Topband: 3C0L (FCP)

[Mike VE3CKO]

I've got 3C0L on 17m, 15m and 12m but the challenge is as always top 
band. I have an inverted-L with just a couple radials at this time. 
Noise floor at my QTH in the city is just so high with the inverted-L 
and could not hear 3C0L but when I switch to an experimental vertical 
setup which right now is just a 20' 2" aluminum mast on a 4 x 4 post 8' 
high with a K2AV FCP (80m), 3C0L was very readable much of the night. 
Using the 20' vertical as a receive antenna and the inverted-L as the 
resonant tx antenna even with the help of an Alpha 87A, I too was 
unsuccessful when he was making stateside and the odd VE contacts. I did 
spend too much time during time frame he was working the EU. I blame the 
lack of radials.

If we end up staying at this QTH I will certainly try a 160m folded 
counterpoise.

73, Mike Kovacich - VE3CKO


On 10/17/2017 12:29 PM, Charlie Young wrote:
> My station has not been configured for Topband for this season yet.  All rx antennas are disconnected/removed and my inverted L has not been inspected yet.  Usually the elevated radials need maintenance after the summer if the wire is still up.
>
> I saw 3C0L spotted for some time but did not listen because of the antenna situation.   After finally deciding to listen, the station on 1821 was so strong there was no way it could be 3C0L.  But it was.  I thought it was a NA signal.
>
> Found that my inverted L VSWR was good, which indicated the antenna was still up and the elevated radials were still intact.  The pileup was big and wide, but he seemed to be working folks above 1830 so we parked on a frequency and started calling.  Glad to work him for a new 160 Challenge point.
>
> Great operator and signal.  For the time I was listening he was at least 2 S units above my noise, many times peaking over S9 on my inverted L.   Whatever he was running sure did the job on Topband, plus he was hearing well also.
>
> GL in the chase.
>
> 73 Charlie N8RR
>
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