Topband, addictive?
By far my most memorable QSO was my first topband DX: a QSO through the LORAN
QRM with Armin DL1FF from my college station W1KMV in 1965 using a Viking
Valiant, a Hallicrafters SX-101 and an 80 meter dipole with the feedline center
conductor and shield shorted together.
Hmm... I wonder if I remembered to set that Valiant to 50 watts DC input
power, the nighttime power limit in 1965?
Last night I had another memorable QSO, but much easier than that first QSO:
TN2T for Topband DXCC #300.
73
Frank
W3LPL
---- Original message ----
>Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:03:47 -0800 (PST)
>From: "Jim F." <j_fitton@yahoo.com>
>Subject: Re: Topband: My First DX
>To: "Jerry Keller (K3BZ)" <k3bz@verizon.net>
>Cc: "(REFLECTOR) Topband" <topband@contesting.com>
>
>Jerry,
>Yes it is indeed addictive. The other morning I called NH7O in HI and he came
>back.
>and I am still on an amazing high.
>
>You never know.
>
>I was running a K1 at 5 watts CW with a clandestine wire in the woods
>from my condo here in NH, and almost fell over. The addiction began here :-)
>
>An old(er) timer once said to drink lots of water before going to bed
>as an aid to waking up often during the night.
>
>I don't need any extra water to get up often at my age, and this 160m
>compulsion may be ruining my health. And not only that, I almost wore
>out my old keyboard checking LOTW so often until the KH7O QSL arrived.
>
>I am now winding this huge toroid transformer and wondering how to plant
>an FCP discretely in the woods in back of the condo. Total madness.
>
>The excitement is building !
>
>Congratulations and good luck !
>
>jim / W1FMR
>
>
>
>From: Jerry Keller (K3BZ) <k3bz@verizon.net>
>Subject: Re: Topband: My First DX
>To: "Raoul Coetzee" <raoulcoetzee@yahoo.com>
>Cc: "(REFLECTOR) Topband" <topband@contesting.com>
>Date: Monday, January 23, 2012, 6:26 PM
>
>
>Heartfelt thanks to Raoul and all the many other topbanders that have emailed
>me their congrats and best wishes here on the reflector (you know who you
>are). I’m surprised and touched by the generous welcome you’ve given me. Now I
>see why 160M is called the “gentleman’s band”. Me even more happy now.
>
>73, Jerry K3BZ
>
>From: Raoul Coetzee
>Sent: Monday, January 23, 2012 6:16 AM
>To: Jerry Keller (K3BZ)
>Subject: Re: Topband: My First DX
>
>Congrtas but Be warned: its addictive!!
>
>Be prepared for waking up at all hours to look for dx on 160m, to build better
>and worse antennas, to read up on 160m while it is light outside,
>arranging your habits to sync with sunrise and sunset.
>From now on when you see a sunrise and you do not have a radio on, you will
>always wonder what rare dx my be on 160m that you are missing!
>Enjoy, its a wonderfull journey!
>Kind regards,
>Raoul ZS1REC
>CWops 338
>
>
>
>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>From: Jerry Keller (K3BZ) <k3bz@verizon.net>
>To: (REFLECTOR) Topband <topband@contesting.com>
>Sent: Saturday, January 21, 2012 6:44 AM
>Subject: Topband: My First DX
>
>
>Pardon my exuberance, but I worked my very first Topband DX this evening...
>PJ4C on Bonaire. Me happy.
>
>73, Jerry K3BZ
>_______________________________________________
>UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
>_______________________________________________
>UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
_______________________________________________
UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
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