Re: Topband: ARRL 160 Test - barren of DX

[Rob Van Geen]

We (KH6AQ) were spotted on the obsolete CW DX cluster as KH6AY, KH6AZ, and
KH7AQ. Each time, we were clicked upon by a string of oblivious dupers.

<"sigh">

On Tue, Dec 5, 2023 at 3:31 PM Rob Van Geen  wrote:

>
> You were spotted to DX cluster as "W3SKK" Saturday:
>
> Spotter Freq. DX Time Info Country
>
> K1KA
> 1806
> W3SKK
> 22:21 02 Dec 23
> United States
>
> This could explain the high dupe rate.
>
> tskk, tskk, tskk
>
> Rob - NH6V
>
>
> On Tue, Dec 5, 2023 at 11:15 AM  wrote:
>
>> Tnx for the qso, Jim.
>>
>> I worked a mere six CA stations, fewer than half of the 7 land states,
>> one KH6. and a smattering of Carib/C.A. stations. Several locals gave
>> up early Fri night due to the poor/few signals ota.
>> I started at 2200z prompt and worked a so-so 109 stations during the
>> first 80 minutes. XYL announced dinner so I took an hour break, came
>> back and saw the rates declining -instead of increasing- and holes
>> appearing in the bandscope. Not many blockbuster sigs either, with
>> moderate QRN,
>>
>> Day 2 began with a bang...45% of my contacts were DUPES...until I
>> decided to check for the N1MM+ DUPE alert before gong back to the guy.
>> Id give his call, then say SRI-DUPE-and resume CQing. Miraculously
>> after a while the dupes went way down. (perhaps the friendly reminder
>> changed some behavior.) ( rather than just working them and letting
>> the software sort it out.) But spending half your time on dupes seemed
>> ridiculous.
>>
>> Also during both nights I heard only two Euros. But s they wee
>> replying to someone elses CQ I never had a chance to call them. So
>> zero Euros in the 2023 log. I reflected back to 2020 when 160 was wide
>> open to EU and it was great fun working them right and left.
>>
>> -
>>
>> _
>> Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband
>> Reflector
>>
>
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Re: Topband: ARRL 160 Test - barren of DX

[Rob Van Geen]

Ah.. Well, Bob.. I have no station here at my condo. I usually participate
in multi operations from KH6LC. This time, I was operating with Dave KH6AQ,
from our beach portable setup in the ARRL 160, and it was me whom you
worked. We signed KH6AQ.

Dave should be on from home in the ARRL 10 this weekend. I will not be
participating.

On Tue, Dec 5, 2023 at 3:47 PM  wrote:

> Glad I was "almost" spotted.  Saw quite a few erroneous spots in the
> contest due to the less than stellar conditions, myself.
>
> I see we havent worked yet this yeartime is running out but the 10M
> this weekend is a good place to remedy that.
>
> Bob
>
> -
> From: "Rob Van Geen"
> To: w3...@roadrunner.com
> Cc: "topband@contesting.com"
> Sent: Tuesday December 5 2023 8:31:55PM
> Subject: Re: Topband: ARRL 160 Test - barren of DX
>
>
> You were spotted to DX cluster as "W3SKK" Saturday:
>
> Spotter Freq. DX Time Info Country
>
> K1KA
> 1806
> W3SKK
> 22:21 02 Dec 23
>
> United States
>
> This could explain the high dupe rate.
>
> tskk, tskk, tskk
>
> Rob - NH6V
>
>
> On Tue, Dec 5, 2023 at 11:15 AM  wrote:
>
>> Tnx for the qso, Jim.
>>
>> I worked a mere six CA stations, fewer than half of the 7 land states,
>> one KH6. and a smattering of Carib/C.A. stations. Several locals gave
>> up early Fri night due to the poor/few signals ota.
>> I started at 2200z prompt and worked a so-so 109 stations during the
>> first 80 minutes. XYL announced dinner so I took an hour break, came
>> back and saw the rates declining -instead of increasing- and holes
>> appearing in the bandscope. Not many blockbuster sigs either, with
>> moderate QRN,
>>
>> Day 2 began with a bang...45% of my contacts were DUPES...until I
>> decided to check for the N1MM+ DUPE alert before gong back to the guy.
>> Id give his call, then say SRI-DUPE-and resume CQing. Miraculously
>> after a while the dupes went way down. (perhaps the friendly reminder
>> changed some behavior.) ( rather than just working them and letting
>> the software sort it out.) But spending half your time on dupes seemed
>> ridiculous.
>>
>> Also during both nights I heard only two Euros. But s they wee
>> replying to someone elses CQ I never had a chance to call them. So
>> zero Euros in the 2023 log. I reflected back to 2020 when 160 was wide
>> open to EU and it was great fun working them right and left.
>>
>> -
>>
>> _
>> Searchable Archives: 
>> http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
>>
>
_
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Re: Topband: ARRL 160 Test - barren of DX

