Re: Topband: VP6D QSL received VP6D ( 160 m )

[Les Kalmus]

Congratulations Nick. Glad you made it into the log.

73, Les W2LK (VP6D Team)


On 2/21/2019 7:34 AM, uy0zg wrote:

Hi All


Photo QSL on the site :

http://www.topband.in.ua


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

Re: Topband: Anyone else hear these?

[Les Kalmus]

Fishing beacons?

Les W2LK


On 12/16/2017 3:19 PM, Wes Stewart wrote:
From time to time I'm hearing some non-ham stations transmitting on 
1823 and 1829 KHz.  These signals typically pop up as steady carriers 
then identify in Morse and disappear.  I've heard IDs of 4OMD, 4NAF 
and 4NAG.


Ideas?

Wes  N7WS



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


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

Re: Topband: 8 element antenna - Amplifier placement

[Les Kalmus]

Gary,

Sounds like a normal antenna raising day in the woods. Your antenna will 
probably work fine now. Don't ask me how I know that...


73, Les W2LK


On 9/25/2016 1:22 AM, Gary Smith wrote:

A little follow-up with my life in the
fast lane...

I move slowly, all considering, kind of
like Ahab with a pair of shoes. I've been
spending the better part of the last two
weeks putting up a HI-Z 4-8Pro array.

If it were open space with good soil, all
would have been done after the first 1-2
days. But no, I live in New England, the
place where the Glacier's Gall Stones came
to rest after it encountered Global
Warming.

The place I have to put the array in is
like a Louisiana Bayou minus the standing
water. It's a salt marsh and just a bit
above sea level. I don't have an option
where else to put it, this is it.

We're known for Lyme disease, Lyme, CT is
10 miles west of here so tick protection
is mandatory. Worse, this is Bambi's
frolic-land and deer sign is everywhere.
More, we're blessed to have West Nile  and
of course Zeka is getting all kinds of
press. So pyrethrin and DEET 40 is the
cologne de jour.

You can't imagine the scale of the rocks
here, it really boggles the imagination.
So much stone 5" below the surface and
muck on top of them. Some boulders above
ground are the size of Volkswagens and
most showing are like an iceberg with the
greater mass underneath.

This place has one other unusual issue in
that in a storm surge, at high tide, salt
water can get in there and will ruin
everything. So to outwit the tide, I moved
the amplifiers up inside the PVC tubes and
used a rubber cap to hold the amp high
enough that if the water rises, it won't
reach the electronics as there will be an
air pocket inside to keep everything out
of harm's way. I posted this pic earlier
of what I did:
doctorgary.net/Hi-Z-8-Pro-3.jpg
It will work just fine to keep the amps
safe..

Of course there are the briars, brambles
everywhere that are strong enough to stop
an Iron Man in his tracks, not to mention
the bittersweet vines that make walking in
a straight line impossible.

I staked out the proper placements for the
8 antennae, 4 times, before I found an
acceptable spot rock-wise but the trees
were unforgiving and ended up cutting down
7 rather large trees to make room.

Of course the Poison Ivy is everywhere and
the last spot I had to deal with branches
& rock-wise had a hairy 5" root of Poison
Ivy going up the tree with branches
hanging out right in the way of the
antenna. The Oak was too thick for my 20"
chain saw so I had to remove the tree
branches and the poison ivy.

I couldn't reach the branches 20' up and
my extendible saw/pruner could only reach
the poison ivy. Ended up slicking the vine
at knee level and leaving it die for a few
days. I tried a rope saw but it got stuck
1/2" in and was useless. Then I remembered
the extra elements I ordered from DXE and
connected the large ones & duct taped the
pruner to the aluminum and was able to
reach the branches. Between the tree
sawdust and the poison Ivy Sawdust, it was
a glorious time.

Finally , success! The local metal shop
cut my aluminum angle for the
ground/support rods, so today I hoped to
sink all the angles, using a Stainless
Steel angle as a probe to find what
worked. Great success, I get to the last
place I had marked out as correct, put the
knapsack with all my tools down, pull out
the SS angle and pound in the Aluminum and
there it was, the sound like small Harley
Davidsons on a mission from God, the
ground wasps that I had put my knapsack
down on their entrance were angry and knew
I was to blame.

Give me three good Honey Bee stings, one
yellow Jacket sting but nothing inch for
inch is more painful than these guys, they
are just mean. They stung me several times
and I proved Ahab can still run if the
prize is worth enough. I couldn't get my
tools, there were constantly 3-4 dozen of
these in the air swarming everything I had
laid down.

Some Hornet killer later and I could get
close enough with a stick to wrangle my
tools out but the damage was done
time-wise, I couldn't finish before dark.
So I finished assembling the antennas,
have them ready to connect to the
controller and tomorrow I get to connect
up all the coax, the terminals, everything
outside and I'm good to go.

My ear is the size of a Cauliflower but at
last count it was Wasps 5, Gary 100, that
wasp stuff really works... Looking forward
to hearing with this marvellous Antenna
system.

Oh, and I left out so much more of the
saga... ;)

73,

Gary
KA1J

  

I'm so close to being done with putting
this together. I have all 8 antennas made
@ 23' each the tip section is .5" and the
base is .850" I'm using a 3/4" fiberglass
rod as an insulator

doctorgary.net/Hi-Z-8-Pro-1.jpg
doctorgary.net/Hi-Z-8-Pro-2.jpg

I am having a conundrum with the placement
of the enclosure for the preamp mounted at
each antenna and need some advice. The
problem is I am at sea level and the
antennas will be mounted in a 

Re: Topband: 80m FT4JA

[Les Kalmus]

I worked them on 80M last night at 0015Z.
Couldn't really hear them well enough on 160 for anything but hoping.

Les W2LK


On 3/31/2016 8:58 AM, donov...@starpower.net wrote:

Hi Jim,


FT4JA was very weak with lots of deep QSB here last night,
They would peak up to S5 for a few seconds then fade into
the noise for a few minutes.


In two hours of listening I heard only one complete QSO: mine!
But there were others, I just didn't copy them completely in the
QSB.


73
Frank
W3LPL


- Original Message -

From: "Jim Brown" 
To: topband@contesting.com
Sent: Thursday, March 31, 2016 5:55:27 AM
Subject: Re: Topband: 80m FT4JA

East coast was calling them on 160 around 0300Z, and then they stopped.
The spot was 1820.5 kHz. All I heard were the callers.

73 , Jim K9YC

On Wed,3/30/2016 8:25 PM, MU 4CX250B wrote:

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

_
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: A35T QRG change

[Les Kalmus]

I couldn't hear a peep yesterday from about 1015Z and today from about 
1045Z until our sunrise at 1140Z.
I did hear VY2ZM and K8PO and another K1 in MA work them yesterday. 
Today, not one call to them.


73, Les W2LK

On 2/24/2016 9:30 AM, Bob Lawson wrote:
I've been losing a lot of sleep trying to hear A35T on TB without an 
RX antenna, but this morning I woke up just before sunrise here in 
Prescott AZ and there they were calling CQ with a great signal. After 
working them right away, they stayed Q5 for ten minutes after 
sunrise.  A friend with a flag RX antenna in So Cal couldn't hear a 
trace.  I wonder if a spotlight fell on my area.


73 all de Bob N6RW

On 2/23/2016 5:40 PM, Richard (Rick) Karlquist wrote:

Thanks for avoiding 1820.0  That frequency always has
QRM on it.

Rick N6RK

On 2/23/2016 4:38 PM, Anthony DeBiasi wrote:

Tonight listen for them on 1821.5, they will be listening up.

73, Tony K2SG
A35T Pilot






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



_
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: VP8STI last night - Report from Maryland

[Les Kalmus]

Glad you made it Gary.

73, Les W2LK

On 1/22/2016 10:54 PM, Gary Smith wrote:

Bill,

Never say never. I worked them at 02:13 last night (Thanks Roger for
the email today saying you'd heard the contact). It was right after
they stopped working EU and I was waiting patiently on frequency till
I heard them CQ without the EU designator.

The Hi-Z triangular was a saving grace for me, I would like one of
the Hi-Z 8A variety.

Anyone have one to let go of? I'm also interested in a NCC-1; contact
me off list if you would.

73,

Gary
KA1J


 From Maryland, FM 19:

Armchair copy last nite from 2350Z until 0215Z this morning.  Some fading.
With my headphones laying on the bench, they were Q5 solid copy while
I was working on other projects waiting for them to call for "NA" instead of
"EU".
Never happened.

I stayed & listened until 0215Z when they faded out here.

I'm using a Hi-Z 4-sq.  Azimuth heading to VP8S is 155 Deg.  4-SQ heading
used was 134 Deg.

Bill N3RR

-Original Message-
From: Topband [mailto:topband-boun...@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Ken Boasi
Sent: Friday, January 22, 2016 12:18 PM
To: topband@contesting.com
Subject: Re: Topband: VP8STI last night

Just my observations from what happened here last night in NY (doesn't help
you west coast guys, I guess).

VP8STI was solid copy from my sunset around 2230z until 0200z. Very little
fading and Q5 copy. They were calling and working EU only during this
period.

Around 0200z, their signal got much weaker and more susceptible to QSB. They
also started calling for anyone at that time, not just EU. I don't know if
they switched direction on their TX array or not at that point, but things
did get worse at that point; propagation I'm assuming.

I use two 560' beverages to receive, one at 135 degrees and one at 180
degrees. No diversity rx, just switching back and forth. They were the same
copy on both antennas, generally, since both are about the same amount "off"
of STI's hearing from here (FN13, western NY).

I didn't listen much after 0200z, so I don't know if their signal came back
up at any point.

They did have an excellent run of EU during that 2200-0200 time frame,
though.

73, Ken N2ZN


On Jan 22, 2016, at 11:11 AM, Tom  wrote:

N6SS is located about 40 miles north west of me in AZ,, 2800 feet higher

in elevation and a lot quieter location,,and better receiving antennas,, I
have not heard but just traces past 2 nights,, will be there tonight,, been
listening to the east coast guys working them,, all signals have been great
except Vp8!! Congrats to all that have worked them and maybe tonite the
propagation gods will shine west!!!

73's
Tom

-Original Message-
From: Tree 
Sender: "Topband" 
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 2016 06:57:33
To: 160
Subject: Topband: VP8STI last night in Oregon

At least in my location - I would say that things were no better last

night.

N6SS in Arizona said he worked them just after 0400Z.  There was also
a report that he came back to N6MB about 10 times around 0430Z - but
N6MB was not hearing him.  The data suggests they are hearing better
than getting out - which means if you can hear them - the spotlight is
shining on you and you have a pretty good chance of making the QSO.

If it was easy - it wouldn't be as rewarding when it happens!!

Good luck to all.

73 Tree N6TR
Hillsboro, OR

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


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

Re: Topband: K5P signal strength

[Les Kalmus]

Apparently, they had problems tuning the Battle Creek Special and were 
using a SteppIR vertical the first day.

That's been fixed and was what they were using today.

It's bad enough they were working JA's during this morning's opening but 
I heard them call EU too and was shaking my head.


Les W2LK


On 1/15/2016 7:23 AM, Tim Shoppa wrote:

Heard very well here in MD from 1120Z-1220Z on my west-facing pennant, deep
fade at my sunrise to ESP. Working mostly JA's but trying for NA. (Although
at least once K5P called for EU!)

Tim N3QE

On Fri, Jan 15, 2016 at 5:48 AM, Carl Braun 
wrote:


At 1040z here in so cal the K5P station went from NIL to 599 on Topband.
Maybe someone found the ON button for the amp?

Carl AG6X
_
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: Band opening?

[Les Kalmus]

Bill,

Spot Collector, a program in the free DXLab Suite, can do this.
It is capable of collecting spots from up to four internet sources 
simultaneously and displaying them on the screen in real time.
It has extensive filtering capabilities so you could set a filter for 
160 spots from NA East for needed countries, for example, and have the 
system send you an email when a filtered spot shows up.


Les, W2LK

On 1/3/2016 10:00 AM, K4OWR wrote:

 Now that I have your attention
Is there any method anyone knows of to receive email or a text message 
when there is DX present on 160 meters?
I subscribe to several, but none of them seems to include 160 in the 
"notification" check box.


Perhaps we could create one? I know this group is supposed to be for 
contestors, but let's be honest, loads of other things are discussed.

BILL K4OWR
_
Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband


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

Re: Topband: V73D question

[Les Kalmus]

This morning I could hear them S5-6 on 80M and worked them there but 
they were clearly having trouble hearing.
On 160M I couldn't hear them at all although I heard stations calling 
them around 1015UTC.
Their web site says they have high noise levels on 80 and 160 from the 
resort hotel they are.


73, Les W2LK
in upstate NY


On 10/23/2015 4:24 PM, Mike Waters wrote:

How well are they hearing central and eastern North America on 160?
http://v73d.mydx.de doesn't list any RX antennas.

73, Mike
www.w0btu.com

On Fri, Oct 23, 2015 at 2:18 PM, Kenneth Grimm  wrote:


I copied them briefly at sunrise in Virginia.  The only beverage I could
hear them on was one pointed due west...and even then they were well water
weak.


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


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

Re: Topband: FT5ZM

[Les Kalmus]

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

Re: Topband: K9W at their sunset, FB copy on 160 CW

[Les Kalmus]

Nice going.

I worked them at 1121Z, ten minutes before my sunrise this AM. Good 
signal and little QRM.

Inverted L and a beverage.

Les W2LK

On 11/6/2013 10:55 AM, Mark Lunday wrote:

I am paying for it today, but it was worth it to stay up until 2:30 AM local
East Coast time this morning to work K9W.  No crowds, no lids.  QRN from
lightning in Midwest, but the HiZ 4 square made the signal Q5 easy copy.
These ops are top notch, which helps too.

Mark Lunday, WD4ELG
Greensboro, NC  FM06be
wd4...@arrl.net
http://wd4elg.blogspot.com


_
Topband Reflector




_
Topband Reflector

Re: Topband: Beverage Woes

[Les Kalmus]

I use ladder line from the Wireman and from Davis RF. I think the 
conductors are copper plated solid steel.
I bought 1/4 thick 2 wide strips of acrylic from McMaster Carr and 
made a pair of clamps of 6 long pieces by cutting grooves for the wire 
thickness, two holes for ss bolts and one for a rope.

These clamp the ends tightly and the acrylic is useable outdoors.
The ladder line is supported every 50 -75 feet by a 3-4 piece of pvc 
wide enough to easily pass the ladder line and with a large and small 
hole in it. The small hole is for a screw into a convenient tree and the 
large is to pass the screwhead.
Where there were no trees, mainly a swampy area, I used metal fence 
posts with a piece of pvc over the post with a bolt through limit how 
far down it slides on the post and a T on the top end. The ladder line 
passes through the T.
The supports are at the end only. The ladder line has a twist every 3 or 
4 feet and rides easily through the pvc supports. This has been up for 
at least three years and has survived tree limbs, frost, snow and people 
with no problems to date.


I think I have pictures of the clamps if anyone is interested.

Les W2LK

On 10/23/2013 5:46 PM, Mike Waters wrote:

Whatever you use for wire, it needs to float at the supports. Anchor it at
only one end and tension it tightly at the other end.

I use my own ladder line, made from .061 diameter plated steel electric
fence wire and spacers made from 1/4 dia. plastic coat hangers. Supports
are 10' high and 100' apart. It's taken a lot of abuse, including large
tree branches falling on it and a porch roof hurled against it by a small
tornado. Some supports broke during the flying porch roof incident, but the
wires never broke either time.

WD-1A military telephone wire works well, if you have the right impedance
matching transformers.

Having said all this, I know that a lot of Topbanders use that brown
plastic window line for their Beverage antennas. Which kind lasts?

73, Mike
http://www.w0btu.com/Beverage_antennas.html
_
Topband Reflector




_
Topband Reflector

Re: Topband: Inv-L joy

[Les Kalmus]

I do the same thing except I hang a 4 plastic clothes line pulley from 
the rope. The antenna wire runs through the pulley.
Ended all the abrasion issues and I can easily lower the pulley if 
necessary.

The actual antenna wire is from DavisRF.

