"fuggedabout "decent rx antennas"???? Jim, I think the two things are both necessary. We need to encourage then to get on, but emphasize the need for RX antennas. Without them, 160 is a hard sell. I have a buddy that has a perfectly viable TX antenna (better than mine, LOL) who never gets on 160 meters because when he does he never hears anything interesting. I have so far not been able to convince him that RX antennas aren't optional, but a necessary part of 160 meter operating. I would have ended up the same way as my friend did before I put up my K9AY, I suspect, but fortunately my 160 meter type friends convinced me to give it a try. Hopefully, I will get him over one winter night and show him what even a simple 160 m RX antenna can do. Same thing with QRP. I've heard of many new hams whose "buddies" sold them on QRP only to drop out when the call/QSO ratio was dismal. Better to start with a 100w rig and "graduate" to QRP once they have some success and come to understand propagation, etc. I think the s ame concept applies on 160, why start them out with a situation that would frustrate even veteran 160 meter ops? 73, Kevin K3OX
----- Original Message ----- From: "James Rodenkirch" <[email protected]> To: "Top Band Contesting" <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, July 1, 2016 7:22:43 PM Subject: Re: Topband: Working Europe Mike: I would posit we - the "top band community" - need to promote increased operations ---------- fuggedabout "decent rx antennas" --- just get more hams operating on top band: - emphasize the Maunder minimum - emphasize the rise of efficiency of small lot antennas, as a resulting "benefit" - emphasize the benefits of a new low band rcv arrays It's about encouraging hams to explore top band, as the "minimums" descend on us.....not, necessarily, encouraging "ultimate stations" --- i.e., get 'em on the band...... 71.5/72 de Jim Rodenkirch K9JWV Guy said: >There is the issue of when people are actually listening on 160. *Sounds* dead because no one is there. ...AND THEN there is the issue of when people *can* actually listen; by that I mean, they have a decent rx antenna at their disposal. I've noticed quite a few locals (W1) with increasing interest in 160. The low-space rx antenna options out there are attracting interest. This is good. Bring on the minimum. Mike N1TA _________________ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _________________ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
