Hi Dave,
Although I made my first 160 QSO using a DX100 and a re-tuned car radio for a
receiver in 1959 (a VE7 no less) I've not really been a regular on topband.
Last year it dawned on me that if I got a 160 DXCC I would have 9 bands, so that
became a goal. I now have it worked but need about 5 or 6 more QSLs.
As for more "goo" I dunno. I'm 76 and am supposed to be downsizing :-). I
previously sold the tube amp, ripped out the 240V service and bought an Elecraft
KPA500. Now they have a KPA1500 but it's $6K and I have other ongoing issues
with some of my Elecraft stuff, although the KPA500 has been almost flawless.
Plus, I've already spent an astonishing amount of $ on a simple inverted-L.
Sonotube, concrete, chrome moly ground post, DX Engineering foldover mount,
winch, aluminum tubing, hose clamps, guy ropes and wire for radials. Whew.
Whatever happened to the beer can vertical? I was going to say I can afford
upgrades, but the stock market just sank 700 points, so maybe not.
But, as you say, it's mostly fun and cheaper than playing golf.
Wes N7WS
On 3/22/2018 8:21 AM, David Olean wrote:
Hi Wes,
I got home late (0100 UT) from a school band performance (grandkids!) and
found no activity to speak of. I hoped to find G3YRO but no luck. QRN levels
from lightning had dropped towards Europe but there was zilch for activity. My
fault that I did not stick around after 0230UT. I suspect that condx were
not so good that way. I would agree on the 500 watts. On 160, you need all
the goo you can muster for the DX. I love playing with QRP on 160 and I can
reach out maybe 800 or 900 miles on a good night, but, when calling stations
across the Carib, Atlantic or way out in the Pacific, even 500 watts is
"iffy". So many times I hear loud DX stations and I try to call at the 100
watt level to no avail. It is so easy to have 10 dB of extra noise on your
receiver and that prevents you from hearing anything other than the loudest
signals. The nights that are truly quiet and with the band open, are few and
far between. I run 1500 watts out and feel that I hear much better than I can
transmit as well. It is difficult. I guess that is why I love 160!
I am winding a bunch of coax chokes today to help my 160 noise problems. I am
also going out to get about 80 lbs of ground rods for the same project. :-)
Dave K1WHS
(another 160 newbie!)
On 3/22/2018 2:49 PM, Wes Stewart wrote:
Worked PJ5/SP2GCJ @0315 for a new one for me. OA4TT would have been a new
one too (I'm a newby). He was quite strong but the one time he replied to
me he didn't have my complete call, missing the "s", and he gave up and went
back to CQ very quickly (I thought).
HC2AO was ESP, at best.
It's interesting that I seem to hear better than I get out, even using the
inverted-L on RX. 500W doesn't seem to cut it.
Wes N7WS
On 3/22/2018 6:36 AM, Lee. KX4TT via Topband wrote:
Hmmm - local QRM (lights from nearby baseball field) made early evening copy
tough on CW, so I booted up WSJT-X and saw some EU stations there (5B4AIF
was steady copy, and some other EU stations would show up from time to
time), from 0100-0200. Not the best conditions, but also not the worst.
Worked OA4TT about 0400; Jack was QSA4-5 copy between some nasty static
crashes. That's what I get for not wanting to shovel snow -) .....
73 de Lee KX4TT
Tampa, FL
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