73, Les W2LK



On 7/23/2013 4:55 AM, Gary Smith wrote:

My Inv-l came down again. Went out to see what happened and another
storm weakened tree came down  it's upper branches brought my
antenna down with it. I really need to use a better wire than 8
strand computer cable for the antenna. This CAT-8 wire comes down at
least 2-3 times a year.

Since I use a spud gun with fishing reel attached to get the antenna
up through the trees I am limited in what wire I can use to get up
there. I don't have pulleys available with what I have to do  the
wire is subject to the constant friction of moving limbs  the
insulation wears away soon enough. I hesitate to buy expensive wire
as once the insulation wears away there will be arcing to a branch.
Years ago I used to use old telephone wire, the heavily insulated
solid conductor zip cord like drop wire but that's not available to
me any more.

Any suggestion as to a good rugged wire?

73,

Gary
KA1J
_
Topband Reflector




_
Topband Reflector

Re: Topband: Problem with compression F connectors on Quad RG-6

[Les Kalmus]

Mike,

Here's a link to an article on crimp UHF connectors with suppliers. It's 
from 2008 so the prices may have changed:


http://www.eham.net/articles/19257

Today, you can get a crimp tool from a number of suppliers ranging from 
the low $30s and up.
I have been using RF Industries UHF Crimp connectors with RG213 and 
LMR400 for years with excellent results.

Make sure you have the correct connector for the coax you are using.
I always solder the center conductor in the connector rather than 
crimping it.
No more connector problems, no shorts or melted dielectric, etc. and 
much faster and easier to get it right.


W3LPL and others have mentioned many times that the extra cost of the 
connectors is small compared to the cost of the entire installation and 
is worth it to reduce or eliminate a common point of failure.


Les W2LK



On 5/8/2013 6:16 PM, Michael Tope wrote:

On 5/7/2013 7:55 PM, Tom W8JI wrote:


LMR400 or any cable, in sensitive applications, requires a solid bond 
to the shield that carries the vast majority of return current. In 
the case of almost all cables on HF and higher, that is the innermost 
foil. Of course it is different at audio or lower frequencies.


One common connector problem comes from not forcing the woven shield 
tight against the foil at the connector, or having the foil or woven 
shield tarnish or corrode. The path to the inside of the foil is out 
on the braid to an eventual contact point, then back on the outside 
of the foil to the foil edge. At the edge current can go inside.  
This is like adding 2X the length of the path to the connection point 
in overall shield connection path length.


(Current can also get in across the edge of a longitudinal seam, if 
the seam's overlap is insulated. The problem with that is the seam 
can kill UHF performance.)



If you solder to the shield of LMR400, and put it on a network 
analyzer and measure the stub characteristics, many times (not 
always) it will move around as the cable is flexed. This is because 
the soldering heat contracts the dielectric, releasing pressure 
between the braid overlay and the foil. Now you have a crummy 
connection that changes electrical length of the connection to the 
real shield.


Even if you do things right, once the foil and braid develop an oxide 
layer the connection goes away. This can work its way out for several 
feet of cable length, really messing up a cable. This will not show 
with a single shield.


Cables with foil have to be installed and treated correctly. The more 
layers you add, the more careful we must be. Since the extra layers 
are pretty much meaningless, the best practice is to avoid them. Use 
a good shield against the center and connect to it at the connector.




Tom,

I'll have to admit that I haven't given this much thought, but what 
you are saying about the foil to braid contact makes perfect sense. I 
do recall one friend who is a rabid VHF/UHF repeater builder 
complaining that LMR-400 has issues with IMD. Perhaps this is why. Can 
you recommend a source for a good LMR-400 crimp connectors and the 
corresponding installation tools? To date I've been soldering PL-259s 
on all the LMR-400 I've used as if it were regular single shield RG8. 
I haven't had any hard failures, but clearly there is some risk to 
doing this depending on the application. In fact I do recall some 
phantom inter-station QRM that would come and go when we had an SO2R 
setup running at W6UE some years back. Some of the coax used in that 
setup was LMR-400 with soldered PL-259s.


73, Mike W4EF.

All good topband ops know how to put up a beverage at night.
_
Topband Reflector




All good topband ops know how to put up a beverage at night.
_
Topband Reflector

Re: Topband: Voltage along coax feeder

[Les Kalmus]

Dave,

For design parameters check out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bias_tee

I use a home brew one for reversing remote beverages which is a .1uf cap 
and any small rf choke in the 100uh and up range that will handle relay 
current.
In my case the relay current I used as a minimum design level was 150ma. 
You can buy them or use a binocular core and wind one.

I use only +/- 12v dc, not ac.

73, Les W2LK


On 3/26/2013 4:48 PM, David Cole wrote:



Could anyone please point me in the direction of a circuit to feed +12 -12 and 
AC along the feeder to my beverages to switch 3 relays - thanks all from Dave 
in the UK
All good topband ops know fine whiskey is a daylight beverage.
_
Topband Reflector




All good topband ops know fine whiskey is a daylight beverage.
_
Topband Reflector

Re: Topband: PT0S

[Les Kalmus]

I heard the same thing you did Gary but I wasn't able to break the 
pileup on either band.
I hope I can eventually get through what is among the worst intentional 
QRM on a DX station that I have heard.


73, Les W2LK


On 11/12/2012 12:37 AM, Gary K9GS wrote:
Tonight PT0S was on 80M...big pile-up.  Then went to 160 with a good 
signal.


At the same time they were on 160 they also showed on 80M again. This 
time the 80M op was clearly not the same one as before.  At about the 
same time HA8RM reported the 'bad 80M station was S9 +20 in EU.  I 
checked 160 at the same time and they were still there.


A little later they went QRT on 160M and went back to 80M.  This time 
the same good op as earlier.  I worked them both with the good op 
and the bad op on 80.  Hopefully one of those QSO's will be a good one.


I hope they are able to upload logs.WFWL in the meantime.




On 11/11/2012 9:28 PM, Bob K6UJ wrote:

I know the feeling!   Not sure if you are in the log...
Hope you made it !

I havent been successful yet with making a contact but there is still 
a week to go.
It is great to see a DXPedition put emphasis on 160 and 80 for a 
change !


73,
Bob
K6UJ




On Nov 11, 2012, at 7:04 PM, Gary Smith wrote:


An ATNO!

No question on line logs are a benefit to
the chase, definitely saves the need for
insurance QSOs and the resultant QRM and
loss of needed contacts by those QRMed out
of the game.

There was a large amount of QRN tonight
when I worked PT0S and and with that,
it'll be nice to see the on-line log just
to be sure.

Gary
KA1J


They are reporting very limited i-net access, so it could be awhile
.

-Original Message-
From: Topband [mailto:topband-boun...@contesting.com] On Behalf Of
John Harden Sent: Sunday, November 11, 2012 1:37 PM To:
topband@contesting.com Subject: Topband: PT0S

Does anyone have info on when the PT0S logs will be up on the
internet? ___ Topband
reflector - topband@contesting.com - No virus found in this
message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2012.0.2221 / Virus
Database: 2441/5388 - Release Date: 11/11/12

___
Topband reflector - topband@contesting.com




___
Topband reflector - topband@contesting.com

___
Topband reflector - topband@contesting.com





___
Topband reflector - topband@contesting.com

Re: Topband: Beverage Antenna

[Les Kalmus]

Bryan,

Use RG-6 direct burial or equivalent for the beverage connection. No 
need to use LMR400.

You should be able to find it relatively inexpensively.
Make sure you have a matching transformer for the beverage impedance to 
72 ohms for the RG-6.


W8JI.com will give you just about all the information you need to make a 
transformer.


Les W2LK

On 11/9/2012 12:28 AM, Buck wh7dx wrote:

After some more reading... It looks like NE is the best approach.   Point it 
towards North America.   I can probably get it pointed at the lower states.

I wasn't sure if I wanted to go bi-directional or not and try and get Australia 
/ NZ but I think I'll go for quiet and just try NA for now.

I will need to take it up about 50-75 feet from the feed point I would guess.   
I don't now if an elevated beverage would be a negative.

The ground is mostly hard old volcanic ash with loose dirt here and there.. 
just enough to make you fall down   It's usually always dry and I'm 
thinking it is a very poor ground.

