[RSM] RSM Digest, Vol 4, Issue 16

Wed Feb 1 08:54:31 EST 2017

Hi Jack

What I have found is that 160 has its "moods", and it does not really
follow the sunspot cycle.  Some folks think that 160 is better at sunspot
minima, but many folks have observed that with the high bands in the
crapper, folks simply migrate to the lower bands.  More activity, and the
assumption is that the low bands are better.  No problem working DX,
evening at sunspot maximum.

Best bet is to keep checking the band.  There have been instances of
spotlight propagation - where you have propagation, but someone even a few
miles away cannot hear the same station.  A few years ago, during a 160
contest we had an amazing opening to Asia.  Worked several JA's, UA0's,
etc.  After the contest was over, I was kind of sad, as I figured I will
never see that kind of propagation again on Topband...  Then again, if you
don't try, you will never know!

This past weekend, the band was quiet.  Missed AK, but he was only on the
first night, and only worked a bunch of west coast folk.

160 DXCC is do-able.  I did it with an inverted L off a 48 foot tower, and
a K9AY loop.

DXCC on 80 is also do-able.  I came close from a city lot - managed 87
countries, but the noise was awful.  On 3805, noise was S9+20.  When I
moved to a quiet location, it made a huge difference as far as hearing.  As
the saying goes, if you can't hear them, you can't work them.

Some folks have also found that a non-resonant antenna for receive can
help.  Like using a tribander or 40 inverted vee.  Being non-resonant, it
picks up less noise.

When I was using an inverted L, I had like 50-60 radials on the ground
about 30-40 feet long.  My original plan was to build a spitfire for 40
meters - a shunt fed tower with passive elements to make it directional.  I
gave up on that, and had an inverted L instead - about 44 feet vertical and
the rest horizontal sloping towards a tree about a hundred feet away.
Maybe try more radials?

Hang in there.  It CAN be done, and that is why we love Topband.  Not
because its easy, but because its hard.  When you do get there, it is that
much more rewarding.

Tom - VE3CX

On Wed, Feb 1, 2017 at 6:05 AM, Jack <vhfplus at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi, Tom:
>
> When we were in Nevada we had a single 580-foot Beverage oriented at 75
> degrees, which is the only one our property size/orientation would permit.
> It was amazing. The transmit antenna was a 65-foot vertical, top-loaded
> with sloping tee wires and that worked quite well with 16 quarter-wave
> radials.
>
> The thing that concerns me is our antenna is very, very, poor on 160 (not
> too good on 80, either) and I don't know what can be done to help, given
> zero resources in terms of real estate. Apartment dwelling and Topband are
> not compatible. I envy Cary for having a city lot with which he can work.
> :>)
>
> Given where the sunspot cycle is going, I would love to be able to finish
> 80-meter DXCC (for 5BDXCC) and see how close I can get on 160 but I
> honestly don't know how that can be accomplished.
>
> I have ON4UN's book, which has been an invaluable resource over the years,
> and will have to go through John's section on shortened verticals  and see
> if there a "eureka" moment. Other folks, like N6RK, have published articles
> or given presentations on loaded verticals which might help, as well.
>
> We'll keep trying.
>
> 73,
>
> Jack, VE4SNA/W6NF
>
> On 1/31/2017 10:38 PM, Tom Haavisto wrote:
>
> Hi Jack
>
> As a long time 160 op, there are a few things that might explain what you
> are seeing.  Some stations hear VERY well, and others - not so much.
>
> Some stations use directional receive arrays.  A few years ago, KV4FZ was
> 40 over 9, and I called him many times, as well as a number of other NA
> stations.  He was deaf as a post hearing NA - he was busy working EU.
> Later on, he was like S5.  One call, and he was in the log.  He has a
> number of beverages, and depending on which way he was listening, he could
> hear very well - or - be deaf as a post.
>
> The same applies to other stations.  If they are pointed your way - they
> can hear well.  When pointed in another direction - not so much.  Some
> folks have multiple beverages, and it can take a minute to cycle between
> them all to listen in different directions.
>
> 160 tends to be noisy, so direction receive arrays can help.  I see the
> same thing working EU stations.  Some of them hear VERY well - others - not
> so much.
>
> ON4UN wrote a book on Low band DXing.  Full of lots and lots of great info.
>
> Welcome to Toband!
>
> Tom - VE3CX
>
>
>
>
> On Tue, Jan 31, 2017 at 10:45 PM, Jack <vhfplus at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Very nice, Cary!
>>
>> I tried but many stations who were loud here could not hear me. Very
>> frustrating.
>>
>> 73,
>>
>> Jack, VE4SNA/W6NF
>>
>>
>> On 1/31/2017 11:00 AM, rsm-request at contesting.com wrote:
>>
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>>> Today's Topics:
>>>
>>>     1. CQ 160m CW (Cary Rubenfeld)
>>>
>>>
>>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>
>>> Message: 1
>>> Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2017 18:06:47 +0000
>>> From: Cary Rubenfeld <carys1 at gmail.com>
>>> To: "rsm at contesting.com" <rsm at contesting.com>
>>> Subject: [RSM] CQ 160m CW
>>> Message-ID:
>>>         <CANSWbFY16WPF=nEnO-M_EzUL26_FT9_6VkyX61m_JZPS+sfbtQ at mail.gm
>>> ail.com>
>>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
>>>
>>> *CQ 160-Meter Contest, CW
>>> <http://3830scores.com/listeditions.php?arg=tKcmgnz3gsgfK>   2017   Jan
>>> 27
>>>    Claimed Score <http://3830scores.com/edition
>>> scores.php?arg=tKcmgnz3gsgfK>*
>>>
>>> Call: *VE4EA <http://3830scores.com/findcall.php?call=VE4EA>*
>>>
>>> Class: *Single Op HP*
>>> QTH: Winnipeg
>>> Operating Time (hrs): 5.1
>>> Location: Canada
>>> Summary:   Compare Scores
>>> <http://3830scores.com/comparescores.php?arg=tKcmgnz3gsgfK&call=VE4EA>
>>> Total: QSOs *311* State/Prov *52* Countries *6* Total Score *86,435*
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Club: Radiosport Manitoba
>>> Comments:     [email] <ve4ea%40rac.ca>     2017-01-29 20:46:58
>>> Wow, what a rush. Anywhere I went on the band, I was "mobbed". I operated
>>> the CQ160M the 2nd day only as a remote from our QTH in Southern
>>> California
>>> back to my home station in Manitoba. Apparently, there were no VE4's
>>> active
>>> on the first night. The remote almost didn't happen thanks to a failed
>>> WIN10 version update on my travelling laptop the week before departure.
>>> Many thanks to my genies-in-a-bottle W1VE and VE4JBB who spent many hours
>>> working on it (remotely). Everything worked well, as it should, except
>>> for
>>> internet connectivity which is both slow and jittery from our condo. I
>>> experienced many drop-outs. I apologize if I wasn't able to get your call
>>> or complete the Q. Several times, I had to QRT to let the internet settle
>>> down. In fact, I would appreciate hearing from anyone with signal reports
>>> or how I sounded via remote. 73, Cary VE4EA K3,KPA500 (450W) Modified,
>>> Zig-Zag "C" antenna K3/0 and Microbit RemoteRig.
>>>
>>>
>>> ------------------------------
>>>
>>> Subject: Digest Footer
>>>
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>>> ------------------------------
>>>
>>> End of RSM Digest, Vol 4, Issue 16
>>> **********************************
>>>
>>>
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