Hi all Topband contesters.
Using my 160m dipole, 100fth, which is not a great DX antenna for
Topband, here in VK3, as far as I am concerned, this years contest was
surprisingly good, but not great, summarized by the following:
1. No North, Central or South America heard or worked, except for three
west coast USA and one VE7.
2. No Africa or India heard or worked (not unusual).
3. Only one KH6 heard, but not worked and no other pacific, except for
two ZL stations.
4. Surprisingly low QRN, considering all the lightning throughout
Australia. We have had mega lightning throughout VK in recent weeks and
continue to do so. so I was very lucky. Not so lucky for most of VK or
Pacific.
5. Great signals from Asia (JA & HS) on my first evening, not so good on
my second evening. Did hear BH7 strong, but he did not hear me, which
understandable, as not all DX stations have a low noise QTH or low noise
RX antenna pointing to VK3 land (and even if they do, they may not use
it, as the activity from VK is so low).
6. Great signals into Europe on my first morning (not very strong, but
amazingly very clear copy, both ways), not so good on my second morning.
As I did not have a VFO tuning knob on my Anan7000DLE (had to use my PC
mouse), I could not easily do search and pounce. I am waiting long time
for Controller V2 delivery. So I had to try and find a clear frequency
to call CQ on and for Europe this was almost impossible. Thank you for
all those who tried to keep my frequency clear and for those who called
me and could not make qso, due to European QRM. No doubt very difficult.
So on average, compared to the previous 30 years or so, it was good, not
great, as for some years, the QRN is so high, I cannot hear anyone, or
the prop is so bad, no qso's, except local are made.
Some years the DX signals were much stronger, but the DX could not hear
me, because their QRM or QRN was so high.
Seldom are conditions good on both my evenings and both my mornings, if
I am lucky it is one or the other, but not both.
Lastly, we in Australia, can now apply for a contest call sign, like
prefix VL3, VJ3 or VK3A (single suffix letter), so in future watch out
for this. Maybe I will get one, but maybe not, as I am now getting too
old to be a big time contester.
I hope to meet you in CQ WW 160 SSB contest. Much more difficult and a
challenge.
Cheers, from Ron. vk3io.
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