I recall around the equinoxes has been good in the past on 160 Meters from the Midwest to VK6.
I worked Mike, VK6HD back in the 90's one late September morning near sunrise on 160M CW with 100 watts and a balloon supported vertical from Wichita, KS. He was a real 599 for about 20 minutes. He became a SK in 2013. A great Topband op. https://www.qrz.com/db/VK6HD 73 — Jon N0JK ________________________________ 1. Conditions (David Raymond) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Wed, 24 Sep 2025 09:34:44 -0500 From: David Raymond <[email protected]> To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> Subject: Topband: Conditions Message-ID: <[email protected]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed Greetings topbanders. . . We all know topband conditions have been in the doldrums for quite awhile.? This morning was different. As usual, I got to the rig about my usual 0500L and got things fired up.? Not hearing any activity I began CQing with the 1821.5 xtal.? I was a little surprised to see that I was being heard at the VK3RASA RBN for the first time this season.? I continued CQing for a few minutes with nothing heard.? Then at 1043z I was pleasantly surprised to hear Nob, JA3KZR, in the noise call in with a 339 signal, my first JA QSO of the season.? I continued CQing then had another surprise at 1103z when Phil, VK6GX, called in with a 449 signal.? An even bigger surprise came when Phil gave me a 599(!) report.? Over the next few minutes Phil and I had several more exchanges with his signal building to S7.? Phil said my signal was well above S9.? Meanwhile topband stalwart Adrian, VK2WF, was up on 1829.6 the whole time and was just detectable, not copyable enough for a QSO.? In the meantime John, W4NU, in Atlanta had success with Phil/VK6 while Ron, N4XD, clear out west in NM did not. . . go figure.? ?After nearly four decades of DXing on topband it never ceases to surprise and amaze me. With SFI numbers still high, it's probably asking too much to expect better conditions this season. . .but hope springs eternal! 73. . . Dave, W0FLS on CW in Iowa _________________ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
