: Boring Report - December
>
> Simply put - Decemeber was not very exciting... dare I say almost
> boring?
>
> While I have been able to hear and work some Europeans during the
> month - signals have been down significantly from normal. Most
> nights - I either hear nothing - or perhaps only a few weak signals.
> Most of my contacts have been made by the "skin of my teeth" and
> there have not been any opportunities to run stations. While I have
> worked a few stations in the morning - the mornings in the past two
> years were much better.
>
> All of this sort of adds to me thinking conditions are significantly
> worse than they were the past couple or years. Likely worse than
> they have been since 2006.
>
> Just wondering if this matches the perception of others? Looking
> back in my logs - it's amazing to me that I actually went through
> several years of working zero Europeans - but it appears we might
> be on the brink of this happening again?
>
> 73 Tree N6TR
>From my observations here in the Midwest, conditions are substantially down
from recent years past. That includes conditions to EU, Asia, and VK/ZL.
Last year and the year before many of the active NA stations were routinely
working Zones 17, 18, & 19 both morning and night. This part of the world
is a relatively tough path for NA. This year it's much more of a challenge
to work those zones at any time. I note that activity from JA is only a
small fraction of what it has been in recent years. Two years ago I could
easily work 10 or 20 JA stations in one morning session. Now, I can CQ
beaming JA for 20 minutes and never even get a response.
All that said there have been a few bright moments. There was a wonderful
opening from the Midwest to EU at their SR a few nights ago. Topband
sounded like 20m at midday with stations every KHz. But that was just one
evening, not night-after-night like it was a year or two ago.
I think all of this has somewhat discouraged all but a few of the stalwarts,
and understandably so. You just have to be on. . .there just won't be as
good a return on your investment. No doubt, times and prop have changed.
73 and Happy New Year to all. . .Dave
W0FLS
in Iowa
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UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
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