>> All of this sort of adds to me thinking conditions are >>significantly worse than they were the past couple or >>years.
Tree, I believe that there is no simple answer to your well timed question. Yes, I am one those who believe that conditions have not been very good, especially in December. On the other hand, I also believe that there have been some additional factors at work. My friend, Tomi, HA7RY, and I have been doing some informal testing for the past few months. He has been listening to my signal from FL around 0500Z to see at what power level does my signal disappear in Hungary. (We communicate via Skype or 40 meters.) About 50% of the time he could not hear my 1500 W signal at all (using a Pennant and an Orion RX). The rest of the time, as I reduce power from 1500 W the signal dropped below the noise between 1500 and 100 watts. So I believe that there has been usable propagation between FL and Central EU at least 50% of the time. On many nights, when conditions seemed to be good (i.e. Tomi could hear my 1500 W at S6 to S7), I have called CQ for 20 to 30 minutes with no response. It is hard to believe that my signal would have been readable only in Hungary. I am tempted to believe that the lack of DX has been party due to diminished activity! Another possible factor: From Florida it appears that signals in Europe have been peaking around 0400 -- i.e. well before Central EU sunrise -- and before many TB operators (early risers they may be) get on the band. DX clusters could also be a factor: i.e. fewer stations are scanning the band. Rather, they rely on cluster postings. Often, I call CQ for many minutes with no response, but once I am spotted, activity perks up quickly. Also, with fewer stations scanning the band, there is an increased likelyhood of short openings being missed. What will happen when everybody will be waiting for somebody else's posting to get on the air? George, AA7JV _______________________________________________ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
