I was very active on 160 during the 60s and early 70s then gave up radio for
about 50 years and came back 4 years ago. Almost all my activity is 160m CW, I
don’t have a microphone, I have a PC but it is not connected to my radio and I
don’t use computer logging and certainly have no interest in data modes. I
guess that makes me a dinosaur!
I am active most evenings but never after about 2300Z and frequently come on to
check the band just before sunrise during the winter. I have worked around 185
countries in the last 4 years using a invL at around 60 feet with 20 radials
plus numerous wire netting fences bonded to the ground system. I have a single
E/W 400 ft Beverage and a rotatable receiving loop for other directions.
The DX path to E coast NA is relatively easy from here and I have been having
reasonable success recently on the short path at our dusk to VK/ZL and the Far
East. The W coast NA is almost impossible at the stage of the sunspot cycle and
KH6/KL7 etc completely impossible.
Like Roger, I put out a few CQs every time I switch on to check my RBN
coverage. Usually I only get EU responses, but a couple of years ago it was
very different and I would get hits as far away as W7 etc. I also used to be
able to work Steve WZ almost every day but have not even heard him this season.
So I think that the major problem these days is simply the state of the sunspot
cycle and that we all have to just put up with it and wait a few years.
Richard G3OQT
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