Your Best 160m DX

[IK4VYX]

Hi Everybody.

There was a discussion on the italian ham NG (it.hobby.radioamatori) some time ago.
Some said that 160 is short wave and I was one of those ignorants :-)
Some said that 160m is not suitable for antipodic DX: one said that the simple DXCC on that band would be almost impossible to achieve.
You know, the hams who post on NGs (me included) often spend too much time on computers and don't even have a clue of what really happens on some bands, if they haven't got the radios or the antennas or the skills to operate on those bands.

I had a glance at the 160 topband and noticed that there are a few hams that are not far from the honor roll on that band (scoring around 300)!
Some already achieved the WAZ honor roll!

I would like to clear my ignorance and invite the DX gurus of 40/80/160m (especially 160) I mean those who *really* work those bands, to sit at their desk for a while and write here about their best DX tale, on one of those "hard bands".
Richness of details is welcome, to increase the pathos :-)
I would then translate the best DX tales taken from here into italian (with all the limits of non professional translations) and post them into our italian NG, together with the original english versions.

If you don't wish to appear here with your call, you can email me your DX tale and I'll post it here for you, as a followup to this message, replacing your callsign with a dummy one.
(email: ik4vyx@NOSPAM.libero.it remove NOSPAM.)

I think that the best way to fight ignorance is showing true life examples ;-)
Also, if you know any place where nice DX tales have been posted, please let me know.

Not all the hams are so lucky to work DX on such hard bands...
Please let us taste some real DX drugs even if just for a while ;-)

Best wishes for a HNY 2003

Fab (IK4VYX)

[wa3vjb]

During the Heavy Metal Rally, an exclusively AM event, I had a great time working a station in I believe, South Dakota, who was running a retired broadcast transmitter he had rescued from a station out that way. #A McMartin, beautiful rig, pair of 4-1000s modulating another pair of 4-1000. Plenty of heat to stave off winter cold in the radio room, eh?

Not a bad toss from his home to mine in Annapolis.

I don't know if that will qualify me for a special trophy being offered, but we shall see.


http://www.amwindow.org/pix/jpg/hmr00trophy.jpg
<center> Best Station, Heavy Metal Rally</center>

Best wishes, Paul/VJB
<a>www.amfone.net</a>
<a>www.amwindow.org</a>

[N8UZE]

The 160m band is really in the medium wave (MW) frequencies rather than HF frequencies. I don't have a lot of experience with it but I did recently work the ARRL 160 meter contest with a random wire only about 10 feet off the ground and worked stations a couple of thousand miles away. A better set up might even have netted some DX.

Remember Marconi's transatlantic efforts were down in the medium wave and longer frequencies.

[N5IA]

I have had some experience with 160 Meters. In fact, it has become my favorite band because of the vagaries of propagation, the degree of difficulty of constructing effective transmit and receive antennas and the friendliness of the "Gentleman's Band".

My most recent "unbelievable" experience occured while operating the Stew Perry Distance Challenge during the early moring hours of December 29th. I was operating the contest in the QRP category (4.8 Watts), searching the band for more stations to work at about 1145 Z.

I had not heard any DX other than those from the Carribean area. I heard a weak signal that caught my ear; that had the sound of DX. Here is my written description of what I have recorded as an MP3 format audio file.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
At the entry, you will hear a bit of VK3IO's signal weakly. When I recognize a bit of the call sign and switch to the Beverage antenna looking his direction, the signal comes up markedly.
During the whole sequence I have WD5R's signal (Doug is in Arkansas, about 8-9 hundred miles east of me) in the passband of the RX (nearly zero beat). When I first call VK3IO, WD5R thinks I am calling him. As I had worked Doug earlier, he tells me "QSO B4".
VK3IO gets my call as N5IU and asks for a clarification. I send my call three times again. WD5R seems to move off freq (50 Hz ?) a bit but continues CQing. VK3IO comes right back with my correct call, the signal report and the Grid Square.
I then send my information. VK3IO requests me to CFM DM52. I send RRR and then VK3IO goes back to CQing. WD5R is still calling CQ also.
--------------------------------------------------------------
What makes this Q so special is that I was running QRP. Also, here are the E-mail comments from Ron, VK3IO, that he sent me a couple of days ago after I contacted him, telling him "Thanks" and letting him know that I was running 4.8 Watts.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Great stuff Milt, if only I had known you were QRP, it would have meant more points for my score. I have aready sent my log in. Maybe next year I will wait and check out the Stew Perry reflections and soapbox info before sending it in.
I cannot believe that you were only running 4.8Watts, as I said yours and W6BH (who was much stronger of course) were the only two NA signals worked
and they were the only two signals heard as well, no other NA stations heard, unbelievable.
Ron, VK3IO
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
WD5R, on the same frequency as VK3IO and neither one is hearing the other even though they are running KW power. I work Ron with QRP power. During the whole contest Ron hears/works only one other station, W6BH. He hears none of the other powerhouse stations in W6 and W7 land. Apparently none of them heard Ron's signal.

