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Re: Topband: 8Q7WM Z-22 in VE6

To: David Olean <k1whs@metrocast.net>, topBand List <topband@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: Topband: 8Q7WM Z-22 in VE6
From: Renee K6FSB <k6fsb.1@gmail.com>
Reply-to: k6fsb@arrl.net
Date: Tue, 1 Mar 2022 10:39:42 -0800
List-post: <mailto:topband@contesting.com>
Dave-
just as I was starting to get it together, I had my 160 antennas come down a few years ago due to trees dying, then after beginning to put things back then snow takes things down...(ok falling branches brought things down, did not even get a chance to use them)...now this pot grow light stuff is wreaking havoc here in rural CA...I almost ready to go to war....i know I will loose....so you are not the only one having ( in my opinion- illicit) drug growing RFI related issues . RFI from the unintended consequences from making sure the population is drugged and unable to function....I will stop here..... I too am at a crossroad where I just retired (66) and now have the 5 acre property/place for topband. kinda disheartened due things beyond my control.
Renée, K6FSB



On 3/1/22 9:47 AM, David Olean wrote:
Wow! That is quite an impressive contact and you managed to copy it all in some audio files. How often does that happen?  Those audio files are great!

Congratulations, Steve.  I am always amazed at how well you do in the over-the -pole mode.  I just do not seem to be able to do that from my spot here in Maine. Maybe 8Q7 wasn't over the pole, but it is a huge event in any case.

I have become enamored with 160 meters and had all sorts of plans to keep improving my station, but many things beyond my control have recently surfaced. I have laid out the area for an 8 circle array to go along with my array of beverages, and I have re furbished 120 ft of Rohn 25 tower sections for a second phased TX antenna. Those plans have now been put on hold as the area around my house has become an RF battleground and I am being overcome by marijuana grow lights.  Maine is a rural state that is largely conservative with the exception of the City of Portland and Bangor. In 2018, the legislature legalized personal use of marijuana. That change has turned things upside down here. I live in a border town, and now many people are coming here to buy drugs from retail pot stores. The state highway that runs thru Lebanon, now is bristling with marijuana stores.  There are many grow houses now being used to supply these stores. In addition, individuals are allowed to grow the plants, and many of them are growing huge illegal amounts of the drug with no prospect of any repercussions.  I have been fighting to get one "home" grower to cease using his grow lights that wipe out my 160 meter reception. He lives 3/4 mile away but has 6000 watts worth of the lights and the RFI is tremendous. I have had some success with an NCC-1 phasing unit to cancel much of the noise, but this past weekend, two new sources came on line in different directions, and there is nothing that I can do to cancel the noise.  I did locate the new sources, but my past history with asking for FCC help tells me that I am in for a long duration event and much of my time will be spent playing Whack-a Mole as new sources come on line. In the meantime, my 160 meter activity has been ruined. If the grow lights are running, I am off the air!  I have decided to stop using 160 meters in any serious fashion as I just turned 77 yrs old and my life is too short to be fighting with pot growers for many years. I wish it were not so. I am initiating a complaint, but am not expecting any neat solution.

73

Dave K1WHS

On 2/28/2022 3:14 PM, VE6WZ_Steve wrote:
Well, today a miracle happened.
I worked 8Q7WM on 160m CW for a new DXCC and Z-22.
His signal peaked at about 1415 z or so.  My SR at 1430z.

First of all, I owe thanks to Bob W7RH for spotting 8Q7WM this morning on 160m. For the last few months, I have been lazy and sleeping in.  This morning I got up about 25 min before my sunrise and checked the band. I saw Bob's spot for the 8Q7 on 1821, and thought, “well, I will never hear him, but I my as well check”

I was so shocked when I heard his CQ that I almost fell out of my chair.
His signal was arriving at the usual skew path that most of SE Asia arrives, somewhere between Japan path at 320 deg. and direct west at 270 deg. The direct path to 8Q7 from VE6 is virtually straight north polar at 352 deg.

Here are a few recordings I made of his signal.
If you decide to listen to these, don't even bother without headphones, he is weak. Really weak. These recordings are in stereo diversity, in the Left ear is the phased Beverage pair, in the Right ear is the 9 circle . Both RX are set direct west, although he was also copyable on the JA rx too.

While the amp was warming up I recorded this CQ:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fHNBaTs-JDKPTLHDuhRtRAxWrEpMYvzj/view?usp=sharing <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fHNBaTs-JDKPTLHDuhRtRAxWrEpMYvzj/view?usp=sharing>

Next Kevin VK6LW called, and I recorded his 2-way QSO:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EaHEhGU3UQk9YwGpmawdFBjC1b23aPKn/view?usp=sharing <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EaHEhGU3UQk9YwGpmawdFBjC1b23aPKn/view?usp=sharing>

After Kevin finished, the amp was warm so I called.
I am actually embarrassed about my calling.  I was so stunned that I could copy him, I was messing up my reports, and sending my call way too many times. I think it's clear that I was doubling with him, and I almost ruined my own QSO. He went into a QSB fade right when I called, so I wasn't sure he had my call correct, so I think he was unsure I had confirmed.
AT 2:05 he sends VE6WZ?
I resend my call and report,
At 2:40 he sends VE6WZ 5NN,
I CFM and at 3:05 8Q7 sends CFM.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eibREmwj9BzNH2I-gPa14rTdOqMLlorV/view?usp=sharing <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eibREmwj9BzNH2I-gPa14rTdOqMLlorV/view?usp=sharing>

Here he is QRZ? with Dennis, ZL1AZ and JI1DCW calling:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Nz6GX62Ba1gw22R__jpcjbHHnb8QGoNt/view?usp=sharing <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Nz6GX62Ba1gw22R__jpcjbHHnb8QGoNt/view?usp=sharing>

The band has remained very poor and the EU trans-polar path has not opened for a few weeks. Working Z 22, which is a direct polar path I never would have imagined, but of course the opening was a skew path, completely avoiding the AU !

Thanks to Karel OK2WM for pulling me out, and for setting up an excellent TX on the beautiful beach in the Maldives.

Good luck to the other WC guys.  It seems Karel and Vlad will be there till March 8.

73, de steve ve6wz
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