Playing on 10M SSB.

[Northcutt114]

2 minutes ago, WRYZ926 said:

The G90 is nice that it will tune just about anything. And the builtin SWR sweep meter comes in very handy. As you have found out, a resonant antenna will perform better. Next thing to try is add more ground radials. More ground radials will improve things. 

I suggest getting the JPC-12 radial plate along with getting some 18 gauge silicon wire to make your own ground radials. You can easily add multiple 18 gauge wires to a 10-12 gauge ring terminal which will allow you to have a bunch of ground radials. 

The reason I suggest silicon wire is that it won't tangle up into a rat nest when you roll it up for storage.

I notices an improvement with my REZ antenna going from 4 long radials to 24 short radials. 

I currently have 8 radials that I made from automotive wire I had laying around. 18 gauge with 3/8" eyelet terminals at the end. Each of them 10' long spread at roughly 45 degrees from each other.

I have seen that radial plate. It seems - I don't know - a little gimmicky? It's really easy to just pop all the eyelets for the radials on the threads of the spike, spread them out and the thread the connector on. That plate seems labor intesive with all the screws and the bolts and the whatnot. I can deploy the antenna in less than 5 minutes as it is. I feel like that plate would add 5 minutes in itself.

 

[Northcutt114]

Side bar for those of you with waterfall displays.

Occasionally a signal will fly across my waterfall...almost like a wave. It will just shoot from right to left, higher to lower in frequency. When it crosses whatever I'm listening to it registers as a tone of some sort. It's very fast. It actually spooked me the first time I saw it. I thought something was wrong. I assume it is some sort of errant RF interference but what is it? Any ideas?

 

[SteveShannon]

25 minutes ago, Northcutt114 said:

Side bar for those of you with waterfall displays.

Occasionally a signal will fly across my waterfall...almost like a wave. It will just shoot from right to left, higher to lower in frequency. When it crosses whatever I'm listening to it registers as a tone of some sort. It's very fast. It actually spooked me the first time I saw it. I thought something was wrong. I assume it is some sort of errant RF interference but what is it? Any ideas?

 

Yes, I think it’s present worldwide. I don’t know the nature of it precisely but human caused.

[hxpx]

58 minutes ago, Northcutt114 said:

Correct, although I know that you know this. As I understand it (which could be flawed), vertical antennas have a low take off angle which makes them great for DX. But because of that, they sometimes bounce over closer stations. Just today I heard the CA station talking to someone in Alabama that I couldn't hear at all. 

That's how I understand it. The end of the antenna doesn't radiate so you've got a big null overhead and no NVIS. This map isn't entirely accurate (dots are based off their license location on QRZ, not the parks they were at - I definitely didn't make a WI contact), but I've got a nice multi-state dead zone. I pick up a lot of Texas, Florida, and Alabama stations, though.

That said, I have no idea if my EFRW/gutters or a lower horizontal EFHW would be better because I still couldn't hear any IL/OH/KY/MI stations when I tried it today.

[WRYZ926]

39 minutes ago, Northcutt114 said:

Side bar for those of you with waterfall displays.

Occasionally a signal will fly across my waterfall...almost like a wave. It will just shoot from right to left, higher to lower in frequency. When it crosses whatever I'm listening to it registers as a tone of some sort. It's very fast. It actually spooked me the first time I saw it. I thought something was wrong. I assume it is some sort of errant RF interference but what is it? Any ideas?

 

 

10 minutes ago, SteveShannon said:

Yes, I think it’s present worldwide. I don’t know the nature of it precisely but human caused.

What you are seeing are beacons that transmit on a regular schedule.

[Northcutt114]

13 minutes ago, hxpx said:

That's how I understand it. The end of the antenna doesn't radiate so you've got a big null overhead and no NVIS. This map isn't entirely accurate (dots are based off their license location on QRZ, not the parks they were at - I definitely didn't make a WI contact), but I've got a nice multi-state dead zone. I pick up a lot of Texas, Florida, and Alabama stations, though.

That said, I have no idea of my gutters or a lower EFHW would be better because I still couldn't hear any IL/OH/KY/MI stations when I tried it today.

That's pretty nifty. How did you make that map?

[Northcutt114]

3 minutes ago, WRYZ926 said:

 

What you are seeing are beacons that transmit on a regular schedule.

How do they transmit across a cascading frequency like that?

 

[hxpx]

1 minute ago, Northcutt114 said:

That's pretty nifty. How did you make that map?

I paid for the QRZ.com XML/API subscription tier, exported my logbook, and used https://stephenhouser.com/qso-mapper/. There might be better ways to do it using POTA data.

[WRYZ926]

5 minutes ago, Northcutt114 said:

How do they transmit across a cascading frequency like that?

 

I've never delved into how beacons work or why they shoot across the waterfall.

[Northcutt114]

52 minutes ago, hxpx said:

I paid for the QRZ.com XML/API subscription tier, exported my logbook, and used https://stephenhouser.com/qso-mapper/. There might be better ways to do it using POTA data.

Cool. Thanks. I'm not at a point where I want to pay for a QRZ subscription, but it looks like that's the only way to get a comprehensive aidf file of all my QSO;s...or whatever the file type is.

 

OK, I found a program on github that will combine multiple logs into one log. Download here if you're interested. Doesn't seem to export international grid data...hmmm.

 

ETA: Ok, it's not the compiler, it's the online map generators. They only add domestic calls, even though my logs on QRZ clearly have the international grid square listed, which is had to have gotten from my logs that I uploaded. Weird.

 

ETAA: Apparently QRZ does export gridsquare location to third party apps if you are a free member. Ugh.....

 

I'm going to bed.

 

 

 

 

[Northcutt114]

2 minutes ago, WRYZ926 said:

I've never delved into how beacons work or why they shoot across the waterfall.

This is what Gemini says:

 

Beacon transmissions "shoot" across a radio waterfall display as streaks because they are often frequency-hopping, sweeping, or pulsed signals (like GPS, weather beacons, or digital modes) that rapidly change frequency or are present for brief, distinct moments, causing bright lines or dots to appear and scroll as the display stacks past data over time. These visual streaks represent the signal's energy moving across the frequency spectrum (horizontal axis) over a short duration (vertical axis), creating a dynamic, moving pattern rather than a static tone. 

 

What You're Seeing (and Why it Looks Like Shooting Streaks):

 

• Waterfall Display Basics: A waterfall shows frequency on the horizontal axis and time (past to present, moving down) on the vertical axis, with color/brightness indicating signal strength.
• Frequency Sweeps: Some beacons (like GPS or navigation beacons) sweep across a wide frequency range in a predictable, fast pattern, creating a diagonal or angled streak as the signal moves.
• Pulsed/Intermittent Signals: Digital beacons (like SSTV or APRS) transmit short bursts of data. On the waterfall, these appear as bright dots or short horizontal lines that pop up and then fade down the display.
• Digital Modes (FT8, etc.): These use specific digital patterns that appear as distinct shapes or "blobs" that change frequency and strength, sometimes looking like quick bursts or diagonal movements.
• Propagation Effects (Flutter): Strong signals, especially on shortwave, can bounce off the ionosphere, causing rapid changes in frequency and strength (auroral flutter), which appear as chaotic, shaky lines or "fluttering" on the display. 

In essence, the "shooting" is the visual representation of rapid frequency or time-domain changes of a specific beacon, appearing as a moving pattern on the stacked history of the waterfall display

[WRYZ926]

I use the HAMRS app on my iPad or laptop to log all of my POTA contacts. I will export the log as an ADIF file and then upload it to the POTA website and to QRZ.

[TNFrank]

There's a Beacon on 28.200MHz, 10M USB that I hear. Not sure what it's for but it's there.

[WRYZ926]

Beacons are used to test propagation.

[WRYS709]

1 hour ago, Northcutt114 said:

... I measured 8' 4"and extended the whip to that exact height. I found that it was only 3 full sections and about half of the fourth.

So prior to today, I had been running a 9' antenna...which would be too long on 10m and so I guess, even though the G90 "tuned it," I wasn't TXing at optimal efficiency. Although I find it hard to believe that 6" would give me that much trouble, but what do I know. I only realized last night why it was called 10m and why my antenna was called a 1/4 wave. It was like a light turned on in a very dusty room! 

8 feet 4 inches is resonant at 28.08 MHz which is perfect for FT8, but for your Tech privileges for SSB, lets say at 28.4 MHz you should shorten it to 8 feet 3 inches. Does it matter; probably not and your tuner should adjust for the different.  But at 8 feet 3 inches for SSB on 28.4 MHz, you should not need a tuner.

[WRYS709]

1 hour ago, Northcutt114 said:

... I measured 8' 4"and extended the whip to that exact height. I found that it was only 3 full sections and about half of the fourth.

So prior to today, I had been running a 9' antenna...which would be too long on 10m and so I guess, even though the G90 "tuned it," I wasn't TXing at optimal efficiency. Although I find it hard to believe that 6" would give me that much trouble, but what do I know. I only realized last night why it was called 10m and why my antenna was called a 1/4 wave. It was like a light turned on in a very dusty room! 

8 feet 4 inches is resonant at 28.08 MHz which is perfect for FT8, but for your Tech privileges for SSB, lets say at 28.4 MHz you should shorten it to 8 feet 3 inches. Does it matter; probably not and your tuner should adjust for the different.  But at 8 feet 3 inches for SSB on 28.4 MHz, you should not need a tuner.

According to Google AI:

Quote

Calculation Steps: 
    1    Find Wavelength (λ): λ = 300 / Frequency (MHz)
    ◦    λ = 300 / 28.4 MHz ≈ 10.56 meters
    2    Calculate Quarter-Wave Length: Length = λ / 4
    ◦    Length ≈ 10.56 / 4 ≈ 2.64 meters
    3    Convert to Feet: 2.64 meters * 3.281 ft/meter ≈ 8.66 feet (or about 8 feet, 8 inches).
    4    Apply Shortening Factor: Antenna elements aren't 100% efficient; electromagnetic waves travel slower on wire than in free space. A typical factor is 0.95 to 0.97, so your initial cut should be longer.
    ◦    Example: 2.64 meters / 0.96 (shortening factor) ≈ 2.75 meters (approx. 9 feet). 

Practical Advice: 
    •    Start Longer: Begin with a length of about 8 feet, 6 inches (2.6 meters) for your radiator element.
    •    Tune for SWR: Mount your antenna and use an SWR meter or antenna analyzer to find the exact resonant frequency. Trim small amounts (an inch or so at a time) from the top until you hit your desired 28.4 MHz with the lowest Standing Wave Ratio (SWR).
    •    Consider Radials: For a vertical, good ground radials (also quarter-wavelength, or more) are crucial for performance. 

 

[WRYS709]

1 hour ago, Northcutt114 said:

... I measured 8' 4"and extended the whip to that exact height. I found that it was only 3 full sections and about half of the fourth.

So prior to today, I had been running a 9' antenna...which would be too long on 10m and so I guess, even though the G90 "tuned it," I wasn't TXing at optimal efficiency. Although I find it hard to believe that 6" would give me that much trouble, but what do I know. I only realized last night why it was called 10m and why my antenna was called a 1/4 wave. It was like a light turned on in a very dusty room! 

8 feet 4 inches is resonant at 28.08 MHz which is perfect for FT8, but for your Tech privileges for SSB, lets say at 28.4 MHz you should shorten it to 8 feet 3 inches. Does it matter; probably not and your tuner should adjust for the different.  But at 8 feet 3 inches for SSB on 28.4 MHz, you should not need a tuner.

According to Google AI:

Quote

Calculation Steps: 
    1    Find Wavelength (λ): λ = 300 / Frequency (MHz)
    ◦    λ = 300 / 28.4 MHz ≈ 10.56 meters
    2    Calculate Quarter-Wave Length: Length = λ / 4
    ◦    Length ≈ 10.56 / 4 ≈ 2.64 meters
    3    Convert to Feet: 2.64 meters * 3.281 ft/meter ≈ 8.66 feet (or about 8 feet, 8 inches).
    4    Apply Shortening Factor: Antenna elements aren't 100% efficient; electromagnetic waves travel slower on wire than in free space. A typical factor is 0.95 to 0.97, so your initial cut should be longer.
    ◦    Example: 2.64 meters / 0.96 (shortening factor) ≈ 2.75 meters (approx. 9 feet). 

Practical Advice: 
    •    Start Longer: Begin with a length of about 8 feet, 6 inches (2.6 meters) for your radiator element.
    •    Tune for SWR: Mount your antenna and use an SWR meter or antenna analyzer to find the exact resonant frequency. Trim small amounts (an inch or so at a time) from the top until you hit your desired 28.4 MHz with the lowest Standing Wave Ratio (SWR).
    •    Consider Radials: For a vertical, good ground radials (also quarter-wavelength, or more) are crucial for performance. 

 

[SteveShannon]

25 minutes ago, WRYZ926 said:

I use the HAMRS app on my iPad or laptop to log all of my POTA contacts. I will export the log as an ADIF file and then upload it to the POTA website and to QRZ.

And I use GridTracker to display my FT8 contacts. 

[WRYZ926]

Just now, SteveShannon said:

And I use GridTracker to display my FT8 contacts. 

Gridtracker makes it easy as it will log your contacts for you to what ever online logbook you setup. I have it setup to log to QRZ and LOTW.

[Northcutt114]

31 minutes ago, WRYZ926 said:

I use the HAMRS app on my iPad or laptop to log all of my POTA contacts. I will export the log as an ADIF file and then upload it to the POTA website and to QRZ.

I use Ham2K PoLo. But apparently it doesn't record international grid squares? Or at least it doesn't export them? Their location shows in the map on the app, but when I upload the adif file to one of these mapping websites, it only shows my domestic QSo's. I'm guessing QRZ is pulling grid square info based on international ham databases. Interesting. Another rabbit hole...

 

[TNFrank]

Also remember that an Inverted V dipole will have shorter wires than a horizontal one.

[WRQC527]

On 1/7/2026 at 10:54 AM, TNFrank said:

There's some guy on there that sounds like he's half asleep who keeps calling "QRZ Contest" over and over and over.  I really want to make a QSO with the guy in Japan, that would be awesome to talk to someone that far away. 

Is it KC4TVZ, aka "The most hated ham radio operator", aka "Kilo Charlie 4 Tango Victor Zulu"? He often transmits on or around 28.425. He's pretty well-known (or notorious, depending on who you ask) in the 10 meter realm. He transmits a recorded "CQ CQ this is Kilo Charlie 4 Tango Victor Zulu" (or something similar) out of Georgia over and over for hours. He's drawn the ire of the FCC, 10-10 International, and countless amateur radio operators. But there's also folks who use his relentless CQs as a beacon to see if 10 meters is open. In other news, I've made several contacts with Japan on 10 meters, especially in the late afternoon when it's morning there. Contests and State QSO Parties are great ways to make contacts, because everybody and their brother is on the air trying to score points. Here's a website that crammifies all the contests and QSO parties into one place.

https://www.contestcalendar.com/

[TNFrank]

 Kilo Charlie 4 Tango Victor Zulu, that's the guy. Sounds like he's half asleep or bored or something. 

Anyway, I should be back on the air tomorrow when the QT80 gets in. Hopefully the extra power and the new tripod that'll get my antenna higher will help me make more QSO's, especially with the POTA folks. I really like Hunting POTA and need 3 more QSO's to get my next award on the POTA web site. 

[WRYZ926]

10 hours ago, WRQC527 said:

Is it KC4TVZ, aka "The most hated ham radio operator", aka "Kilo Charlie 4 Tango Victor Zulu"? He often transmits on or around 28.425. He's pretty well-known (or notorious, depending on who you ask) in the 10 meter realm

Ahhh good ol Todd from Georgia. Yes he is a notorious ID10T. A lot of times he is drunk. One of my first contacts on 10m was him and he must have been having an off day as he was actually polite to me. He is so bad that the TEN-TEN 10m group has actually banned him.

There are some funny YouTube videos of people having fun messing with ol Todd. I would not bother even trying to have a QSO with him.

[TNFrank]

Made some more POTA Contacts and got MT EFHW set up. I must have cut the wire the right length because I got a 5/9 into Milwaukee, WI. So now I've got 2 antennas to play with. The QT80 seems to be working well to once I got it set up. Today looks like it's going to be a good day. 73