Topband: 160 meter activity

[Shoppa, Tim]

There is an "official S meter scale" based on microvolts at the antenna jack, 50uV is S9. Objective S meter reading? When band noise is S9+20 on my transmit antenna, a "true" S9 signal wouldn't even be copied.

Of course on my RX antenna band noise is S1 and a strong EU signal is S5 to S6 for real easy copy.

Probably the reversebeacon style Signal to Noise would be most fair but even that will mostly depend on relative local noise.

Tim N3QE

----- Original Message -----
From: Bob Kupps [mailto:n6bk at yahoo.com]
Sent: Sunday, August 25, 2013 07:44 PM
To: topband <topband at contesting.com>
Subject: Re: Topband: 160 meter activity

Well I applaud your making the effort at giving an "honest" report. It seems to me that 599 is reported far too casually these days and I certainly attempt to give "honest" reports even in a (non contest) pile up. Although R reports are fairly easy - I give 3 if I'm struggling, 4 if I have to pay attention and 5 if it's easy. But S reports, especially on the low bands where we are often using preamps, attenuators or both make an objective report a bit tougher.

The other night I was chatting with my pal W6YA on 20. My 100 watts to a 5/5 stack always gets a better report on his K3 than his 1500W to a 4 el gets on my K3 until he finally said that he always uses his preamp on the high bands because the K3 S meter is factory calibrated with the preamp on, and he like I strive to give meaningful reports.

Anyway, I would be interested in how other ops (who care) try to give meaningful reports - objective vs subjective. Also my compliments to N4ZR and the RBN guys who are providing a great service to the ham DX community in this regard.

73 Bob HS0ZIA


________________________________
 From: John Harden <jhdmd at bellsouth.net>
To: topband at contesting.com 
Sent: Sunday, August 25, 2013 9:17 PM
Subject: Topband: 160 meter activity
 

160 is really picking up here.....

I called CQ on 1824.5 this morning here in Atlanta at 1030 Z. VK3ZL came 
back to me with a 599 report and I gave him an honest 579. The band has 
been open for some time at this QTH. However, the RX antenna is the Hi-Z 
4-8 PRO, 8 vertical array (with 4 antennas active at any time). No doubt 
I hear signals others cannot hear. I do HIGHLY recommend it......

73,

John, W4NU
_________________
Topband Reflector
_________________
Topband Reflector