Top band still has life left and kicking. It is sure not what it was in the past 3 years, but has some amazing openings if you spend the time to wait it out. I am usually on daily, not making much noise, just monitoring and checking conditions, past two days the beacons from the Russian area have been coming through, there are many of them down around 1811, 1813, etc I hear 6 or more of them spaced across the low end of the band, and when conditions are really good I can hear another set all the way down to 1800.
Anyway, Dave A92IO has been on top band the past few days, I have heard him weak several times, but not able to get through, my noise level is low and he has been right at the noise, low I mean S3 with a little QRN only S5 peaks. today when I turned on the rig , right there was Dave calling CQ. above the noise 559 signal, we finally connected and about 15 mins later his signal was peaking 579. Made my day, he was good copy for at least another 30 mins, the only signal I heard on the band, a few weeks ago HZ1FI was the same routine, this year the band seems to be peaking at least an hour before sunrise, signals peak very well then slowly go back to the noise as sunrise approaches, a little different from last couple years where my peak was right at sunrise. So well worth watching for new changes, also signal direction is sure not via normal paths, lot of skewing going on. Heard 5N7M last nite at sunset for about a minute, no chance for contact with the EU pile up. 80 has produced some good DX also, finally snagged ST2AR after many weeks of calling him, the band is open but seems to lack activity. Season not over yet gents, keep at it. 73 Merv K9FD/KH6 _______________________________________________ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
