Re: Topband: Pulleys for antennas in trees

2015-01-27 Thread Jim Brown
On Tue,1/27/2015 9:50 AM, Mel Crichton wrote: So if using a pulley, please be sure the supporting branch is stout I had to replace the windshield of my truck to prove this point to me. I find it best to install inverted vee type (center supported) dipoles or very light inverted L's to

Re: Topband: K levels and skew path on 160

2015-01-27 Thread Tom W8JI
I was rereading the article by Cary Oler and Ted Cohen (N4XX), published in 1998, which provided a good primer for understanding, as much as we can, propagation on Topband. In one section the impact of a high K index on the auroral oval, and its subsequent impact on signals passing through the

Re: Topband: Elimination of Treadmill RFI on 160 meters

2015-01-27 Thread Don Kirk
Hi Brad, Great to hear you had similar results. The 20VR1 and the 20DRGG5 filter appear to be of very similar design (two stage filters, and component values not vastly different). The 20VR1 looks to be double the price of the 20DRGG5, but it might offset some of the additional cost if it

Re: Topband: K levels and skew path on 160

2015-01-27 Thread donovanf
From mid-November through mid-February, daylight over Antarctica and the Southern Ocean prevents the 160 meter long path from propagating due south (+/- about 20 degrees). Except for sunspot minimum, short path propagation transiting only the northern hemisphere to southeast Asia is very

Re: Topband: Elimination of Treadmill RFI on 160 meters

2015-01-27 Thread Brad Rehm
Don, You make a good point about the difference between our definition of CM noise and the definition implied in Part 15. If the external torroid made a difference for you, then it's important and worth having. We can't be too optimistic about the manufacturer's interest in fixing this kind of

Re: Topband: Elimination of Treadmill RFI on 160 meters

2015-01-27 Thread Tom W8JI
are talking about current that is flowing in the same direction on three conductors. In my case the additional Toroid core choke had a very noticeable impact, and I now can't tell when the treadmill is on when using the combination of both filters. P.S. I sent an e-mail to the manufacturer of

Topband: K levels and skew path on 160

2015-01-27 Thread Steven R Daniel, D.D.S.
I was rereading the article by Cary Oler and Ted Cohen (N4XX), published in 1998, which provided a good primer for understanding, as much as we can, propagation on Topband. In one section the impact of a high K index on the auroral oval, and its subsequent impact on signals passing through the

Re: Topband: Elimination of Treadmill RFI on 160 meters

2015-01-27 Thread Jim Brown
On Tue,1/27/2015 3:19 PM, Brad Rehm wrote: You make a good point about the difference between our definition of CM noise and the definition implied in Part 15. If the external torroid made a difference for you, then it's important and worth having. Exactly. The commercial filter addresses

Re: Topband: K levels and skew path on 160

2015-01-27 Thread JC
-Original Message- From: Topband [mailto:topband-boun...@contesting.com] On Behalf Of donov...@starpower.net Sent: Tuesday, January 27, 2015 3:28 PM To: topband@contesting.com Cc: n...@comcast.net Because the southern magnetic pole is just off the coast of Antarctica and directly south

Re: Topband: Elimination of Treadmill RFI on 160 meters

2015-01-27 Thread Jim Brown
On Tue,1/27/2015 4:08 PM, Tom W8JI wrote: The flaw in this system is that differential voltages between current carrying wires are not measured, and anything on the safety ground isn't measured. Noise voltage is only measured from individual current carrying conductors to ground, and the

Re: Topband: K levels and skew path on 160

2015-01-27 Thread donovanf
Hi JC, Thanks for your interesting email. You may be correct that SSE/SSW long path propagation may not extend very far into the southern hemisphere. I wasn't aware of the NNE/NNW observations by our southern hemisphere friends. It also appears that SSE/SSW long path is more reliable for