As an East Coast topbander, I don't have directional arrays and usually
don't even have rx antennas. I operate remote mostly at stations in MA, ME,
and VT. CA is not always easy, at least for me, however, I did work you on
160M from VT in the 2023 CQ160 CW contest.
On Sun, Mar 9, 2025, 17:59 Jim Brown <jim@audiosystemsgroup.com> wrote:
> On 3/9/2025 1:52 PM, Steve Harrison wrote:
> > most of the east coast seemed to be having
> > lots of trouble copying westerners although they were strong out here.
>
> My experience on Topband is that all the east coast seems interested in
> is EU. Many are listening with arrays focused on EU, and those with
> transmitting arrays transmitting in that direction. When prop to EU
> dies, they go to bed. Add to that the increased noise levels from
> electronic power-handling, like SMPS power supplies and chargers,
> variable-speed motor controllers, and solar systems.
>
> All of which is why I've been increasingly losing interest in Topband
> contesting over the years. 10-15 years ago, I got to 47 states for WAS
> on Topband QRP (5 W), all CW, when noise levels were much lower, and
> enough east coast stations listened west after EU shut down. The only
> state I've been able to add since was WV, using JT65. The states I'm
> missing are SC and VT. And the big gun VT Topbanders have always been
> deaf to the west -- they're hard to work legal limit with a 100 ft Tee
> vertical!
>
> 73, Jim K9YC
> Santa Cruz, CA
>
>
>
>
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