Top Band Season 2008/2009

On September 25, 2008, in Amateur Radio, by TF4M

The Top Band season has begun!

I started to hear JA7NI calling CQ on Top Band around 1800z.  At this time there is still daylight at my location.  Despite numerous attempts to raise him, I have not been successful – perhaps he is listening to another direction at this time.

I have called CQ myself on Top Band and this resulted in QSOs with JA5NPV, JA4LKB, JA6JPS, JE6IGP, JA6BJV, JA6BEY, JA5AUC, JE6UWU, HL3IUA and JA5CPI.

You may listen to the QSO between HL3IUA and TF4M:

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What a great start to the season!  

I look forward to many DX QSOs  this coming season. 

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160M QSOs to JA

On February 26, 2008, in Amateur Radio, by TF4M

The 160M conditions continue to be excellent.   On February 26  I made a dozen QSOs with Japan and I was also called by HL3IUA for a second QSO on 160.

You may listen to my QSO with JA7NI:

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A longer recording of my QSO with JA7NI is here.

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A one hour recording of all QSOs made on 160M on 26th February, 2008 may be played

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I am keeping a close watch on the measured K-Index in Leirvogur, Iceland displayed on TF3MA´s web site which seems to correlate well with the good conditions we have been experiencing. 

measured K-Index in Iceland - last 7 days

 

 

26 February

conditions are detoriating, I heard a JA station around 1700Z but was unable to raise him.  Later I had contacts with JA7NI    

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and JA7FUJ on 160M.  

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The K-Index as measured at Leirvogur Magnetic Observatory is now rising and only two JA QSOs were made.

(linked from TF3MA´s   (SK) website – the graph shows the K-Index for the last 7 days as measured at Leirvogur Magnetic Observatory in Iceland.)

7 day K Index

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CQ WorldWide 160M DX Contest CW 2008

On January 29, 2008, in Amateur Radio, by TF4M

CALL: TF4M

230 QSOs. 1214 QSO points
x 50 Multipliers
= 60700 Claimed score
My first time in the contest and a great learning experience.

Many fine signals on the band, but I had great trouble being heard even by the
strongest stations.

I heard many JA stations, but they never heard me calling.

K1TTT picked me up on the first call though, he must have a beverage pointed to
TF!

It is painfully clear that my reception far outperforms my tx signal.

I plan to build new TX antennas closer to the sea. My tx antenna is 500 meters
inland situated in a valley so it is shielded by mountains in several
directions.

I have a very quiet location and I can hear extremely weak signals with perfect
copy even though they are not workable.

Sunday had a massive storm and my open wire feeders kept shorting out so did
not get back on until late afternoon again.

TX: FT1000mp MkV + Emtron DX-3 at 1KW, YCCC Double L fed with 800 meters (2,400
feet) of open wire feeders.

RX: reversible Beverage to JA , ‘dipole’ with 100meter legs lying on the
ground.

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New 160M listening antenna

On January 25, 2008, in Amateur Radio, by TF4M

I have been fairly active on 160M lately with the result of working JA and HL and it has become obvious that the receive capability of my station is far superior to my transmit capability.

My only receive antenna has been the reversible beverage to JA, on the reverse heading it hears well into SA but is very poor into EU and NA.

I have therefore not been able to work many stations who were calling me and yesterday I built another receive antenna for 160M.

It´s a wire dipole with 200 meter long legs strung out on the ground perpendicular to the JA beverage.

During snowstorms, when the noise on the TX antenna reaches 50 dB over S9 and the JA beverage has a noise level of S9 this new antenna is almost completely quiet.

It is really amazing to hear, signals are relatively strong and this will enable me to continue working even during snow storms.

I hope to build a new TX antenna closer to the sea along with permanent RX antennas for next season.

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”FIRST !!” HL/TF QSO with HL3IUA

On January 23, 2008, in Amateur Radio, by TF4M

 Last night had very good conditions and I was called by HL3IUA who answered my CQ and we made what is most likely the first ever TopBand QSO between HL and TF.

 I also made 13 QSOs with JA stations in approximately one hour.

It appears that with my beverage antenna for JA I can hear the JAs better than they can hear me.  I am also helped by the extremely low noise level at my location.

However, last night we had a snow storm with high winds and ice and my amplifier kept tripping due to high SWR at times.  This cuts out the  amplifier for two seconds and completely prevents damage to any components in the system, but is rather uncomfortable regardless.

 

Kaz JA8ISU sent me an audio recording of my QSO with JH8SRI .

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