Topband: Need help to improve DX on 1/2 acre lot from CA

[Jim Brown]

On 1/12/2013 12:49 PM, k7xq at elite.net wrote:
> 1. I still have not copied or worked into Europe. I have been on this band
> somewhat seriously for at least 5 years

EU is VERY tough from California, especially northern California. We 
have to go over the pole.  My neighbor, K6XX has more than 60 acres on 
top of a 2,700 ft ridge up the road from me, and when I moved here he 
told me he can count the nights he can hear EU on the fingers of one 
hand. Six seasons have convinced me he's right. We're in the Santa Cruz 
Mountains.  All the stars must be aligned -- propagation that gives us a 
path but not the east coast, a very good RX antenna, minimal local 
noise, high power, and a very good antenna system.  That includes a 
serious radial system or other very effective counterpoise.

> 2. I hear a few Russians but they don't hear me.

We have a fairly good shot at Asiatic Russia, and I work some in most 
contests.  There was a UA0 working us a few nights ago an hour or so 
before midnight, which is unusually early for that path.

> 3. I heard a FM5 last few nights peaking 559, called him countleesly with no
> QSO.

Stations in that latitude can have a lot of RX noise, and can be 
difficult to work.

> My power is about 800 W on this band ( single 3-500 ). I am looking
> into finding a single GS35 amp for all bands on HF....love that tube.

Power is a good thing, but you need antenna help. Others have told you 
that you need to work on your radial system, and I strongly agree. Also, 
antenna efficiency increases with increasing vertical height.  I did a 
tutorial on 160M antennas for limited space at Pacificon, and recently 
repeated it for a local ham club.  You may find it useful  It's on my 
webpage as a pdf.

http://audiosystemsgroup.com/publish.htm

73, Jim K9YC