I don't think anybody lives near VK4CT that operates on HF. I often get received on his RBN but can never raise a reply from the locals so it is not particular to 160m.
Regards Paul MM0ZBH On 6 June 2016 at 16:20, Milt <miltn...@gmail.com> wrote: > > -----Original Message----- From: Bob Garrett > Sent: Monday, June 06, 2016 2:58 AM > To: jkaufm...@alum.mit.edu ; 'Carl Luetzelschwab' ; topband@contesting.com > Subject: Re: Topband: low band propagation at solar min > > ...........SNIP............... > > I believe we still have so much to learn on this subject. > That is why nothing beats listening no matter what the numbers say. > 73 and gud DX. Bob K3UL > > ========================================================= > > I am certainly guilty of neglecting 'The Band' during the northern > hemisphere summers. Near constant QRN and short nights (for sleeping) are > the two main reasons I have traditionally not operated TB between the > equinoxes. > > This year I have made a concerted effort to do spot checks on the band, > particularly the early morning hours when QRN is the lowest. However, this > time frame allows a possibility of contacts only to the Pacific region. > > I truly believe that Bob's statement above re listening is the true clue > to fully utilizing the fickle offerings of 160 Meters. > > As an example, this past week, the local morning of June 2, I CQed to the > west, alternately at 225, 270 & 315 degrees. I began at 1100 Z and > continued until my sunrise at ~1200 Z. > > I did not receive any responses to my CQ's; no contacts were logged. > > QRN level was quite low, so I can only presume there were few if any > stations in the targeted areas of South Pacific Islands, ZL, VK, JA, UA0 > and SE Asia on the air during this time period. > > I believe 'The Band' was WIDE OPEN to at least a portion of VK, if not > other areas. Apparently no stations were listening at that time. > > The RBN system provides a good insight into the propagation available. > Besides western US RBN station reports, I noted the following. > > de DX Freq SNR Time > -- Date > _____ ____ ______ _____ __________ > > VK4CT N5IA 1824.5 19 dB 1103 -- 2 Jun > > VK4CT N5IA 1824.5 20 dB 1115 -- 2 Jun > > VK4CT N5IA 1824.5 27 dB 1131 -- 2 Jun > > VK4CT N5IA 1824.5 25 dB 1146 -- 2 Jun > > The signal reports also show the signal enhancement taking place as > sunrise approached my location. > > 73, and GL to everyone who tries northern hemisphere, summer time > operations on TB. > > de Milt, N5IA > > > > _________________ > Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband > _________________ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband