Re: Topband: Best Outlet sttrip

Sent from my iPad On Oct 8, 2013, at 19:06, Jim Brown j...@audiosystemsgroup.com wrote: On 10/8/2013 2:42 PM, Tom W8JI wrote: the system should not be that sensitive to common mode issues on ports. Right. But first, we're not talking about common mode, we're talking about

Re: Topband: Best Outlet sttrip

This discussion is beginning to confuse me. I thought the issue being debated was the optimal way to provide surge protection to safeguard our radios from unexpected line transients, and not how to reduce hum in unbalanced audio circuits caused by ground loops or ground return currents. I believe

Re: Topband: W8ji ATR-10 design 160M?

Paul, there are many people on this list who have comparable professional and ham credentials to yours. Nobody means any offense or wants to start an argument, but rather just want to understand how your invention differs from an ordinary T – network with a fixed capacitor. I – and I'm sure many

Re: Topband: Contest in progress - few signals

Band has been poor here in NM. Last night didn't hear Europe at all, and only about 10 SA and Carrib. Stations. This morning, opening into Asia was marginal, with only a handful of weak JAs. Even Kim HL5IVL, who usually blasts through here, was barely out if the noise. 73, Jim W8ZR Sent from my

Re: Topband: Coax issues

Hi Gary, use the distance-to-fault mode in your MFJ 259B. I believe it is in the advanced mode section. Most likely the problem is at the connector at the far end of the coax. 73, Jim w8zr Sent from my iPhone On Feb 18, 2014, at 10:14 PM, Gary Smith g...@ka1j.com wrote: Something happened

Re: Topband: Dayton Top Band Dinner

Very cool! Thanks! Jim W8ZR Sent from my iPhone _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband

Re: Topband: Spam:************, Re: Deployable radials for 80/160M

The best price I could find for THHN stranded 14AWG wire was from an ordinary local electrical supply house. I bought three 2500 ft spools for about $90 each (for sixty 120 ft radials). Lowes and Home Depot only carried shorter lengths and were substantially more expensive. 73, Jim W8ZR Sent

Re: Topband: Beverage Question

Thanks for the info and suggestions, Herb. One additional question, however. Are you certain the 100 ohm impedance of the WD – 1 pertains to two parallel links of the wire, with 6 inch spacing? I know that open wire feeders with 6 inch spacing typically have about 600 ohms of impedance. 73,

Re: Topband: Beverage Question

Thanks, Dave. Right you are about the problems of 450 ohm ladder line flapping in the breeze! I've had to spend several days each autumn repairing multiple breaks in the lines, even with supports spaced 60 feet apart. 73, Jim w8zr Sent from my iPad On Sep 20, 2014, at 9:00 AM, David Harmon

Re: Topband: Antenna relays

I agree generally with these comments, except that my experience with CdAg contacts on receiving hasn't been that bad, provided that the application exercises the relays occasionally. Thus, using them as, e.g., an outdoor antenna switch where the antenna isn't regularly switched, and where there

Re: Topband: Antenna relays

For my StationPro controller I tested a variety of relays and eventually settled on the Tyco/Shrack (Mouser 655-RTB14012F). There are about 3000 of these relays in use now by StationPro builders, with no failures reported except for one defective relay with an open coil. All the SP builders run

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

Seems to me the devil is in the details. Obviously, if you pump enough RF power into the input of any SDR (e.g., 100W), eventually it is going to collapse. If the ADC can handle a few volts, that should make it pretty immune to any but the most extreme environments. I've not noticed any overload

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. 73, Jim w8zr Sent from my iPhone On Aug 30, 2015, at 10:57 AM,

Re: Topband: Received Signal Strengths

Agree with Tom. My Flex 6300 calibrates signal strength directly in dbm, which makes a lot more sense to me than S-units. I've checked it with a switched attenuator, and it's quite accurate. The log scale of the display makes it's very easy to see the effects of attenuators, preamplifiers, RX

Re: Topband: A35T

Very weak this AM 1300-1345z, in New Mexico. Barely out of noise,with QSB. Many CQs with nobody replying. Usually have a pipeline into Pacific. 80m was bad, too. 73, Jim w8zr _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband

Re: Topband: VP8STI 160 Meter Path

Not a peep from them all evening into New Mexico. Frustrating! Jim w8zr Sent from my iPhone > On Jan 21, 2016, at 5:54 AM, Joel Harrison wrote: > > Tonight on 160 VP8STI had a good signal. Here in Arkansas their signal > arrived from the NE from around 0115z until around 0200z

Topband: 80m FT4JA

Had a weak opening into NM for about 10 mins from 0040-0050 UTC at 3538. Got them on second call, but nothing but QRN afterwards. Nothing on 160m. Jim W8ZR Sent from my iPhone _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband

Re: Topband: Ladder line Beverage Installation

I used porcelain insulators with a lag screw on one end and screwed them into the opposing sides of the 4x4 support posts. I threaded the wd1a through the large hole in the insulators, and adjusted the tension at the end post. Very easy, and trouble-free. Jim w8zr Sent from my iPhone > On Apr

Re: Topband: Ladder line Beverage Installation

I'm afraid I've had bad experience with the DXE ladder line insulators. I used them on my 760 ft beverages, screwed to the top of 4x4 wood posts, spaced 60 ft apart. With the wind, they eventually snapped and broke. I ended up abandoning the ladder line and replacing it with parallel lines of WD1a

Re: Topband: DX Engineering final field test of the 3Y0Z Bouvet 160 meter vertical

Wow, I want one! Nice job, Tim! Jim w8zr Sent from my iPad > > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSw-0TjaUiU > > 73, > Tim K3LR > > > _ > Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives -

Re: Topband: Vac relay keying

Trevor, It’s unclear to me what you’re looking for. One transistor and a 24V power supply can activate a vacuum relay, but are you trying to key up an amplifier with the relay, ground a receive antenna, implement a QSK circuit, or what? Do you want to sequence the relay to prevent hot-switching.

Re: Topband: DX Conditions Last Night

Roger, You had a solid 569 signal into New Mexico last night, despite frequent static crashes. Wonder what your power and antenna(s) were? Here, I was running 1500W into a 26m vertical (w/top capacity hat) and sixty 1/4-wave radials. Listening on 720 ft beverage. Signals during the hour-long

Re: Topband: OT - US Hams, WWV closure

I sold my GPS time base and replaced itbwith a $75 surplus rubidium standard I bought on eBay. They're smaller than a paperback book. I had to add a power supply and enclosure, but it works great, outputs a stabilized 10MZhz output. Sent from my iPhone > On Aug 21, 2018, at 8:40 PM, Don Kirk

Re: Topband: Radial wire

Jeff, I also use THHN 14Awg stranded wire laying flat on the ground. I use brown insulation to match the desert floor, and one or two lawn staples per radial (each is 120 ft long). I'm not certain, but I think I bought it in 5000 ft spools. 73, Jim w8zr Sent from my iPhone > On Sep 4, 2018, at

Re: Topband: Updated K9YC common-mode choke PDF now available

Very interesting, Jim. I wasn't familiar with RG-400, but I've used RG-142B for years. I compared the specs and found they're virtually identical, the only significant difference being that RG-400 has a stranded center conductor, while RG-142B has a solid steel (silver-plated) center conductor.

Re: Topband: new style PL-259's with screw on back INSTRUCTIONS

Finally, after years of frustration with several types of PL259 connectors, I've settled on the new crimp/solder type from DX Engineering. They're strong, reliable, and easy to install in minutes while dangling from a tower. Soldering is only for the center conductor. The downsides are that

Re: Topband: Rather use N-type (was Re: The answer to PL-259 soldering/reliability problems)

Interesting discussion, and I appreciate the many viewpoints. One consideration, when weighing N-connectors vs PL259s, is what happens to the cable after the connector is attached. Nobody disputes that an N-Connector properly installed on, e.g. a length of Heliax running up the side of a

Re: Topband: 75 meter 1/4 wave vertical on160

Hi Doug, I've got exactly the same setup. I use two coils, a 2uH shunt coil, one side of which is grounded, and a 22uH loading coil that connects to the top of the shunt coil at the bottom of the antenna. You drive the antenna where the two coils intersect. Realistically, you'll probably have to

Re: Topband: Edge-wound inductors vs round stock (was Air Wound Coil)

Don raises interesting points. A couple of minor addenda. First, keep in mind that "skin depth," iwhich is the tendency of an AC current to flow near a conductor surface, is frequency dependent. The skin depth approaches infinity at zero frequency, which means DC currents are pretty much uniform

Re: Topband: BevFlex-4X - RX antenna

On this general subject, I’m using bi-diectional beverages 720 ft long, suspended 7 ft above sandy desert ground. The F/B ratio is poor (not important for New Mexico) but I’m wondering if the antennas are too long? I use them on 80m/160m. 73, Jim w8zr Sent from my iPhone > On Oct 17, 2019, at

Re: Topband: Hardening the 8 Circle Receiving Array

I’ve had good luck using fast zener diodes in series with ordinary small silicon diodes (eg 1n914). The zener keeps the signal diode out of the antenna circuit until the zener breakdown voltage, say 10V or so, is reached. 73, Jim w8zr Sent from my iPhone > On Oct 18, 2019, at 7:16 AM, Lee. KX4TT

Re: Topband: Beverage Length vs F/B or (RDF?)

8ji.com/beverages.htm many times. Tom suggest a proxy method > using temporary radials which I don't have the topography to install in a > meaningful way. The net result is I take Tom's measurements with a grain of > salt since they are done on soil with much better conductivity than you >

Re: Topband: Grounds

Sent from my iPhone > On Oct 18, 2019, at 9:36 AM, Roger D Johnson wrote: > > The ham reflectors are full of accounts > of putting in X number of ground rods, measuring the resistance at power line > frequencies and being fooled into thinking they have a good lightning ground. > > 73, Roger >

Re: Topband: Source for durable ladder line?

John, I had exactly the same experience as you with the DXE 450 ohm ladderline. After two frustrating years of repairs, I finally switched it for WD-1/TT mil surplus field telephone wire. I now have four lengths of 720 ft each for my beverage antennas, which have been in the field for four years,

Re: Topband: Source for durable ladder line?

; W0BTU > >> On Sun, Jan 12, 2020, 2:55 PM MU 4CX250B <4cx2...@miamioh.edu> wrote: >> >> John, I had exactly the same experience as you with the DXE 450 ohm >> ladderline. After two frustrating years of repairs, I finally switched >> it for WD-1/TT mil sur

Topband: Top band good propagation

Good conditions this morning, quiet band, strong signals from Asia into New Mexico. 73, Jim w8zr Sent from my iPhone > On Jan 17, 2020, at 2:59 AM, Mike Devereux via Topband > wrote: > > Roger > I had a great night working Asia HS0 and lots of JA also USA. Conditions here > seemed good. Was

Re: Topband: Good Conditions, little NA Activity

160m was excellent this morning to Asia hl9ivl was 599, many JA stations. Last night was also very strong into EU, never easy from New Mexico. 73, Jim w8zr Sent from my iPhone > On Jan 5, 2020, at 6:21 AM, daraym...@iowatelecom.net wrote: > > Roger. . . while CW activity is most undeniably

Re: Topband: 2 wire reversible Beverage- KF4ITA Mikek

I've also heard that the native impedance a twisted pair of WD1A/TT is about 150ohms. In my application, I use two parallel lengths of WD1A/TT, spaced about 4.5inches. Each twisted pair acts like a single conductor, and the Z of the two parallel lengths is about 450 ohms. I didn't know the

Re: Topband: 2 wire reversible Beverage- KF4ITA Mikek

I use two lengths of WD1/TT (twisted pair), with the strands in each length twisted together. The two lengths are parallel, separated by about 4.5 inches, and threaded loosely through a hole in a ceramic insulator screwed into opposing faces of wood 4x4s. The 4x4s stick out of the ground seven

Topband: Conditions this morning

Worked VK6LW this morning (1300Z) and he peaked 579 with QSB into Santa Fe. Interestingly, I didn’t hear a peep from JAs, which are usually plentiful here in the mornings. Band was quiet, more like November conditions. 73, Jim w8zr _ Searchable Archives:

Re: Topband: Looking for user experience: DXEngineering Thunderbolt 160m vertical

Hi David, I live in a windy area with 100km frequent wind gusts in the spring. I bought a DXE heavy duty 80m self-supporting tilt-over vertical on the advice of a professional tower guy. It was expensive and the assembly took a couple of days, but the result was worth it. It seemed built to

Re: Topband: Need Ideas For "Fusing" Beverages From Falling Trees

Hi Randy, My 720ft beverages (also made of WD1a strung between ceramic insulstors) have short lengths (12 inches or so) of 26 AWG wire that act as fuses. Each end of the wire is stapled to the 4 x 4 post at the vertex of the beverages. This fuse wire is recommended by DX Engineerimg to protect the

Re: Topband: Free QST article: The Beverage Antenna, 100 Years Later

Congrats to you and Ward, Frank, on your fine QST article. You’ve got my vote! 73, Jim w8zr Sent from my iPhone > On Oct 17, 2021, at 4:53 PM, donov...@erols.com wrote: > >  > > > > Ward, N0AX and I prepared this Beverage article for November QST. > > >

Re: Topband: Personal decision

Good move, Mark. We all know the current assault on Ukraine is not the fault of our many good Russian ham buddies, and while I know we all wish them well, it's more important at this moment to get the word out to the Russisn public that their leader's ruthless behavior is scorned and despised by

Re: Topband: Personal decision

;>> their situation, I would probably do the same thing. >>> >>> If Vladimir Putin were a ham, I could understand you deciding >>not to work >>> him - but let's not pretend our friends who we have been working >>over the >>> ye

Re: Topband: Personal decision

was in >>> their situation, I would probably do the same thing. >>> >>> If Vladimir Putin were a ham, I could understand you deciding >>not to work >>> him - but let's not pretend our friends who we have been working >>over the