Hi Mike,
While I can't comment about Mark's specific experiences in this
contest, our usual rule of thumb is that you can never have too many
antennas.
We've found that the 8-circle isn't the best receiving antenna while
running because its sidelobe levels are so low that you often hear
no trace of an off-azimuth caller (e.g., a PY answering a CQ while
we're listening NE).
We usually switch to the 8-circle when we cannot readily copy a
station with the Beverages. It usually improves SNR by several dB
which can make all the difference. Because of its low sidelobes, it
often receives DX stations much better in unruly pileups.
There are also some occasions when -- for whatever reason -- the
transmit 4-square receives slightly better than the 8-circle or
Beverages.
The 4-square and 8-circle are an excellent pair for diversity reception
with the K3.
We use the K9AY Model RAS-8x2 Receive Antenna Switching System
which provides the capability to listen to multiple antannas at the same
time and to share all of the antennas (4-square, Beverages, 8-circle)
among both receivers.
www.aytechnologies.com/Products/RAS8x2data.htm
<https://www.aytechnologies.com/Products/RAS8x2data.htm>
73
Frank
W3LPL
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*From: *"W0MU Mike Fatchett" <w0mu@w0mu.com>
*To: *topband@contesting.com
*Sent: *Wednesday, January 29, 2020 10:06:36 PM
*Subject: *Re: Topband: CQ WW Contest
Fantastic!
He would loud here.
How does the circle array compare with the beverages?
W0MU
On 1/29/2020 1:33 PM, donovanf@starpower.net wrote:
>
> How were conditions at W3LPL in Maryland last weekend?
> Mark KD4D operated here last weekend using his call.
>
>
> Conditions were good Friday night but with troublesome QRN from
> nearby heavy rain storms. Fantastic on Saturday night with no
> significant QRN.
>
>
> 110 ten-pointers were worked from 2300-0900Z Friday night
> 170 ten- pointers were worked from 2300-0700Z Saturday night.
>
>
> 705 U.S. QSOs
> 295 DX QSOs
> 51 VE QSOs
> 1051 total QSOs
>
>
>
> 53 DL QSOs (kudos to the German Topbanders!)
> 22 UA QSOs
> 20 OK QSOs
> 20 G/GD/GI/GM/GW QSOs
> 14 LY QSOs
> 14 S5 QSOs
> 13 SP QSOs
> 11 UR QSOs
> 10 I QSOs
>
>
> Much more detail is posted at:
> www.3830scores.com/showrumor.php?arg=uRaNzEmgsvimL
>
>
> Mark used a pair of barefoot K3 transceivers operating SO2R unassisted.
> My 1500 watt amplifier was physically disconnected from the RF path
> and unplugged from AC power. There's no salt water within many miles,
> just moist Maryland clay soil. An examination of RBN data p roves that
> Mark was running low power.
>
>
> Of course he used good antennas, a 4-square transmitting antenna with
> 4 miles of radials, three 580 foot Beverages (NE, S, W) and a 350 foot
> diameter W8JI/W5ZN passive 8-circle receiving array. The receiving
> antennas are 1000 feet south of the 4-square allowing SO2R operation
> with no interference at all from the transmitted signal.
>
>
> 73
> Frank
> W3LPL
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>
> From: "Mike Smith VE9AA" <ve9aa@nbnet.nb.ca>
> To: topband@contesting.com
> Sent: Wednesday, January 29, 2020 6:27:33 PM
> Subject: Re: Topband: CQ WW Contest
>
> Like my neighbour Dave/WHS here a few grid squares away to my SW, I
found
> condx "good" but certainly not great up here in Central New Brunswick,
> Canada where I am nowhere at all near salt water, being in FN66na.
>
>
>
> I (currently) run a small stn on 160m. Inverted L(more like a J
these days)
> and legal limit. No RX antennas.
>
>
>
> I only operated Sat night in 2 small spurts for a total of
2hrs+53mins, but
> managed 46 S/P and 31 countries in my very limited time on the band.
This
> was about 75% running and 25% S&P. I was really only on to work
Da-boyZ @
> VO2AC to show my support for their expedition, but when I didn't
hear any
> other NB stns on or see any spotted, I felt compelled to at least
give the
> deserving the chance to work the VE9 mult. When the dust settled,
Monday I
> found out that there were at least 4 other VE9's QRV throughout the
w/e so I
> felt pretty good about that.
>
>
>
> I don't think any VY2's were really on.but I digress.
>
>
>
> I worked from N6TR(K7RAT) out to RL3A and a few of the PJ's to the
south.
> Nobody was what I would call "loud" by any stretch of the
imagination. Most
> EU's CQ'd in my face (or called me when they saw me spotted,but then
> couldn't hear me reply)
>
>
>
> Sometimes I think folks are confusing amazing condx with just a lot of
> activity during a very popular contest weekend. (at least in my
> opinion)...Many times I have worked much stronger DX, regardless of beam
> headings.
>
>
>
> I'd characterize condx as "good" to perhaps almost "very good" but
certainly
> NOT "fantastic/amazing/unforgettable" or other descriptors I've read
here
> and 3830scores.com.
>
>
>
> But again.who am I to say.?....< 3 hrs on the band late Sat evening (NA
> time) is a pretty myopic view I guess.
>
>
>
> Mike VE9AA "NB"
>
>
>
>
>
> In my listening, I heard many stations farther south (W4 & W5) calling
> stations and I was surprised that they could hear them at all,
seeing how
> weak they were here. I began to think that something broke here!
K1DG was
> on in Maine from his island in the middle of salt water, and he
seemed to do
> very well. I don't know what to say as I do not have the experience to
> adequately explain what happened. Maybe if I called CQ for more than 45
> minutes total I would have a different feel for how condx were. My
take is
> that absorption can be quite variable over a fairly narrow geographical
> area, say a few hundred miles.
>
>
>
> Dave K1WHS
>
>
>
>
>
> Mike, Coreen & Corey
>
> Keswick Ridge, NB
>
>
>
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