Roger,
I agree fully that unless someone is calling CQ, we will all conclude the band
is dead.
As Dave said, with the usual very rapid QSB on 160m this is very true.
However, regarding conditions.
Here at VE6WZ I am almost always watching the band for an opening. Like
virtually every night.
Thank goodness for OK1CF and LY7M and a few others making the effort to call CQ.
When I say "always watching the band" I mean that I am ALWAYS watching the band.
Even when watching TV with the XYL, I have a remote session on my iPhone
watching the waterfall on the Flex radio.
If any of the EU CQs start to bubble up and make a trace....I will see it and
be at the radio.
If the band is open to EU I will know it!!
That has not happened much this season. Since September I have only had 56
QSOs with Europe.
Secondly, every night I am recording the entire MW (AM BCB) band.
I can very quickly review what's happening and see if any trans-polar EU BCB
stations are making it.
The usual big guns are Moldova Vesti on 1413 kHz, Lithuania Baltic 1386 kHz and
sometimes the UK on 1053, and occasionally the Ukraine and Romania.
At times they can be quite strong here. At those times, I reckon 160m has a
good shot.
As Dave said, without making noise there will be limited activity.
This season (and last), PART of the reason has been rather poor conditions for
us guys out west on the trans-polar path.
Your path to the East Coast is a completely different story.
Steve, ve6wz
________________________________
From: Topband <topband-bounces+ve6wz=shaw.ca@contesting.com> on behalf of Roger
Kennedy <roger@wessexproductions.co.uk>
Sent: Friday, January 5, 2024 9:01 AM
To: topband@contesting.com <topband@contesting.com>
Subject: Topband: Lack of DX CW Activity
Well I've said it before . . . and no doubt I will say it again . . .
But it's a real shame that there is so little CW activity on Top Band at the
moment.
Sure, conditions aren't always that good at the moment on 160m . . . but
often the band IS open (as shown by RBN reports) . . . but there is nobody
on the band to work !
I know some of you only come on Top Band when there is a Contest, or when
there is some DX-pedition to work . . . but given the resources many have
put into a decent 160m Antenna System, it amazes me that's the only time
many people come on the band.
Some of us complain about FT8 reducing the amount of CW activity these days
. . . but if you don't make the effort to come on the band, then all CW
activity will completely disappear . . .
Inactivity breeds Inactivity !
There are several of us Europeans on Top Band most nights, calling CQ DX and
getting no replies. . . I really hope more people will make the effort to
come on Top Band, or else this side of the hobby (that I remain passionate
about) will gradually die.
73 Roger G3YRO
_________________
Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
_________________
Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
|