What I've seen (in both EU and NA) is that, even folks who use the
skimmer/RBN spots tend to ignore them, except for their own skimmers,
if they have them. There is so much data, that it overwhelms. I
love RBN as a tool to see where I'm hitting, but whether I'm running
Assisted or Non, can always tell when I hit the cluster.
FWIW, at this point in the cycle, you bring up an excellent point. A
lot of us still seem to set our strategy on past years. Part of
everyones thinking right now has to be ..
1) Low bands, low bands, low bands. Earlier than you think and
later you think. That 40M Yagi that you've been on the border of
buying? It's time. Their are 2 element "Shorty 40" type antennas
that are much lighter than you might expect.
2) Please, please, please, consider short 10M openings, even when the
MUF says otherwise (well except for those of us in the Far North, a
reality TV show star will get elected U.S. President before we can work
anything on 10).
73
Steve KL7SB
On Mon, 28 Nov 2016 14:47:47 -0400, Mike Smith VE9AA wrote:
I was wondering something along the same lines Gerry. I tuned
across some
loud EU's both days (vy easily worked), well before SSet and then thought,
heck, I'll try CQing.
Found a slot, started hammering away, might get one caller in 5 or 6
minutes, then I moved as I thought I might be on some UA9's frequency, but
just can't hear him,
Move, CQ, one caller for every 5 or 6 minutes, gave up and went back to 20m.
I know I am not as loud into EU as K2LE or KC1XX, but with about 700w and a
4-square on the Ridge here, I do "OK"..
It was kinda Bizarro-World to hear 40m open this early. I wonder if that is
normal for this point in the cycle? Anyone comment? I wasn't contesting HF
11 yrs ago.
Also, back to your question, why WOULDN'T the EU's use an RBN feed? (if
memory serves, from some CQ survey, there are even more assisted ops in EU
than NA, so it would stand to reason they would)
Mike VE9AA
Europe opened to NA very early on 40m this weekend; it was runable from
K2LE by
13:30 local both Saturday and Sunday.
When I would call CQ, the RBN would light up like a Christmas tree from EU
skimmers with very good reports.
However, little would call in until I was manually spotted by a caller, and
a pile ensued.
BTW, congrats to the RBN team for quickly bringing the system back up after
it died!
(They exceeded a PHP config threshold)... Essentially rebooting CQWW!! :-)
73, Gerry W1VE @ K2LE this weekend
Mike, Coreen & Corey
Keswick Ridge, NB
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