Since this AM was my last one to DX here until mid-May, I got up at 4:30 local time (sunrise 7:15 AM) to get the last bit of gusto before we head back to OKlahoma. My efforts were rewarded with pretty darn decent conditions, even that early. I had at least mumble-level audio on virtually every channel from 738 to 1107 before the morning was over and on about 50% of the rest of the channels. 774 Japan was the strongest and the most consistent through the morning, but I also had very listenable audio on: 828 Japan, 837 Harbin (excellent at times), 918 Shandonggggg, 936 Anhui (not great-but best o season), 963 the CRI Russian Lang. SVC, 1377 CNR1, 1386 NHK2 Synchros and language recognition level on a slew of others.
The morning closed out for me with a het and then threshold audio appearing once again for a few post-dawn minutes on 1548. Gonna have to get at least to the language recognition level before I can start bragging about DW in Sri Lanka, but this sure keeps my hopes up for next year. Since we don't like to drive much at night and the days are now short, I'll be on line from various motels most evenings this next week. Lord willin' and the creek don't rise, we project getting to central Oklahoma by Thursday evening. We are hoping for a very boring road trip. Its been a wonderful season with so many high points that I hardly dare think about them (leaving the lovely Pacific Northwest is difficult enough as it is.) It was great hearing all sorts of new stations, mostly here on Orcas rather than Grayland this year, and the DXpedition to QCI was REALLY special. The most fun was spending time with various old friends (getting older every season) and meeting one new one... I finally got over to Victoria, BC in person and got to meet Colin Newell for the first time, face-to-face. A very nice man. Colin has provided several of my best grins, too. Colin lives in a high-rise in Victoria... on the 8th floor or so. During those great conditions recently, he found he could do better DXing with his e1 by getting away from his DX desk hanging it (the radio) out over the rail of his balcony, whip antenna extended..... I've heard of DXing "bare-foot," but given the dark hour, Ol' Colin may have had several other parts bare up on that balcony at "Oh dark:30!" Colin, may this be the year that you and yours find that perfect house with room for real antennas.... next fall, it would be nice to be inside, I bet! Although the Fall TA and TP season (from the Pacific NW) is obviously winding down, I hope it continues to give you guys reason to get up before dawn and stagger over to the radio.... I'll be reading the list, hoping to be (mildly) jealous! John B. _______________________________________________ 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]
