Topband: 3C0L (FCP)

[Mike VE3CKO]

I do have K9AY loop system, and it did get some direction from it, had 
it on the only place it can go in a side yard but was too close to lots 
of metal objects and power lines. Basically useless so I'm holding on to 
it as we have our eye on a few properties out in the country so believe 
me, if the move happens I've to lots of wire and aluminum to put up. 
4-square on 80m, play around with bent vertical 160 4-square around a 
tower, and 2 bi-directional beverages.

73, Mike Kovacich - VE3CKO

On 10/22/2017 11:51 AM, K4SAV wrote:
> *Mike, while reading your message on Towertalk, I decided to give you 
> a few of my thoughts on 160 antennas.**
> **
> **You could be right about the inverted L not having enough punch with 
> only 2 radials, especially if those radials are on the ground.  I tied 
> that once with a couple of radials on the ground.  It was terrible.   
> I think K2AVs folded counterpoise is probably a good choice for those 
> on city lots and don't have a lot of room.  He seems to do very well 
> with it and others that have tried it report the same.  I haven't 
> tried it myself.  If you do that, be sure to construct it exactly as 
> he describes.  The operation of that system, especially the 
> transformer, is not obvious.**
> **
> **Receiving is always a problem on 160 and it makes a huge difference 
> in working someone if you can hear them well. Noise from a city is 
> difficult to solve when you live in or near a city.  Best solution is 
> to clean up the noise from your own house and find a way to put up 
> some kind of receiving antenna.  That can also be difficult when you 
> don't have much space. **
> **
> **If you have local noise from just one direction, a receiving loop  
> can be used to null that.  If the noise comes from all directions or 
> is atmospheric noise, a loop won't help very much.  The first level of 
> receiving antennas consist of the single element loops, like a K9AY, 
> flag, pennant, delta, diamond, etc.  Those all perform about the same 
> because they all work like two short phased verticals.  The main 
> difference between those is in the effort to construct them and the 
> difference in their susceptibility to common mode noise from the 
> feedline (which is always a major concern with low gain receiving 
> antennas).  Note: The K9AY is the easiest to construct if you want the 
> capability to switch directions. The ones that use a ground rod, are 
> easier to control the common mode noise.**
> **
> **There is an antenna called a double half delta (DHDL). Put "DHDL 
> antenna" into Google and you will get several hits. It takes up a lot 
> less space than a BOG or Beverage and works very well.  It works best 
> when that bottom wire is near the ground, maybe about 2 ft from 
> ground.  That is the only thing I don't like about it.  This antenna 
> should beat a short Beverage or BOG.  They come in various sizes.  You 
> will need two supports of at least 20 ft high to construct a good one 
> for 160.**
> **
> **I have been playing with BOGs for years and they are good receiving 
> antennas, although they may be too long for a city lot.  I have tried 
> various lengths and found anything between about 200 ft to 370 feet to 
> be good on 160 and 80.  The shorter end of that range works a little 
> better on 40. I live in a rural area and don't have a city noise 
> problem.  I attached a short mp3 file that I made of 3C0L on 160.  
> That was made with a 365 ft BOG.  At the time I was making this 
> recording when listening on my inverted L, the noise was about the 
> same level as their signal.**
> **
> **Another step up with small receiving antennas is to phase some of 
> the single element antennas.  I have phased EWEs for 4 directions.  
> Those are small but they are more difficult to construct.  They work 
> very well and I can leave them up all the time, unlike the BOGs, which 
> have to to rolled up during the summer.**
> **
> **Then there are the commercial receiving antennas consisting of 
> active verticals.  Those work well but you will have to part with some 
> bucks for those.  Occasionally I think about constructing a system 
> like that, but then I am reminded of the AM radio station about 1700 
> ft from my antennas that would probably overload it.  I also have a 
> lot of lightning, which would probably take out the active circuits of 
> this antenna, even with close strikes.  So I think it would not work 
> at my location.**
> **
> **Good luck with the 160 problems.  Only until the last 12 years have 
> I been able to get away from the city and move to a location that is a 
> lot more friendly to radio.  I know the problems with living on a city 
> lot.**
> **
> **Got to get ready for the next major DX operation, 3Y0Z, Bouvet Is, 
> last of January.  That will be huge.  It will be a difficult path 
> (significantly worse than West Africa) but at least we will have a 
> chance because there is significant time of common darkness between us 
> and them.**
> **
> **Jerry, K4SAV*
>
> On 10/22/2017 8:41 AM, Mike VE3CKO wrote:
>> 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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>>
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