Topband: Top Band and JT65

[Dave Clouser]

As an electrical engineer you should realize that your rig _also_ turns 
otherwise undetected signals into something you can hear.

Open the window, hearing any DX?


>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: <k8bhz at alphacomm.net>
> To: <Topband at contesting.com>
> Sent: Saturday, May 20, 2017 11:47 PM
> Subject: Re: Topband: Top Band and JT65
>
>
>> Promised myself I'd stay out of this, but it's getting 
>> ridiculous....Comments like "I worked 20 new ones on 160, and I never 
>> heard any of them!". Wow! That's amazing...I personally can't find 
>> any satisfaction in claiming a contact I never heard. I never 
>> have...Yes, the digi modes allow easier qso's that would never have 
>> been made, but let's face it, you never made those contacts, your 
>> computer & it's software did. Any resulting "Awards" should be made 
>> out to your computer. Meteor scatter used to be very popular, 
>> actually getting to hear the excited voices of those you worked was 
>> thrilling. One m/s qso of mine was with a yl from the Carolinas with 
>> a most delightful Southern accent...hard to duplicate with digi 
>> modes. I don't know anyone who works or talks about rocks 
>> anymore....no challenge. Same with eme, which I pulled the plug on 
>> when it was no longer a challenge. How many new eme operators have 
>> heard their own voices coming back from the moon?  I migrated to 
>> TopBand as one of the last real challenges left....
>>
>> I find the litany of excuses about why one has to go to digital means 
>> on 160 to be feeble at best." My rig can't cut it, I don't have the 
>> antennas, I can't copy code (one of the real elephants in the room!), 
>> my location isn't on the coast where it's easy, etc, etc". There are 
>> MANY dxers operating successfully on small lots, and there are a 
>> myriad of clever, small receiving antennas out there. How about the 
>> gentleman on the left coast who worked DXCC on 160 from his mobile!! 
>> (without digital modes).
>>
>> My TopBand rig is quite modest, no towers or rotors. The TX antennas 
>> are wires hanging from trees with no more than 50' vertical rise. The 
>> 16 radials under each are only 48' long. Desperately needing a new 
>> rig, I bought the very cheapest HF transceiver on the market (no DSP, 
>> keyer, antenna tuner, etc). My location in Upper Michigan is not near 
>> either coast for "easy" dx, but is unfortunately close to the auroral 
>> oval. My amp was a non-working "gift" that doesn't run full power. 
>> However, I have 233 countries & 37 zones confirmed on 160. I have 
>> personally HEARD every qso made & have decoded them as necessary, in 
>> my HEAD. I don't spot myself or arrange skeds....I don't have a 
>> computer in the shack.
>>
>> If ham radio was to go all digital, I would walk away from it....Not 
>> because I'm a curmudgeon, but simply because the challenge and 
>> resulting thrills would be gone.
>>
>> Lest you think I am a ignorant technophobe, I am a degreed electrical 
>> engineer and have been a ham for over 60 years. I have a fine 
>> computer & am on it actively every day....but I never pretend that 
>> it's ham radio.
>>
>> I realize from the comment below that it's rather boring to work digi 
>> modes, but I suspect that help is on the way....I am truly surprised 
>> that no one has produced an "app" that will take the remaining work 
>> out of it. You would simply download the app, check the appropriate 
>> boxes (DXCC, WAS, WAZ), select the desired bands, and turn it loose 
>> 24 hours a day. It would make all the contacts for you (with similar 
>> robo-stations) and send you a text or email when it's through. Heck, 
>> it could even apply for your desired awards, and then wake up your 
>> printer to print your award certificate out! It would then send 
>> another message to pick up your award....How truly exciting that 
>> would be.
>>
>> Brian K8BHZ
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> _________________
>> Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
> _________________
> Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
>
>