I decided to use my LoTW log entries to see how many 160M contacts I made from
Sao Tome long ago. Given the extreme problem with constant high level of QRN I
experienced there, I was surprised by the totals.
S92SS ('92-''97) 1,606S9SS ('02-'07) 1847
Total 3453
That represents a tremendous amount of difficult operating time. QSO's were
usually minutes apart as I waited for a signal to rise to the crest of the
constant grind of S9 plus QRN from equatorial thunderstorms across the African
continent. Some find it hard to believe, but I seldom heard any evidence of a
pileup, just the occasional signal that exceeded the noise level. It usually
took many repetitions for me to piece a call sign together. Many stations
faded back into the noise before I got the complete call sign. Yes, I was
"deaf" as many cited on the cluster, but I did my best.
73,Charles Lewis - KY4P
ex K4OVA, A22AA, S92SS, SV0LM, A25/KY4P, S9SS
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