160M report
Over the last 35 years Don XTT and myself have worked 160Mtrs from all over
the world - this is by far the worst level of QRN we have experienced. The
last two nights the S meter did not drop below S 9 plus 20dB. Yesterday I put
up two 300 Mtr Beverages; one on the USA and one on EU. Neither worked ! They
both dropped the static level to S9 but no sign of the signals we could tell
were there on the main antenna. We believe their proximity to the sea ( just
10 metres) is to blame. I will build a magnetic loop today and also erect a
low dipole - anything to hear those signals!
As far as we can tell signals are very strong with many at S9 or more - but
this is still 20dB below the current background static level. The first night
on was the best - there were distinct static "crashes" with the noise level
dropping to around S2 between them - this is how we worked so many EU that
night. Since then the noise level has been continuous.
We're both determined to work as many of you as possible and will hang in
there!
Mike G3SED
Postscript by G3XTT:
Mike and I have read the latest reports from the pilots, and sympathise with
the frustration people must be feeling. Believe me when I say no one is more
frustrated than us. Between us we have been on the band throughout the hours
of darkness, but with little other than damaged eardrums to show for it. As
Mike said, we have tried "Beverages", or more specifically 1000ft lengths of
wire laid directly on the coral. Today Mike has put up a low dipole, and early
signs are that it renders some improvement - guess what, we can actually tell
there are people calling us! But we can't copy more than the odd letter, never
mind a complete call. If we appear to have been spending time working JA, it
is because it is better to work JA than nothing. We have worked every US and
European station we have been able to hear.
Martin received a comment that we should spread out the callers. If we could
hear any we might! But as we're having to spend ages listening for anything at
all to pop up above the noise, it's easier to do this on a single frequency
than have to tune around. It's not the proximity of calling stations that is
making copy difficult - separating signals isn't an issue when you can't hear
them in the first place!
One of the problems seems to be that we are obviously being heard well. We are
NOT using the BCS on 160. We are using the Titanex, and it obviously gets out
well (at 85ft tall it ought to!). We haven't put the 160 top loading wire on
the BCS, as it is very close to the Titanex and they would detune each other.
Martin, we have NOT worked G4LJF on 160, so it does sound as though our call
may be being pirated.
We'll keep trying - Mike is doing the all-night stint tonight while I catch up
on sleep (none in the past 36 hours).
160 QSO total is now 490, by the way, and it isn't all JAs (hi!).
<center>-----------------------------------------------------
N1DG
EX-WB2DND, A61AD (GUEST OP, QSL MGR), /KH9, /BV/, VS6
DON GREENBAUM
DUXBURY, MA, USA
http://www.goldtel.net/spratly
http://www.goldtel.net</center>
(P.S. de W4ZV...I am going to suggest they try EWE's. Since these
work as phased verticals, they should work quite well near salt
water. If they have materials for Beverages, they have materials
for EWE's since they are very similar in construction but just
require a different terminating resistor...about 1100 ohms instead
of 600. If anyone on the reflector can help relay this, please do
so. I will forward my message to the pilots. 73, Bill)
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