[Nodxa] Fwd: Chesterfield Islands DX-pedition Update #11

[Tedd Mirgliotta (KB8NW)]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	Chesterfield Islands DX-pedition Update #11
Date: 	Fri, 9 Oct 2015 17:11:34 -0600
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Last night we experienced even stronger winds than what is now typical. 
One op reported his bed was moving during the night from the wind that 
was lifting his tent.  We think he was dreaming as it was really several 
hundred hermit crabs carrying him to their nesting area.

Last report we have shows: SFI=80, A=56, K=3, the quality of the signals 
on this end have been marginal. We know that you are hearing us better 
than we're hearing you. With the A having been as high as 77 it's a 
miracle you hear us at all.

Last night we opened to NA on 40 SSB while competing with an "Over the 
Horizon Radar"  that was about the same signal strength as most NA 
signals and atmospheric noise. This continued for about 2 - 3 hours 
before NA started building. Similar situation with EU, weak signals and 
radar interference. We appreciated Asia standing by during the NA and 
later EU openings. We had similar weak signal challenges on 30 meter CW, 
with signals out of EU mostly in the noise. We had good openings on 80 
CW. We also had excellent openings on 20 CW to the UK, Nordics, and 
other northwest EU countries. Until now there's been very little to no  
propagation to that region.

The ops are reporting working these long hours under the current 
conditions is very tiring and not much fun.

Since we're in Asia's back yard they have propagation the vast majority 
of time.  They have about 44% of the contacts because we hear them 
during your propagation lulls, its a simple choice, work Asia or work 
nothing. While some of you think we're ignoring NA and EU in favor of 
AS, the reality is propagation is erratic. Openings are not as obvious 
to us while we're working what we can hear. We always call for NA - EU 
when we hear an opening to those geos.

All equipment and the generators continue to work very well. The Evohe 
crew has been very helpful with guy inspections and maintenance.

With 2 operating days remaining we'll continue to look for NA and EU, 
and ask all geographies to call if only an All Time New One on any band.

Team Chesterfield Island DX-pedition


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-- 
Tedd Mirgliotta, KB8NW - E-mail addresses:
<kb8nw at barf80.nshore.org>  <kb8nw at hotmail.com>  <kb8nw at arrl.net>
Editor of the Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin (OPDX - DXer's Tool of Excellence)
President of the "Northern Ohio DX Association" (NODXA)
DX Chairman for the "Northern Ohio Amateur Radio Society
ARRL Assistant Director of the Great Lakes Division
Sysop of the "Basic Amateur Radio Frequency BBS" (BARF80.ORG)