BIG GUNS BIG GUNS Pat Ross – VE3CNX

London Amateur Radio Club 11/09/08

Big Guns are all operators who can hear and be heard better

than I can!

Big Guns are all operators who can hear and be heard better

than I can!

Pat Ross – VE3CNX

Seriously – Big Guns are those operators who

usually:Chase DX

Big ContestersHave Big Antennas/Antenna

Farms/ Antenna Arrays “Hot” ReceiversRun “Big Power”

Seriously – Big Guns are those operators who

usually:Chase DX

Big ContestersHave Big Antennas/Antenna

Farms/ Antenna Arrays “Hot” ReceiversRun “Big Power”

Some Big Guns are “Alligators”

“Alligators”Have “big mouth”

Run California KilowattBut

Have “Small Ears”Can’t hear stations returning their

“CQ’s”

Big Guns can “Copy” as well/better than they can

“Transmit”

Some Big Guns are “Alligators”

“Alligators”Have “big mouth”

Run California KilowattBut

Have “Small Ears”Can’t hear stations returning their

“CQ’s”

Big Guns can “Copy” as well/better than they can

“Transmit”

Who Are These Big Guns?First off – Need to Recognize that they represent a small percentage of total (Global) Ham Population

Few Govt’s maintain detailed demographic stats of their

amateur radio operator populations

Who Are These Big Guns?First off – Need to Recognize that they represent a small percentage of total (Global) Ham Population

Few Govt’s maintain detailed demographic stats of their

amateur radio operator populations

Majority of hams worldwide reside in Japan, US, Thailand,

South Korea, Europe.

Only Yemen and North Korea currently prohibit their citizens

from becoming hams.

Majority of hams worldwide reside in Japan, US, Thailand,

South Korea, Europe.

Only Yemen and North Korea currently prohibit their citizens

from becoming hams.

Ham Population Ham Population • JAPAN 1,296,059 1999• USA 722,330 2007• THAILAND 141,241 1999• SOUTH KOREA 141,000 2000• GERMANY 79,666 2000• TAIWAN 68,692 1999• CANADA 63,547 2007• SPAIN 58,700 1999• UNITED KINGDOM 58,426 2000• RUSSIA 38,000 1993• BRAZIL 32,053 1997• ITALY 30,000 1993• INDONESIA 27,815 1997

HAM POPULATIONHAM POPULATION• FRANCE 18,500 1997• UKRAINE 17,265 2000• ARGENTINA 16,889 1999• AUSTRALIA 15,328 2000• SWEDEN 10,817 2000• INDIA 10,679 1999• VENEZUELA 10,600 2000• SOUTH AFRICA 6,000 1994• FINLAND 5,900 2000• NORWAY 5,302 2000• MALAYSIA 2,730 2006• CUBA 1,870 2000• CHINA 800 2000• PAKISTAN 214 2000

HAM POPULATIONHAM POPULATION• BANGLADESH 28 2000• IRAN 10 2000• United Arab Emirates 10 2000• VIETNAM 8 2000• LIBERIA 7 2000• ETHIOPIA 6 2000• SYRIA 6 2000• SUDAN 5 2000• DPR Congo 5 2000• LAOS 2* 2000• LIBYA 1* 2000

• * denotes only have Club Station(s)

HAM POPULATIONHAM POPULATION

• In vast majority of countries, hams are predominately male.

• US – approx 15% are women

• China – approx 12% are women

• In most countries – no minimum age requirements to earn licence

• Average age of radio operators in some countries is over 60 years of age

POWER LIMITATIONS

POWER LIMITATIONS

• Most countries limit output power

• USA 1500 Watts PEP

• Canada 1000 W (Advanced Qualification)

• UK/Australia/South Africa/and many other countries – only 400W

• SOLUTION:

“Antenna! Antenna! Antenna!”

SOME CLUES AS TO WHO ARE THE BIG GUNS

SOME CLUES AS TO WHO ARE THE BIG GUNS

• Usually very active on the air• 10,000 + lookups on QRZ.com good indicator• QRZ counter used to stop at 25,000• That changed last year• Recently have seen some with 70,000+ lookups• QRZ profile includes link to their website• Pictures of Antenna farms/arrays/walls of

awards• Many have 2 letter Call signs• Usually break through pileups on first attempt

BIG GUNS I HAVE WORKEDBIG GUNS I HAVE WORKED• 7J4AAL – “Kan” – Hiroshima Japan• 34,000+ lookups on QRZ.com• Have worked him on 75 Meters• But he is big gun on all bands• This antenna CL75 CX-M (Monster) is triband 5-

element Yagi-type antenna for 1.9 3.5 3.8MHz band,

• the whole antenna operates as a dipole antenna for 1.9 MHz band.

• Completed in 2003• This scale is the world biggest among those of

the existing ham antennas.

7J4AAL7J4AAL

7J4AAL7J4AAL

7J4AAL7J4AAL

7J4AAL Construction7J4AAL Construction

Monster TowerMonster Tower

G0EVYG0EVY

• G0EVY – “Dave” – Bromsgrove UK• 75 meters – Can hear him every night 3.788• 17,000+ lookups on QRZ.com• Has 80 meter beam mounted on a crane 46

meters above ground. • The boom is two 60 foot towers welded togtherr

and• Crane can drop beam in 3.5 mins. • Footprint of the antenna covers 1000 sq. meters• Dave is a Rag Chewer.

G0EVY crane mounted BeamG0EVY crane mounted Beam

VE3EJVE3EJ• VE3EJ – “John” - Grassie, ON• Big DX’er• 29,874 lookups on QRZ.com• 160M - Base loaded ¼ wave vertical and 4 square and beverages

for receiving.• 80M – 4 square ¼ wave verticals• 40M - Full size 3 element yagi on 56 foot boom @ 150 feet, 2

element yagi @t 110 feet • 5 towers - 150, 150, 130, 100 and 60 feet • 20M - 5 element yagis on 56 foot booms @ 50, 100 and 150 feet. • 15M - 5 element yagis on 40 foot booms @ 160, 120 and 80 feet.  5

element yagi at 50 feet • 10M - 5 element yagis on 28 foot booms @ 160, 75 and 40 feet.  5

element @ 80 feet. • 6M - 6 element yagi @ 75 feet

VE3EJVE3EJ

• Worked 338 Countries (All) and 350 with deletes

• Of these John has worked– 243 on 160 and– 327 on  80!!– Has 29,000 feet of ground radials for 80 meter

4 square!

VE3EJ 4 SquareVE3EJ 4 Square

VE3EJ TowersVE3EJ Towers

VE3EJ VE3EJ

VE3EJ – John’s ShackVE3EJ – John’s Shack

•

ZS6CCYZS6CCY

• ZS6CCY “Bill” – South Africa – • 75M and 20M• 49,864 lookups on QRZ.com• Uses 4 square on 75M• For 20 M has six element KLM Yagi with

58' boom mounted at 95' on the tower • Previously worked in Port Hedland, WA• Where I was stationed for 4 years – but• I have never met him off the air

ZS6CCY 4 squareZS6CCY 4 square

ZS6CCY 20 MZS6CCY 20 M

ZS6CCY SHACKZS6CCY SHACK

ZS6CC6 SHACKZS6CC6 SHACK

ZL3SVZL3SV

• ZL3SV “Gary” – NEW ZEALAND• 75 METERS• 34,427 lookups on QRZ.com• Owns Comms business• Ant is 500 metre (1500 feet) long, sloper

antenna - average height 80 metres (240 feet)

• I worked him on Field Day 2007 on 100W with longwire antenna

ZL3SV with 50-600 ohm balunZL3SV with 50-600 ohm balun

ZL3SV Feed LineZL3SV Feed Line

ZL3SV – 300 ft above ground - high point

ZL3SV – 300 ft above ground - high point

K1JJ - K1JJ -

• K1JJ “Tom” – Connecticut• 19,998 lookups on QRZ.com• Towers on a ridge, 805' above sea level • Two 190' self-supporters • One guyed 150' • One guyed 110' • One guyed 60' • Dual quads system. (4 elements total) A two-

element quad on a 40' boom at 190' high (63 meters) phased to a second identical two-element quad at 190' high on a separate tower

K1JJ’s Antenna FarmK1JJ’s Antenna Farm

K1JJ 20M Stacked ArraryK1JJ 20M Stacked Arrary

K1JJ one 20M beam - 300 pounds on 60' boom 80 meter Dual Quad in back

K1JJ one 20M beam - 300 pounds on 60' boom 80 meter Dual Quad in back

NQ4I NQ4I • NQ4I - “Rick”– Georgia• 70,270 lookups on QRZ.com• Commercial Pilot – QSO’s Aeronautical Mobile

on 20M• QTH is a fully equipped “Super” Contest Station • Incl. 8 Yaesu FT1000D’s and• 5 Yaesu FT1000 Mk V’s• All With Alpha 78’s and Henry Linears• For 75 Meters – had a full sized beam up 125

feet – but disassembled it and turned it into• A full sized 3 X 3 phased Vertical Array.

NQ4I Antenna FarmNQ4I Antenna Farm

PA0GMWPA0GMW

• PA0GMW “Paul” – NETHERLANDS• 75M -• 35, 893 lookups on QRZ.com• Uses set of Drakes R4C & T4XC• Antenna 4 square built on reclaimed land

(salt marsh)• In wet weather, base of antenna 4 feet

under water.• Great signal!

PA0GMW 4 SqarePA0GMW 4 Sqare

W2ZMW2ZM• W2ZM “Bob” – Central NY• 9824 lookups on QRZ.com• 75 M – Works mostly am grey line to JA/VK/ZL• Wire Beam for TX and Beverages for RX• Double ended extended ZEPP up 90 feet with

reflector on either side. • Usually does better than the 4 squares• Using a FT1000MarkV for exciter on transmit full

legal power and FT1000D for receive and • Bob is big on running antique gear – google

W2ZM and see his fascinating collection of vintage gear.

W2ZM operating his 1921 1KW rotary spark set

W2ZM operating his 1921 1KW rotary spark set

GI0AIJGI0AIJ

• GI0AIJ “Ivor” – Northern Ireland• 20 M• 20,661 lookups on QRZ.com• Professional Race Car Driver• Antenna farm includes • 130 ft. free standing tower

60 ft. crank up tower210 ft. rotating towerIvor is an entertaining Ragchewer

GI0AIJ AntennasGI0AIJ Antennas

VK3MOVK3MO

• “Ian” – Victoria, Australia

• 20 meters

• 30,200 lookups on QRZ.com

• Running TS-140 @ 100 watts into

• Four (4) -5 Element yagis on 44 foot booms on 200 foot tower with 19 db gain! Bottom yagii 54 feet high.

• I worked him Long Path (LP)

VK3MO Stacked ArrayVK3MO Stacked Array

VE3XNVE3XN

• VE3XN – Garry Hammond – Listowel• Works all bands – big contester• Writes for TCA• 30,933 lookups on QRZ.com• 4 element SteppIR Yagi including• 2 element 40M beam• 80 Meter Delta Loop• Worked all countries (338) including N. Korea• QSL Card Field Checker• Seemingly endless list of Awards

VE3XN VE3XN

Garry’s Shack/GeochronGarry’s Shack/Geochron

VA3DXVA3DX• VA3DX – “Glenn” – St. Catharines• Big DX’er/Contester• 22,173 lookups on QRZ.com• Worked 337 countries• 238 countries confirmed on 160M• 4 element SteppIR yagi at 72 feet • D3W Cushcraft Warc band rotary dipole at 78 feet • 2 El 40 mtr Hygain 4O2BA at 83 feet • 80 mtr Inv Vee and 160 meter • Inv L ( 70 feet vertical ) • All on a City–sized lot!!

Glenn and “Bennie”Glenn and “Bennie”

VE3YJVE3YJ

• VE3YJ “Rocco” - Guelph• 75M• Big Antenna Farm• 4 square• Various towers• Has one of best signals in Ontario on 75M• Very personable/hospitable – always willing to

give a helping hand.• Sadly, Rocco is winding down/selling his gear on

Kijiji

VE3NHVE3NH• VE3NH - Bill McHugh – Ailsa Craig• Also fondly referred to as “Mr. 160”.• My Elmer• Has several towers, verticals • Has 5 beverage antennas between 1 and 1.5

wavelengths permanently installed in the pasture, and• Adds two more 1.5 wavelength antennas across

neighbouring farm fields in winter.  • All are at a height of 10 feet to permit cattle grazing

underneath.  • Bill has s worked 335 countries including• 209 countries on 160M!

VE3NH aka “Mr. 160”VE3NH aka “Mr. 160”

VE3NH 160/80/40M Linear Loaded Vertical

VE3NH 160/80/40M Linear Loaded Vertical

BIG GUN-SMALL GUNBIG GUN-SMALL GUN

• QUESTION –– Should we set our sights on being a Big Gun?

• ANSWER –– Nice if you could – but not necessary

• Always Remember:• “Propagation is the Great Equalizer” • Many operators do just as well or better than Big

Guns in pileups, contests and Awards • Just by listening and good operating techniques

VE3UZVE3UZ• VE3UZ - Dave Steels – “Mr. DX”• My other Elmer• VE3GYL – “Kathy” is Dave’s XYL• Dave has Worked 330 countries (confirmed)• 125 confirmed on 80 Meters on a vertical• Has WAZ and has WAS on 160M• DXCC on 5 Bands• 30 wpm CW • Dave is an Excellent operator - very patient –

good listener – and very perseverant• Like Churchill – Dave “never gives up”.

VE3UZ Log Periodic BeamVE3UZ Log Periodic Beam

VE3UZVE3UZ

W6UC – “Phil” waiting for DX’pedition NA only

W6UC – “Phil” waiting for DX’pedition NA only

BIG GUNSBIG GUNS

• So, get out there and “work em”• Don’t be intimidated by the Big Guns• In fact, they are usually very polite/helpful• Once they make contact, they usually turn the

frequency over so others can work em.• And they usually don’t mind it if you piggyback

on them – I do it all the time• I doubt I will ever be a “Big Gun” • But it sure gives me something to dream about.

Thank YouThank You• Thank you all for “staying the course”• Appreciate your friendship/fellowship• Look forward to working you down the bands.• And Don’t Forget……..

Antenna! Antenna! Antenna!

London Amateur Radio Club11 Sept. 2008Pat Ross – VE3CNX

VE3CNXVE3CNX