Topband: Topband resource

[donovanf at starpower.net]

Roger has 27 topband QSOs in my log since February 1993, 
well done! 


Its interesting how our transmitting antenna experiences are exactly 
opposite on both 160 and 80 meters. I've had little success with 
160 meter horizontal dipoles 100 to 200 feet high compared to 
my 4-square vertical array which always perform superbly. 


I use only vertically polarized antennas f or topband receiving , 
a 350 foot diameter W8JI/W5ZN/N4HY passive 8-circle array, 
580 foot Beverages and my transmitting 4-square array. All 
receive 6 to 10 dB better for DX than horizontal dipoles at my QTH. 
Many easily copied DX signals on the verticals are completely 
inaudible on the horizontal dipoles. 



On 80 meters I use only horizontally polarized 2 element quads 
170 feet high for transmitting which are far superior to any verticals 
I've tried although I've never tried anything more sophisticated than 
a 4-square transmitting array. 


My 80 meter quads perform very well as receiving antennas, on 
some -- but not all -- very weak signals they outperform the 
175 foot diameter passive 8-circle array and 580 foot Beverages. 


You can never have too many antennas... 
Unless they interfere with each other, a non-trivial issue. 


73 
Frank 
W3LPL 

----- Original Message -----

From: "Roger Kennedy" <roger at wessexproductions.co.uk> 
To: topband at contesting.com 
Sent: Tuesday, January 14, 2020 10:48:51 PM 
Subject: Topband: Topband resource 


"However, 160 needs vertical polarization for consistent long DX." 

So how is it that I consistently work all over the world on 160m with my 
horizontal dipole at 50ft?! (and my signals seem to often be pretty 
comparable with other Brits using verticals} 

You certainly need a Vertical to work DX on 80m . . . but in my experience 
160m propagation is very different . . . I'm guessing it's often quite high 
angle due to multi-hop or ducting. 

Also, I don't understand why on the Web page they are talking about NA 
stations coming on Top Band at 1730 UTC to work Europe . . . I don't find 
the band opens to NA until at least 2200 . . . and for me signals are always 
much better after midnight. 

Roger G3YRO 


_________________ 
Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector