Guys Last night was frustrating. I know a lot of you were calling, but I was only able to pull out 7 stations, all W5 and W7. The noise level here was a constant S9. If you translate the seasons into the northern hemisphere, it is now May 10- and, as an operator there, you know what that means to your atmospheric noise level.
BTW, the station here is a full size vertical array, 1500w, K3, a beverage for EU, a beverage for East Coast USA, and a beverage for West Coast USA/JA. The station seems to transmit quite well. Hearing, though, is a different problem. I spent this morning listening to the various noises on the 160M band, and I think I was able to reduce the local noise level some. I won't know for sure until tonight, but my game plan has changed. I will be on for Europe around 0445Z; I expect transmit frequency to be 1805.5KHz or so, listening above 1810KHz. I will either self/spot my Rx freq or announce "Up x". Why so low? I have less noise there. Much of the local noise I have seems to peak around 1835, which makes Rx there not so good. If you can't transmit as low as 1811, please let me know and I'll modify by Rx frequency. When I am done with Europe- and it may not take long if I don't hear any Europeans- I will listen for USA. I may go back to Europe from time to time but will announce it when I do so. That should cover it! Good luck to all that need CX! Dennis W1UE/CX _________________ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
