Not really more encouraging, Alan. But I have put up 160m antennas on my
postage stamp sized lot, and they were just enough to learn why the guys
with enough land, vertical antennas, listening antennas and amplifiers are
so enthusiatic about Topband.
I don't have any of my zig zag specials up this year, as I decided to sell
my hf rig to catch up some on doctor bills. But an 8 mile drive and I can go
to the local club and maybe work a few 160 cw contest this season.. Not
really a great 160 setup there either, but enough to get on the air and give
out some points.
73 - Mike K9MI
----- Original Message -----
From: "alan eshleman" <oakame@yahoo.com>
To: <topband@lists.contesting.com>; "Brian Moran" <brianmo@yahoo.com>
Sent: Saturday, October 17, 2009 19:29
Subject: Re: Topband: How do we get more people on Topband?
Top Band DXing requires real estate. It's possible to get on 160 with a
compromise antenna and 100 watts and work DX every now and then, but the
full Top Band experience requires space for antennas and an amplifier.
I did not get serious about 160 until I moved from my postage-stamp-sized
lot in Berkeley to my new QTH in semi-rural Sonoma County. I have a little
over an acre, surrounded by vineyards and pasture land.
>From Berkeley, I worked KH6, JA, and a few other Pacific islands, but never
>even heard EU above the city noise. Since moving, I have 111 DXCC entities
>worked on Top Band (though some operators, who shall be nameless, are slow
>to send the cards).
I think we're dinosaurs, albeit happy dinosaurs. Perhaps others can say
something more encouraging.
73,
Alan/K6SRZ
--- On Fri, 10/16/09, Brian Moran <brianmo@yahoo.com> wrote:
> From: Brian Moran <brianmo@yahoo.com>
> Subject: Topband: How do we get more people on Topband?
> To: topband@lists.contesting.com
> Date: Friday, October 16, 2009, 9:26 PM
> As the daylight shortens and it gets
> colder here in the northern hemisphere, I anticipate those
> nice evening openings on 160m. Tuning across the band,
> most nights I hear many of the same calls that I've grown
> familiar with after a few seasons.
>
> It's great to say hi to Vlad, Kent, Kees, Tree, Carl,
> Roberts, Bob, and Bobby... and many other 160m folks with
> great signals, names I don't know because of the nature of
> 160m exchanges. I've worked some DX folks over a dozen
> times. Do they really want to work me for the 16th time?
> Sometimes I listen for a while before actually responding to
> a CQ from a familiar call, to make sure they don't have
> anyone else to work.
>
> Lately, I've tended to just work calls that I've not worked
> before. I really look forward to contests and DXpeditions.
> Besides working on improving antennas, equipment, and
> operating techniques, what do others do to keep topband
> 'fresh' and exciting?
>
> Some stalwarts have been at this for years if not
> decades. How can we get more people from all parts of
> the world on Topband?
>
> -Brian N9ADG
>
>
>
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> Topband@contesting.com
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>
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