WTG Jeff and Miriam !
I am always wanting to go to Zone 2 for some contest, but time, money and work/home commitments thus far have prevented it. WRT to Steve's comments, I am *very* surprised that few VK's have worked Zone 2. In recent memory VO2AAA/VO2AC have put on 2 pretty big 160m contest expeditions from the Point Amour Lighthouse in Labrador with exceptional antennas and huge signals into NA and EU.(and elsewhere) I know that Yuri VE3DZ goes there into the QC side of Zone 2 nearly every year as VE2IM (sometimes twice a year) usually for CQWW and other contests..but I *think*.(I stand to be corrected), he uses a relatively low Inverted L for TopBand,.he's always loud here but I am <1000kms away, so can't judge what he might sound like on the other side of the planet. There are usually a smattering of other VE2/VE3 ops that go to VE2(Zone 2) contest operations from time to time and an occasional one from the Clubhouse in Lab city by Americans, VO1MP and others. All in all it's not rare, but evidently nobody is concentrating on 160 (except VO2AAA/VO2AC) to work Asia/Pacific I guess. I am pleased to know at least a few very distant DX stns were able to do it with my 'neighbours' over there on PEI... I only operate CW/SSB and a sprinkling of RTTY, so won't make any comments about the FT-modes lest I get myself in trouble.hi hi ;-) Mike VE9AA/VO2DX.etc. In common with most topbanders any in this area, one of the two remaining zones I need on 160m after 24 years of operation from here is Zone 2, so I hope you and Jeff will go back one day. ;-) I am guessing you went to/near the southern boundary of Zone 2 in Quebec - which is the best - possibly the only area - where it is possible to work into this part of the globe. Over the years I have listened for just about every DXpedition that operated on 160m from Zone 2 and I have only ever heard one - which was from this area. Despite the efforts of many from VO2, not a peep was heard from here. I should add that I am a CW operator. In the past there have been several longtime topbanders in the US who have appreciated how difficult it is to work some zones from this part of the world and made special efforts to work us on their DXpeditions. I would particularly like to pay tribute to your husband Jeff, George W8UVZ, Bob K4UEE and Jerry WB9Z. However, this kind of knowledge and effort has become unusual - which is why I'd like to thank you particularly on our behalf. Here's hoping someone will go to the Zone 2 part of Quebec for the upcoming CQ WW CW or the CQ 160 CW. It'd also be nice if there was a DXpedition to Zone 12, in particular Easter Island or San Felix (CE0) who did a heap of 160m CW at times that suited the Asia/Indian Ocean/Pacific area - now that'd make a good holiday destination for some topbander. ;-) Vy 73 Steve, VK6VZ (also G3ZZD and VY2LF) Mike, Coreen & Corey Keswick Ridge, NB _________________ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector