Topband: Contest in progress - few signals

[Tim Duffy]

I was the topband operator at K3LR this weekend (loved every minute) and I
echo Andrew's (at W3LPL) comments below - with the directive receive arrays
it takes both of us a few seconds to find out which direction to listen to.
Many times the signals are QRP USA callers - so a bit of digging is in order
to get the callsign correct. There were times this weekend when I felt like
Andrew at W3LPL and I were the only ones awake in the USA on 160! You never
know what might happen on the topband.

We were also trying out a new phased array for 160 at K3LR. The HI-Z 8
circle is now phased with a HI-Z four square - one wavelength spacing
broadside. The RDF is 15.1 dB, so it is highly directive and works great to
the pointed target area. The arrays are phased together with the DXE NCC-1. 

We worked 42 USA/VE stations on 160 meters this weekend. I even had two
short rag chews with my friend Vern, W9FAM in the wee hours. W0BTU was 599
when he called in - as long as I was pointed at Mike. 

Yes it was a DX contest, but I love to work guys on the topband - no matter
how far away they are.

73,
Tim K3LR


-----Original Message-----
From: Topband [mailto:topband-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Andrew
AC6WI
Sent: Monday, February 17, 2014 4:05 PM
To: topband
Subject: Re: Topband: Contest in progress - few signals

Hi all,

As the person who did the majority of the running (and I use that word 
loosely given the conditions) on 160m at W3LPL this weekend, I think 
some explanation is in order.

I did work a number of US stations during the contest, in fact every 
single one that called me so I didn't ignore them.  It's quicker to work 
them instead of trying to argue about it and hope it doesn't result in a 
string of other zero pointers calling.

Now, in the case of Mike W0BTU, it's very possible it took a few calls 
for me to figure out which direction I needed to listen.  Consider that 
I was using Franks new 8-circle receive array, which has a much sharper 
and cleaner pattern than the Beverages we used to use, and that I was 
most likely listening towards EU at the time.  When listening towards 
EU, callers off the back side of this new array are attenuated a LOT! 
Combine that with a relatively high QRN level due to the storms running 
up through the North East, ie the direction I was listening, and the 
fact I wouldn't be expecting callers off the back side when I'm 
listening to EU, and it's not really surprising it took a few calls for 
me to figure out that I needed to listen in the opposite direction.

Thanks to everyone who persisted with lots of repeats over the weekend 
to make some very difficult Q's on 160m.

Vy 73,

Andrew AC6WI / GI0NWG



On 17/02/14 13:46, Jim Bennett wrote:
> I'd like to add my .02 to this thread, as an observer.
>
> There certainly are two sides to the story. The folks running "big gun"
stations on top band in the contest are out there trying to garner points to
win the contest, or at least their state/power level/section or whatever.
So, I can almost understand their reluctance to answer a domestic caller.
But on the other hand, maybe they ought to think about WHY that domestic
station is calling him/her. Lack of rule knowledge. Perhaps. But maybe, just
maybe that person calling has just gotten the station or antenna operational
and is trying to see if others are hearing him/her well enough to make a
contact. Or maybe the person is struggling to complete an award and needs
your state or your county. On 160 meters, that is certainly a possibility.
>
> Is it going to kill you to answer the other person? Will the world come to
an end if you do? Probably not. Are you going to create a huge pileup if you
answer a domestic caller? Really.....? Sure, there are people operating in
the contest who don't know that the contact is worthless -in the contest-
but maybe that contact is NOT worthless to him or her.
>
> Let's have a little compassion and understanding for others in ham radio
who are not operating exactly as you'd want them to.
>
> Jim / W6JHB
> _________________
> Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
>

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