Topband: ARRL 160M being heard

Doug Turnbull turnbull at net1.ie
Fri Dec 8 18:35:02 EST 2017


Gentlemen,
     If you are not very close to zero beat, I will not hear you.   A bit of
offset may be okay and even helpful but a good few stations are only
recognized by their key clicks.    I use a 300 Hz note so imagine that I
only need you to be 20 Hz off the zero beat.   I find the CWT feature of the
K3 a considerable help in a contest for getting close to the zero beat
frequency.   You go a few hundred HZ off and forget being copied.   The band
is going to be very crowded come the CQ 160M CW test at the end of January.
I find the selectivity a big help.   We are all different.

     Another reason why we are not heard is that receive antennas if good
may be very directional.   If I beam to Europe or Asia then NA is not heard.
If I beam to the USA then quite possibly an EU station will not be heard.
For contesting I find the directivity of the Hi-Z full size 160M 8 Circle a
God send but I need to be conscious of this at all times.    It may be a
help come the Stew Perry when my main interest is working W land.

     Some of the EU complaints about not being heard by Ws during the ARRL
160M contest may be due to NA QRM but also due to the W using a RX antenna
pointed away from the EU.

          73 Doug EI2CN

-----Original Message-----
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Sent: 08 December 2017 17:00
To: topband at contesting.com
Subject: Topband Digest, Vol 180, Issue 6

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Today's Topics:

   1. Re: ARRL 160 (marsh at ka5m.net)
   2. Re: ARRL 160 (Wes Stewart)
   3. Re: ARRL 160 (Jose Ramon)
   4. Re: ARRL 160 (Wes Stewart)
   5. Re: ARRL 160 (Mark K3MSB)
   6. Re: ARRL 160 (MR TREVOR DUNNE)
   7. Re: ARRL 160 (donovanf at starpower.net)
   8. Re: Big 160m openings just before K index spikes (George Taft)
   9. Re: Big 160m openings just before K index spikes (John Kaufmann)
  10. Re: Big 160m openings just before K index spikes (Tim Shoppa)


----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Thu, 7 Dec 2017 11:07:48 -0600
From: <marsh at ka5m.net>
To: "'Don Kirk'" <wd8dsb at gmail.com>,	<topband at contesting.com>
Subject: Re: Topband: ARRL 160
Message-ID: <000301d36f7d$e927ef60$bb77ce20$@ka5m.net>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="us-ascii"

I respectfully disagree with Don Kirk. My experience has been different. I
don't how many pileups I've broken quickly - where the station I'm trying to
work is operating simplex - by going split and transmitting a few Hz above
or below "zero beat". The operator at the other end is trying to copy a
callsign, and if everybody is "zero beat" it makes it very difficult to copy
anybody. Anything you can do to make your signal "stand out" or
differentiate it from the crowd makes it easier for the station you're
trying to work. (Also speeding up or slowing down a few WPM sometimes
helps.)

Someone taught me this a long time ago, and it works. He's worked a lot of
good DX in the last sixty (60) years or so.

73,
Marsh, KA5M




-----Original Message-----
From: Topband [mailto:topband-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Don Kirk
Sent: Thursday, December 7, 2017 10:17 AM
To: MR TREVOR DUNNE <ei2glb at eircom.net>
Cc: Gary at ka1j.com; topband List <topband at contesting.com>
Subject: Re: Topband: ARRL 160

Hi Trevor,

Besides your TX antenna, another issue I have observed over the years is the
importance of being as close to zero beat as possible.  The modern HF radios
offer very narrow RX filtering options, and during very crowded band
conditions most of the stations are running very tight filters and I find
that if I'm off zero beat by much more than 100 hertz I'm often not heard.
I use a very old HF rig and run a 500 hertz filter, and found myself having
to continuously adjust my TX frequency until I popped into the passband of
the station I was trying to work (very difficult to zero beat my radio in
any kind of timely fashion).  I finally installed an audio filter (Hi-Per
Mite) with 200 Hz bandwidth and this has basically fixed my problem (99.9
percent improvement).

Previously it was very frustrating hearing a station 20 dB over S9 that
could not hear me.  I originally thought they were using an RX antenna not
pointed my direction, but most often I was just not in their RX passband.

Just another possibility.
73,
Don (wd8dsb)




------------------------------

Message: 2
Date: Thu, 7 Dec 2017 10:33:36 -0700
From: Wes Stewart <wes_n7ws at triconet.org>
To: topband at contesting.com
Subject: Re: Topband: ARRL 160
Message-ID: <c5d8d7ea-6f76-aca2-5094-74e2cf4fd92a at triconet.org>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed

Shh.? You're giving away my secrets.

Wes? N7WS

On 12/7/2017 10:07 AM, marsh at ka5m.net wrote:
> I respectfully disagree with Don Kirk. My experience has been different. I
> don't how many pileups I've broken quickly - where the station I'm trying
to
> work is operating simplex - by going split and transmitting a few Hz above
> or below "zero beat". The operator at the other end is trying to copy a
> callsign, and if everybody is "zero beat" it makes it very difficult to
copy
> anybody. Anything you can do to make your signal "stand out" or
> differentiate it from the crowd makes it easier for the station you're
> trying to work. (Also speeding up or slowing down a few WPM sometimes
> helps.)
>
> Someone taught me this a long time ago, and it works. He's worked a lot of
> good DX in the last sixty (60) years or so.
>
> 73,
> Marsh, KA5M
>



------------------------------

Message: 3
Date: Thu, 7 Dec 2017 18:53:33 +0100
From: Jose Ramon <jr.hierro at gmail.com>
To: topband at contesting.com
Subject: Re: Topband: ARRL 160
Message-ID:
	<CAKPgXTdTrjw+3WaGqnGXpKrVc1UU9DA2wEtgVUs3n5Wm-cgQug at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"

That's not going to work often during a contest. It depends on how crowded
is the band you stretch or narrow your passband. When a narrow filter is
set if you call 100 Hz away we won't hear you.
During a dxp the scenario is quite different, you're the alone, I normally
set, whenever is possible, the widest passband so I can hear anyone on the
split within 2,5 KHz, the brain does the rest.

Thanks for the last weekend ARRL contest QSOs.

73
Jose, EA7KW

2017-12-07 18:33 GMT+01:00 Wes Stewart <wes_n7ws at triconet.org>:

> Shh.  You're giving away my secrets.
>
> Wes  N7WS
>
> On 12/7/2017 10:07 AM, marsh at ka5m.net wrote:
>
>> I respectfully disagree with Don Kirk. My experience has been different.
I
>> don't how many pileups I've broken quickly - where the station I'm trying
>> to
>> work is operating simplex - by going split and transmitting a few Hz
above
>> or below "zero beat". The operator at the other end is trying to copy a
>> callsign, and if everybody is "zero beat" it makes it very difficult to
>> copy
>> anybody. Anything you can do to make your signal "stand out" or
>> differentiate it from the crowd makes it easier for the station you're
>> trying to work. (Also speeding up or slowing down a few WPM sometimes
>> helps.)
>>
>> Someone taught me this a long time ago, and it works. He's worked a lot
of
>> good DX in the last sixty (60) years or so.
>>
>> 73,
>> Marsh, KA5M
>>
>>
> _________________
> Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
>


------------------------------

Message: 4
Date: Thu, 7 Dec 2017 11:33:37 -0700
From: Wes Stewart <wes_n7ws at triconet.org>
To: topband at contesting.com
Subject: Re: Topband: ARRL 160
Message-ID: <2ecc42e3-f1ab-ab77-b3ee-8696305ae428 at triconet.org>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed

Jose,

First thank you for the QSO.? You are one of the few Europeans I have worked
on 
160 with my very modest station in southern Arizona and are a new one for
me.

I think the that the key here is "a few Hz" offset.? Of course 100 Hz is
more 
than a few and would be too much for a receiving station with a 50 Hz filter
in 
use.? I will just turn on XIT and dial in +/- 20 - 30 Hz.

As a practical matter in my case, I will in all likelihood not be heard in
any 
pileup of central or east coast USA stations anyway.

Wes? N7WS

On 12/7/2017 10:53 AM, Jose Ramon wrote:
> That's not going to work often during a contest. It depends on how crowded
> is the band you stretch or narrow your passband. When a narrow filter is
> set if you call 100 Hz away we won't hear you.
> During a dxp the scenario is quite different, you're the alone, I normally
> set, whenever is possible, the widest passband so I can hear anyone on the
> split within 2,5 KHz, the brain does the rest.
>
> Thanks for the last weekend ARRL contest QSOs.
>
> 73
> Jose, EA7KW
>
> 2017-12-07 18:33 GMT+01:00 Wes Stewart <wes_n7ws at triconet.org>:
>
>> Shh.  You're giving away my secrets.
>>
>> Wes  N7WS
>>
>> On 12/7/2017 10:07 AM, marsh at ka5m.net wrote:
>>
>>> I respectfully disagree with Don Kirk. My experience has been different.
I
>>> don't how many pileups I've broken quickly - where the station I'm
trying
>>> to
>>> work is operating simplex - by going split and transmitting a few Hz
above
>>> or below "zero beat". The operator at the other end is trying to copy a
>>> callsign, and if everybody is "zero beat" it makes it very difficult to
>>> copy
>>> anybody. Anything you can do to make your signal "stand out" or
>>> differentiate it from the crowd makes it easier for the station you're
>>> trying to work. (Also speeding up or slowing down a few WPM sometimes
>>> helps.)
>>>
>>> Someone taught me this a long time ago, and it works. He's worked a lot
of
>>> good DX in the last sixty (60) years or so.
>>>
>>> 73,
>>> Marsh, KA5M
>>>
>>>
>> _________________
>> Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
>>
> _________________
> Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
>



------------------------------

Message: 5
Date: Thu, 7 Dec 2017 14:40:03 -0500
From: Mark K3MSB <mark.k3msb at gmail.com>
To: marsh at ka5m.net
Cc: Don Kirk <wd8dsb at gmail.com>, topBand List <topband at contesting.com>
Subject: Re: Topband: ARRL 160
Message-ID:
	<CABdVoaCrCxMX+0JavQyTC0=E5jqFc0T=A-ZSDJf=QhCJRo9mBA at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"

Hi Marsh

I agree.  This is a basic technique and I?ve used it for decades.    While
stations butt heads on the ?zero beat? frequency I transmit 100 to 200 Hz
above and usually make the contact.  During the ARRL 160 Meter contest
there were times I was transmitting 300 to 400 Hz high to make the
contact.     If your station can project power than you can butt heads;
those of us that have more modest stations need to do things differently.
   This technique works well for contests and DXpeditions  (although
thankfully most dxps run split).

Running stations and using a very narrow filter is asking for problems.   I
typically use 250 Hz and make sure my RIT is well oiled.    If a station
successfully encroaches on my run frequency such that I have to go to (say)
a 100 Hz filter,  I find another frequency ? there?s plenty of real-estate
on 160M.

73 Mark K3MSB




On Dec 7, 2017 12:07 PM, <marsh at ka5m.net> wrote:

I respectfully disagree with Don Kirk. My experience has been different. I
don't how many pileups I've broken quickly - where the station I'm trying to
work is operating simplex - by going split and transmitting a few Hz above
or below "zero beat". The operator at the other end is trying to copy a
callsign, and if everybody is "zero beat" it makes it very difficult to copy
anybody. Anything you can do to make your signal "stand out" or
differentiate it from the crowd makes it easier for the station you're
trying to work. (Also speeding up or slowing down a few WPM sometimes
helps.)

Someone taught me this a long time ago, and it works. He's worked a lot of
good DX in the last sixty (60) years or so.

