Hello Joel,
Thank you for much for taking the time to share your experience regarding RX
signal levels on 160M.
What you experience in RX antenna performance and signal level is the same
here at my QTH. And
I am thinking that propagation plays so much more here than ever.
The W6/W7 stations that seem to report DX on 160M which I do not hear are
always a minimum of
800 to 1000 miles away from me. During active magnetic or solar activity,
local stations
VE6WZ (150 miles south) and VA5DX (300 miles south and east) will report DX
signal levels a lot stronger
than what I can report and are struggle at my QTH to copy or get a solid
exchange done.
All west coast situated stations from my observations have even better prop
to Africa then what I have
experienced over 20 years.
Joel, I guess I just need to develop more patience and be a better student
of prop. The easy ones are
now worked on 160M (current count 138) and now the real work begins.
Again thank you.
73, Gord VE6SV
From: Joel Harrison [mailto:w5zn@w5zn.org]
Sent: Friday, March 15, 2013 4:25 AM
To: Gord Kosmenko
Cc: topband@contesting.com; maxwells@nait.ca; Max VE6RST
Subject: Re: Topband: 160M Signal Strenghts
Gord,
The target noise floor here at my QTH is -130 dBm and I average -128 dBm in
all directions except two that average -125 dBm (line noise issues). The
signal strength of the DX stations I hear and work vary anywhere from 1 to
15+ dBm above the noise floor. My feedlines vary in length from 120 ft to
over 800 ft. I have found with my RX antennas that a preamp does not improve
the signal to noise here so I have never used one.
For me, the biggest mistake 160 meter operators make is believing they can
erect a low noise RX antenna and begin to magically hear stations that never
existed before. Sure, you will hear stations that were previously there but
masked by high noise but RX antennas are only one component of hearing DX on
160. The prominent factor is propagation and a lot of times even with the
best low noise RX antennas you will just not hear some DX stations and
sometimes spot light prop will shine on a small area. I generally never hear
some of the stations spotted by W1/W2's in New England or the W3/W4 stations
on the east coast. There is a lot of land between there where I am out in
the middle of Arkansas. I use and compare 160 meter signals with three other
stations; K5UR who is 20 miles SW of me, W5UN who is 200 miles SW and W0FLS
who is about 600 miles north. I never try to compare with the stations out
east or way down south near the gulf because they just get better prop from
EU/AF but if I can't hear what K5UR hears I pooch my lips out and start
looking for problems here with the antennas. W5UN and W0FLS are propagation
comparisons.
So, if you have your Beverages installed correctly and have a nice, low
noise floor but stations close to you are hearing DX you aren't you
basically have two options 1) wait for the propagation and/or install a
second, different type of RX antenna to help with different or varying wave
angles. I have four different RX arrays here - Beverages, Vertical Arrays,
K9AY Loop and a low dipole. The only area I struggle with hearing, when prop
is in, is the 5X & 9U area of Africa. A mystery to me I am yet to resolve
(but working like heck on it!! :-))
How far away are the W6/W7 stations you are comparing to and how close to
the west coast are they??
73 ZN
On Thu, Feb 14, 2013 at 11:55 AM, Gord Kosmenko <ve6sv@xplornet.ca> wrote:
A very interesting discussion on RX arrays, but I need to
ask about the signal strength you guys are actually working
with using these arrays?
Here at 53 deg N lat and 113 deg W long 160M signal strengths
are in the ESP region. Having 800 to 1000 foot beverages and
4Q RX array for 160M and location that enables me to use AMP1
on the rig as noise does not move the S meter signals are just
darn weak!
My TX vertical provides me to RX with either AMP1 or IPO1
on with a noise reading of S1 to S2. Yet DX signals are down at
ESP level here.
Many 160M DX packet reports even west of me (but south) like
W7 and W6 cannot be heard by me.
Again what is the signal strength levels are you guys working
with these arrays?
73, Gord VE6SV
_________________
Topband Reflector
--
73 Joel W5ZN
www.w5zn.org
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Topband Reflector
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