Topband: AM broadcast tower and 160m dxpedition

Tue Jun 10 20:28:25 EDT 2014

Just an FYI to all on the reflector. I use a corner fed (~25 ft up from the 
corner) Delta Loop on 160 and am very happy with it.  Apex is at 130 ft. I 
eventually had to make it with #10 copper wire as even #12 would break in 
the 70 mph winds we get here. A 0.25 wl of 75 ohm coax is used as a matching 
section.
There is very tight coupling to the 150 ft tower it's hung on which gives it 
a fairly omnidirectional pattern according to EZNEC. My only complaint is 
the 2:1 bandwidth is 35 KHz. I should fab a tuner one of these days.
The bottom is 8 ft above ground so I can drive my pickup under it with no 
problem.
I work everything I call and don't miss the radials and the yearly repairs 
one bit! HiHi
73 Hardy N7RT

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <n2kw at juno.com>
To: <gm3poi2 at btinternet.com>
Cc: <dale.long at prodigy.net>; <topband at contesting.com>; 
<n5ia at zia-connection.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 10, 2014 4:05 PM
Subject: Re: Topband: AM broadcast tower and 160m dxpedition

> The advantages of Vertical polarization under these circumstances is a 
> given, but don't overlook the class of antennas that Sevick classified as 
> "SCV" A "Self Contained Vertical" can be as simple as a corner-fed Delta 
> loop, or a "Double L"  Using the tower as a high support for a loop sounds 
> easier than installing a radial field.  NCJ did a three-part series a few 
> years back. I guess a lot depends upon the guarantee of future access ? 
> N2KW
>
> ---------- Original Message ----------
> From: "Clive GM3POI" <gm3poi2 at btinternet.com>
> To: "'DALE LONG'" <dale.long at prodigy.net>, "'Milt -- N5IA'" 
> <n5ia at zia-connection.com>, <topband at contesting.com>
> Subject: Re: Topband: AM broadcast tower and 160m dxpedition
> Date: Tue, 10 Jun 2014 22:15:06 -0000
>
> Hi Dale,
> My only main point is that whatever antenna you end up using and with the
> height you have available you the most important task will lie with the
> operator. Without someone who can handle the pileups (even on 160m) and 
> know
> when to listen to other than local stations, you may well not give the
> opportunity its deserves, justice.
> But I hope it all goes well and this is all in the planning apart from the
> actual antenna. Remember all antennas work. 73 Clive GM3POI
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Topband [mailto:topband-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of DALE 
> LONG
> Sent: 10 June 2014 18:58
> To: Milt -- N5IA; topband at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: Topband: AM broadcast tower and 160m dxpedition
>
> Hi Milt:
>
> This is not a big dxpedtion like VP6DX!  We do not have a dxpedition
> webpage. We will use LOTW but we will not have real-time logging.
>
> For many years I have been involved in mission work to build radio 
> stations
> in Haiti with an organization called Radio Lumiere.   This is a Haitian
> nationally-run organization (a good thing not often enough found in
> developing countries where too often funding decisions are made by large
> NGOs).
>
> We have engineers and technical folks from USA and Germany who provide
> technical assistance and radio equipment. About once a year we go to Haiti
> and build a new FM station with 100ft tower.  This year our project is to
> build an AM station.  The two amateur groups are tasked with erecting the
> 240 foot AM tower.  Then we get to play with it. This is a great
> opportunity, and is not often offered to amateurs. The tower would be
> erected by the group who is going in November for CQWW.  The 160m 
> dxpedition
> should arrive to find a big tower, but lacking radials with some kind of
> 160m antenna.  Improving it for 160m would be our project.   Our 160m
> efforts will be not of much practical use for the radio network, but
> necessary for topband.
>
> It is interesting to note (for some of the AM broadcast engineers in this
> group)  that the people in Haiti (who dont have television and online 
> news)
> still find AM to be an important communication vehicle.
>
> We do have a big opportunity.  Many broadcast engineers do not have a high
> opinion of amateur radio operators and their abilities.  And they do not
> often offer to allow an amateur group the use of their broadcast tower. 
> But
> in this case the amateur community is providing the tower and the 
> expertise
> to put it up.  In return, we are allowed to use it.  We plan to raise the
> tower in late November and have a small team to operate in the CQWW.  I 
> and
> other amateurs plan to stay and operate the ARRL 160m contest.  We have a
> decent place to stay near the airport, and not far to the site.  We will
> have a generator to ensure that we have power.
>
> The location is a salt marsh right on the ocean.  We own the 9-acre plot.
> Although I have used beverages in other dxpeditions, I think that 
> beverages
> would be of little value in the marshy area.  (when I last visited the 
> site
> the tower base and tuning house were on dry land and historically stay 
> dry.)
> But part of the radial field would be in the marsh.  We would have some
> local workers to provide assistance with radial installation.
>
> What we will have available is simply a tall broadcast tower.  It will be
> top-loaded to bring it close to the design frequency of 660 Khz. We are
> still seeking a bottom insulator for the broadcast tower.
>
> As far as 160m operation is concerned, we could tune the tower with
> broadcast tuning network, but I agree with Dado and others that it may not
> be as good as a sloping dipole. (If we have opportunity we will try both.)
>
> If you would like to join us you would be most welcome.  We need some 160
> guys, especially to build some kind of listening antenna for a site with
> high ground conductivity.
>
> 73
>
> Dale - N3BNA
>
> P.S. in addition to topband activities, I would note that all the ham 
> radio
> stations in Haiti are operating with low or compromised antennas.  On the
> higher bands we should be able to contact areas of the world that do not
> often have opportunity to contact Haiti.  And as it happens many of our
> first group are well-known VHF contesters. So you may find us on 6m when 
> our
> work is finished.
>
>
>
>
>>________________________________
>> From: Milt -- N5IA <n5ia at zia-connection.com>
>>To: DALE LONG <dale.long at prodigy.net>
>>Sent: Tuesday, June 10, 2014 11:28 AM
>>Subject: Re: Topband: AM broadcast tower and 160m dxpedition
>>
>>
>>Dale,
>>
>>Do you have a web page of the DXpedition that spells out the basics?
>>
>>Interested.   In particular, what are your plans for 160 Meters, my
>>specialty?
>>
>>de Milt, N5IA  --  XZ1N, XZ0A, VP6DX
>>
>>
>>
>>-----Original Message----- 
>>From: DALE LONG
>>Sent: Tuesday, June 10, 2014 6:25 AM
>>To: Dragoslav Balaban ; 'Carl' ; Gary at ka1j.com ; Topband at contesting.com
>>Subject: Re: Topband: AM broadcast tower and 160m dxpedition
>>
>>Hi Dado:
>>
>>I agree with you.  Thanks to advice from AA1K, I built a sloping dipole at
>>200 feet for 80m in HH7-land.  I was really loud into EU and USA with only
> a
>>borrowed TS-50.
>>
>>We are still looking for operators for the HH2 160m dxpedition Dec1-Dec8.
>>
>>73
>>
>>Dale - N3BNA
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>-----
>>No virus found in this message.
>>Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
>>Version: 2014.0.4592 / Virus Database: 3955/7652 - Release Date: 06/09/14
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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