Re: Topband: Pre-Stew coming up this Saturday...........

Jim, Keep a positive attitude. Hope to work you in the future. Mike N2MS - Original Message - From: James Rodenkirch To: Top Band Contesting Sent: Tue, 18 Oct 2016 22:55:01 - (UTC) Subject: Topband: Pre-Stew coming up this Saturday... ...and hope to hear work many of yo

Re: Topband: Where is everyone?

Don, I believe there are multiple factors causing this. - Hams are spending more time on the Internet instead of the air. Groups like this have replaced ragchewing. - I find new young hams are turned off by the personalities on the air. They don't relate to the old gusy's, like me, who populat

Re: Topband: WD-1 Wire impedance

Herb, Is that impedance for audio or RF frequencies? The best this is to use a RF bridge or analyzer to determine the impedance at the frequency of interest, which is 1.8Mhz in our case. Mike N2MS - Original Message - From: Herbert Schoenbohm To: topband@contesting.com Sent: Mon, 10 O

Topband: What condition your conditions are in

https://youtu.be/-0-7fg8oAO4 73 K4QET On Sun, Oct 9, 2022, 12:00 PM wrote: > Send Topband mailing list submissions to > topband@contesting.com > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/topband > or, via email, se

Re: Topband: J28MD, conditions

I am glad to hear T88WA is not at the hotel club station. The club station has a low dipole on 160 which in the past has made a poor showing. I managed to get a response from P29RO on 160 meter FT8 on Friday morning, but didn't think it was a complete QSO. I am new to "hound" mode and WSJT-X k

Re: Topband: J28MD, conditions

dit for the Qs.  This has created a personal dilemma, because my DXCC number 339 is Mt Athos on FT8.  I haven't claimed it and probably won't unless I work #340, Glorioso, which will probably never happen in this lifetime. Wes  N7WS On 11/5/2022 2:50 PM, Michael Tope wrote: I am glad t

Re: Topband: J28MD, conditions

I spent all morning calling T88WA on 160CW FT8. They responded to my call twice in a row in the wee hours of the morning when their signal strength was modest (~R -15), but I never saw the "RR73", message so I kept trying to work them for hours until the sun came up. In the lead up to sunrise t

Re: Topband: Small Loop does not receive weak signal on 160m BOUVET RX SPOILER

I had an interesting experience along these lines back in 2006 for the CQ WW 160 CW contest. Following the lead of K6SE and others, I got permission from the Bureau of Land Management to operate from the salt evaporation ponds on Koehn dry-lake near Mojave, California. I spent all day Thursday

Re: Topband: CQWW160: Night 2

There was a decent opening from here in Southern California to Europe on Saturday night around 0500 UTC that lasted approximately two and a half hours. Over the course of the opening, I heard stations from 9A, OM, YU, S5, DL, PA, G, GW, E7, and GJ. I was able make QSOs with DL and GJ (and I had

Re: Topband: Bouvet Island DX-pedition

The lowest band they are getting on is 30M as of the latest message received a few hours ago. Mike va3mw On Tue, Feb 7, 2023 at 1:17 PM Roger Kennedy wrote: > > I presume that with the problems they are having, they won't be getting on > 160m? > > I already worked it ages ago, so not too bothe

Topband: European broadcast stations

I wonder if you guys with terrific antenna systems ever use them to try to listen to European broadcast stations in the 100kc to 300kc area? I've heard just a few weakly a few years ago. Mike K4QET

Topband: I asked AI how to make more Stew Perry Contacts!

Being fairly low on the Perry Totem Pole, I only made about 31 contacts last weekend. So I (seriously) asked Google's AI "Bard" how to make more contacts. Here are the results after a few seconds: I asked Google’s Bard how to make more cw contacts during the Stew Perry contest! After a few seconds

Topband: CW rhythm, swing, speed

In addition to the actual audio of a tone you're listening to, other factors make someone into someone you understand a little. In conversations with Ron, W4ALE, and another HS friend, Kay, WrAGI, Ron most of the time had a friendly "swing" to his sending, it sounded like a casual friendly conversa

Topband: Manual key

I bet ChatGPI could forever identify anyone using a mechanical key after listening for 10 seconds! As we all were doing at some level. Mike K4QET _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector

Re: Topband: E51D Approximate Low Band Schedule Sep02

Thanks George for the Q Here at 6am ET north of Toronto, you are booming in at S7 on my inverted L. I didn't even need the beverage antenna. Mike va3mw On Sun, Sep 3, 2023 at 7:24 PM Mike Smith VE9AA wrote: > I made a couple vy incomplete less than studio quality handheld cellphone > recordin

Re: Topband: Timor Leste report #8

Interestingly, conditions on the west coast seemed pretty good this morning around our sunrise. I was able to decode HS5NMF between -8 and -5 and 9M6NA got as high as +1. I suspect both could have been heard reasonably well on CW. OTOH, the QRN level on their end might have precluded 2-way cont

Topband: Mystery (for me) Stew Perry contact

So I hope this isn't too dumb, but there was a contact I made with some difficulty: ZP5A in GK03 I remember copying it with great difficulty with different results but finally ended up with the above. Who was it really? Thx Mike K4QET

Topband: 8P5A

Thanks all mystery solved. I missed a dah in his call. Mike K4QET _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector

Re: Topband: Inverted-L question

Remember, Steve, for a given frequency more capacitance equals less capacitive reactance [Xc = 1/(2*pi*f*c)]. At 1825 KHz, 5300 pf is only 16.5 ohms reactance. That means you are only offsetting a small amount of inductive reactance. Where you should be more concerned is when the series capacit

Topband: Merry Christmas

To all, nice to know you, Mike K4QET On Sun, Dec 24, 2023, 12:00 PM wrote: > Send Topband mailing list submissions to > topband@contesting.com > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/topband > or, via email, s

Topband: CT9ABO please send in your log!

Best 160m DX last night on Stew Perry Contest: CT9ABO Bearing 45.1° NE (from K4QET) Distance 4574.1 mi (7361.3 km) Madeira Island in N. Atlantic off of Morocco! 73 Mike On Mon, Jan 1, 2024, 12:01 PM wrote: > Send Topband mailing list submissions to > topband@contesting.com > > To subscr

Re: Topband: CONDX CQWW DR5X

There was an insanely good opening from here in Southern California to Europe this evening (Sunday UTC) starting around 0600 UTC. It lasted a little over 15 minutes. Signals were Q5 and stations came back to me on the first or second call. It was surreal. I worked 8 European stations, all new m

Re: Topband: VK/ZLs in the CQWW CW 160?

ZL3IO spotted me Saturday night (Sunday UTC) at 0728 UTC, but I never heard him call me. If he did call me, it could be that I had my SAL-30 pointed NE at the time. It doesn't have the greatest RDF, but it does have a really high F/B. After I saw the spot, I listened to the SW, but I didn't hea

Re: Topband: remotes

People are driven by different things. For instance, I would be lying if I claimed I wasn't competitively driven. And I can tell you that at points in my life it has caused me to "lose perspective". Have I been overly enthusiastic with the drive to my Alpha 91 amplifier on occasion? Yes. Have I

Re: Topband: remotes

this case, there is no need to summarize the results of the contests... I wonder, is it also possible to compete with yourself in boxing? :-( --- Nick, UY0ZG http://www.topband.in.ua Michael Tope писал(а) 2024-02-06 16:42: People are driven by different things. For instance, I would be l

Re: Topband: https://clublog.org/logsearch/CB0ZA

Since reclassifying 160 DXCC totals to exclude FT8 would be terribly unfair to those who submitted FT8 confirmations toward DXCC in good faith, it seems like a possible solution would be to add provisions for a CW endorsement to the 160 meter DXCC award. If it were workable administratively, it

Re: Topband: https://clublog.org/logsearch/CB0ZA

Yeah, I suppose you could do that for "N-band DXCC" as well. It already exists for DXCC Honor Roll tallies. 73, Mike W4EF. On 2/19/2024 3:32 PM, Steve Harrison wrote: On 2/19/2024 3:25 PM, Michael Tope wrote: Since reclassifying 160 DXCC totals to exclude FT

Topband: Raisa on 160m

https://youtube.com/shorts/CBwDRYGt7P0?feature=shared On Wed, Mar 6, 2024, 12:01 PM wrote: > Send Topband mailing list submissions to > topband@contesting.com > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/topband > or

Topband: DXpedition Beverage Termination

In reply to the question of DXpedition Beverage Termination, I would recommend termination when the operator can no longer copy or send 13 wpm CW. _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector

Re: Topband: Any Chinese stations with Big Sigs operating on 160?

When we tried operating in 160 meter contests from W6UE in Pasadena, it was amusing to see the packet spots complaining about how deaf we were. We were running a full size flat-top dipole at 90 feet. It apparently worked pretty well as a transmit antenna. Using the 80 meter inverted-vee for rec

Re: Topband: Any Chinese stations with Big Sigs operating on 160?

inverted-vee :-) 73, Mike W4EF.. On 4/2/2024 6:03 PM, Michael Tope wrote: When we tried operating in 160 meter contests from W6UE in Pasadena, it was amusing to see the packet spots complaining about how deaf we were. We were running a full size flat-top dipole at 90 feet. It apparently

Re: Topband: Any Chinese stations with Big Sigs operating on 160?

In the case of that 160 meter dipole it was almost always better as a receive antenna for 80 meters. It was better at rejecting ferocious local QRN than the 80 meter inverted-V. Absolute signal level always dropped owing to the mismatch, but the noise level dropped even more improving SNR (from

Re: Topband: B7P

That sure seems to be the case, Bob. Heck even on 40 meters I have found myself calling loud Chinese stations in vein. My dipole at 45ft just doesn't cut it. It must be that there aren't very many BY hams that live in rural areas with low noise floors. Hopefully portable operations with vert

Re: Topband: B7P

I have a 402CD ready to go once I get another tower up. We'll see how that works :-) 73, Mike W4EF. On 4/4/2024 10:57 AM, jim.thom jim.t...@telus.net wrote: Date: Wed, 3 Apr 2024 22:07:33 -0700 From: Michael Tope To:topband@contesting.com Subject: Re: Topband

Re: Topband: N5J (Jarvis) on 160 m

thanks, George. This morning in ve3 land There was enough signal to work you just as the sun started to rise here. The QSB was pretty bad, at least for me and I could not hear you on either beverage at all. Maybe I have a problem there I need to go look into. The APF on the 6600 a lot to pull

Re: Topband: Loading coil current distribution

Rick, When I read that article on Tom's website, I didn't get the impression that he was claiming that the current was always equal on both ends. In fact, if you scroll down far enough he shows scenarios where he measured equal currents (e.g. toroid loading inductor) and scenarios where the c

Re: Topband: N5J Live Stream?

Hi George, Is this noise you are hearing impulse noise from the generator ignition or switching hash from the inverter electronics? If it is ignition noise, shielding the spark plug wire fixed the problem for me: http://www.dellroy.com/W4EF's-Ham-Radio-Page/EU2000i/Ignition.htm For inverter

Re: Topband: N5J Live Stream?

I just bought a propane conversion kit from "Hutch Mountain" for my EU2000i: https://www.hutchmountain.com/ I haven't installed it yet, but I am looking forward being freed from the curse of long-term gasoline storage and gummed up carburetors. BTW, how big is the inverter you are using, Jim?