73,
Marsh, KA5M




-----Original Message-----
From: Topband [mailto:topband-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Don Kirk
Sent: Thursday, December 7, 2017 10:17 AM
To: MR TREVOR DUNNE <ei2glb at eircom.net>
Cc: Gary at ka1j.com; topband List <topband at contesting.com>
Subject: Re: Topband: ARRL 160

Hi Trevor,

Besides your TX antenna, another issue I have observed over the years is the
importance of being as close to zero beat as possible.  The modern HF radios
offer very narrow RX filtering options, and during very crowded band
conditions most of the stations are running very tight filters and I find
that if I'm off zero beat by much more than 100 hertz I'm often not heard.
I use a very old HF rig and run a 500 hertz filter, and found myself having
to continuously adjust my TX frequency until I popped into the passband of
the station I was trying to work (very difficult to zero beat my radio in
any kind of timely fashion).  I finally installed an audio filter (Hi-Per
Mite) with 200 Hz bandwidth and this has basically fixed my problem (99.9
percent improvement).

Previously it was very frustrating hearing a station 20 dB over S9 that
could not hear me.  I originally thought they were using an RX antenna not
pointed my direction, but most often I was just not in their RX passband.

Just another possibility.
73,
Don (wd8dsb)


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


------------------------------

Message: 6
Date: Thu, 7 Dec 2017 20:19:04 +0000 (GMT)
From: MR TREVOR DUNNE <ei2glb at eircom.net>
To: donovanf at starpower.net
Cc: Gary at ka1j.com, topband List <topband at contesting.com>
Subject: Re: Topband: ARRL 160
Message-ID:
	<1248351841.443820.1512677943999.JavaMail.zimbra at eircom.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

I understand that I have to improve my RX antennas as currently I find the
TX antenna is better on RX that both of my current RX antennas, While I get
a good reduction in noise floor on the RX antenna's the DX just isn't
workable on them

The TX antenna is 55ft of Aluminum Tube It tapers from 2.25" to 1" at the
top, I have 2 top loading wires each 50ft long tied off to Tall trees in the
distance,
The ends of the top loading wires are approximately 45ft high, I'm using a
4" diameter coil double tapped to get Resonance and to match the feedline to
50ohms,

I have currently 48 radials mostly between 15-25m long, I hope to improve
this greatly in the spring before the grass starts to grow again, 

RX antennas are a Wellbrook loop and a 450ft Beverage pointing NE for JA/OC

I need to put something up for NA and hope to do this over the holiday
period ready for CQ160 in the new year,



Thanks
Trevor
EI2GLB

----- Original Message -----
From: donovanf at starpower.net
To: "MR TREVOR DUNNE" <ei2glb at eircom.net>
Cc: Gary at ka1j.com, "topband List" <topband at contesting.com>
Sent: Thursday, 7 December, 2017 15:22:26
Subject: Re: Topband: ARRL 160

Hi Trevor,

Please share with us the details of your antenna and ground system
Better transmit performance should be achievable

73
Frank
W3LPL

----- Original Message -----
From: MR TREVOR DUNNE <ei2glb at eircom.net>
To: Gary at ka1j.com
Cc: ''''''topband List'''''' <topband at contesting.com>
Sent: Wed, 06 Dec 2017 18:44:36 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Re: Topband: ARRL 160

Running 1kw to a 55ft top loaded vertical over a decent radial field I found
many many stations that I could hear quiet well that could not hear me, it's
very disheartening,

Is it my system or there's that's not working.

I'm already planning improvements for next year to try to improve my tx
performance,

Trevor
EI2GLB 

----- Original Message -----
From: Gary Smith <Gary at ka1j.com>
To: topband at contesting.com
Sent: Sun, 03 Dec 2017 21:25:26 -0000 (GMT)
Subject: Topband: ARRL 160

This is the first major contest that I 
have taken part in a while, at least to 
the extent I actually put a real effort 
into it. Its taken a bit to get back in 
the game after my friend Pat became a SK 
this year. That said, I almost matched my 
score from two years ago when the band 
conditions were for me, far better for DX 
than this weekend.

I was running QRP with a less than ideal 
antenna yet still managed 535 QSOs. It was 
frustrating to hear so much DX and not be 
able to have them hear me. I'm guessing I 
must've heard at least 15 countries that I 
didn't work. When running QRP on 160, you 
have to go for low hanging fruit. I'm sure 
it's the same for everyone.

I was grateful that there weren't any 
storms happening locally this time and for 
the most part bands were pretty quiet. 
AMTRAK had its way with me at the Gray 
lines what with commuter trains running at 
that time but being a weekend made their 
schedule a little easier.

One of the surprises was when K7RAT called 
me Sunday Morning so at least my QRP 
signals were getting up to Boring, Oregon. 
The band must've been good because his 
signals were truly marvelous here as well, 
one of the loudest & cleanest signals on 
the band and he heard me with no trouble. 
If that was you at the helm, thank you 
Tree for the multiplier!

Sunday morning at Gray line was really 
something beautiful to see on the P3. 1/2 
hour before there may have been 50-70 
people CQing and then the waterfall became 
a Kaleidoscope with the band packed with 
people as tight as sardines up to 1875 or 
so. It's obvious when the band changes and 
the atmospheric noise is visualized as 
color in motion, in two dimensions. If you 
haven't seen the morning Gray line on a 
waterfall during a 160 contest, you're 
missing something interesting.

Hope all had fun.

73,

Gary
KA1J
_________________
Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband

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


------------------------------

Message: 7
Date: Thu, 7 Dec 2017 15:35:18 -0500 (EST)
From: donovanf at starpower.net
To: topband List <topband at contesting.com>
Subject: Re: Topband: ARRL 160
Message-ID:
	<1946127136.1811798.1512678918765.JavaMail.root at starpower.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

Hi Trevor, 


I looked at your QRZ.COM page and I'm concerned that your tower 
and Yagis may be degrading the performance of your nearby 160 
meter vertical. It can contribute unwanted nulls and unwanted 
ground loss. What is the height of your tower to the top of your mast? 


Small loop antennas ("magnetic loops") such as the Wellbrook are 
great for nulling local RFI, but they're low performance receiving 
antennas for DXers as you've discovered. Beverages are very 
effective receiving antennas but their directivity will be degraded 
by a nearby 160 meter vertical and perhaps your tower too. 


Its will take a great deal of wire to improve your existing radial 
system even marginally, perhaps four times more wire than in your 
current radial system. 


73 
Frank Donovan 
W3LPL 





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

From: "MR TREVOR DUNNE" <ei2glb at eircom.net> 
To: donovanf at starpower.net 
Cc: Gary at ka1j.com, "topband List" <topband at contesting.com> 
Sent: Thursday, December 7, 2017 8:19:04 PM 
Subject: Re: Topband: ARRL 160 

I understand that I have to improve my RX antennas as currently I find the
TX antenna is better on RX that both of my current RX antennas, While I get
a good reduction in noise floor on the RX antenna's the DX just isn't
workable on them 

The TX antenna is 55ft of Aluminum Tube It tapers from 2.25" to 1" at the
top, I have 2 top loading wires each 50ft long tied off to Tall trees in the
distance, 
The ends of the top loading wires are approximately 45ft high, I'm using a
4" diameter coil double tapped to get Resonance and to match the feedline to
50ohms, 

I have currently 48 radials mostly between 15-25m long, I hope to improve
this greatly in the spring before the grass starts to grow again, 

RX antennas are a Wellbrook loop and a 450ft Beverage pointing NE for JA/OC 

I need to put something up for NA and hope to do this over the holiday
period ready for CQ160 in the new year, 



Thanks 
Trevor 
EI2GLB 

----- Original Message ----- 
From: donovanf at starpower.net 
To: "MR TREVOR DUNNE" <ei2glb at eircom.net> 
Cc: Gary at ka1j.com, "topband List" <topband at contesting.com> 
Sent: Thursday, 7 December, 2017 15:22:26 
Subject: Re: Topband: ARRL 160 

Hi Trevor, 

Please share with us the details of your antenna and ground system 
Better transmit performance should be achievable 

73 
Frank 
W3LPL 

----- Original Message ----- 
From: MR TREVOR DUNNE <ei2glb at eircom.net> 
To: Gary at ka1j.com 
Cc: ''''''topband List'''''' <topband at contesting.com> 
Sent: Wed, 06 Dec 2017 18:44:36 -0500 (EST) 
Subject: Re: Topband: ARRL 160 

Running 1kw to a 55ft top loaded vertical over a decent radial field I found
many many stations that I could hear quiet well that could not hear me, it's
very disheartening, 

Is it my system or there's that's not working. 

