Topband: Strange propagation

[Herbert Schoenbohm]

I have lost my amateur station in three major hurricanes over the years 
here, everything including radios (from water) and antennas. I have also 
rebuilt them a four different locations until I finally scrapped enough 
money together and bought a home next to a large salt pond. I have full 
remote station here but it only functions for contest operated by a 
cliff dweller in NYC who cares not for DXCC credit.  The problem with 
the US RHR deals is that it completely skews the process as far as the 
propagation differences across the fruited plan.  I would love to add to 
my DXCC totals as I close into the 300 mark.  USA stations can do this 
but is it ethical.  It sure makes money for a pay to play amateur radio 
scheme. But is it the way you want low band Dx-ing to become?  I hope 
not as you only will need a computer and an internet connection and 
everything else that used to a worthwhile effort is trashed.

I remember a former 160 meter DX pioneer, Charles O'Brien who originally 
from Illinois used a 1/4 wave bent Marconi and 25 watts to work a G 
station.  This is what we are or what we used to be. RHR I am afraid is 
the end of an era were perseverance and not vast amounts of  QRO muscle 
and money decided who was on top. That is a shame and perhaps to some a 
disgrace as it really chances everything including the respect we have 
for those who did so much with so little.`

Herb Schoenbohm, KV4FZ

On 1/14/2016 12:43 AM, Dave Blaschke, w5un wrote:
> I will say this:
> operating a remote station (for money) owned and managed by someone 
> else will never be as satisfying as operating your own station, built 
> by your hands. But than again, if you have no station, and are unable 
> to build one up, what's your choice? I built (and rebuilt) a beautiful 
> station and antenna system here over the past fifteen years, only to 
> see much of it destroyed by storms in recent years. Now I am unable to 
> rebuild anymore.
>
> Dave, W5UN
>
> On 1/14/2016 2:26 AM, Carl Luetzelschwab wrote:
>> Ed N1UR said "It seems non-trivial to me as to how to maintain these 
>> remote
>> stations."
>>
>> My guess is it was someone using the Portland, OR station in the 
>> Remote Ham
>> Radio network (http://www.remotehamradio.com/the-stations/). The 
>> stations
>> are available for a price.
>>
>> I don't know whose actual station that is - but I'm sure it is someone's
>> home station (just like all the others in the network).
>>
>> Carl K9LA
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>
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