This experience demonstrates in an extreme fashion the Top Band phenomena called "spotlighting" or "search lighting". I have seen this type of propagation operate before but not to such isolated small areas.

My previous most memorable experience on Top Band was the last night (Feb. 6th) of the XZ0A operation from Thaytay Khun Island in January and February, 2000. Even though this operation was at the height of the sunspot cycle, we had a fantastic opening to North America. I was at the 160 Meter rig and over the course of 3+ hours I worked more than 40 NA stations whom we had not worked previously.

The band opened initially to the South and SE USA. Then as the terminator moved across the country the worked stations essentially were in the grey line until the sun had risen in California. Many stations were worked who had only 100 Watts and mediocre transmit antennas.

After that draining experience I went to my bed and laid down, and cried. I was that moved by the experience.

Overall, during the expedition, XZ0A completed 2,385 QSOs on 160 Meters; with more than 400 of them to North America. That is from 1/2 way around the world. That is a Top BAnd record for DXpeditions and surely would have been twice that amount had it occured at a sunspot low.

Anyone who has a broadband Internet connection and would like to hear the Q with VK3IO, please contact me at n5ia@zia-connection.com and I will send the file to you. It is 2 min. 55 sec. long and is 1.35 MB in size.

73 and Happy New Year de Milt, N5IA

[ke2iv]

Not sure what is the purpose of your query. #Clearly 160M is considered MF not HF. #This does not preclude antipodal DX etc. - espescially using greyline propogation. #

So your both right and wrong.

The "problem" with 160M is that to be a really effective DX chaser you need considerable real estate. #Not just for the transmitting antenna - which creates the challenge of getting it up real high given the wavelengths involved - but for receiving.



The ideal receiving antenna for 160M is a Beverage Antenna which is a very long random length of wire strung only a few feet above ground and often terminated with a capacitance to ground.

#

Problem is, to be effective you have to approach (and ideally exceed) about 300 meters in length. #And then, ideally, you should have several of these radiating out in a rough circle since they tend to be directional toward the far end point.



Many will comment here on "DX" out several thousand miles with much more simple dipoles (including 80M ones "tuned" to work on 160). #And that is a very enjoyable use of the Top Band (and about as far as I have gotten). #But the real DX'ers use elaborate antenna setups such as I described above.



You might want to check out ON4UN's books on 160M - he has been the "guru" of the band for many years.



73,


George


KE2IV

[ws4y]

I think HF is 3 to 30 Mhz so I suppose 160 meters is MF.
Just last night, actually today at 3:38 UTC worked
RA6AX on 160 cw. I have well over 70 worked and 62 confirmed
now on top band and I hope to achieve DXCC on 160
cw someday. I do have WAC and WAS on 160 CW. My most
unforgettable experience on 160 was earlier this year
operating from Cocos Island with the call TI9M working
hour after hour through a pile of strong EU signals on cw.
If you are interested in the stats check out the DXpedition web site at www.qsl.net/TI9M.
Good luck with your article.
73, Bill WS4Y

[w9xy]

Hi all,

In response to the "Best DX on 160" post, clearly I would have to say that working VK0SJ on Macquarie Island was probably my best catch. #Several years ago (in the days BEFORE spotting networks, I caught Sojo as he was calling CQ on the band one morning. #The pileup didn't swarm as it does today, and he easily took a few more calls after I worked him. #Shortly later, he faded with sunrise, sort of like a vampire responding to daylight. #Today, with over 160 DXCC countries confirmed, there is still nothing like the thrill of logging a rare DX contact on Top Band. #It's kind of like kicking a winning field goal in the last seconds of a game if you are using the greyline to your advantage. #Also, there are times when sleep doesn't matter. If the band is alive with Europeans for instance, going to bed at 1:00 AM will be worth the feeling of exhaustion the next day. #Do you remember listening to an AM broadcast radio under your pillow at night? ... And how if you heard a foreign language come over it, you couldn't believe that signals could travel so far? It's the same youthful challenge today! #As a child however, you didn't know that by using much less power and wire antennas that you would be sending YOUR OWN signals over the #same (or much greater) distance one day on nearly the same wavelength!

I would encourage those who haven't done any 160M DXing to give it a try, but #don't give up easily. #The truly fantastic openings just don't occur that frequently so be patient. #You will be amazed at the signals you will be able to hear.

73 and good DX,
Bob Johnson #W9XY

[IK4VYX]

First of all thanks to all those who have answered and will answer my message.
One thing is sure: 160 is MF but this was already stated on the italian NG (at last) :-)
The reason of my post is mainly to collect DX tales and emotions related to 160m (but also other bands, such as 80 and 40 are welcome).
I'm sure there are many other DX tales ready to be translated from air to paper and I believe we're going to share some strong emotions ;-)
In order not to break the DX taste, I'll keep my comments for the end of this thread.
Thanks in advance for your GREAT DX tales ;-)

Fab (IK4VYX)

[M3TMC]

I have worked 80m with good results. I used a full G5RV and 10w. At first it was hard work and left me wondering if I should start thinking of phased verticals 2 or 4. Just before Christmas I was on 80m, the skip was good and this is what I managed in an hour or so. 10w and a G5RV!

K1RVB Clive my report 5/8
KA2HTV Dave My report 5/8
VO1 ABN Bernie my report 5/9
K1BF Bill my report 5/5
VE9ST Wayne My report 5/9



Skip.

[w1jq]

Sure, I'll contribute a story. I'm not a big 160m operator, but
I have an antenna and venture onto topband occasionally. I've worked as far as the Carribean and Iowa (from New England). But when CY0MM was on the air last November, I really wanted to work them on all the low bands. They never seemed to be on 160 SSB when I was on the air. Did I mention that I am *not* a CW operator? I've been a ham
since 1969, and up until then had only made a half-dozen
CW QSOs. (My first license was General, not Novice). But when I put a station back on the air last year, I bought a paddle--more out of guilt than anything else. I thought I'd never get around to wiring a connector for it. But, for some strange reason, I'd wired it up about a week before.

So--just before CY0 was going QRT, I saw that they were on 160 CW. Did I dare try to work them? My last CW QSO was in 1989, I was worse than rusty, and they were going at about 40 WPM. But they had a good signal down here. I listened to about a dozen QSOs, just so I knew exactly what they were going to send me, and exactly what I had to send back. I was scared to death, but I sent my call at about 15 WPM--and heard W1JQ 5NN. That was all I needed! I sent back 5NN de W1JQ K, heard them go on to the next station, and that was it.

Since I'm in New England, CY0 hardly counts as DX. And I'm hardly a CW addict. But I did go on to work a few stations in the ARRL 160 contest, and was looking forward to working a few more in Stew Perry (unfortunately, I was sick that weekend).

Hope that satisfies your need for 160M DX stories.

Mike, W1JQ

[AA8EK]

Hello,
I don't get on 80 meters much and never on 160 as I don't have an antenna for the top band. I regularly work the Europeans on 40 meters anywhere from 11 PM EST to 4 AM EST. I typically operate around the bottom of the 40 meter band as it is here where I find all the good DX, around 7.002 Mhz to 7.015 Mhz running CW of course. I use an Alinco DX70TD with a Bencher paddle set and an MFJ Econo keyer. I usually run 90 to 100 watts to an old Yaesu FL2100B linear that gives me about 400 watts output. My antenna is a Alpha Delta dipole for 80/40 meters up about 20 feet on one end and 15 feet on the other. I also use a MFJ 986 antenna tuner to ensure I have a good match. As I was saying, I work Italy, France, England and once in a while other European stations. I know this isn't 160 or even 80 but you did ask about 40 meters also. I have never tried SSB, I do all my DX work on 40 with CW.

[w4zv]

Hi Fab!

Indeed it is possible to work almost any country on 160 given good operators, good equipment and good conditions. #Good operators means those who know how to copy CW signals buried in noise and who know the right times when propagation is possible. #Good equipment means big verticals, Beverages or other RX antennas and of course a KW. #Good conditions are usually best at the low part of the Solar Cycle but even now long-haul DX QSO's can be made.

Rather than reply to your request about DX stories on 160, I would refer you to K1ZM's excellent book "DXing on the Edge...The Thrill of 160 Meters" where Chapter 10 is filled with "Best Ever 160 Meter DXing Anecdotes" ( http://www.arrl.org/catalog/6354/ ).

Some of my most memorable DX QSO's have been via Long Path which is very rare on 160. #I've documented a few of these on my website. #I used a program called DX-Aid to show relative daylight and darkness areas between stations at each end of the path ( http://users.vnet.net/btippett/dx_aid_plots.htm ) #You can click on some of these to give you an idea of the paths.

Thanks again for giving us DX-Telnet!

73, #Bill W4ZV

[9V1VV]

Hi there,
I have never worked topband but would like to. Impossible from my home QTH due to lack of antenna space, but I will be QRV on or around 20th January until 26th when my ship sails from Western Australia back to Singapore as 9V1VV/MM. Rig can go to 175 watts. Antenna is 100 foot long wire. I only work CW. Anyone interested in a sked can mail me direct to the vessel at

Rockwater2.ETO@subsea7.com

I can only operate from 1000z to 2200z

Would love to give it a try.
John

[N5JOB]

This is a bit off the topic, but related.

The most amazing MF QSO I had in my entire LIFE was one that took place while I was working as a Radio Officer back in the early 1990's.

The ship I was on was entering the Mediterranean Sea at about 3 AM local time. #I was standing watch on 500 kc/s when I heard a traffic list announcement BOOMING IN from Chatham Radio/WCC. #I was listening on a Mackay Marine MSR-5030 receiver.

WCC then changed to their MF working frequency and sent the traffic list which was QRK5 QSA5... all the way across the Atlantic Ocean!

After the traffic list was over, I called WCC on 425 kc/s using the ship's main transmitter, a Mackay 2021 1000W type with a top-loaded vertical antenna. #I sent "QRK? QRU?K" #WCC answered with "QRK5 QRU 73 EE"

Great DX at "armchair" signal levels. #I've never forgotten that amazing morning!

[jburnett]

I work both 160 and 80 meters looking for DX. #Before I moved to Florida I lived in Ohio (grid EM79). #My 160m antenna was a quarter wave length of wire, about 30 feet up at the highest point. #Power output was around 800 watts from an Ameritron AL-811H linear amplifier. #I made WAS from this location, with several contacts into Alaska (about 2000 miles) and finally Hawaii (about 3500 miles). #My best DX was Croatia (9A2TW). Other DX included Germany, Belgium, Central America and the Caribbean.
Some thoughts on working the 'top band':
1) Get as much antenna wire as high in the air as you can. #Using 'loaded' or 'shortened' antennas will work, but you will miss a lot of contacts.
2) Get a linear amplifier (if you don't have one). #You DO need power on this band to make contacts reliably.
3) Brush up on your CW. #Many DX stations work this mode exclusively on 160 meters.
4) Take advantage of the grey line. #You will find a short period (10-30 minutes) each morning when propogation will lengthen as the grey line moves westward.
5) The best season for DX on 160 meters is when the days are the shortest. #Long, cold nights make for good DX hunting.
6) Respect the 'DX Window' (1830 - 1835 KHz) when making local contacts. #

After I moved to Florida I started working DX on 80 meters, primarily using SSB in the DX Window (3790 - 3800 KHz). #My antenna for this band is an inverted vee, with the center about 30 feet high and the ends ten feet off the ground. #My best DX has been New Zealand and Antarctica. #In the winter months the European stations are often 5-9+ at my location. #The same comments for 160 meters apply to 80 meters.

The thrill of working DX on the 'DC bands' is a real adrenaline rush. #When you turn off the radio and hop into bed at 3 AM after working some rare DX your eyes won't close for about an hour.....

Joe - W4BUR (ex-K2SBV)

[n3owm]

ok guys, I have looked up antipodic in many dictionarys and can't find a meaning for it.

What does antipodic mean?

de
Ted N3OWM

[N0PU]

Main Entry: an*ti*pode
Pronunciation: 'an-t&-"pOd
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural an*tip*o*des /an-'ti-p&-"dEz/
Etymology: Middle English antipodes, plural, persons dwelling at opposite points on the globe, from Latin, from Greek, from plural of antipod-, antipous with feet opposite, from anti- + pod-, pous foot -- more at FOOT
Date: 1549

1 : the parts of the earth diametrically opposite -- usually used in plural; often used of Australia and New Zealand
2 : the exact opposite or contrary

- an*tip*o*de*an /(")an-"ti-p&-'dE-&n/ adjective or noun
------------------------------------------------

I think they mean antipodean but then this is how language changes over time... use it enough and it will become ... just become...

[IK4VYX]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (N0PU @ Jan. 14 2003,11:42)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">
(cut)
1 : the parts of the earth diametrically opposite -- usually used in plural; often used of Australia and New Zealand
(cut)
[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>

Sorry, my error: I meant "antipodal" or "antipodean" as the ability to reach the opposite side of the world.
Your dictionary mentions about Australia and New Zealand cause it must be an Oxford english dictionary.
US antipodean areas must fall elsewere, in Asia...
So if you have a nice tale DX-Tale where, from US, you've reached your antipodean areas on 160m, go ahead with full details :-)

Ciao

Fab (IK4VYX)

[n3owm]

Thank for the replys

De TED N3OWM

[N3HGB]

"The ship I was on was entering the Mediterranean Sea at about 3 AM local time. I was standing watch on 500 kc/s when I heard a traffic list announcement BOOMING IN from Chatham Radio/WCC. I was listening on a Mackay Marine MSR-5030 receiver"

Any chance of this becoming a ham band? I think this band is no longer used for maritime ops.
73

I've worked VK6HD during the grayline with 100 watts.

[N5JOB]

Reply to N3HGB

What you're talking about is the old Maritime MF telegraphy band - 410 - 525 kc/s.

That band is not used too much for CW anymore, BUT there is the international NAVTEX frequency of 518 kc/s, the regional NAVTEX channel at 490 kc/s, maritime coastal stations STILL (believe it or not) sending weather and safety broadcast on that band, and coastal stations for differential GPS use.

No chance the amateurs will get the band, because it is still used for distress alerting, navigation, and safety purposes in the Maritime Service.

[g3uxb]

I was first licensed in 1965 as G3UXB in England and 160 was the only band I worked, I remember staying up all night so that I would be awake just before dawn to find that exclusive cw dx on my homebrew transmitter and an old military R206 receiver. I remember working Stew Perry W1BB and many other east coast stations as well as Sao Paulo Brazil on an inverted L antenna strung over the house .. I remember those times with much affection

[IK4VYX]

The following story came via email from Carl, K9LA.
Thanks Carl!
------------

There's no doubt that 160m DXCC is not an easy task but it certainly is not impossible.
In fact, almost one thousand amateurs have achieved this award.
Just like everything else in life that is tough to achieve, it takes a commitment to do it.

I started going after my 160m DXCC in late 1995. It took me six years to work over 100 countries (more properly called entities in the DXCC world), and another year or so to receive all the QSL cards for the award. I received my 160m DXCC certificate in September 2002.
My station is not a superstation, it's 1kW to an inverted-L with a short low-noise receiving antennas (I do not have the room for nice long Beverages). And being in the Midwest (Indiana) usually put me at a disadvantage in the pileups with respect to those on the East Coast and West Coast.
The effort included staying up later than normal and getting up earlier than normal when necessary.
But the satisfaction of achieving a tough goal made it worthwhile.
I'm sure this is a common thread for all those on topband.

Carl K9LA

[IK4VYX]

The following tales came via email from Garry, NI6T.
Thanks Garry!
------------

I live in a deep canyon on our major earthquake fault near San Jose, CA.
I have low horizons only to the NNW (the mouth of the canyon, toward SE Asia).
My high horizons in most directions, expecially to the SW, make DXing difficult on all bands, but worst on the low bands, where 80m long path is usually impossible, and where our natural geographical advantage to the South Pacific is not available to me.
In these worst directions, it is often impossible to hear any DX, except at local sunrise, when the incoming angles become higher for a very short time.

There is no room for a topband vertical system (mostly because there is no room for a radial field), and the TX antenna is an asymmetric bent-end inverted vee I call a Perverted Vee.
About half the antenna is horizontal at all and the highest point is at about 40 meters.
The radiation pattern must be fairly high-angle, but that coincides with the physical limitations previously mentioned.
For RX I have two short two-wire Beverages, which follow the contours of the steep hillside.
The NE/SW Beverage slopes 200 feet in its 400 foot length (SW is really uphill).

Compared to big gun QTH's on open farmland or coastal marshes, this is not a very good QTH!
Moreover, as with everyone else in Northern California and the Pacific Northwest, the paths to Europe are rarely open, even when the Midwest and the Great Plains report good conditions, due to high absorption related to the Auroral Oval.
Working Europe on 160 is a rare treat, and I have heard not a single European this season, nor has there ever been propagation in that decade to compare with the end of 1997.
Compared to 80 or 40, Africa and Central and South America are much more challenging on 160 from here.

Nonetheless, in about ten seasons, I have worked 190 DXCC counters and 36 zones.
Since only a very few stations on the West Coast have achieved over 200 counters, and perhaps none have yet achieved 160 WAZ, these are, I think, amazing numbers.

To achieve such numbers requires considerable persistence, and the awareness and good luck not to miss the rare openings!

I have had my share of incredible QSO's on Topband.
Here are several that I immediately recall:

* VK0IR, Heard Island, 24jan97, 11,113 miles. I never expected to hear that DXpedition at all.
Since the antipode was in Southern Canada, we would have only perhaps 15 minutes of mutual darkness near our sunrise.
The "line of silence" (no mutual darkness) was just south of me and would run to the NE toward the antipode (Southern California was locked out).
Of course I was QRV anyway, along with my friend Ted, KA6W, whose QTH is at the top of the ridge at 1000m, about 12 km north of me!
We were hoping for a miracle!

The first clue of an opening was hearing W6AJJ, very QRS as usual, sending a 339 to a station.
Lloyd is in the Sierra Nevada mountains, perhaps 200 km NE of here.
I heard nothing on Lloyd's frequency, which was 2 kHz above VK0IR's announced QRG, but tuned down and weakly heard the end of the QSO.
I did not hear the VK0IR callsign, but immediately judged it to be that station, and became very excited.
I waited to see how deep the pileup of callers would be at the end of the QSO---and no one called.
I sent a 3x3 call.

On the other end, N6EK and K4UEE were at the 160m position at VK0IR.
According to K4UEE, N6EK was not hearing well through the QRN, but both heard "NI6T" come through.
N6EK told me later that it was the most exciting moment of the DXpedition for him.
We quickly completed an exchange, and I excitedly telephoned KA6W.
Ted had not heard the station at all, and asked if I had heard the VK0IR callsign.
I had not, but I was confident that I would, although Ted insisted it was not a valid QSO.
I said "we will both hear it very shortly", and, sure enough, I heard "VK0IR' during the next QSO.
Ted was in the log less than ten minutes later.
His antennas and QTH allow lower angles--and we think that the sunrise bump, which favors me, was the reason I heard Heard first.

Over a twenty minute period, propagation marched up the terminator to the NE, toward the antipode.
I believe the last successful caller was in Spokane, WA.
About a dozen stations achieved the QSO, and that was the entire story on that path, as there were no other openings.
The dead zone--no mutual darkness---included all of North America between us and Kansas City.

*ZS8IR, Marion Island, 18Mar97, 11,190 miles.
Chris had worked East Coast stations on 160, but no West Coast.
I do not remember many details, except that I was extremely surprised to hear him short path at 0347Z--at almost antipodal distance---and to be the only caller.
In fact, I believe I was the only West Coast station to log him.

*UN5J, Kazakhstan, 28Aug97, 6772 miles. 1997 was a tremendous year, but we did not expect long-haul DX in August!
N6TR and N5KO, who was visiting Tree in Oregon, reported hearing UN5J the day before.
Some had worked that station the previous January, when I was in Mexico on vacation.
It seemed highly improbable to make a QSO three weeks before the fall equinox, but I got up the next morning to listen.
I was stunned to hear UN5J CQing with a Q5 signal on a grayline path, and easily made the QSO.

*XZ1N, 22Nov96, 7690 miles. Zone 26 lies in my best direction, and I have been very fortunate to have worked every counter in that zone that has been QRV in the past decade (VU4 has not been QRV!http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif.
This is in part due to the path not being polar! The QSO with XZ1N was due less to my efforts than to the skill and commitment of Robin, WA6CDR, who was the operator on the other end.
I was also able to work the return DXpedition, XZ0A, on 18 Jan00, where I believe Robin was again the operator.

Note that all of these QSO's were between November, 1996 and August, 1997.
I also worked more Europeans during November and December, 1997 than in the rest of the decade.
During this period, conditions on topband were the best they would be during the solar cycle.
There is no substitute for having good conditions!

Garry, NI6T

[IK4VYX]

This 160m DX-Tale came via email from Al, PY3CEJ.
I see that Al ranks #12 in the topband world wide
TopBand (http://www.qsl.net/160/)
with *289* confirmed countries on 160...
Thanks Al and Congrats!!!

----------

One of the best contacts in 160 meters that I keep in my memory was with VK6HD.
The Zone 29 to Brazil is very difficult in any band.
I already knew that "Mike" (VK6HD) had already been trying to work "PY" (Brazil) for almost 25 years, without obtaining success.
I think we were already in the month of June, practically the only possible month of propagation in low bands between VK and PY, we changed e-mail, we marked frequency and approximate schedule, everything would depend on the blessed propagation.
I began to call "CQ VK" on June 22, 2001 the 2200Z and I didn't obtain success.
The following day 23, the same thing, without answer.
On the 24 (Sunday in Brazil and Monday in Australia), I began to call the 2230Z, and dozens of stations of Europe, America answered me, but I continued to only call "CQ VK", because if assisted a station, it would be in the obligation of assisting all.
I saw on that moment that the propagation was good.
When it arrived exactly at 2300Z o'clock, I got to listen to VK6HD and to accomplish QSO.
It was very touching, because the following day I received e-mail of gratefulness of "Mike", where he said that that contact had been your largest birthday present, because in the previous day it had commemorated together your 70 years with your family.
We changed QSL's, and the most incredible happened months after.
I received a phone call of a friend of my city, Miguel PY3MM, telling me that in the site of OH4MFA, it was my contact with VK6HD recorded in Finland.
I was for the Second time moved when hearing my signs and the one of "Mike".
Congratulations to OH4MFA for the good reception and for the beautiful surprise.
We had made an exact triangle among Brazil - Australia - Finland.
This is one of my histories, of a hundred of happiness and surprises that I had in TopBand.
Each contact DX is a new history.
Thank you. Hugs to all.

73,

Al PY3CEJ.

[k2ta]

Emotions about DX on 160 eh? # I finally put up a full sized 1/2 dipole for 160M yesterday at 50-60 feet up. #Last night had a ball working EU/Africa/Caribean. #14 new countries for a total of 50. #This morning I woke up and worked #51...VK6HD...got a 479. #Emotion? #Its as thrilling as when I first got my General class license and could operate with a VFO instead of a crystal...what excitement! #Also...pure amazement and gratitude for the numerous stations who stood by on freq while VK6HD repeatedly asked K2?? again (and again). #Not one dit from anyone. #No complaints. #No callsigns. #Pure courtesy. #I think the best emotion I have gotten from working 160 is gratitude for those gentlemen who showed courtesy in the face of a rising sun. #Who stood by and waited while a K2 got his callsign acknowledged. # #I am happy that the hobby still has such people. #I try to show courtesy to others in pilueps (not zero beat, send callsign twice then listen etc) ... What a wonderfull feeling to know I'm not alone.

[g3xap]

Hi

Back in the old days, we 'Gs' were permitted a maximum of ten watts input on 160. It was an ambition of mine to achieve WAC on 160 - legally.

It took me 5 years, which was hundreds and hundreds of hours of listening, calling and sweating tears. Several times I was on the point of giving up but I stuck with it.

Then, on one magical evening, at about sunrise in VK6 land, I called CQVK and back came VK6HD to give me my WAC. That was, and still is, the greatest thrill of my ham life, and I treasure the VK6HD QSL card.

The antenna? A quarter wave sloper top fed by a 60 ft vertical. Oh yes, plus about 100 radials ranging in length from about 50 to 150 ft.

I don't have the real estate nowadays to work 160, but I often listen and am amazed at the level of activity today. And, in my day 300 countries on 160 was impossible - there weren't 300 countries licensed for 160 operation.

The real reason for my eventual success was the continuing support and encouragement that I got from Stew, W1BB. Here was a true giant of a man, and us 160 fans owe him an enormous debt. May he rest in peace.

73

Phil