[SCCC] N6ZFO CQWW CW 160m SOLP

[hounds1234 at comcast.net]

>From home QTH in Marin county:

N6ZFO  CQWW  CW SOLP 160m

Band    Q's    Pts     Mults    Pts
160       10      43        10        430

Equip  

FT1000MP at <100w into 160m Vert with 4-wire capacitive top hat and 2  above 
gnd 1/4 wave radials.

Comments:

This minimal effort just in prep for next week's 160m ARRL test.

On Saturday  added 2 wires to form a fairly well balanced capacitive top hat to 
the 160 meter vertical.  Thus about 85' vertical and four 33' wires 
more--or-less at right angles from the top.  Former version had  two-wire top 
loading.  Looks good, but resonates 100 kHz too low, so high SWR with direct 50 
ohm feed..

Loading problems restricted power to below 100 watts,  maybe 50w  for some Q's.  
Surprised to work KV4FZ easily at 45 mins before sunset, followed  by VP9S, 
HC8N, 8P5A and others, mostly the usual suspects.   All worked pretty easily but 
couldn't get V31XX past "FO?".  Sat morning UA0DN (? can't remem) was strong, 
but no luck; K6LRN worked him- almost no one else around 1500Z.  Bagged JA5BJC easily on 50w.  

In general, 160 m conditions seemed pretty awful . .  Carib stns would stay 
above noise only briefly then disappear for long periods.  No Eu, VK or ZL 
heard.  HC8N  fairly weak.

Making trip up for ARRL 160m next week but will miss most of Fri evening.  
Hoping wx will break long engough today for stringing more radials and getting 
matching problems resolved.

73 Bill n6zfo