VERY valuable information, Steve; and something for the rest of we
"peons" to strive toward!
TNX!
73,
Steve K0XP
On 10/26/2025 12:41 PM, ve6wz@shaw.ca wrote:
Last night, in spite of some SSB QRM from CQWW, I had 6 CW QSOs with Europe.
OK1CF, DF2PY, DJ9KG, SM5EDX and PE5T. It was nice to QSO DJ9KG since he is a
new callsign for me on 160m.
Kees PE5T was particularly loud when he called in.
So far this season I have worked 37 EU/AF. List
here:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Tuv8RmLqNYJaXN10QvlawXDh6Td0Lrhf/view?usp=sharing
I have been asked a few times by private email about the VE6WZ RBN skimmers so
here is some detail about the RBN setup I have at my remote.
I have 4 RBN skimmers that report to RBN.
The main one, VE6WZ aggregates all of the skimmers into one node. Posted as
VE6WZ.
It also has its own SDR QS1R radio that skims 9 bands (including 160m and 630m)
and uses just a short, 20' tall single HI-z vertical.
VE6WZ-1 is a 160m only (SDRIQ) skimmer. It is connected to the EU 21 deg (N.
EU) broadside Beverage pair during the night after sunset till about 800z, then
switches to the Asia (Japan) Beverage pair.
VE6WZ-2 is also a 160m only (SDRIQ) skimmer. It is connected to the EU45 deg
(S. EU) Beverage pair at night till 800ut, then switches to direst WEST VK.
VE6WZ-3 is a 9 band QS1R SDR radio. It skims all bands including 160m to EU on
the 30 deg Beverage pair till 800 ut, then switches to ZL at 240 deg.
So, it's a bit complicated, but from N. EU, the VE6WZ-1 (21 deg pair) radio is
best. VE6WZ-2 is best for S EU, AF and Spain, while the VE6WZ-2 (45 deg)
favors mid-central EU. After 800z the antennas auto switch to VK, ZL, and JA.
For domestic NA, except for the main Ve6WZ skimmer (on the 20' vertical) most
of the skimmers do NOT favor the USA.
Here is some information about how I DX on 160m.
If the band is open, and I am home, I will not miss an opening.
From my sunset until around 0400z DXing is difficult for me because it is
dinner and XYL time.
HOWEVER, I am ALWAYS watching the band, and I will know if it is open even if I
am not AT the radio.
How?
Well first, even if I am watching TV with the XYL, I will be "watching" the
band using my iPhone logged
into the Flex radio PC and looking at the waterfall.
If I see Karel OK1CF CQ trace (for example), I will just walk to the office PC
and call for a QSO. At these times though I will usually not call CQ because I
like to be with the XYL until after 400z or so.
Secondly, I have 3 Perseus SDR radios that RX AND record the entire MW BCB from
500kHz-1710kHz. Each radio is on the 21 deg, 30 deg and 45 deg Beverage pairs.
They switch after 800z. YES....there is still some AM BCB in EU. LOTS in VK-ZL
and Asia.
If the band is open over the pole to EU, I will usually copy 500kW Moldova
Vesti on 1413kHz , Lithuania Baltic 1386kHz or often the UK, and sometimes even
1kW Svalbard on 1485.
For example, here is Moldova from last night on
1413kHz:https://drive.google.com/file/d/13ZizsqZPu410FtkbAa3Wdgdk6AcmETWm/view?usp=sharing
Last night I also had MW audio from Ukraine and Hungary. Romania is also good
at times, as is Spain depending on condx.
Usually, if I have no MW signals from Europe, then 160m will not likely be
open. This has proven to be a good proxy for 160m.
160m openings are often short, sporadic and far from predictable. "this 'aint 20m or
40m"!
However, please know that ve6wz is ALWAYS watching the band!! That is why I
will suddenly show up for a QSO even if I am not CQing. So please CQ if you
have the time.......I will be watching!
73, de steve VE6WZ
_________________
Searchable Archives:http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
--
See my QRZ.com page at *https://www.qrz.com/db/K0XP*
_________________
Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
|