I recall around the equinoxes has been good in the past on 160 Meters from the
Midwest to VK6.
I worked Mike, VK6HD back in the 90's one late September morning near sunrise
on 160M CW with 100 watts and a balloon supported vertical from Wichita, KS. He
was a real 599 for about 20 minutes.
He became a SK in 2013. A great Topband op.
https://www.qrz.com/db/VK6HD
73 — Jon N0JK
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1. Conditions (David Raymond)
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Message: 1
Date: Wed, 24 Sep 2025 09:34:44 -0500
From: David Raymond <drbp4858@gmail.com>
To: "topband@contesting.com" <topband@contesting.com>
Subject: Topband: Conditions
Message-ID: <5d8b776d-049d-45f3-b6a4-0b998e85fd89@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed
Greetings topbanders. . .
We all know topband conditions have been in the doldrums for quite
awhile.? This morning was different.
As usual, I got to the rig about my usual 0500L and got things fired
up.? Not hearing any activity I began CQing with the 1821.5 xtal.? I was
a little surprised to see that I was being heard at the VK3RASA RBN for
the first time this season.? I continued CQing for a few minutes with
nothing heard.? Then at 1043z I was pleasantly surprised to hear Nob,
JA3KZR, in the noise call in with a 339 signal, my first JA QSO of the
season.? I continued CQing then had another surprise at 1103z when Phil,
VK6GX, called in with a 449 signal.? An even bigger surprise came when
Phil gave me a 599(!) report.? Over the next few minutes Phil and I had
several more exchanges with his signal building to S7.? Phil said my
signal was well above S9.? Meanwhile topband stalwart Adrian, VK2WF, was
up on 1829.6 the whole time and was just detectable, not copyable enough
for a QSO.? In the meantime John, W4NU, in Atlanta had success with
Phil/VK6 while Ron, N4XD, clear out west in NM did not. . . go figure.?
?After nearly four decades of DXing on topband it never ceases to
surprise and amaze me.
With SFI numbers still high, it's probably asking too much to expect
better conditions this season. . .but hope springs eternal!
73. . . Dave, W0FLS on CW in Iowa
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