Hi Steve
Did you try a high angle receive antenna? Not so sure on this end, but when we
were working skew paths from XZ0A we simply had to have a cloud warmer receive
antenna in order to hear anything until a couple hours after local dark. Went
several days of near nothing until we put up a dipole at 15 feet, then made
something like 30 eastern NA Qs the first night we had that antenna.
Almost all of the skew contacts we made were reported as arriving from 210-240
for NA east of the Midwest..
This was during a solar high when the polar oval was strong, so nothing was
making it through that area.
This condition was consistent for several weeks - all the time we were there.
Quiet environment, diesel powered island hotel, several miles across water to
the typical noisy Asian town, and a lot of miles to a big city.
TX antenna was a full size quarter wave groundplane. (180 ft antenna fed at 50
ft with dozen radials), so it probably did have a modest high angle signal - a
big fat main lobe.
to this day we have no idea if the RX arrival angle matched the TX departure
angle. The low dipole was not TX grade.
Robin, WA6CDR
XZ0A
(I hope this doesn't double post)
----- Original Message -----
From: "VE6WZ_Steve" <ve6wz@shaw.ca>
To: "Topband" <topband@contesting.com>
Sent: Monday, February 28, 2022 12:14
Subject: Topband: 8Q7WM Z-22 in VE6
Well, today a miracle happened.
I worked 8Q7WM on 160m CW for a new DXCC and Z-22.
His signal peaked at about 1415 z or so. My SR at 1430z.
First of all, I owe thanks to Bob W7RH for spotting 8Q7WM this morning on
160m.
For the last few months, I have been lazy and sleeping in. This morning I got
up about 25 min before my sunrise and checked the band.
I saw Bob's spot for the 8Q7 on 1821, and thought, “well, I will never hear
him, but I my as well check”
I was so shocked when I heard his CQ that I almost fell out of my chair.
His signal was arriving at the usual skew path that most of SE Asia arrives,
somewhere between Japan path at 320 deg. and direct west at 270 deg.
The direct path to 8Q7 from VE6 is virtually straight north polar at 352 deg.
Here are a few recordings I made of his signal.
If you decide to listen to these, don't even bother without headphones, he is
weak. Really weak.
These recordings are in stereo diversity, in the Left ear is the phased
Beverage pair, in the Right ear is the 9 circle .
Both RX are set direct west, although he was also copyable on the JA rx too.
While the amp was warming up I recorded this CQ:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fHNBaTs-JDKPTLHDuhRtRAxWrEpMYvzj/view?usp=sharing
<https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fHNBaTs-JDKPTLHDuhRtRAxWrEpMYvzj/view?usp=sharing>
Next Kevin VK6LW called, and I recorded his 2-way QSO:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EaHEhGU3UQk9YwGpmawdFBjC1b23aPKn/view?usp=sharing
<https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EaHEhGU3UQk9YwGpmawdFBjC1b23aPKn/view?usp=sharing>
After Kevin finished, the amp was warm so I called.
I am actually embarrassed about my calling. I was so stunned that I could
copy him, I was messing up my reports, and sending my call way too many times.
I think it's clear that I was doubling with him, and I almost ruined my own
QSO.
He went into a QSB fade right when I called, so I wasn't sure he had my call
correct, so I think he was unsure I had confirmed.
AT 2:05 he sends VE6WZ?
I resend my call and report,
At 2:40 he sends VE6WZ 5NN,
I CFM and at 3:05 8Q7 sends CFM.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eibREmwj9BzNH2I-gPa14rTdOqMLlorV/view?usp=sharing
<https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eibREmwj9BzNH2I-gPa14rTdOqMLlorV/view?usp=sharing>
Here he is QRZ? with Dennis, ZL1AZ and JI1DCW calling:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Nz6GX62Ba1gw22R__jpcjbHHnb8QGoNt/view?usp=sharing
<https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Nz6GX62Ba1gw22R__jpcjbHHnb8QGoNt/view?usp=sharing>
The band has remained very poor and the EU trans-polar path has not opened for
a few weeks.
Working Z 22, which is a direct polar path I never would have imagined, but of
course the opening was a skew path, completely avoiding the AU !
Thanks to Karel OK2WM for pulling me out, and for setting up an excellent TX
on the beautiful beach in the Maldives.
Good luck to the other WC guys. It seems Karel and Vlad will be there till
March 8.
73, de steve ve6wz
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