Re: Topband: CY9C topband CW

I just looked at the list of operators. There are at least four hardcore CW operators among the crew. There may be others among the crew who are proficient CW operators, but I am not familiar with everyone on the roster. I suspect a lot of what is driving the high FT8 count are the poor conditi

Re: Topband: CY9C critism

HI All I was watching CY9C on 160M last night from about 8pm to 9pm last night on FT8 and I thought it was pretty interesting. I am about 1400 km from them at 44 degrees north to give you an idea. I had no issue working them just after 8pm ET using F/H. I then called VA3SK on the phone who is 2

Re: Topband: CY9C

Mike is correct. Over the past 1/2 century of operating, a lot of it on HF, nothing has really changed. I remember hearing the same thing when SSB showed up to replace AM. And, look at that, the world didn't end. The retired old farts bitched that SSB wasn't real communications and it would die

Re: Topband: CY9C

Hi Rudy Essentially, he is using FlexRadios (FLEX-6700's and FLEX-6500's) on the island and a 900Mhz RF link for AF and command and control. Not far off what I do with my remote station except I use the internet and his is 900Mhz link is a TCP/IP RF link. His CW operators are not even on the bo

Re: Topband: Lack of NA Activity on CW

Hi Roger Did you look up in the FT8 band? That is where everyone is. Mike va3mw On Mon, Apr 22, 2019 at 4:09 PM Roger Kennedy wrote: > Apologies that I haven't been very active on Top Band the past couple of > months . . . > > But I have a new YL, and so have been too busy with other things !

Re: Topband: Lack of NA Activity on CW

You maybe correct Roger. I was just telling you where they all went. :) I often hear .. no one on CW on 160M, but if you then look at the FT8 passband, it looks like 20M. Now, with FT4 coming, we might have a 2nd group to look at. Then, when a 160M CW contest shows up, the band is full of CW.

Topband: Mowing

Dramatically lighten the springs that control belt tightness on any mower, enough to cut your specific grass but slip at anything more. 73 Mike k4qet On Fri, May 10, 2019, 12:01 PM _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector

Topband: Mowers springs

On my Kubota BX1500 48" mower it was snapping 1/2" steel spindles when I hit a rock or stump. After spending hrs and $$ replacing spindles I replaced the belt tension spring can now mow any grass and hit any solid object with no damage. You have to find the right spring. Springs from trampolines

Re: Topband: Ticks

For Ticks Make sure you are well covered with normal cloths. It is something to be concerned about, but not stressed about. When you get done, have someone inspect your entire body to see if any Ticks are hanging on. The initial bite isn't the bad part, it is the fact they can hang on for 2-3

Topband: Ticks--insectproof your clothes

You can buy or send your own clothes: Www.insectshield.com i have boxes of clothes so treated, seems to work. Mije K4QET _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector

Re: Topband: Transmit High Pass Filters for BCB Interference

For signals reaching your equipment via coax shield: I found something that works very well to eliminate this is a pair of back to back baluns as close to the rcvr as possible. --Mike, WV2ZOW On Mon, Jul 29, 2019 at 1:34 PM Grant Saviers wrote: > Here is what I used when I had the same problem 5

Re: Topband: FT-8 performance

Good morning Do we know if the SNR is calculated over the RF passband filter width, or is is calculated over AF filter bandwidth in the WSJTx engine, which it knows? There is a big difference. Mike va3mw On Thu, Aug 1, 2019 at 11:09 AM Marco Cogoni wrote: > Hi, > > I agree with Jerry. I spen

Re: Topband: FT-8 performance

You might want to listen to this TAPR presentation on Noise and Noise calculations. https://youtu.be/xXXj1Ko4ZXg I found it pretty interesting. Mike va3mw On Thu, Aug 1, 2019 at 2:12 PM uy0zg wrote: > Is the main problem here in efficiency? > > The main thing here - the signal is not heard b

Topband: WAR!

Thought at first you were talking about working the Pentagon CW station I did thru MARS in 1959!! Mikr K4QET _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector

Re: Topband: 160: Digital only DXCC needed - AKA, things that will kill the hobby..................

OMG... No one is mandating that you use FT8. If you don't like it, don't use it. End of Story. What is the big deal? This is sounding like your mother telling you to eat all your Grits before you leave the table. Mike va3mw On Tue, Aug 6, 2019 at 4:12 PM dj...@t-online.de wrote: > > Now

Re: Topband: Effect of trees on vertical elements?

All I have been running a 160M Inverted L right up beside some pine trees to the 80ft level and then I have the horizontal part moving away. The support for the vertical part is in the tree it runs up beside. I also have 4 Elevated radials at about 6ft (approx 1/4 wave). I'm pretty pleased with

Re: Topband: FYI Robot contacts "outlawed" by ARRL

Dave A better definition of Robot is required..(this is not related to remote -- a remote is a long mic cord) Yes, there are versions of WSJTx that have been compiled that are 100%. You go to bed and you see who you worked in the morning. Yes, this is wrong. But, is a WSJTx in its current state

Re: Topband: FYI Robot contacts "outlawed" by ARRL

DXCC rule 6 be amended to add 6a, as the following: 6a. Each contact claimed for DXCC credit must include contemporaneous direct initiation by the operator on both sides of the contact. Initiation of a contact may be locally or by remote. On Wed, Aug 21, 2019 at 10:22 AM Michael Walker wrote

Re: Topband: Inverted L in contact with leaves

Hi Pete You won't have an issue at all. 73, Mike va3mw On Thu, Aug 29, 2019 at 12:24 PM Gary Smith wrote: > I sure don't have any kind of superstation > but I have never been lucky enough to have > a 160 antenna in the clear. All mine have > always not only touched leaves, but are > always res

Topband: Dwight's Drone

It's OK unless you let it do FT8. Mike K4QET _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector

Re: Topband: Drone

I have used Quad Copters for years. In fact, there was a Picture of me doing in QST about 8 years ago! It is by far the most accurate way to make it happen! Mike va3mw On Sat, Aug 31, 2019 at 6:35 PM Rodman, David wrote: > https://dronefishing.com/ > > > I have used the bait release on this

Re: Topband: inverted l

Hi Doug Ignore those splitting hairs. :) Yes, and inverted L will represent a load that should work for your radio without any additional tuners (should). I run an inverted L right up the side of an 80 ft pine tree and then I have 4 elevated radials. 2 of those radials parallel a fence that su

Re: Topband: Hairpin match to inverted L?

When I did my Inverted L with the elevated radials, I think the impedance was about 38 ohms. I decided to wind a 1.5:1 Unun based on Cecil's book on a K Mix. That brought it nicely in line to about 55 ohms if I remember correctly. That was about 2 years ago. Balun Designs also has them for sale

Re: Topband: Relationship Between Ground Wave and Low-Angle Radiation

On 9/13/2019 6:31 AM, N4ZR wrote: I don't think I've ever read anything on this topic.  Basically, what I'm asking is, could ground wave to a fairly nearby Skimmer be used as an analogue to low-angle radiation to assess the effectiveness of radial systems on an inverted L?  W3LPL is about 30 mi

Re: Topband: Desiccant in Beverage Boxes

I have long given up trying to waterproof boxes from Rain. I keep them rain proof and make sure there are multiple places for water to run out. I also do a lot with Alpine Ski racing and we have timing boxes, no different than a Beverage box, scattered all over ski hills. Same practice. Just ma

Re: Topband: A Bit of Zone 2 History Was Made Last Week

Regardless of what the others say and who are thankless... For those that committed time, vacation and certainly lots of personal CASH, I thank the entire team. Your contributions to the hobby are certainly appreciated. Mike va3mw > On Nov 9, 2019, at 9:44 AM, Mike Smith VE9AA wrote: > > 

Re: Topband: A Bit of Zone 2 History Was Made Last Week

It is clear that the 160M is just full of grumpy old farts. That is ok, we are getting used to it. :) You'd think someone is making them use FT8. No one said you had to use it. If you don't like it, just spin the dial or turn the radio off. I have a pretty good hearing 160M station. I see ma

Re: Topband: Less FT8, more DX with power failures

More than once now, I found my 160m noise related to a plugged in and not in use power tool battery charger. Mike va3mw > On Nov 19, 2019, at 3:35 PM, WHYTE wrote: > >  Always be ready for a local power failure - that’s the only time I can hear > any DX. Incredible to hear how fantastic 160

Re: Topband: Wednesday 160m DX CW Activity Night

Dear Roger, please excuse me for my weak English. What means Wednesday night? a) the night from Tuesday to Wednesday or b) the night from Wednesday to Thursday 73 de Michael, DL6MHW (160 m newcomer) Am 19.11.2019 um 15:42 schrieb Roger Kennedy: Well I posted a reminder last week . . . but it

Re: Topband: H40TT on 160m

Nice. Your comment was really not even worth making. Let’s call it bullying > On Nov 25, 2019, at 4:55 PM, Alan Swinger wrote: > > So, your computer worked him while you were out of the room and not at the > rig!? If only there was an award for computers vice operators. - Alan K9MBQ > >

Re: Topband: H40TT on 160m

e between stupidity and genius is that genius has its > limits." Albert Einstein > > -Original Message- > From: Topband [mailto:topband-boun...@contesting.com] On Behalf Of > Michael Walker > Sent: November-25-19 8:30 PM > To: Alan Swinger > Cc: Wes; topband@cont

Re: Topband: Computer noise

I have now tossed all my Amateur switching supplies (almost). The older they got, the noisier they got. The last one to go was the Alinco DM-330V. I really liked this as a bench supply, but its time has come. It was bad on 160M and even bad on 6M. I replaced it with an old iron Astron RS70 tha

Topband: WSPR for 160M

If you have never tried WSPR or watched the WSPR Map then you are missing a great beacon tool for openings and RF paths. WSPR is a beaconing tool and I have used it very successfully as a propagation tool. Mike va3mw _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topb

Re: Topband: K9AY Loop not performing

Hi Pete That is one interesting find. I'm going to have to do some tests and see if I have the same issue. My RX antenna and TX antennas are about 2 wavelengths apart and both are very well choked into a 2x8 switch. I am going to have to give this some thought. 73, Mike va3mw On Mon, Dec 9, 2

Re: Topband: COSMIC RAY UPDATE

During the last minimum, there were times when high northern latitude stations in zone 17 and 18 would be very strong for long periods of time here in southern California. Last Sunday morning during the ARRL 160 contest there was an opening that had that very low absorption characteristic (RA4L

Re: Topband: 160 conditions

Thanks for coming back to me, Tom. The only reason I knew the band was open is that I was sitting on 1821.0 listening for S01WS who had been spotted there. Apparently he was gone because, Eric NO3M, asked if the frequency was in use and then started calling CQ. I was surprised to hear HB9CAT co

Re: Topband: Measuring Common Mode Chokes

On 12/18/2019 3:46 PM, Chuck Hutton wrote: In the past, I have simply used my N2PK VNA to measure impedance of the choke by connecting the shield of the coax to the VNA ports. Recently I've been discussing common mode chokes with others who have a different methodology. They prefer to do a t

Re: Topband: Musings on multiple 160m QSOs

or some CQ. 73 de Michael, DL6MHW Am 07.01.2020 um 17:49 schrieb VE6WZ_Steve: > Speaking of multiple QSOs with the same stations on 160m…. > please do not hesitate to call me if you hear me on Topband no matter how > many QSOs we have had! I am a 160m QSO collector. The more the bette

Re: Topband: FT-8 Contest would be great for Topband

Yes, the success is staggering. There are graphs that show the FT8 usage and I would paste it into the body of the email, but I can't. Clublog published it somewhere. It shows a deep decline on CW and a minor decline on SSB and this was 2 years ago. https://ei7gl.blogspot.com/2019/03/club-log-s

Re: Topband: New Modes, Systems, etc

This list has the largest collection of grumpy old farts possible and I say that with some reality and kindness. :) You know who you are. You sit in your shack and do nothing but complain. How many of you GoF's have actually done any mentoring or Elmering. What have you done to protect and bui

Re: Topband: Remote receiver deafness. Was: New Modes, Systems, etc

On and off I have had a Web SDR available to some. To back up with Vince is saying, it is often on a 'left over antenna', or mh HF6V. Good enough for 40 and up and certainly not good enough for 80 or 160M. This is what you are seeing with these. Mike va3mw On Sat, Jan 11, 2020 at 7:56 PM DXer

Re: Topband: recording off the air

At the audio level, QSOOrder integrates into N1MM. https://github.com/k3it/qsorder Mike va3mw On Wed, Jan 22, 2020 at 10:10 AM Tree wrote: > As the "instructor" for the ethics class at Dayton's Contesting University > this year, I feel compelled to add a bit to the thought about "top > contest

Re: Topband: recording off the air

Hi Terry For some contests, such as CQWW, it is a requirement if you are a big top gun station. For most of us mortals, it isn't required. I've used QSOOrder many times and it works very well. Mike va3mw On Wed, Jan 22, 2020 at 11:24 PM terry burge wrote: > Hello again, > > Thanks for the i

Topband: Cell phone for recording

Any old cell phone more or less duplicates that Amazon digital recorder with a voice recorder app. Mike K4QET _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector

Re: Topband: Cheating etc

To put it simply You are only cheating yourself. It is not up to me to control other adults. Mike va3mw On Fri, Feb 14, 2020 at 6:43 AM Roger Kennedy wrote: > > Personally, I don't really care what anyone else does ! > > I achieved DXCC on 160m many years ago . . . and stopped even counting

Re: Topband: 160m VP8PJ

I was hearing them 339 to 559 this evening around 0730 UTC. I may have actually worked them. I could tell they came back right away when I called them, but the QSB buried their reply. After a couple of tries, I heard their reply at ESP level. Then immediately after I stopped transmitting my rep

Re: Topband: RBN and cluster spots

Hi All Every cluster you connect to has very similar filtering, you just have to issue the commands. On my cluster, va3mw.dxcluster.org:41112, I only share spots that come from my zones and neighbour zones which limits the noise of the larger cluster nodes. So, if you are in the North East of No

Re: Topband: Hi Z amplifiers for 160m

What matters is the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Take the canonical example of an ideal 2-port Wilkinson power combiner with in-phase coherent signals of 10 Vrms applied to each input along with 1 Vrms random thermal noise from the respective element amplifiers applied to each input (i.e. each

Re: Topband: Hi Z amplifiers for 160m

Hi Lee, Yes, if you are combining coherent signals that are not in phase, then the each of the voltage vectors is weighted by cos(phi-i) where phi-i is the angle between the i-th voltage vector and the 1st vector. If phi=0, then you have the case I described previously. I can see how this can

Re: Topband: Hi Z amplifiers for 160m

There are a lot of SMT to DIP adapter boards out there which would allow newer SMD op-amps to be used in older through-hole PWB layouts. https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/aries-electronics/LCQT-SOIC8-8/A880AR-ND/4754588 73, Mike W4EF. On 3/12/2020 1:15 PM, Lee STRAHAN

Re: Topband: Hi Z amplifiers for 160m (LONG)

so be kept to a minimum. That is why having more amplified elements makes it more important to design the antenna amplifiers for low circuit noise. 73, John W1FV -Original Message- From: Topband [mailto:topband-bounces+john.kaufmann=verizon@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Michael Tope Se

Re: Topband: Slightly OT - amplifier noise

Steve, Couple of questions to rule out gain distribution issues: 1) On the sense antenna input do you have the pre-amp turned on or off? 2) Is your sense antenna intrinsically inefficient like a beverage or K9AY loop or is it something efficient like a tribander up reasonably high? 3) Is your s

Re: Topband: Slightly OT - amplifier noise

ise, and in the latter case the attenuation added in front of the J310 in the main channel will degrade its effective noise figure. 73, Mike W4EF. On 3/14/2020 10:46 AM, Michael Tope wrote: Steve, Couple of questions to rule out gain distribution issues: 1) On the sense anten

Re: Topband: Slightly OT - amplifier noise

ifferent, of course. What works for someone else might not work for you. 73, Mike W0BTU On Sat, Mar 14, 2020, 12:46 PM Michael Tope wrote: 2) Is your sense antenna intrinsically inefficient like a beverage or K9AY loop or is it something efficient like a tribander up reasonably high? 3) Is your se

Re: Topband: Slightly OT - amplifier noise

Dave is that -112 dBm you calculated the output referred noise? If so, what is the gain behind it? Thanks, 73, Mike W4EF... On 3/14/2020 2:13 PM, Dave Cuthbert wrote: Steve, I ran a SPICE model of the MFJ-1095 front end. What gain there is resides there. The next three stages have unity g

Re: Topband: Slightly OT - amplifier noise

I just happen to have a spare MFJ-1026 at home. I did a real quick test using my FT1000MP MK-V while powering the MFJ-1026 from an Astron supply. Similar to your results, Steve, I got about a 12 to 14 dB increase in the noise floor on 10 meters when the MFJ unit was turned on and connected to t

Re: Topband: Slightly OT - amplifier noise

cuments/TermsExplainedSherwoodTableofReceiverPerformance-RevF.pdf     Dave KH6AQ On Tue, Mar 17, 2020 at 4:07 AM Michael Tope <mailto:w...@dellroy.com>> wrote: I just happen to have a spare MFJ-1026 at home. I did a real quick test using my FT1000MP MK-V while powering t

Re: Topband: Slightly OT - amplifier noise

nge of 1.8 to 30 MHz". Does the MFJ-1025 only go to 20MHz? 73, Mike W4EF On 3/17/2020 10:31 AM, Mike Waters wrote: Mike, is there any reason why you tested it above 20 MHz? That's outside the 1026's specified frequency range. 73, Mike W0BTU On Tue, Mar 17, 2020, 9:07 AM

Re: Topband: Slightly OT - amplifier noise

Roger, When you checked for increased noise on 10 and 15 meters, did you have your radio set for maximum sensitivity and were the main and AUX input ports of the MFJ-1025 terminated with 50 ohms (or at least not connected to any outside antenna)? 73, Mike W4EF. On 3/17/2020 11:18 AM

Re: Topband: Ground Conductivity

Dan, Reading that QRZ.com thread you linked to and reflecting on K4SAV's measurements and how much they appeared to vary over a fairly short period of time, got me wondering about what could be responsible. I am fairly certain that at least part of the radial system for my 160 meter vertical

Re: Topband: FT8 clutter on the DX Cluster

Because they can. The DX cluster is like bragging on Twitter. :) May I suggest that you run some filters that are related to your cluster login that only allow spots for those bands you are interested in. Mike va3mw On Tue, May 12, 2020 at 7:58 PM Roger Kennedy wrote: > > Why oh why do s

Re: Topband: Windows 10 Update heads up

> > sooo. > > Just to tell the other side of the story. I have 5 computers, all Windows 10 Pro. 3 of them used on multiple Flex radios since 2013. And, as you have read, corruption does not affect 100% of the amateur install base. Nor does it affect any where near 100% of the Flex install ba

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