Freebanders - Grrrrrrr!

[Rick K5IAR]

I'm sure real estate for an antenna is one of the big stumbling blocks for top band action, it is for me.  If ever I get my HyTower up an this old GE BT-20-A finished I plan to haunt 160 every chance I get.  It will most likely all come together about the time the seasons change which is perfect.  I hope to work all of you real soon.

Rick/K5IAR

[N3DRB The Derb]

Frank,

ever think of shunt feeding ur tower with the miniquad on top on 160? wonder how that would work. I dont think flattops are where it's at on 160, unless you can get it 130 ft up. Don's the tower of power on 160. That 1/4 wave vertical drops the bomb. I'm sure glad I got to go down there and see his setup. Ham radio paradise, old skool.

[wa2dtw]

"Anybody have any other ideas for a 100W, 160m AM rig?"
Ellen- how about a DX100, Viking II or Valiant?

73
Steve WA2DTW

[wa1knx]

steve,
       thats about the 3 I'd pick for a 100w am rig, and in that
order. I have 6 of them, 5 working, 6th for parts!  I doubt
I'll be able to work you guys from az, although with 3
80 meter verticals and full ground under them, I might be
able to load up one of the verticals from 160     Dean

[kf6pqt]

What the heck frequency is the 160 action on? 1885, or 1940/1945?

I heard a little activity last winter up around 1940, but didnt make a mental note exactly where. Once I get my dx100 running again I'll want to give it a try.

Also, is the west coast offset on 160 just as it is on 75? (eg, 3870 instead of 3885)


Thanks,
Jason kf6pqt

[Jim, W5JO]

Jason you will find activity on 1915 from some in AZ, NE, OK, TX, WY, UT, SD, ND and Canada.  Some of the morning guys in AZ are on 1885.

Activity in 5 land is sparse at best, but hopefully this winter there will be more on.  I have not heard any 6s on 160 but that doesn't mean there isn't activity.  Check with the group on 3.870 and ask.

[wa2dtw]

I was first licensed the year after 11 meters was given to the CBers, and never really used 11 meters.  There was always some resentment about losing 11 meters, which during sunspot highs was a great DX band, some said even better than 10. 

But now- we have 12 meters, 17, and a few other additional bands.   When 10 and 12 are dead, which is most of the time, I sometimes listen to 11 meters to get some idea about the level of propagation.  Although it can be vile, it can also be quite entertaining. 

So- as long as they don't encroach on our bands, why not just let them do their thing on 11 meters?  And do we really want all these guys to get no-code amateur licenses and crowd our bands with their banter??

73
Steve WA2DTW

[Glenn NY4NC]

The problem with the Dave Made and Texas Star slack jaw gang is when they're "doing their thing" on 11 meters, they're trashing 10 meters with RF garbage from their non-linear linears. One of my favorite pastimes used to be working QRP cw in the lower 50khz of 10 meters. ..... As soon as one of these clowns fires up... no more QSO. 

So- as long as they don't encroach on our bands, why not just let them do their thing on 11 meters? 

[KA2PYQ]

......I`ve got a Realistic Navaho 140 to trade for a...............
(insert your pride and joy, here)..........I was just thinking
about (partsing the parts out, nice and awkward, huh?) to
some friends or turning it into an audio driver (4- watt
audio drivers can be royal pains) but you never know?.........

[wa2dtw]

Glenn
My guess is that if they get ham licenses, they will be no more careful in tuning their "linears", but will just bring more splatter to our bands.
73
Steve WA2DTW

[Glenn NY4NC]

Hi Steve;

Not having any tuning controls (solid state) won't stop these big mawl operators from generating Tee-rash. Just overdrive the input beyond saturation with a good helping of completely overdriven distorted audio. That will do the trick, not to mention who knows what type of biasing arrangement these Joe made amps use. Can you say Class C?

Once and a while I'll tune the bedside receiver across the Cluck Band to check for 10 meter openings (good for something) There is a group of locals that openly brag about their linears that run a pair of 3-500's! and how much "swing" they get.... "4 watts of carrier, 800 watts on voice peaks, caw mawn!!".

Glenn
My guess is that if they get ham licenses, they will be no more careful in tuning their "linears", but will just bring more splatter to our bands.
73
Steve WA2DTW

[W8IXY]

OK, I must have been living in a deep hole until now.  I just looked on the Dave Made site and saw one of his tube amplifiers that "boasted" a 30kw carrier and 84 kw peak "as measured on a Bird Wattmeter".  Plus he had a mobile amp listed for 12 kw output. 

I wonder if thats why some CB'ers in the Cleveland area spread their audio out over plus and minus 500kc.

Is Dave and/or Dave Made still in business?   How much does his 30 kw amp sell for?  The site had dates of 2001 on it, so I wonder if he is still around and making amps.


73
Ted, K8VPL
....completely underpowered with a Valiant and a DX-100B.

[Steve - WB3HUZ]

S-W-I-N-G!!

Dat's what it's all about!

[W1GFH]

OK, I must have been living in a deep hole until now.  I just looked on the Dave Made site and saw one of his tube amplifiers that "boasted" a 30kw carrier and 84 kw peak "as measured on a Bird Wattmeter".  Plus he had a mobile amp listed for 12 kw output.  ....Is Dave and/or Dave Made still in business?   How much does his 30 kw amp sell for?  The site had dates of 2001 on it, so I wonder if he is still around and making amps.

AFAIK, the folks who inhabit this subculture depend on rumors and snake oil salesmen for facts. Claims such as "85KW measured on a Bird wattmeter" go unchallenged because no one knows any better.

[wa2dtw]

Perhaps the CBers, along with the foreign broadcasters, can actually be our allies in the fight against BPL.
73
Steve WA2DTW

[VO1GXG]

Good man ! , Don't sell to those bloody freebanders . I don't have any gear yet ( only 16 so no money and only been licensed since April ) but i would not sell with out someone giving me proof of there license .

[Rick K5IAR]

Hi Matthew,

What kind of gear are you planning on buying when the money is right?  My first rig was an old Heathkit DX-20 and a homebrew super regen receiver.  Man, talk about drifting!  I needed an extra hand what with the key, the regen control and the tuning!  Hope to catch you on the air someday.

73,
Rick/K5IAR