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I enjoy Challenges. I'm like most TopBanders I guess. Somewhat obsessive, very impulsive, willing to endure severe auditory discomfort for long periods of time. After working many DX stations on HF bands in my first few years of contesting I have become somewhat of a TopBand Junkie. I listen every morning (I get up at 4:30AM local time) for openings while doing my daily routine. A couple of my amateur friends have aided my addiction by showing me how many countries they have confirmed etc. Having only been in Amateur radio since 1997 I have many years of blood letting from the ears before earning what some of these guys have. Thanks to the KCDXC and SMC clubs and K9DX, K0LW, AB0X, NX0I, KD0FW, NW0L (hates 160M), KG0US (loves a challenge too). I continue to read everything I can find relating to TopBand. I recently met one of the Top Band Guru's, W8JI and listened to everything he had to say. As what I consider a Scientist, Tom Rauch is beginning to dispel some of the "mysteries" associated with this band. I recognize immediately the distinct Disadvantage we have being here in the middle of the country. We have no Saltwater here other than that you make. Although working all the states is relatively easy, making it across either of the Oceans from here is a trip of 7,000 miles. No small feat on top band by my experience. I have yet to experience the low end of a solar cycle and look forward to that as I looked forward to the activity of the peaks on HF. Worked 160M from PJ2T contest station Feb/Mar 2003 and made contacts with 25 countries in three evenings. I wish I could get those results from Kansas City but I'm not surrounded by saltwater here. Equipment at home for topband includes: Quarter Wave Vertical with 60 ground radials underneath.
Two Beverage antennas both 580 feet long on at 45/225 Degrees (Europe/ZL) and one at
135/315 Deg (Caribbean, JA)
Two FT 1000 MP's an ACOM 2000A a Kenwood TL-922A Amplifier, Heil headsets, Vibroplex Keyer, Writelog Logging Software
I have confirmed 57 TopBand Contacts.
WRK 82, CFM 63 DX (Update 01/30//2004) 6W, 6Y, 8P, 9A, 9Y, A3, C6, CE, CE0/E, CY0, D4, DL, EA, EA6, EA8, EI, EU, F, FM, FP, FS, G, GD, GW, HA, HB, HC8, HH, HI, HK, HO, HR, I, J2, J8, JA, K, KG4, KH1, KH3, KH5K, KH6, KL7, KP2, LX, LY, OE, OK, OM, ON, OZ, P4, PA, PJ2, PJ5, PY, PY0/F, S5, SM, SP, T32, TG, TI, TI9, UA1, V2 V3, V4, V7, VE, VK, VP2/E, VP5,VP9, VU, XE, YN, YU, YV, ZD8, ZF, ZP, ZS |
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