I'm already planning improvements for next year to try to improve my tx
performance, 

Trevor 
EI2GLB 

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Gary Smith <Gary at ka1j.com> 
To: topband at contesting.com 
Sent: Sun, 03 Dec 2017 21:25:26 -0000 (GMT) 
Subject: Topband: ARRL 160 

This is the first major contest that I 
have taken part in a while, at least to 
the extent I actually put a real effort 
into it. Its taken a bit to get back in 
the game after my friend Pat became a SK 
this year. That said, I almost matched my 
score from two years ago when the band 
conditions were for me, far better for DX 
than this weekend. 

I was running QRP with a less than ideal 
antenna yet still managed 535 QSOs. It was 
frustrating to hear so much DX and not be 
able to have them hear me. I'm guessing I 
must've heard at least 15 countries that I 
didn't work. When running QRP on 160, you 
have to go for low hanging fruit. I'm sure 
it's the same for everyone. 

I was grateful that there weren't any 
storms happening locally this time and for 
the most part bands were pretty quiet. 
AMTRAK had its way with me at the Gray 
lines what with commuter trains running at 
that time but being a weekend made their 
schedule a little easier. 

One of the surprises was when K7RAT called 
me Sunday Morning so at least my QRP 
signals were getting up to Boring, Oregon. 
The band must've been good because his 
signals were truly marvelous here as well, 
one of the loudest & cleanest signals on 
the band and he heard me with no trouble. 
If that was you at the helm, thank you 
Tree for the multiplier! 

Sunday morning at Gray line was really 
something beautiful to see on the P3. 1/2 
hour before there may have been 50-70 
people CQing and then the waterfall became 
a Kaleidoscope with the band packed with 
people as tight as sardines up to 1875 or 
so. It's obvious when the band changes and 
the atmospheric noise is visualized as 
color in motion, in two dimensions. If you 
haven't seen the morning Gray line on a 
waterfall during a 160 contest, you're 
missing something interesting. 

Hope all had fun. 

73, 

Gary 
KA1J 
_________________ 
Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband 

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



------------------------------

Message: 8
Date: Fri, 8 Dec 2017 14:29:22 +0000 (UTC)
From: George Taft <w8uvz at yahoo.com>
To: Bob Lawson N6RW <n6rw at cox.net>, 	"topband at contesting.com"
	<topband at contesting.com>
Subject: Re: Topband: Big 160m openings just before K index spikes
Message-ID: <1149811796.1063178.1512743362445 at mail.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

Hi Bob
Do agree with your observations relative to prop enhancement on the upside
(beginning) of solar disturbances.? Especially for we northern types close
to the northern auroral zone.
I've made some extraordinary contacts in my 35years on topband during these
situations.
Now if we could just have one fall on the days that stns like XW4ZW and the
BD/BG? stns are active, hi/
73? George? W8UVZ 

    On Wednesday, December 6, 2017 6:09 PM, Bob Lawson N6RW <n6rw at cox.net>
wrote:
 

 Is it just my imagination or have others noticed big 160 meter openings 
- hours before big K index spikes?

It seems that several times, we have had big openings into Europe and 
Asia from out here in Arizona and my hopes of having a great opening the 
next night was ruined by a big geomagnetic storm. Last Saturday morning, 
the JAs were quite weak here.? Sunday morning, several Asians had good 
signals.? BD4WN was the loudest I'd ever heard him and JA3YBK was 10 
over 9 at sunrise until 15 minutes past sunrise.? He was still solid 45 
minutes after sunrise.? Sunday night, I heard the first EU Russian since 
getting on TB almost three years ago.? I was looking forward to a great 
post-contest Monday night and bang - the K index jumped up to 4 - just 
like a few weeks before.? I heard no Asian signals this morning and so 
far no EU on 160 tonight (Monday night).

73 all de Bob N6RW Prescott AZ

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

   

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------------------------------

Message: 9
Date: Fri, 8 Dec 2017 09:45:43 -0500
From: "John Kaufmann" <john.kaufmann at verizon.net>
To: <topband at contesting.com>
Subject: Re: Topband: Big 160m openings just before K index spikes
Message-ID: <003e01d37033$39db6940$ad923bc0$@verizon.net>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="utf-8"

I have also observed enhanced, and sometimes extraordinary, propagation at
the onset of disturbed conditions.  A recent notable example was the LP QSO
with VK6VZ that I reported last month:
http://lists.contesting.com/pipermail/topband/2017-November/052869.html.  At
the time of the QSO, the K index was 6. 

However, disturbed conditions do not always bring enhanced propagation.
There is not a 1:1 correlation in my experience but it's worth checking the
band when severe geomagnetic conditions are imminent

73, John W1FV

-----Original Message-----
From: Topband [mailto:topband-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of George
Taft via Topband
Sent: Friday, December 8, 2017 9:29 AM
To: Bob Lawson N6RW; topband at contesting.com
Subject: Re: Topband: Big 160m openings just before K index spikes

Hi Bob
Do agree with your observations relative to prop enhancement on the upside
(beginning) of solar disturbances.  Especially for we northern types close
to the northern auroral zone.
I've made some extraordinary contacts in my 35years on topband during these
situations.
Now if we could just have one fall on the days that stns like XW4ZW and the
BD/BG  stns are active, hi/
73  George  W8UVZ 

    On Wednesday, December 6, 2017 6:09 PM, Bob Lawson N6RW <n6rw at cox.net>
wrote:
 

 Is it just my imagination or have others noticed big 160 meter openings
- hours before big K index spikes?

It seems that several times, we have had big openings into Europe and Asia
from out here in Arizona and my hopes of having a great opening the next
night was ruined by a big geomagnetic storm. Last Saturday morning, the JAs
were quite weak here.  Sunday morning, several Asians had good signals.
BD4WN was the loudest I'd ever heard him and JA3YBK was 10 over 9 at sunrise
until 15 minutes past sunrise.  He was still solid 45 minutes after sunrise.
Sunday night, I heard the first EU Russian since getting on TB almost three
years ago.  I was looking forward to a great post-contest Monday night and
bang - the K index jumped up to 4 - just like a few weeks before.  I heard
no Asian signals this morning and so far no EU on 160 tonight (Monday
night).

73 all de Bob N6RW Prescott AZ

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------------------------------

Message: 10
Date: Fri, 8 Dec 2017 10:19:12 -0500
From: Tim Shoppa <tshoppa at gmail.com>
To: Bob Lawson N6RW <n6rw at cox.net>
Cc: topBand List <topband at contesting.com>
Subject: Re: Topband: Big 160m openings just before K index spikes
Message-ID:
	<CAJ_qRvY=ht78AK=_eG7ds23ddMSDGHC5+B+ccUK7-UZkfjpC+A at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"

I don't think it's just topband. I've observed exceptionally good
conditions right before a solar disturbance hits earth, on any and all
bands.

Tim N3QE

On Tue, Dec 5, 2017 at 12:22 AM, Bob Lawson N6RW <n6rw at cox.net> wrote:

> Is it just my imagination or have others noticed big 160 meter openings -
> hours before big K index spikes?
>
> It seems that several times, we have had big openings into Europe and Asia
> from out here in Arizona and my hopes of having a great opening the next
> night was ruined by a big geomagnetic storm. Last Saturday morning, the
JAs
> were quite weak here.  Sunday morning, several Asians had good signals.
> BD4WN was the loudest I'd ever heard him and JA3YBK was 10 over 9 at
> sunrise until 15 minutes past sunrise.  He was still solid 45 minutes
after
> sunrise.  Sunday night, I heard the first EU Russian since getting on TB
> almost three years ago.  I was looking forward to a great post-contest
> Monday night and bang - the K index jumped up to 4 - just like a few weeks
> before.  I heard no Asian signals this morning and so far no EU on 160
> tonight (Monday night).
>
> 73 all de Bob N6RW Prescott AZ
>
> _________________
> Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband


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