Topband: DX on 160, was: Topband QRP WAS

[K4OWR]

:::: Ok. That explains my experience in so few DX contacts. I'll change 
that immediately; although I do enjoy ragchewing with other similar 
interest hams. I find CW cumbersome for that since it breaks down simple 
conversation into one letter at a time; but the weak signal benefits are 
huge.
Now all I have to do is commit to going up to the shack (about 150' up 
the hill) in the relative dark and cold much later in the evening, or as 
you guys recommend before sunrise.
I do not leave the heat on up there so it will be very cold here on a 
Tennessee morning :-)
In the meantime I look forward to working you guys and will fire up 
between 1820-1840 from now on. My antennas are set for 1:1 swr at about 
1860 but are fairly broad for some lucky reason. I do not use antenna 
tuners, especially on 160 where I find them to be a fire hazard with my 
big amp :-))))
Thanx for all the terrific info!!
BILL K4OWR

On 12/5/2015 2:14 PM, Mark Lunday wrote:
> Bill, all of my DX is on CW.  Anywhere from 1820 to 1840. In fact, the only
> DX I have on SSB on 160 is a handful of Carib stations.  Because of the
> challenging conditions of TopBand, CW for me is the way to go.  Some folks
> have a lot of luck with WSJT or other digital modes...I have not tried that
> yet as the DX I am chasing is not common and is not on digital.
>
>   Check out ON4KST chat room for real-time info.
>
> Mark Lunday, WD4ELG
> Greensboro, NC  FM06be
> wd4elg at arrl.net
> http://wd4elg.blogspot.com
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Topband [mailto:topband-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of K4OWR
> Sent: Saturday, December 05, 2015 1:15 PM
> To: topband at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: Topband: Topband QRP WAS
>
> :::: Although I can work CW, I don't usually. It's not clear what mode you
> guys use most.  I often go up to the shack around 9pm and listen around for
> an hour or so, but rarely hear much activity other then the local obnoxious
> ragchewers who will complain to me that I'm "splattering" on their
> conversation 10 khz away. I always find that they are using their
> noiseblankers out of habit and don't seem to comprehend what this does to
> their selectivity....sigh. Anyway, I would appreciate hearing what Fx most
> of you find best for DX, and is phone only hampering me?
> BILL K4OWR
>
>
>