[OKDXA] 160 last night...

[Kim Elmore]

Hi Ken,

Thanks for the info. I find 160 a fascinating band, but I don't have 
enough trouble sleeping to really make the most of it. That, and I 
have kids, a wife, a day job...

I know that the K9AY loops are a poor substitute for Beverages. I 
just haven't screwed up enough chutzpa to make the Beverage 
commitment. I was heartened, though, to learn that if I use the amp I 
can be heard under such poor conditions. I was not making it al all 
with only 100 watts, but with 18-10 dB more, ii was doing OK. I also 
know that a vertical with poor radials is a good way to keep worms 
warm, but I'll work with what I can manage right now and shoot for 
improvements as time and resources permit.

160 is a strange beast. I have to marvel at the guys make 160 DXCC 
from anywhere away from sea water. I also have to marvel at the guys 
that ran 500 kHz for a living back in the day of CW marine communications.

73,

Kim N5OP

At 12:34 AM 1/5/2010, Kenneth Case wrote:
>Hi Kim,
>
>I was not on the night you mention (have been doing chores from a 
>higher authority).  Since my transceiver is also an OII, thought I'd respond.
>
>My location is west of Stillwater in the middle of nowhere.  The 
>closest neighbor is about 0.8 miles away.  So, it is a quiet 
>place.  There will be times when the noise level is S1 even with the 
>TX antenna in use for receiving.  Those times are rare.  More 
>typical is noise of S3 or S4 with the preamp on, RF gain up, and 
>using the TX antenna.
>
>With the TX antenna, there are some nights when EU or Russian or JA 
>stations will be well over S9.
>
>These days, however, almost always the RX antenna will be used for 
>receiving.  There are two bi-directional 720 foot Beverages using 
>DXEngineering boxes.  The signals will be much lower, but the 
>reduced noise makes it MUCH more pleasant to copy.  There is nothing 
>quite like a good night of DX stations running S6-7-8-9 on the very 
>quiet Beverages.  For comparison, I have a K9AY, and have used it 
>for years.  It really helps reduce the noise; however, it cannot 
>match the Beverages, despite being quite a difference maker on many 
>QSOs when compared to the TX antenna.
>
>Keep in mind that we are talking about some really good 
>nights.  There will be many times when the signals are more like you 
>described.  They are close to the noise level, Q5 on peaks, and yet 
>inaudible on lows - there is a lot of QSB to contend with on 
>160M.   It can be very frustrating (yes, masochistic) when, due to 
>QSB, some people are unable to copy, while others in another part of 
>the country copy Q5.  This brings on a lot of calling when the DX is sending.
>
>The gray line can be a huge help - for example at our sunset, EU's 
>sunrise, our sunrise, JA's sunset, etc.  Things often start to pick 
>up noticeably about 15-20 minutes before either stations' sunrise, 
>and may carry on for 5-15 minutes after sunrise.  Don't give up 
>right at a DX station's sunrise like many do.  Hang in, because they 
>may stay loud and you can work them without too much competition.
>
>One other thing.  Don't get too carried away by what others are 
>saying or the reports they are giving.  For example, a 559 on 160M 
>often means "I can hear you just above noise level and you are 
>Q4-5."  Or, a "559 QSB" may mean the same thing PLUS "... and when 
>you drop down, I'm lucky to hear you at all."  Continuing, when you 
>hear somebody mention a big signal, it may be a bit relative to what 
>is expected.  For example, if HS0ZEE (Thailand) is coming through 
>just above the noise and is Q4-5 for 2 to 5 minutes, there will be 
>many raving about his signal.  That is because we may only hear him 
>a few times per year, so RELATIVELY speaking, he is loud.
>
>Any way you slice it, 160M is a fun band, and also kind of a tough 
>band from OK.
>
>73 Ken K5KC