Topband: [Fwd: Re: Topbanders Try Harder]

[Herbert Schoenbohm]

reat story.

Indeed the huge mega dxpedition churns out Qs that we all like and work for.
But even the group that was FT5GA  
Made a lot of people happy with either a completely new country or some new
band countries. I think that the folks that complain the most have an
entitlement mentality that the Dxpedition is there for them and they should
get a contact on every band and every mode they want. Unlike you they've
probably never gone on a dxpedition so really have no idea. 

R
-----Original Message-----
From: Herb Schoenbohm [mailto:herbs at surfvi.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, October 21, 2009 4:58 PM
To: Ron Spencer
Subject: Topbanders Try Harder

Ron Spencer wrote:

> > I always have to laugh (then groan) when I hear folks complaining 
> > about how such and such dxpedition was run. My thought always is "OK, 
> > I'm sure you'll do a better job when YOU go".
> >
> >
> > Ron  N4XD
> >
> >   
>   
Ron,

I sure will *try* to do better.....not because I can do better but because
that is the TB'ers nature to try and do better, regardless. We all hopefully
learn from our past errors in TB ventures to exotic places. Compared to the
near genius 160 meter abilities of Milt, N5IA, (VP6DX), Eric K3NA (VP6DX)
Robin WA6CDR (XZ0A), George AA7JV (VK9WWI) and how did he ever do it Bob
K4UEE (3Y0X),and others, I can't hold a candle. But their struggles to make
TB happen and their shared experiences certainly provide a platform for
better and better operations in the future by anyone who care to observe
there work.

This is in stark comparison to the happenstance and poor planning, just hang
up a wire in a tree,  that I personally experienced lugging around a trunk
in the 60's to give a few people new TB countries in South America and the
Caribbean.  There were no awards for DX on 160 then except the desire of
some driven TB crazies encouraged by one single guru, Stew Perry W1BB who
had a the ability to have many of us at least give it a try......and some of
us got hooked.

In the late 60's when invited to go to then super rare Navassa I agreed if I
could take along topband equipment.  My initial goal was to at least give
W1BB a new country as he neared 100 worked on 160.  (I had given him
Anguilla VP2KY a few years earlier.)

On Navassa after the rope ladder ordeal of getting everything on shore, I
was allowed space in the same tent with Dale Strieter W4DQS who was running
the official 80 meter CW station.  Bob,  (now W4DR) was in another area
several hundred feet away pealing away the huge pile ups on 20.  The only
band I operated was 160 and each night I was there because that is why I
went along. Prior to this trip there had not been to my knowledge any
amateur radio TB operation from Navassa. I don think Don Chesser did 160 in
the early 60's, but not sure.  Other operations such as Don Miller and K1IMP
did not have 160 meter equipment and the ARRL did not credit the operation
to lack of landing permits anyway.

In order to get out workable signal on 160  I ran a 3/8 wave wire across
Lulu Bay about 60 feet above the ocean below. Vertical support structures
were not available for me.  I even considered going up to the 100 foot
lighthouse about 2 miles on the hill above but schlepping the equipment (T4X
and R4C) and generator up the hill through the cactus and thorny bushes was
sort of out of the question, so I stuck with the long wire above the sea
which favored NA and Europe. Each contact, no matter with whom or  where was
a thrill for me and I am sure to those on the other end as well.I went there
for 160 and I stuck with it till the last dog died.

If I ever go back I would land by chopper from Jamaica near the lighthouse
and hang slopers for the low bands. 

Maybe Club Med will take an interest in leasing for a resort with some nice
cabanas, a bar, and a yacht basin...then I'll be back for a month. 
But until then the conditions there are very  harsh with ever present sharp
barbed cactus that pierces even the toughest leather boots. So don't believe
are nice tropical dx-pedition location get aways.  The all have significant
dangers especially more today. 

My point here is that by sharing the planning, logistic, and operation
experiences of others next time could be even better.  These are today, if
successful, big operations with corporate planing, leadership, and
execution.  The junk in a steamer trunk 160 meter operations I participated
in 50 years ago just can't expect much success today.

Herb Schoenbohm, KV4FZ




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