Just checked clublogs FT5ZM log and the 160M Q didn't show up but my 17M contact an hour a half later did. I know I heard them come back to me so it must have been a slim but geez with the signals like they were, it sure sounded like their signal. Ugh... Gary KA1J Fingers crossed it wasn't a slim I worked. The signals were in out but for 4-5 minutes I could hear them clearly. Time'll tell. If I did get him it was greatly because the kiddies weren't playing so hard today. 73, Gary KA1J --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.com _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.com _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.com _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: FT5ZM
Gary, I had a solid QSO on top band at 0010Z. My QSO is not in the log as yet either. I suspect they will be in the log on the next upload!! I'm hoping anyway!! 73, Ted K2QMF On Mon, 03 Feb 2014 18:02:06 -0500 Gary Smith g...@ka1j.com writes: Yes, anything is possible. I got a couple of emails last night from guys saying they heard the Q but between those bastard jammers QSB on a really faint signal, I am not 100% I heard a TU in return, I thought I did. I did hear their report but did they hear mine back? I might have ended up not in the log. I really don't want to add to the noise of others trying to make the Q if I'm already in the log, FT5 is so difficult to make on TB on the east coast/central NA and I want all of us to get it. I really don't feel good about having at it again because of not knowing I guess I have to. 73, Gary KA1J Gary, I know I worked them on 40 SSB last night, and I do not appear in the log. So, I checked about a dozen other guys in the spots for 40 SSB last night who supposedly worked them after I did. None of them appear in the log either. Methinks there are some bands missing in today's upload! 73, Tony K4QE On Mon, Feb 3, 2014 at 5:18 PM, Gary Smith g...@ka1j.com wrote: Rats, back in the chase, must have been a slim. Just checked clublogs FT5ZM log and the 160M Q didn't show up but my 17M contact an hour a half later did. I know I heard them come back to me so it must have been a slim but geez with the signals like they were, it sure sounded like their signal. Ugh... Gary KA1J Fingers crossed it wasn't a slim I worked. The signals were in out but for 4-5 minutes I could hear them clearly. Time'll tell. If I did get him it was greatly because the kiddies weren't playing so hard today. 73, Gary KA1J --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.com _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.com _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.com _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband Do THIS before eating carbs #40;every time#41; 1 EASY tip to increase fat-burning, lower blood sugar decrease fat storage http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/52f0246e156ae246d6160st03vuc _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: FT5ZM
Well, it's academic for tonight because the only signals on frequency I've heard all night were the buzzards throwing out carriers the occasional dits so to let us know they're there, waiting. Band condx or local issues there keeping them off 160 it seems. Gary, KA1J Gary, I know I worked them on 40 SSB last night, and I do not appear in the log. So, I checked about a dozen other guys in the spots for 40 SSB last night who supposedly worked them after I did. None of them appear in the log either. Methinks there are some bands missing in today's upload! 73, Tony K4QE On Mon, Feb 3, 2014 at 5:18 PM, Gary Smith g...@ka1j.com wrote: Rats, back in the chase, must have been a slim. Just checked clublogs FT5ZM log and the 160M Q didn't show up but my 17M contact an hour a half later did. I know I heard them come back to me so it must have been a slim but geez with the signals like they were, it sure sounded like their signal. Ugh... Gary KA1J Fingers crossed it wasn't a slim I worked. The signals were in out but for 4-5 minutes I could hear them clearly. Time'll tell. If I did get him it was greatly because the kiddies weren't playing so hard today. 73, Gary KA1J --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.com _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.com _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.com _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: FT5ZM
Gary, I know I heard you in there last night and I think they got you OK. I heard them come back to K2QMF very clearly. 73, Les W2LK On 2/3/2014 6:02 PM, Gary Smith wrote: Yes, anything is possible. I got a couple of emails last night from guys saying they heard the Q but between those bastard jammers QSB on a really faint signal, I am not 100% I heard a TU in return, I thought I did. I did hear their report but did they hear mine back? I might have ended up not in the log. I really don't want to add to the noise of others trying to make the Q if I'm already in the log, FT5 is so difficult to make on TB on the east coast/central NA and I want all of us to get it. I really don't feel good about having at it again because of not knowing I guess I have to. 73, Gary KA1J Gary, I know I worked them on 40 SSB last night, and I do not appear in the log. So, I checked about a dozen other guys in the spots for 40 SSB last night who supposedly worked them after I did. None of them appear in the log either. Methinks there are some bands missing in today's upload! 73, Tony K4QE On Mon, Feb 3, 2014 at 5:18 PM, Gary Smith g...@ka1j.com wrote: Rats, back in the chase, must have been a slim. Just checked clublogs FT5ZM log and the 160M Q didn't show up but my 17M contact an hour a half later did. I know I heard them come back to me so it must have been a slim but geez with the signals like they were, it sure sounded like their signal. Ugh... Gary KA1J Fingers crossed it wasn't a slim I worked. The signals were in out but for 4-5 minutes I could hear them clearly. Time'll tell. If I did get him it was greatly because the kiddies weren't playing so hard today. 73, Gary KA1J --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.com _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.com _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.com _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Topband: FT5ZM Update
Direct word from K9CT just minutes ago. . . .we started (today, editor) at SS but had some bad rfi in shack. EY8MM will be on for sure (they were late getting on TB for NA Monday evening, editor). We are using a network to gather logs. The UPS had RFI and dropped the network (thus some Qs not showing up in on-line log, editor). We have some computers that needed to be caught up. We have three backups of each computer and will do a complete log update to catch up. We should pass 100K QSOs today! Some French wine and cheese to celebrate. Respectfully passed on to the reflector. . .73. . Dave, W0FLS _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