[W3HKK]

PS Despite not logging dupes, at a certain point, I have K1KA in my
log twice for that contest. Which explains the second one. Wonder if
he's related to K1KI. 

-From: "Rob Van Geen" 
To: w3...@roadrunner.com
Cc: "topband@contesting.com"
Sent: Tuesday December 5 2023 8:31:55PM
Subject: Re: Topband: ARRL 160 Test - barren of DX

 You were spotted to DX cluster as "W3SKK" Saturday:

 Spotter
 Freq.
 DX
 Time
 Info
 Country

  K1KA 
  1806 
  W3SKK 
 22:21 02 Dec 23 

 United States 

 This could explain the high dupe rate. 
 tskk, tskk, tskk 
 Rob - NH6V 

 On Tue, Dec 5, 2023 at 11:15 AM  wrote:
  Tnx for the qso, Jim.

 I worked a mere six CA stations, fewer than half of the 7 land
states,
 one KH6. and a smattering of Carib/C.A. stations. Several locals gave
 up early Fri night due to the poor/few signals ota.
 I started at 2200z prompt and worked a so-so 109 stations during the
 first 80 minutes. XYL announced dinner so I took an hour break, came
 back and saw the rates declining -instead of increasing- and holes
 appearing in the bandscope. Not many blockbuster sigs either, with
 moderate QRN,

 Day 2 began with a bang...45% of my contacts were DUPES...until I
 decided to check for the N1MM+ DUPE alert before gong back to the
guy.
 Id give his call, then say SRI-DUPE-and resume CQing. Miraculously
 after a while the dupes went way down. (perhaps the friendly reminder
 changed some behavior.) ( rather than just working them and letting
 the software sort it out.) But spending half your time on dupes
seemed
 ridiculous.

 Also during both nights I heard only two Euros. But s they wee
 replying to someone elses CQ I never had a chance to call them. So
 zero Euros in the 2023 log. I reflected back to 2020 when 160 was
wide
 open to EU and it was great fun working them right and left.

 -

 _
 Searchable Archives:  [1]http://www.contesting.com/_topband [2] -
Topband Reflector


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Re: Topband: ARRL 160 Test - barren of DX

[W3HKK]

Glad I was "almost" spotted. Saw quite a few erroneous spots in the
contest due to the less than stellar conditions, myself.

I see we havent worked yet this yeartime is running out but the
10M this weekend is a good place to remedy that.

Bob

-From: "Rob Van Geen" 
To: w3...@roadrunner.com
Cc: "topband@contesting.com"
Sent: Tuesday December 5 2023 8:31:55PM
Subject: Re: Topband: ARRL 160 Test - barren of DX

 You were spotted to DX cluster as "W3SKK" Saturday:

 Spotter
 Freq.
 DX
 Time
 Info
 Country

  K1KA 
  1806 
  W3SKK 
 22:21 02 Dec 23 

 United States 

 This could explain the high dupe rate. 
 tskk, tskk, tskk 
 Rob - NH6V 

 On Tue, Dec 5, 2023 at 11:15 AM  wrote:
  Tnx for the qso, Jim.

 I worked a mere six CA stations, fewer than half of the 7 land
states,
 one KH6. and a smattering of Carib/C.A. stations. Several locals gave
 up early Fri night due to the poor/few signals ota.
 I started at 2200z prompt and worked a so-so 109 stations during the
 first 80 minutes. XYL announced dinner so I took an hour break, came
 back and saw the rates declining -instead of increasing- and holes
 appearing in the bandscope. Not many blockbuster sigs either, with
 moderate QRN,

 Day 2 began with a bang...45% of my contacts were DUPES...until I
 decided to check for the N1MM+ DUPE alert before gong back to the
guy.
 Id give his call, then say SRI-DUPE-and resume CQing. Miraculously
 after a while the dupes went way down. (perhaps the friendly reminder
 changed some behavior.) ( rather than just working them and letting
 the software sort it out.) But spending half your time on dupes
seemed
 ridiculous.

 Also during both nights I heard only two Euros. But s they wee
 replying to someone elses CQ I never had a chance to call them. So
 zero Euros in the 2023 log. I reflected back to 2020 when 160 was
wide
 open to EU and it was great fun working them right and left.

 -

 _
 Searchable Archives:  [1]http://www.contesting.com/_topband [2] -
Topband Reflector


Links:
--
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[2] http://www.contesting.com/_topband

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Re: Topband: ARRL 160 Test - barren of DX

[Rob Van Geen]

You were spotted to DX cluster as "W3SKK" Saturday:

Spotter Freq. DX Time Info Country

K1KA
1806
W3SKK
22:21 02 Dec 23
United States

This could explain the high dupe rate.

tskk, tskk, tskk

Rob - NH6V


On Tue, Dec 5, 2023 at 11:15 AM  wrote:

> Tnx for the qso, Jim.
>
> I worked a mere six CA stations, fewer than half of the 7 land states,
> one KH6. and a smattering of Carib/C.A. stations. Several locals gave
> up early Fri night due to the poor/few signals ota.
> I started at 2200z prompt and worked a so-so 109 stations during the
> first 80 minutes. XYL announced dinner so I took an hour break, came
> back and saw the rates declining -instead of increasing- and holes
> appearing in the bandscope. Not many blockbuster sigs either, with
> moderate QRN,
>
> Day 2 began with a bang...45% of my contacts were DUPES...until I
> decided to check for the N1MM+ DUPE alert before gong back to the guy.
> Id give his call, then say SRI-DUPE-and resume CQing. Miraculously
> after a while the dupes went way down. (perhaps the friendly reminder
> changed some behavior.) ( rather than just working them and letting
> the software sort it out.) But spending half your time on dupes seemed
> ridiculous.
>
> Also during both nights I heard only two Euros. But s they wee
> replying to someone elses CQ I never had a chance to call them. So
> zero Euros in the 2023 log. I reflected back to 2020 when 160 was wide
> open to EU and it was great fun working them right and left.
>
> -
>
> _
> Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband
> Reflector
>
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Re: Topband: AM Broadcast Filter recommendation

[Jim Brown]

On 12/5/2023 1:19 PM, Steve Muenich wrote:

I'm looking for a recommendation for an AM Broadcast filter for my receive
only input.
Unfortunately I live 2 miles form 910 khz AM so their 2nd harmonic wipes
out 1820.


It's important to figure out where that harmonic is being generated. If 
it's in their transmitter, nothing you can do will help -- you'll have 
to lean on them to fix it. Some questions.


Is the harmonic present on all of your antennas? The Hi-Z array? The 
Beverage? Is there a preamp for the Beverage? If so, at the feedpoint or 
in the shack?


Is the harmonic present on a much shorter wire?

A good filter will help with that harmonic if it's being generated 
somewhere in your RX chain -- those preamps, and/or the front end of 
your RX. If it's being generated in one of the preamps, it must be ahead 
of the preamp (that is, between the antenna and the preamp).


I've owned more than a half-dozen ICE filters over the years, and 
measured their performance. I also found serious QC issues with a couple 
of them purchased new -- poor alignment, resulting both in poor 
rejection and excess loss in the passband. One of the BCB filters I 
owned measured 58 dB down at 1 MHz, which is where I started the sweep.


If you don't have to transmit through the filter (using it ahead of a 
preamp, or at if your rig has patch jacks for RX in and RX out), the 
data sheet for a receive-only preamp like the AS-1.8HPF-RX that Array 
Solutions sells for $79 shows more than 50 dB of attenuation around 900 kHz.


73, Jim K9YC








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Re: Topband: AM Broadcast Filter recommendation

[Chris G3SVL]

Hi Steve,

If the problem is the second harmonic then a BCB filter at your end will 
not help because the second harmonic isn't in the Broadcast Band. 
However, I suspect the problem may be blocking of your rx input by the 
fundamental frequency which the filter will address. You don't say what 
the TX power of the BC station is (which would give a clue to the field 
strength you see at your rx antenna). You could try a simple series 
tuned cct, tuned to 910kHz, across your rx input.


I  have a MW transmitter 300m from my antenna. It used to have three MW 
stations combined to produce 2.4kW running 24/7. The worst offender was 
700w on 945kHz (second harmonic 1890kHz). I have an ICE BCB which claims 
to be 60dB down at 900kHz (but installed performance won't be that 
good). Some earlier rigs blocked, but the K3 and FTdx101 cope without 
it. The second harmonic was detectable but as I rarely do SSB and we are 
limited in power above 1850 it didn't really bother me.


Fortunately the gradual decommissioning of AM stations here in the UK 
means it is now a single 400W signal on 693kHz that doesn't bother me.


73 Chris, G3SVL


On 05/12/2023 21:19, Steve Muenich wrote:

Hi Guys,

I'm looking for a recommendation for an AM Broadcast filter for my receive
only input.
Unfortunately I live 2 miles form 910 khz AM so their 2nd harmonic wipes
out 1820. For the most part I work around it and stay up higher in the band.
There are other stations in the area of course that I'd like to knock down
their signal further.
I'm currently using an older 20+ year old ICE BCB filter that when swept on
my tracking generator only attenuates -25db at 1700khz. The band would be
absolutely unuseable without it.

My receive antennas are 4xHi-Z array and a single NE facing beverage

I'm looking for a newer filter that has better performance and
attenuation below 1800khz.

Any suggestions?

Thanks
Steve, NA5C
_
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Re: Topband: AM Broadcast Filter recommendation

[Tim Duffy]

HI Steve

Here is what guys say about the DLW BCB filter (I use these at K3LR)
https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/dlw-fl1718/reviews

73
Tim K3LR

-Original Message-
From: Topband [mailto:topband-bounces+k3lr=k3lr@contesting.com] On
Behalf Of Steve Muenich
Sent: Tuesday, December 5, 2023 4:19 PM
To: topband@contesting.com
Subject: Topband: AM Broadcast Filter recommendation

Hi Guys,

I'm looking for a recommendation for an AM Broadcast filter for my receive
only input.
Unfortunately I live 2 miles form 910 khz AM so their 2nd harmonic wipes
out 1820. For the most part I work around it and stay up higher in the band.
There are other stations in the area of course that I'd like to knock down
their signal further.
I'm currently using an older 20+ year old ICE BCB filter that when swept on
my tracking generator only attenuates -25db at 1700khz. The band would be
absolutely unuseable without it.

My receive antennas are 4xHi-Z array and a single NE facing beverage

I'm looking for a newer filter that has better performance and
attenuation below 1800khz.

Any suggestions?

Thanks
Steve, NA5C
_
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Re: Topband: AM Broadcast Filter recommendation

[Paul Mcl]

Steve,

Probably not in the best part of the world to get a good price but I use
the AM filter on this page:

http://www.herostechnology.co.uk/pages/RF_Filters.html

I have 2.2kw (QRP compared to some) about 500 metre away on 1548khz to
block out.

Regards

Paul MM0ZBH





On Tue, 5 Dec 2023 at 21:20, Steve Muenich  wrote:

> Hi Guys,
>
> I'm looking for a recommendation for an AM Broadcast filter for my receive
> only input.
> Unfortunately I live 2 miles form 910 khz AM so their 2nd harmonic wipes
> out 1820. For the most part I work around it and stay up higher in the
> band.
> There are other stations in the area of course that I'd like to knock down
> their signal further.
> I'm currently using an older 20+ year old ICE BCB filter that when swept on
> my tracking generator only attenuates -25db at 1700khz. The band would be
> absolutely unuseable without it.
>
> My receive antennas are 4xHi-Z array and a single NE facing beverage
>
> I'm looking for a newer filter that has better performance and
> attenuation below 1800khz.
>
> Any suggestions?
>
> Thanks
> Steve, NA5C
> _
> Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband
> Reflector
>
_
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Topband: AM Broadcast Filter recommendation

[Steve Muenich]

Hi Guys,

I'm looking for a recommendation for an AM Broadcast filter for my receive
only input.
Unfortunately I live 2 miles form 910 khz AM so their 2nd harmonic wipes
out 1820. For the most part I work around it and stay up higher in the band.
There are other stations in the area of course that I'd like to knock down
their signal further.
I'm currently using an older 20+ year old ICE BCB filter that when swept on
my tracking generator only attenuates -25db at 1700khz. The band would be
absolutely unuseable without it.

My receive antennas are 4xHi-Z array and a single NE facing beverage

I'm looking for a newer filter that has better performance and
attenuation below 1800khz.

Any suggestions?

Thanks
Steve, NA5C
_
Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector

Re: Topband: ARRL 160m Contest

[GEORGE WALLNER]

I came on Saturday morning only for a short time, starting around 1015 Z. 
The boat was anchored off Christmas Island, T32.
NA signals were generally strong. Many East Coast stations were S6 to S7. 
West coast stations were often S9. ZF2VE was S9+. I thought that conditions 
(here) very very good. (T32 is about 1200 miles south of KH6.)


I tried later for EU SS, but no luck.
I had a kW and a 50 foot vertical (plus salt-water all around).
73,
AA7JV/MM


On Mon, 4 Dec 2023 11:58:02 -0800 Jim Brown  wrote:

On 12/4/2023 10:59 AM, Roger Kennedy wrote:


I worked 2 NA stations on Friday night . . .
Didn't hear a single one on Saturday night !

I'm near San Francisco. I was on only Saturday night; only DX longer than 2,000 
miles were K1LZ in ME, KB1EFS in NNY, WJ9B in  NFL, and PJ2T. With 1.5kW to a 
100 ft Tee and four Beverages, working east of Ohio was a challenge.

73, Jim K9YC

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Topband: In shack combiner and direction switching

[VE6WZ_Steve]

I posted another YouTube video about how I combine my broadside BOG pairs in 
the shack, split to multiple radios and implement direction switching.
I show how I install a low impedance ground plane in the shack to minimize 
noise ingress.

What might be of interest to this group is my remote switching system that 
allows me to switch directions using ethernet relay boards.
https://youtu.be/ZWTDaQIRRxY 

73, Steve, ve6wz.
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Re: Topband: ARRL 160m Contest

[Charles Morrison]

Same here:
Ive not heard Zone 16. Only a few from Zone 15.

" Is this thing working ?? "
de N1RR - Charlie

On Tue, Dec 5, 2023 at 5:41 AM uy0zg via Topband 
wrote:

> Here near Nikolaev I have not heard a single station from North America.
>
>   Such is life Roger - you wait, you wait for a holiday. And someone
> takes
>
> it and cancels it.
>
> ---
> Nick, UY0ZG
> http://www.topband.in.ua
>
> Roger Kennedy писал(а) 2023-12-04 20:59:
> > Such a shame conditions were so poor
> >
> > I worked 2 NA stations on Friday night . . .
> >
> > Didn't hear a single one on Saturday night !
> >
> > Roger G3YRO
> >
> >
> > _
> > Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband
> > Reflector
>
> _
> Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband
> Reflector
>


-- 

-Charlie N1RR

401-742-7240 <(401)%20742-7240>  8AM - 9PM

*E-mail*: n...@n1rr.com

*Website*: www.n1rr.com

*Youtube channel*: NovemberOne RomeoRomeo

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPDzEf57Ad80cVKOiLZLB7w/videos
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Re: Topband: ARRL 160m Contest

[uy0zg via Topband]

Here near Nikolaev I have not heard a single station from North America.

 Such is life Roger - you wait, you wait for a holiday. And someone 
takes


it and cancels it.

---
Nick, UY0ZG
http://www.topband.in.ua

Roger Kennedy писал(а) 2023-12-04 20:59:

Such a shame conditions were so poor

I worked 2 NA stations on Friday night . . .

Didn't hear a single one on Saturday night !

Roger G3YRO


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