Topband: Polarization on 160m

Wed Nov 28 15:32:12 EST 2018

That's correct but under these rules, the VI is not DX and counts the same
as a W/VE two-pointer.  Navassa which is certainly rare, especially on 160,
is counted as KP2.  Desecheo KP5 is counted the same as KP4.  Sort of weird
wouldn't you agree?  This is unfair when VP2V on 5 miles from KP2 is
counted as DX.  Also, all the rare DXCC US entities in the Pacific like
NMI, Wake, American Samoa, and Guam all count for Hawaii. The ARRL is set
in their ways and claims the 160-meter contest is supposed to be like SS
for 160.  They only add DX contacts when ARRL President W0DX and VP2VI
demanded he should not be excluded from operating in a contest he
envisioned in the first place. The bottom line is that the statins in the
U.S. Territories cannot be competitive and are seriously discriminated
against by the Contest Committee who refuses to visit this issue.  I
challenge you to look up the results over the past two decades.  Stations
in the U.S Territories are never even mentioned no matter how well they
have done in the ARRL 160 contest.

Herb Schoenbohm, KV4FZ

On Wed, Nov 28, 2018 at 3:57 PM Mark KØKX <k0kx at mchsi.com> wrote:

> Herb,
>
> Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought I read the rules for the ARRL 160
> and saw where US possessions can work US VE and DX?
>
> 73, Mark  K0KX
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Herbert Schoenbohm" <herbert.schoenbohm at gmail.com>
> To: k3bu at optimum.net
> Cc: "TopBand List" <topband at contesting.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, November 28, 2018 1:41:08 PM
> Subject: Re: Topband: Polarization on 160m
>
> So is the 70-year-old Collins 74A4 with its mechanic filters and single
> conversion method.  Many times you could just roll the IX into a deep hole
> with the bandpass control and the signal would pop out of nowhere. Wish I
> still had mine to run comparisons.  I have now a modern (expensive) Flex
> 6600M that allows true dual diversity with 2 RX antennas with separate RX
> audio in each ear.  I will try it out in the ARRL 160 contest although the
> ARRL has the VI as non-DX which is always has been a real bummer.
>
> Herb Schoneobhm, KV4FZ
>
> On Wed, Nov 28, 2018 at 1:13 PM Yuri Blanarovich <k3bu at optimum.net> wrote:
>
> >
> >  Speaking of "two ears"
> > Going back to using two Drake R4B receivers, two antennas, one on each
> > ear, there would be times when "two ears" heard the signal, while
> > switching to each other there would be nil. I think that was some DSP
> > going on in the head.
> > BTW Drake R4B is still one of the best receivers for weak signals
> > reception, no crystal filters in the path to fuzzy the signals. LC in IF
> > chain. DSRs are now very close.
> >
> > Yuri, K3BU
> >
> >  On Wed, Nov 28, 2018 at 12:04 PM, Tree wrote:
> >
> >  > WIll add my two cents to this discussion.
> > >
> > > One thing I have experience with is diversity reception both on 160
> > > and 80
> > > meters.  Often - I would be using my TX antenna in one ear and a
> > > beverage
> > > in another.  On 80 meters, the TX antenna was a 4 square.  On 160,
> > > either a
> > > vertical or two element phased array.
> > >
> > > I found on 80 meters - when running JAs in a contest - if I only used
> > > one
> > > antenna - I would almost always miss one letter of the JA's callsign
> > > and
> > > have to ask for a repeat...  but with diversity - the signal would
> > > float
> > > around in my head and I could almost always get the whole call the
> > > first
> > > time.
> > >
> > > I can hear this effect on 160 as well as signals float around.  I
> > > can't
> > > prove this is just polarization - as it could be different angles of
> > > signal
> > > arrival - but it sure re-enforces the point that having different
> > > kinds of
> > > RX antennas for different situations is never a bad thing.
> > >
> > > I have experienced some sunrise openings where a low dipole has worked
> > > well.  There are times when my directive receive antennas seem to be
> > > broken
> > > - which is another indication of high angles.
> > >
> > > Tree N6TR
> > >
> > > On Wed, Nov 28, 2018 at 8:51 AM Yuri Blanarovich  wrote:
> > >
> > >> Not knowing about "gyros", but when operating and having vertical and
> > >> horizontal antennas available, I remember times when QSB was
> > >> happening
> > >> on one antenna, switching to the "other" polarization antenna would
> > >> bring the signals up.
> > >> My conclusion was that at the times the signal's polarization was
> > >> rolling around, especially when far DX.
> > >>
> > >> Yuri, K3BU, VE3BMV, VE1BY
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>  On Wed, Nov 28, 2018 at 09:22 AM, Robert Parkes via Topband wrote:
> > >>
> > >>>
> > >>> Polarization on 160m
> > >>>
> > >>> Interesting discussion and one I suspect we wish could fully
> > >>> comprehend !
> > >>>
> > >>> When the wave front meets the ionosphere and the wave splits the
> > >>> critical frequency is different for the two waves, commonly known as
> > >>> foc and fxc.
> > >>> This difference (from memory) is half the gyrofrequency and can
> > >>> often
> > >>> be seen on Ionosonde plots with two sets of reflections. The gyro
> > >>> frequency depends on the strength of the magnetic field at that
> > >>> point
> > >>> of the ionosphere so can vary from 700kHz to 1.4MHz where the
> > >>> radiated
> > >>> wave interacts with the Ionosphere Layer be it, E layer or F layer.
> > >>>
> > >>> Being radio amateurs and pushing the envelope we are trying to make
> > >>> that illusive QSO so we need to excite a propagation path which is
> > >>> normally at the limit in order to chase the DX.
> > >>> Assuming conditions are favourable, and if the angle of arrival and
> > >>> critical frequency is such that it favours both wave fronts then for
> > >>> a
> > >>> single and multi-hop transmission both the O-wave and the X-wave
> > >>> will
> > >>> be propagated.
> > >>>
> > >>> The higher frequency of the two wave fronts, the X-wave may
> > >>> propagate
> > >>> which could result in a QSO whilst those around us may not have
> > >>> quite
> > >>> the same favourable conditions and only the O-wave is propagated  on
> > >>> a
> > >>> differeing path while the X-Wavecould fall by the wayside and not be
> > >>> propagated.
> > >>> One result of all this variability could result in what has been
> > >>> called spotlight or torchlight propagation.  I recall Eric K3NA
> > >>> giving
> > >>> a talk along these lines when referring to 3B7C 160m operations and
> > >>> how that spotlight moved across North America during the course of
> > >>> his
> > >>> opening to the US.
> > >>> There is a possibility that Circular Polarisation would assist
> > >>> with both the O and X wave modes of propagation and it could be
> > >>> argued
> > >>> that a "compromise" Inv-L antenna provides this with its Vertical
> > >>> and
> > >>> Horizontal elements making up the antenna and resulting mixed
> > >>> polarisation.After all a number of amateurs have had good success
> > >>> with
> > >>> an Inv-L.
> > >>>
> > >>> 73sBob ParkesG3REP(ex - S21YP, 4S7RPG, A45XF, VS5RP, P29PR)
> > >>> _________________
> > >>> Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband
> > >>> Reflector
> > >>>
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