[RTTY] 160

[Jim McDonald]

My 160M antenna is far from ideal, as it's not a low noise receiving antenna
or a low angle radiator, but it's what I have, and I acknowledge it's better
than many others with less space can have.

I have a full-size inverted vee on top of my 89' tower.  160M enthusiasts
call it a cloud warmer because the radiation angle is high.  When I was in
AZ, I was happy to work JT1CO, VK6VZ, 3B9C, and 9M2AX with it.  From here in
IL now, I'm working Europeans much easier than from AZ, of course, but I
still want a vertical and a good receive antenna.

I had a half sloper hung off my tower for most of the time I've spent on
160.  I got a WAS in 1982 (#182) before amplifiers could be used (no, I
didn't have one).

Besides ON4UN's book, another good one is K1ZM's DXing on the Edge...The
Thrill of 160 Meters, also from ARRL.

The Topband reflector archives at contesting.com is very informative too.

If you really get interested in 160, I think you'll find RTTY there to be a
novelty, but your interested will be sustained once you acknowledge that
it's a CW band for DXing and most contests.  I think low band DXing is a
nice complement to RTTY.

Jim N7US

 

-----Original Message-----


Any 160 Antenna Experts?

The reason I don't jump onto 160 Meter RTTY is also because of lack of an
antenna with my limited real estate. Recently someone in our local radio
club suggested I look at the Alpha-Delta models, either the DX-A Twin Sloper
or the DX-B Single Wire Sloper. I like the idea of the shorter antenna, but
I just can't get use to the idea of having a shortened wire antenna for any
band.

I really would like to jump on to 160 Meters with RTTY and am wondering if
any of you fellows have any stories you can share with me and others using
the Alph-Delta slopers? I don't have to go commercial and would attempt to
'roll my own' if the short sloper on 160 would work well enough to give me a
chance at earning a WAS 160 RTTY.


73 Eric - VE3GSI.



> -----Original Message-----
> 
> 
> I think the biggest obstacle to overcome is the antenna.  
> Many, including myself do not have a 160 antenna.  You could 
> load the 80 meter dipole but NVIS would be your working 
> conditions to some extent.  Most already are aware that to 
> REALLY work DX on 160(or any band for that matter) with good 
> results is to be at least a quarter wave up. On 160 that's 
> about 130 feet. That's a big tree.  The higher you are the 
> lower the take off angle. It's certainly worth a shot, if you 
> have an 80 meter dipole, to see how it will play out.  My 
> guess is you'll have about a 700 to 1000 mile radius.  I'm in 
> for trying.
> 
>  
> Anthony - N2KI
>