80M Conditions for PA Test

[PaulKB8N at aol.com]

Put up new sloper system and was wondering what the noise level on 80M was up
in PA on Sat nite from about 0300-0400Z.  I was having trouble working about
half of the stations and was wondering if it was my antenna (which has
previously gotten great reports) or a very high QRN level.  Appreciate any
responses.  73, Paul

>From Hans Brakob <71111.260 at compuserve.com>  Mon Oct 16 02:09:35 1995
From: Hans Brakob <71111.260 at compuserve.com> (Hans Brakob)
Date: 15 Oct 95 21:09:35 EDT
Subject: QST - Contest Rules
Message-ID: <951016010935_71111.260_EHM121-1 at CompuServe.COM>

Thanks to Mark Wilson for the "from the horses mouth"
explanation of the rationale for the "plain English"
contest announcements in QST. Strikes me as a good idea,
at least worth a fair trial. 

Interspersed in all the discussion of this matter were
a couple of suggestions that the "Section News" might be
a candidate for trimming or outright removal. Similarly
there have been suggestions that annual financial reports
and Board of Director meeting reports should be eliminated.

Those are PATENTLY BAD ideas. 

QST is, first and foremost, a membership journal. It's 
primary function is the reporting of membership information.
Clearly that includes disclosure of how the members dues
are spent and how their elected representatives are running 
the organization.

In the same vein, the "Section News" is the monthly journal
of the Field Organization, or "local chapters" if you like.
For those without an interest in DX, Contests, YL News, or
other "special interests", it is the place for Joe Member 
to find out "what's going on out here in my turf". Rather 
than being buried in the back pages among the ads for radio 
badges and "super Hi-performance dipoles", I could make a 
pretty good argument for moving it into larger type near 
the front of the magazine. The field organization is what 
makes it the American Radio _RELAY_ League.

Personally, I think the editorial crew has done a marvelous
job of balancing coverage and space allocations for all of 
the diverse interest groups that QST must serve. My impression
is that the editorial staff has been particularly responsive
to the needs and suggestions of the contest community. I
commend them for trying new ideas.

73, de Hans, K0HB
CU in SS


>From km9p at is.net (Bill Fisher)  Mon Oct 16 02:47:34 1995
From: km9p at is.net (Bill Fisher) (Bill Fisher)
Date: Sun, 15 Oct 1995 21:47:34 -0400
Subject: Climbing in the wind...
Message-ID: <199510160147.VAA03271 at mail1.is.net>


I've never been on a tower at the new QTH in the mountains without wind.
However, today was unbelievable.  Gusts to 35-40mph.  I could feel the tower
twist during heavy gusts.  I wasn't so worried about me falling or the tower
twisting apart...  But, the thought of a tree hitting the guy wires with me
on the tower was a bit unsettling.

I suppose it's all in what you are used to, but I don't know how guys like
N6ND, W6QHS, W7RM, ect do it.  Those guys climb in these kind of winds all
the time!

73

Bill

PS...  First QSO's on my 15m 6/6 stack today.  Almost every European told me
I was the loudest on the band.  Running 80w.  I like that parabolic dish in
front of me to Europe!!



>From Wallace Offutt <woffutt at davinci.netaxis.com>  Mon Oct 16 03:42:13 1995
From: Wallace Offutt <woffutt at davinci.netaxis.com> (Wallace Offutt)
Date: Sun, 15 Oct 1995 22:42:13 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: K8HVT/M3 PAQP Results
Message-ID: <Pine.SOL.3.91.951015222903.2166D-100000 at davinci.netaxis.com>


Preliminary Results for the K8HVT/M3 multi-multi mobile operation in the
1995 Pennsylvania QSO Party:  1,168 QSO's - about 60 short of our 1991
record.  Drove 899 miles door to door - about 600 inside PA.  Roughly 
two Q's per mile!  

Short-skip conditions on 80CW Saturday night were fantastic for us, in
spite of driving rain almost all evening.  Solid signals from all over PA
and the East Coast.  Sometimes the band goes to mush at 10 PM local but it
held in there all the way to 1 AM.  A good sign for East Coast SS
conditions? 

Many thanks to the many folks who got on and gave us some points. 

73, 

Hal Offutt, K8HVT & Larry Schopfer, N2AZS


>From Stephen Lufcy <km0l at tyrell.net>  Mon Oct 16 04:44:43 1995
From: Stephen Lufcy <km0l at tyrell.net> (Stephen Lufcy)
Date: Sun, 15 Oct 1995 22:44:43 -0500 (CDT)
Subject: FT890AT in CW contests
Message-ID: <Pine.SUN.3.91.951015224036.14685A-100000 at tyrell.net>

Paul-
I use a DSP filter (MFJ-784) in conjunction with the optional internal CW 
filter in my FT101ZD. The DSP is great improvement, but not without the 
internal filter. I suggest you start with the Yaesu filter and then add 
additional audio filtering later.
de KM0L

On Sun, 15 Oct 1995, Jan Seay wrote:

> Buy the CW Filter(s). (KL7HF)
> 
> 
> On Sun, 15 Oct 1995, Paul Staupe wrote:
> 
> > 
> > I recently downgraded my station to an FT890AT.  I'd like to put in  
> > a decent effort in SS and the 160 contests, but am wondering
> > whether or not it's worth plowing $$$ into a CW filter for the '890,  
> > or if the money would be better spent on some sort of external
> > digital filter.
> > 
> > Any suggestions?
> > Please reply directly & I'll summarize.
> > 
> > Paul WZ0V
> > pstaupe at acs.uswest.com
> > 
> 

>From N7AVK <lew at teleport.com>  Mon Oct 16 06:59:52 1995
From: N7AVK <lew at teleport.com> (N7AVK)
Date: Sun, 15 Oct 1995 22:59:52 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Rotators in Crankups..
Message-ID: <Pine.SUN.3.91.951015223422.29466A-100000 at linda.teleport.com>

    Anyone out there in contest-land know if a Yaesu 2800sdx or 1000sdx 
or Orion 2800 will fit inside a U.S. Tower TX-489? (top section 12.5" on 
a side). Have contest enthusiasts sucessfully planted other rotators 
inside such a tower and had clearance so that the crank-up really did 
without mishap?  73 and I remain,      Lew

         Lew  Sayre   N7AVK               lew at teleport.com
         P.O.Box  3110                    Fax 503-391-2258
         Salem, Oregon 97302              160M thru 1296MHz