Top Band net Thursday 29th January 8pm and concurrent zoom session

[John Gumb]

Folks,

There will be a Top Band net on Thursday evening 29th January starting at 8pm kindly run by Vin G4JTR. There will also be a zoom chat session. Details at the end.

Even if you are not on the net, you are most welcome to join the zoom session for a natter.

From Vin G4JTR:

"I understand that not many members will have Top Band capability but here is an opportunity to see how well you can lash up a system for local contacts. I suggest the following simple approach:

Antennas.

We are not looking for NVIS ionospheric propagation, what is needed for a local net of stations a few Km apart, I think,  is local ground wave propagation. This means having some component of radiation with vertical polarisation  from the antenna.  An inverted L is ideal. It can be non-resonant  and shorter  than a 1/4 wave, provided your ATU will resonate it.   The ATU can be at the feed point  if you use a remote auto ATU, or in the shack, where the coax feeder will act as a crude counterpoise.   An additional  wire  counterpoise  at the feed point may probably help but not necessarily.

Strapped feeders on a doublet is good.  A short loaded vertical resonated on top band,  if you already have, one will work.

If you run a full sized antenna for more serious Top Band work, I expect it will be fine for local contacts.

Power Level.

I am proposing a net frequency  of 1850KHz  LSB or just below in the high power all mode section of 1840 to 1850KHz. The lowest dial reading we can use on LSB is 1843KHz. This means we can use in excess of 32W but I will probably limit my power to 50W. Your power may be limited by “RF in the shack” issues.

So, in summary, I will call on 1850KHz at 20.00 on the 29th.  Or on  the best frequency clear of QRN  just below and co-ordinate the net as Net Controller and pass it round according to the list of callers.

Best of Luck,

Vin, G4JTR."

--

Reading and District Amateur Radio Club is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: RADARC zoom natter; top band net

Time: Jan 29, 2026 08:00 PM London

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89281989734?pwd=b15qqq1g9ag0lSvvbHhKwZALO2X5Ub.1

Meeting ID: 892 8198 9734

Passcode: 374323

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73

John

G4RDC

[nickkerner]

Thanks for the reminder, I'm hoping to be on tomorrow, cheers NK 

Kind regards,

Nick Kerner

(MØNPK / M6N)

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy A3 2017 powered by Three

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[gordonrussell.baker]

I hope to be on  too. 

Russell G4ZRZ 

To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/radarc/697a68b1.190a0220.37c821.6064SMTPIN_ADDED_BROKEN%40gmr-mx.google.com.

[John Gumb]

Slightly late reminder...at least the zoom link is at the top of the pile.

see you shortly :-)

73

John

G4RDC

-------- Forwarded Message --------

From: John Gumb <jo...@gumb.org>

To: rad...@googlegroups.com

Subject: {RADARC Group Forum :3338} Top Band net Thursday 29th January 8pm and concurrent zoom session

--

[Tony Cox]

G8TEE Report - TVRG Top Band Net 29/01/26
FTdx10 (100W), MFJ-993, 80M EFHW at about 25ft
Noise level 57-58, Att Off, IPO, Filter 3Khz, Width 2.4KHz
G7CRQ	Adam	57**
G4JTR	Vin	59
G4RDC	John	59
M0NPK	Nick	59+40
G4RGK	Dave	59
G4ZRZ	Russel	57**
G0LPI	Mark	59+20
G8NXJ	Ian	59+15
G4WBI	Steve	58-59
G0LXZ	Jim	58
M0ZSU	Simon	59
G3VHH	John	58
G0ACE	Ace	59+20
M9XBB	Brett	58
** At or about noise floor - just discernible

---

From: rad...@googlegroups.com <rad...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of John Gumb <jo...@gumb.org>
Sent: 29 January 2026 19:30
To: rad...@googlegroups.com <rad...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: {RADARC Group Forum :3343} reminder Top Band net Thursday 29th January 8pm and concurrent zoom session

 

To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/radarc/a74d438898dc07295f57aa18992ac415f72ce822.camel%40gumb.org.

[Tony Cox]

Link to antenna calculator for double bazooka as discussed: https://www.westmountainradio.com/antenna_calculator_bazooka.php?frequency=14.2

---

From: Tony Cox <co...@hotmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, January 29, 2026 20:42
To: John Gumb <jo...@gumb.org>; rad...@googlegroups.com <rad...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: {RADARC Group Forum :3343} reminder Top Band net Thursday 29th January 8pm and concurrent zoom session

G8TEE Report - TVRG Top Band Net 29/01/26
FTdx10 (100W), MFJ-993, 80M EFHW at about 25ft

Noise level 57-58, Att Off, IPO, Filter 3KHz, Width 2.4KHz

G0LHZ

Jim

58

[Ace]

Hi All,

Thanks to Vin and John for an excellent evening and hope we can do it again on the next five week month, Thursday, April 30th?

G0ACE Report - TVRG Top Band Net 29/01/26
IC7300 (50 then 100W), 203ft/61.87 metre random longwire multi-band antenna, at about 20ft
Noise level 57
TG8TEE	Tony	59+20
G4JTR	Vin	59+
G4RDC	John	59+5
M0NPK	Nick	59+50
G4RGK	Dave	59+15
G4ZRZ	Russell	48
G0LPI	Mark	59+15
G8NXJ	Ian	59+30
G4WBI	Steve	59+
G0LHZ	Jim	47
M0ZSU	Simon	59+10
G3VHH	John	59
G0ACE	Ace	------
M9XBB	Brett	28

To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/radarc/GV2PR02MB1217292A30EDD7868E45D8F91909EA%40GV2PR02MB12172.eurprd02.prod.outlook.com.