[OKDXA] Need Some 160 m Advice

[N5OK]

Kim,

That is a very complex issue and there is no simple answer.

Ken, K5KC, has written some excellent recommendations while I was typing
this.  I agree with all that Ken recommends.

Here's what I was typing:

I can give you some simple recommendations that you can play with to see if
they help.

First, play with sunrise and sunset.  Somehow, (it's magic, I think)  top
band signals are amplified with sunrise and sunset.  I say play with
because there is not only your sunrise/sunset but those of the station that
you are trying to work.  If you can get a sunrise paired with a sunset you
can get a little gain on both ends.  When that happens you can have some
really neat contacts.  I have stayed up late into the night to catch the dx
station's sunrise.  I've gotten up early to catch the dx station's sunset.

Here is a strange example of what can happen.  When I was at T88T working
the states.  I could copy the states into the night and the signals would
come in from the East Coast first and then move across the states from east
to west as the sun came up here.  For some reason when the sunrise crossed
over the Rocky Mountains the signals would usually just go away.  The West
Coast really got angry with me, accusing me of shutting down before the
band opened to them.  Thankfully the VK's stuck up for me and told them I
was sending CQ for another hour after the band went dead.

Another thing that is important is to be able to hear the weak signals.  I
had to learn to clamp the bandwidth down on CW to where the signals would
ring to be able to copy the weak signals.  Make sure your antennas are
sensitive.  Get rid of any common mode currents.  Phase them to make sure
they are directional.  K9AY loops are basically flag antennas.  They work
and the more flags that are in phase the better.  Personally, I think
Beverages are a better way to go but I don't have the room.

Chew on what Ken sent you and this.  If you have questions feel free to
fire them at us.  You are starting out the right way.  You are asking
questions!

Good hunting...   Coy


On Tue, Dec 15, 2020 at 6:07 PM Kim Elmore <cw_de_n5op at sbcglobal.net> wrote:

> I'm finding that trying to hear spots on 160 m is deeply frustrating. Do
> I need to stay up later? I usually pack it in around 10:00-10:30, but
> maybe that's too early. Or, maybe I need to be up sooner? I'm just not
> hearin' 'em! I have K9AY loops for rx and they sometimes help, sometimes
> don't, but they never make things worse. My radio environment is quiet,
> so it's not that. If I can't hear 'em I certainly can't work 'em.
>
> Any hints?
>
> 73,
>
> Kim N5OP
>
> --
>
> Kim Elmore, Ph.D. (Adj. Assoc. Prof., OU School of Meteorology, CCM, PP
> SEL/MEL/Glider, N5OP, 2nd Class Radiotelegraph, GROL)
>
> /"A great second violinist plays second fiddle to no one." //– Robert C.
> Marsh, Chicago Sun-Times./
>
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-- 
Coy C Day, N5OK
20685 SW 29
Union City, OK 73090
H(405) 483-5632 C(405) 448-2368
n5ok at arrl.net