Topband: Top Band and JT65

[Michael Walker]

JC

Amateur radio is about communicating, regardless of the mode.

Chokes don't solve an RF noise floor issue if the RF noise is generated by
devices you don't own or control.

For my station, and I have space for it, everything is choked, and I mean
everything.  I bought cases of chokes.  Yes, they helped all I could
control.

The other thing is that the bulk of the 160M dx on a given night might just
be on a digital mode.  There have been nights I could only hear 1 or 2 CW
signals, and they were in North America.  Yet, on JT65 there might be 10
new countries show up over the period of an hour or so.  It is actually
pretty impressive.

Regardless of the mode, they are still valid contacts.   No one said that
everyone had to do it.  It is about options, and there are many.

I am also suck at CW.  Yes, I have done it for 45 years or so.  I can do
it, but I don't enjoy it.    I have have some CQ WPX CW contest paper to
prove it.  LOL

Amateur radio is many things to many people.  No one said you have to
comply or like or even do all or any.

I think that putting down phases of the hobby that others take enjoyment
from is really not productive.

many 73, Mike va3mw

On Sun, May 14, 2017 at 10:54 AM, JC <n4is at comcast.net> wrote:

> ..>>>
> I've worked 20 new countries on 160m this winter alone on bands that are
> closed are so polluted with RF noise, that it would not be possible with
> the human ear.
> <<<
>
> I kindly can't agree with that. Yes , noise is going up, but there are so
> many things you can do to reduce the noise floor, chokes, small RX antennas
> and filters.
>
> All of this requires some dedication and it is not easy. However far from
> "not possible"
>
> My city lot is noisy as everybody else, I works 135 (CW) countries for the
> CQ Marathon since Jan 1st 2017 on 160m. My total on the last 10 years is #
> 291 confirmed on 160m, 39 zones.
>
> My back yard is 100x150ft. not so small for a high performance station on
> 160m.
>
> The digital mode is a choice, only a choice to avoid the hard work to
> enjoy a DX on 160m.
>
> Digital mode  is boring as watch grass growing. But it is an option where
> the PC try to do a connection with other PC using the antenna you have,
> nothing wrong with that if you enjoy it.
>
> It is not a solution for noise. It is a computer calculation that narrow
> the BW to few Hertz or less than one Hz.
>
> The decoding is another thing. I personally don't consider a QSO, just a
> machine to machine connection.
>
> The human operator is an option, all communication could  and can be done
> by software as well.
>
>
>  Again it is just a personal thing.
>
>
> Regards
>
> JC
> N4IS
>
>
>
>