Yesterday, Trey and Tree reported hearing and calling UN5J on 1830
from Tree's station in Oregon, right at their sunrise. I found that
absolutely amazing and very exciting! I had yet to bestir myself from
summer sloth, staying up late almost daily and sleeping in as late as
possible--with no time for morning QRV-- commensurate with again
working for a living, and being a nightowl by temperament.
But this news from my cousin up north was literally a wake-up call.
I have been preparing two RTTY boxes for the Willis Island DXpedition,
and hit the sack at 0240 local time--hardly an optimum way to approach
a sunrise QRV. However, I took my daily vitamins with a BIG glass of
water. Naturally, I was up early--too early--and listened to N7UA
ragchewing with VK6, then K6VX doing the same. Pre-equinox, those guys
have an earlier sunrise, and I heard little from the DX, so I took
another nap, arising--with the topbander's infallible internal
clock--15 minutes before local sunrise.
At first, I heard nothing of interest, but did note that the band was
not as noisy as one might expect in August, and that the usual BC
harmonic was present on 1830. Then, right at sunrise (1335), I was
jolted right into full attention--a long CQ from UN5J, Q5 and clear as
a bell, 100% copy. I was almost inert with surprise, but managed to
fumble a call to him. He came back "?6T? AGN BK" and I obliged him.
This time it went like a script, 559 both ways, 73's, tnx new one,
DSV. He resumed CQing, still amazingly Q5.
I reached for the phone and woke up Ted, KA6W. Ted, alas, had nothing
connected. I jammed the earphone against the phone. "Nice signal," he
said, only partly awake. "How can you copy New York in daylight?" "Not
THE UN, Ted," I yelled. "Kazakhstan!"
I called AJ6T, but failed to penetrate the SWB (Sleeping Wife
Barrier). No matter--Walt got this guy in January, when I was lolling
on a beach in the Yucatan. I had taken it for granted that I would
have to wait until the end of the year to correct that misfortune.
Then the shack was full of daylight and UN5J was gone.
That I got through today and Tree did not yesterday is likely due to
my more southerly QTH and the resultant shallower penetration of the
auroral zone--right, Bob? Tree had said he could not be QRV today--bad
luck for him, but I will bet serious money UN5J will be there on the
morrow. In any case, I want to publicly thank Tree for the posting,
without which I would have blissfully snored through the opportunity--
and my first zone 17 on top.
This band rarely fails to frustrate, thrill, disappoint, and/or
enrapture its adherents. Just when you think you have it figgered
out...
I guess autumn is here!!!
Garry NI6T
--
FAQ on WWW: http://www.contesting.com/topband.html
Submissions: topband@contesting.com
Administrative requests: topband-REQUEST@contesting.com
Problems: owner-topband@contesting.com
|