Drill a few holes for copper ground rods on both side?   Put about 10 radial 
wires on the rods and spread them around.   In Hawaii I'm thinking bailing wire 
but it will rust.  Fence wire isn't common.

Question..  I was going to start the beverage pretty close to the 40, 80  160 
dipole in the tree..  I'm low on LMR400.   Last of my spool.

If it was important, I could order more from mainland and start it higher on 
the mountain - giving me a more horizontal antenna.

Should I be concerned with the beverage distance, using it for receiving and 
probably on a different radio?

Thank you.

Bryan WH7DX




[CONFIDENTIALITY AND PRIVACY NOTICE] Information transmitted by this email is 
proprietary to Mr.  Mrs. B and is intended for use only by the individual or 
entity to which it is addressed, or where ever the hell it ends up, and will almost 
certainly contain information that will offend a large portion of the population, 
which isn't our concern. If you are not the intended lucky recipient, or it appears 
that this mail has been forwarded to you without the proper authority of the Wizard 
of Email or Al Gore, you are notified that any thought, use, or consumption of this 
email is entirely your choice. In such case, Bon AppetitNote:  A $.02 
Internet Tax was charged for receiving this email and all funds were given to some 
family somewhere in America or the U.N  Have a nice day.

___
Topband reflector - topband@contesting.com




___
Topband reflector - topband@contesting.com

Re: Topband: THE ITINERANT 160 METER ANTENNA PROJECT

[Les Kalmus]

On Lord Howe Island last summer, on 160M, we deployed a Spiderbeam 18M 
fiberglass telescopic pole with a 1/4 wave wire taped to it.
The excess wire came off the top like an inverted L and was tied to a 
convenient fence.
There were two sets of 4 light synthetic rope guys to ground stakes.
We had a bunch of radials made of electric fence wire on the ground and 
a small matching network at the base.
Light, easy to erect, shippable, not too expensive and worked very well.

I believe we will have the same antenna on Campbell Island in November.
No engineering required except for the matching network.

Les W2LK

On 7/30/2012 8:32 PM, bills stuff wrote:
 The plan is to develop a simple, relatively inexpensive, relatively
 light weight and shippable/airline transportable 160 antenna kit for one
 man quick deployment for modest DXpeditions or contributed for use by
 resident hams in rare-ish (for 160 m) locations.The ability to make
 adjustments to actual deployments to provide matching is important since
 such antennas are famously variable due to soil and local obstruction
 environment and there should not be a need for antenna matching
 hardware, especially at the planned higher powers.

 First cut electrical design:Inverted L using telescoping aluminum tubes,
 two elevated radials and hairpin matching.

 Mechanical features of a prototype that was deployed:

 9 Alum tubes 6', .058 walls, 2 diameter through 1 diameter -- this
 gives a 50' or 15.3 m mast (it can be pulled upright by 1 person, or
 probably telescoped up also)

 #14 wire ~ 28 m for top wire and 2X ~34 m radials (values after some
 adjustment, not unique, some tradeoff between the top and radials)

 Base - 2 thicknesses of Walmart (cheap 8X11) ¼ plastic cutting board
 resting on ground with a ~ 1.5 wood cylinder bolted in the
 center.SO-239 connector screwed to the board.

 Guys -- 4X 3/32 dacron rope attached at 7 tube height, angled at ~ 45deg

 Guys held down by sandbags (very effective and moveable)

 Inv L top wire end was at ~ 2.5 m height with a support of opportunity
 (e.g., a tree) ~ 25 m from base

 Radials have their closest support near the base from plastic rings
 looped through each of an opposite pair of the guys at ~ 6 m high and 6
 m from the mast.The radials therefore go from the base to the rings at
 about a 45 degree angle.(Elevating the base and everything else, by a
 meter did not seem to affect the impedance.Beyond that, supports of
 opportunity were used - above neck height is always nice.

 This produces, with some fiddling with wire lengths, an impedance around
 20 -- j20 which can be matched using a practical hairpin coil shunt of
 inductive reactance ~ 45 ohms ( 4 microHenrys, say 5 turns 4 dia).

 More details of the test case including the EZNEC example are shown on
 my website.There are obviously a number of ways this design could be
 modified/improved, several discussed on the website.However, the
 tradeoffs with size, weight and complexity must be considered in the
 light of the mission here which includes transportability and ease of
 deployment.

 I am looking for collaborators to contribute ideas to help improve, and
 potentially, test design issues.Check out the website at
 http://n6mw.ehpes.com http://n6mw.ehpes.com/ for the Itinerant 160 m
 antenna project expanded discussion toward the bottom.

 The immediate target is designing and assembling a respectable 160 m
 antenna that might go to KH8 on a DXpedition.

 Bill, N6MW

 billsstuff(at)gotsky.com

 ___
 UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK



___
UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK

Re: Topband: Beverage Antennas Trees

[Les Kalmus]

Wayne,

That's what mine does with the same components.
Works fine.

Les W2LK

On 6/18/2012 2:45 PM, Wayne Willenberg wrote:
 I am preparing to install a reversible Beverage antenna, using 450 Ohm
 ladderline.  All of the components are from DX Engineering.  The maximum
 length I could fit on my property was 480ft.  This would be the first of my
 receive antennas for my first venture into 160 and 80M.

 Here is my concern.  To fit an antenna of that length, oriented in a N-E or
 S-W direction, it will have to go through a think grove of trees (many are
 over 75ft high) and an even thicker underbrush of younger trees and junk
 growth.  Despite all of the trees, I think I can keep it pretty much in a
 straight line.  How significant will the attenuation be caused by all of
 the branches and leaves?

 Thanks for your help to a newcomer to your band.

 Wayne, KK6BT
 ___
 UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK




___
UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK

Re: Topband: 4 Direction Reversible Beverages Remote Control via Coax Feedline

[Les Kalmus]

Walt,

Having done just that, here is what I did:

I have an Ameritron RCS-8V remote 5 port antenna switch at the support 
point for one of the Beverages.
The other beverage termination is connected to this switch through a run 
of direct burial RG-6.
Unused ports on this switch are not grounded.

In the shack I have a bias-T to inject a control voltage to reverse 
either beverage when needed.
One beverage controller is DX Engineering and one is homebrew and both 
have a bias T to handle the reversing relay voltage.

At the moment, I use the control box for the Ameritron to automatically 
switch beverage directions.
This is done with a diode matrix between the control box and the control 
lines going to the remote switch.
The positions of the control box switch are labeled NE, SE, SW, NW. The 
5th position is not currently used but will be used for another single 
wire beverage later this summer.
The matrix either does or does not inject the reverse control voltage 
depending on the position of the controller switch.
You need a diode in each control line to the remote switch plus another 
for each position that you want to inject the reversing voltage. This 
diode provides +12V to the relay on the bias T injector.
In my case, NE is forward to Eu and SW is reverse and requires the diode 
to inject the reversing voltage.
Each diode must point in the direction of the remote switch because the 
controller outputs +12V to the active position and must be rated for the 
relay current of 80-100ma and the control voltage with a safety margin.
If you want, I can supply the schematic of the system I use.

73, Les W2LK



On 4/15/2011 3:06 PM, k2waltk wrote:
 Hey all,

 I was wondering if anyone has built  a circuit to control the switching of a
 pair of two-wire reversible beverages, using only the coaxial feed to carry
 the control
 signals.  The usual design calls for 3 DPDT relays.  One relay is used for
 beverage selection and one each for direction and unused port termination.
 In other words, one relay for the NE/SW directions, another relay for the
 NW/SE directions and the third relay is used to select between the two
 reversible beverages.  The truth table is straight forward, but the
 circuitry to accomplish this is beyond this old, feeble brain addled with
 advanced CRS.  I can't figure out the circuitry (diode matrix?) to route the
 control signals to the 3 relays.  I understand how to isolate DC from RF,
 through the bias-T method and I've seen designs using positive, negative and
 AC to accomplish 'generic' remote antenna switching.  Maybe I can use a
 similar method to build the control switch back at the shack and the remote
 relay box.  Any of your suggestions, diagrams or references would be greatly
 appreciated.

  73 de Walt - K2WK
  Gordonsville, VA



 ___
 UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK


___
UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK