Colin, When we moved back to the coast in 1979, I moved into a duplex 1/2 block from the ocean in Seaside. I knew little about antennas and I just took a piece of wire, ran it out the window and out around the back of the building. I would get up to DX morning after morning. Often I would stay up all night and get by with a few hours of sleep. I went from a half a dozen DUs QSL'd to over 200 in a few years. With much of the skip coming in at low angles, much of the DX did not make it inland, per of DXers reports. I installed the SW EWE in 1981 out here and I remember logging ZK1ZC-630-Cook Islands with 500 watts. Those were amazing years. I don't see 4MK 1026 McKay, Q coming in at S9+20 DB any longer. Infact I just relogged them recently under the calls 4 Double A, and they have been those calls for a number of years. I just do not see the fantastic DU openings any longer. Now the TP openings are better than ever. I noticed that by 1992 when I logged Shillong India 864 and Nepal 792 & 576, and Bangladesh 558. The TP DX of today is far surperior. I have never seen these type of cx in the past, like 30-40 years ago. However, the TPs were not on splits for the most part either. We have many more active DXers today with DXpeditions, better receivers, and better antennas. For years, I reported DX no one else reported. Now, when I hear something, often another DXer in the NW hears it too. It is nice to have that support today. It helps a lot in IDing catches too. But the DU DX of 1979-1985 was amazing. I am glad I was at the dials most of the time then. I would have missed out on alot of great DX and QSLs. As a side note, as with Canadians, alot of Aussies have gone to FM too.
73, Patrick Patrick Martin KAVT Reception Manager _______________________________________________ IRCA mailing list [email protected] http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org To Post a message: [email protected]
