Topband: Europrean SDR on 160M

[Julius Fazekas]

I agree with Paul. This is a nice tool to check out antenna changes. You can see if you've improved your signal into a targeted area.

I also see the possibility of abuse during contests, if it isn't already happening.

As to diminishing existing accomplishments, I speculate that has been said with every technological advance. We're all standing on the shoulders of someone who discovered a better way of doing it. I'm sure even Stew would have loved to have his hands on the receivers we consider common and the improvements in Rx antennas. Of course, I'd love to go back to the 70s, without LORAN, with all the ham operators who were located in what are "rare" DXCC now working the Top Band ;o)

73,
Julius

Julius Fazekas
N2WN

Tennessee Contest Group
http://www.k4ro.net/tcg/index.html
http://groups.google.com/group/tcg1?hl=en

Tennessee QSO Party
http://www.tnqp.org/

Elecraft K2/100 #4455
Elecraft K3/100 #366
Elecraft K3/100 #1875


--- On Tue, 12/29/09, PaulKB8N at aol.com <PaulKB8N at aol.com> wrote:

> From: PaulKB8N at aol.com <PaulKB8N at aol.com>
> Subject: Re: Topband: Europrean SDR on 160M
> To: fdavis at nfld.net, topband at contesting.com
> Date: Tuesday, December 29, 2009, 5:09 PM
> Frank,
>  
> I certainly can see both possibilities and pitfalls with
> remote  receivers. 
>  The odd thing is that if SDRs were used at both ends
> of  the conversation, 
> you might be able to work DX any time of day or night
> on  160M, as long as 
> both stations could be heard by a nearby remote SDR 
> site.  Strange indeed.
>  
> Of course, that really isn't a DX QSO, and, other than the
> novelty of it  
> all, it really isn't ham radio as we currently know
> it.  However, as a  small 
> pistol, I can see some advantages.  I would love to
> hear my actual  signal 
> in distant locations.  It would be a great way to
> really gather  comparative 
> data on multiple antenna types over a given DX
> path.   It would also be a 
> great way to find out what paths are open in various parts
> of  the world 
> independent of activity level.
>  
> There have already been some who are tepid about this 
> technology.  I 
> believe it is yet another tool at our disposal, we just
> have  to be careful not 
> to hurt ourselves with it!
>  
> Paul, K5AF  
>  
>  
>  
> In a message dated 12/29/2009 1:41:27 P.M. Central Standard
> Time,  
> fdavis at nfld.net
> writes:
> 
> Jacques
> 
> Definitely YES it is possible to easily do 
> Trans-Atlantic DX QSo's with Eu 
> now with NO receiver !!  I did it  last night
> .  I worked quite a number of 
> Eu stations on 1815khz by  listening to the SDR rx in
> Trent on the web.  My 
> FT1000MP was on and  I could copy the signals over the
> air BUT the copy via 
> the web was much  easier .... signals very loud from
> the PC over the same 
> speaker I use for  the FT 1KMP.
> 
> There is some latency in the signal transfer but not 
> significant. I could 
> also hear my own signal quite clearly but with a 
> slight delay through the 
> SDR.  I had to focus on my CW sending and  not my
> own reflected signal in 
> order to send properly.  I am sure  that SDR on
> the web was not intended to 
> replace full QSO's over the air  but it is possible to
> do it.   It is an 
> unintended outcome I am  sure.
> 
> Lets take this scenario:  Supposing UA0XXX Zone 19 is
> being  heard in Eu on 
> the SDR antenna but not in east NA......also lets say
> that  VO1XYZ is being 
> heard in Eu on the SDR antenna but not at UA0XXX 
> QTH.   A QSO is possible 
> if 
> the two operators do co-ordination  through one of the
> DX chat groups or by 
> email.   No self  respecting Dx'er
> would do this of course but the 
> technology 
> is now there  to make it possible.
> 
> Is this DXing ...definitely not BUT it can be 
> done.  One wonders what the 
> future will hold for us with the advent  of
> these  technologies and 
> applications.
> 
> 73 Frank  VO1HP
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Jacques RAMBAUD"  <f6bki at orange.fr>
> To: "Frank" <fdavis at nfld.net>
> Sent:  December 29, 2009 14:06
> Subject: Re: Topband: Europrean SDR on  160M
> 
> 
> > If I understand correctly you can make DX qso even if
> you  do not hear 
> the 
> > DX
> > station at all ???
> > 73
> >  Jacques F6BKI
> > ----- Original Message ----- 
> > From: "Frank"  <fdavis at nfld.net>
> > To: <topband at contesting.com>
> >  Sent: Tuesday, December 29, 2009 12:08 PM
> > Subject: Topband: Europrean  SDR on 160M
> >
> >
> > Last night I was alerted by Gus VO1MP of  some
> new SDR websites in Europe 
> .
> > Check HB9FX:  http://hb9fx-websdr.dyndns.org/ and also a seven rx
> site in
> > Trent at:  http://websdr.ewi.utwente.nl:8901/
> >
> > It was facinating to listen  to 160M from a
> receiver based in Europe.
> > Tremendously strong sigs in  the PC
> speaker.   I called CQ on 1815 and 
> > worked
> > a  few Eu stations by listening to their signals
> on the European SDR  not 
>  
> > on
> > my shack rx.  The guys I worked were good copy on
> my  K9AY and FT1KMP but 
> I
> > just turned down the AF gain.   I 
> could also hear my own signal coming 
> > back
> > through the SDR  even though I could only see the
> faintest of lines on the
> > waterfall  display.   Surprising
> to me were the many NA stations very 
> >  strong
> > with me not being heard on the Eu SDR.  Don't
> know yet  what kind of 
> > antennas
> > are being used over  there.
> >
> > This may be old news to many  but check it 
> out!
> >
> > 73 Frank VO1HP
> >
> >
> >  
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> >
> >> 
> _______________________________________________
> >> "160-meters is a  band for men, not for
> sissies!" -  SM5EDX
> >
> >
> >
> 
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> ----
> 
> 
> 
> No  virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG -  www.avg.com
> Version: 8.5.431 / Virus Database: 270.14.123/2592 -
> Release  Date: 
> 12/29/09  
> 07:47:00
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> "160-meters  is a band for men, not for sissies!"
> -  SM5EDX
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> "160-meters is a band for men, not for sissies!" - SM5EDX
>