During the Covid restrictions of 2020, the Amateur bands came alive with nets on various bands. In the Worthing area we had the popular Four Metre Stay at Home Net at 14:00hs daily, but we also had the weekly Wednesday evening Topband AM net on 1.980. This has encouraged several people to try out Topband for the first time, and for others to get their old valve gear out and give it an
airing.
We have a mix of modern and new, ranging from Codar AT5's and Collins WW2 radios to later Clansman equipment plus modern up to date equipment. There has been constant development and striving to improve the signals sent and received by all those taking part and it has been interesting to see how the various stations have made alterations to cope with the high noise levels encountered on this band. Despite the limitations of the average domestic garden, aerials have included long wires, horizontal loops, Sandpiper verticals, doublets with their feeders strapped together worked against earth and various pieces of “wet string”.
Generally the biggest factor in the equation is the high noise level encountered on this band. We have often had the situation that we can hear them, but they can't hear us with noise levels above S9. The Big Boys DXing on this band often use the technique of different aerials for transmit and receive. Although I do not suffer too badly in this respect myself, I do use a five turn loop aerial for receive. As I am using a separate TX and RX this is quite easy to achieve and I have this loop in the shack with me so I can rotate it manually to get best signal. A multi-turn loop is very effective and simple to make. It also has the benefit of no “active” components that could get damaged if I forget to switch it off prior to transmitting!
The net normally starts at 19:30 but stations are often heard tuning up from about 19:15. (Valve rigs take a little time to warm up and stabilise so it often pays to switch on early.) John, G3SZM, is often one of the first with his Collins rig who is very loud on the band. No one is running much power, most under 10 watts, but the older valve rigs do seem to have a bit more punch. That being said, if you can hear us, and you only have a modern rig, please give it a go. You would be very welcome to join us on 1.980 AM Topband.
Martin. G7RQD.