Topband: Memories of Top Band

[Robert Kavanagh]

After reading the interesting recollections of the early days on 160 
I was provoked to browse through my early log books for topband.

After having my first QSO (on 80) in April 1951 I finally got my 
first 160 QSO in November 1951 with W1TTV. At that time I was VE1YW 
in Fredericton, New Brunswick, and was a student living in a 
university residence. My first 160 DX came on January 11, 1953 when I 
hit the jackpot with 3 DX QSOs: G5RI, EI9J and G3PU. These were 
worked with 20 watts from my crystal-controlled home brew rig with an 
807 in the final. The antenna was a random length of wire strung 
across the university campus. My receiver was a Canadian Marconi 
SMR3A marine receiver. The QSO with EI9J was the first EI/VE topband 
QSO. I expect others will remember Paddy, EI9J, who was a regular on 
160 for many years. Another 160 regular in those days was Charlie, W2EQS.

After time out for graduate studies, marriage, children, etc. I 
returned to 160 in 1973 as VE1AXT. Some of the notables worked at 
that time included Rolf, PY1RO, Bill, K2GNC, and our present-day keen 
operator: VE3CUI, Eddy. I was his third QSO on 160.

And, of course, W1BB was worked on several occasions. He was always 
very encouraging and I still have his QSL and a collection of his 
newsletters, each one inscribed with a personal note.

Those were my "good old days".  Now I plug away as VE3OSZ and the 
band has certainly changed !

Bob
VE3OSZ