Topband: CQ WW Contest

Wed Jan 29 19:38:33 EST 2020

I suspected that your 8 circle array would be very directive with that 
spacing.  My 8 is really too small for 160 but I have no other options.  
Any antenna is better than no antenna.  I did notice that the Inverted L 
on occasion was hearing some stations better than my circle.  I need to 
get a flag or something else up just for diversity.

Thanks for the info!

W0MU

On 1/29/2020 5:19 PM, donovanf at starpower.net wrote:
> Hi Mike,
>
> While I can't comment about Mark's specific experiences in this
> contest, our usual rule of thumb is that you can never have too many
> antennas.
>
> We've found that the 8-circle isn't the best receiving antenna while
> running because its sidelobe levels are so low that you often hear
> no trace of an off-azimuth caller (e.g., a PY answering a CQ while
> we're listening NE).
>
> We usually switch to the 8-circle when we cannot readily copy a
> station with the Beverages.  It usually improves SNR by several dB
> which can make all the difference. Because of its low sidelobes, it
> often receives DX stations much better in unruly pileups.
>
> There are also some occasions when -- for whatever reason -- the
> transmit 4-square receives slightly better than the 8-circle or
> Beverages.
>
> The 4-square and 8-circle are an excellent pair for diversity reception
> with the K3.
>
> We use the K9AY Model RAS-8x2 Receive Antenna Switching System
> which provides the capability to listen to multiple antannas at the same
> time and to share all of the antennas (4-square, Beverages, 8-circle)
> among both receivers.
>
> www.aytechnologies.com/Products/RAS8x2data.htm 
> <https://www.aytechnologies.com/Products/RAS8x2data.htm>
>
> 73
> Frank
> W3LPL
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> *From: *"W0MU Mike Fatchett" <w0mu at w0mu.com>
> *To: *topband at contesting.com
> *Sent: *Wednesday, January 29, 2020 10:06:36 PM
> *Subject: *Re: Topband: CQ WW Contest
>
> Fantastic!
>
> He would loud here.
>
> How does the circle array compare with the beverages?
>
> W0MU
>
> On 1/29/2020 1:33 PM, donovanf at starpower.net wrote:
> >
> > How were conditions at W3LPL in Maryland last weekend?
> > Mark KD4D operated here last weekend using his call.
> >
> >
> > Conditions were good Friday night but with troublesome QRN from
> > nearby heavy rain storms. Fantastic on Saturday night with no
> > significant QRN.
> >
> >
> > 110 ten-pointers were worked from 2300-0900Z Friday night
> > 170 ten- pointers were worked from 2300-0700Z Saturday night.
> >
> >
> > 705 U.S. QSOs
> > 295 DX QSOs
> > 51 VE QSOs
> > 1051 total QSOs
> >
> >
> >
> > 53 DL QSOs (kudos to the German Topbanders!)
> > 22 UA QSOs
> > 20 OK QSOs
> > 20 G/GD/GI/GM/GW QSOs
> > 14 LY QSOs
> > 14 S5 QSOs
> > 13 SP QSOs
> > 11 UR QSOs
> > 10 I QSOs
> >
> >
> > Much more detail is posted at:
> > www.3830scores.com/showrumor.php?arg=uRaNzEmgsvimL
> >
> >
> > Mark used a pair of barefoot K3 transceivers operating SO2R unassisted.
> > My 1500 watt amplifier was physically disconnected from the RF path
> > and unplugged from AC power. There's no salt water within many miles,
> > just moist Maryland clay soil. An examination of RBN data p roves that
> > Mark was running low power.
> >
> >
> > Of course he used good antennas, a 4-square transmitting antenna with
> > 4 miles of radials, three 580 foot Beverages (NE, S, W) and a 350 foot
> > diameter W8JI/W5ZN passive 8-circle receiving array. The receiving
> > antennas are 1000 feet south of the 4-square allowing SO2R operation
> > with no interference at all from the transmitted signal.
> >
> >
> > 73
> > Frank
> > W3LPL
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> >
> > From: "Mike Smith VE9AA" <ve9aa at nbnet.nb.ca>
> > To: topband at contesting.com
> > Sent: Wednesday, January 29, 2020 6:27:33 PM
> > Subject: Re: Topband: CQ WW Contest
> >
> > Like my neighbour Dave/WHS here a few grid squares away to my SW, I 
> found
> > condx "good" but certainly not great up here in Central New Brunswick,
> > Canada where I am nowhere at all near salt water, being in FN66na.
> >
> >
> >
> > I (currently) run a small stn on 160m. Inverted L(more like a J 
> these days)
> > and legal limit. No RX antennas.
> >
> >
> >
> > I only operated Sat night in 2 small spurts for a total of 
> 2hrs+53mins, but
> > managed 46 S/P and 31 countries in my very limited time on the band. 
> This
> > was about 75% running and 25% S&P. I was really only on to work 
> Da-boyZ @
> > VO2AC to show my support for their expedition, but when I didn't 
> hear any
> > other NB stns on or see any spotted, I felt compelled to at least 
> give the
> > deserving the chance to work the VE9 mult. When the dust settled, 
> Monday I
> > found out that there were at least 4 other VE9's QRV throughout the 
> w/e so I
> > felt pretty good about that.
> >
> >
> >
> > I don't think any VY2's were really on.but I digress.
> >
> >
> >
> > I worked from N6TR(K7RAT) out to RL3A and a few of the PJ's to the 
> south.
> > Nobody was what I would call "loud" by any stretch of the 
> imagination. Most
> > EU's CQ'd in my face (or called me when they saw me spotted,but then
> > couldn't hear me reply)
> >
> >
> >
> > Sometimes I think folks are confusing amazing condx with just a lot of
> > activity during a very popular contest weekend. (at least in my
> > opinion)...Many times I have worked much stronger DX, regardless of beam
> > headings.
> >
> >
> >
> > I'd characterize condx as "good" to perhaps almost "very good" but 
> certainly
> > NOT "fantastic/amazing/unforgettable" or other descriptors I've read 
> here
> > and 3830scores.com.
> >
> >
> >
> > But again.who am I to say.?....< 3 hrs on the band late Sat evening (NA
> > time) is a pretty myopic view I guess.
> >
> >
> >
> > Mike VE9AA "NB"
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > In my listening, I heard many stations farther south (W4 & W5) calling
> > stations and I was surprised that they could hear them at all, 
> seeing how
> > weak they were here. I began to think that something broke here! 
> K1DG was
> > on in Maine from his island in the middle of salt water, and he 
> seemed to do
> > very well. I don't know what to say as I do not have the experience to
> > adequately explain what happened. Maybe if I called CQ for more than 45
> > minutes total I would have a different feel for how condx were. My 
> take is
> > that absorption can be quite variable over a fairly narrow geographical
> > area, say a few hundred miles.
> >
> >
> >
> > Dave K1WHS
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Mike, Coreen & Corey
> >
> > Keswick Ridge, NB
> >
> >
> >
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> >
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