Topband: Working Europe

[kolson at rcn.com]

"fuggedabout "decent rx antennas"???? 
  
Jim, I think the two things are both necessary. We need to encourage then to get on, but emphasize the need for RX antennas. Without them, 160 is a hard sell. I have a buddy that has a perfectly viable TX antenna (better than mine, LOL) who never gets on 160 meters because when he does he never hears anything interesting. I have so far not been able to convince him that RX antennas aren't optional, but a necessary part of 160 meter operating. I would have ended up the same way as my friend did before I put up my K9AY, I suspect, but fortunately my 160 meter type friends convinced me to give it a try. Hopefully, I will get him over one winter night and show him what even a simple 160 m RX antenna can do. 
  
Same thing with QRP. I've heard of many new hams whose "buddies" sold them on QRP only to drop out when the call/QSO ratio was dismal. Better to start with a 100w rig and "graduate" to QRP once they have some success and come to understand propagation, etc. I think the s ame concept applies  on 160, why start them out with a situation that would frustrate even veteran 160 meter ops? 
  
73, Kevin K3OX 


----- Original Message -----

From: "James Rodenkirch" <Rodenkirch_LLC at msn.com> 
To: "Top Band Contesting" <topband at contesting.com> 
Sent: Friday, July 1, 2016 7:22:43 PM 
Subject: Re: Topband: Working Europe 

Mike: I would posit we - the "top band community" - need to promote increased operations ---------- fuggedabout "decent rx antennas" --- just get more hams operating on top band: 

- emphasize the Maunder minimum 
- emphasize the rise of efficiency of small lot antennas, as a resulting "benefit" 
- emphasize the benefits of a new low band rcv arrays 

It's about encouraging hams to explore top band, as the "minimums" descend on us.....not, necessarily, encouraging "ultimate stations" --- i.e., get 'em on the band...... 

71.5/72 de Jim Rodenkirch K9JWV 

Guy said: 

>There is the issue of when people are actually listening on 160. *Sounds* 
dead because no one is there. 

...AND THEN there is the issue of when people *can* actually listen; by 
that I mean, they have a decent rx antenna at their disposal. 

I've noticed quite a few locals (W1) with increasing interest in 160. The 
low-space rx antenna options out there are attracting interest. This is 
good. Bring on the minimum. 

Mike N1TA 
_________________ 
Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband