[SEDXC] Strange day

[David L. Thompson]

I did not feel well and since it was raining I worked inside (near the
radio).  I started the day trying to hear VK9LT on 18145 (just a whisper) at
1030Z while the Midwest was working him easily.  I heard XW1HS say he was
going to 18140 SSB but after 25 minutes I had to get my son off to school.
When I came back he was making his last transmission (said QSY to 80 CW) and
he was S7.  Later in the day he was spotted on both 17 and 12 meters but he
was ESP to S3 at best.

I monitored 15 meters and the W1/2 and Midwest were having a field day
working Asia which was very weak here.  Even the YB's were S4 to 5 so when
K3ZO spotted XV2A and BW3 they were ESP here.  Only a 4S7BRG and VU3DMP were
readable at all and the VU was getting S9 reports from W2 and he peaked here
at S5 to 6 with rapid QSB.  Other Asia was spotted but they never did get to
workable states. Europe was readable at times on 20 to 10 with an OH8/ES1RA
hitting S9 to 9+ on 15.  Several DLs and PA's were loud on 12 and 10 but
otherwise very little was coming through.   Later I heard VQ9GB (he was loud
for hours) on 12 with the only other signals being PY pirates (they were
LOUD).

Finally at 2300 I saw XW1HS was spotted by Mike K4PI but when I got there he
was barely ESP (QSB up and down from ESP to S4).  He worked an AA1 and later
AA4V but working simplex was impossible
and a bunch of stateside locals moved in and he was not heard again until he
moved to 14195.  He was S7 there at 2400Z.

On 17 at about the same time the XW1 was not readable a 4X1 was 40DB over
and OD5/OK was S9+10.  Seems the bands were open selectively with
W1/2/3/VA/W8?W9/VE3 having all the rarer stuff
on 15 and 17.  I shut the rig off when 7Q7DX was spotted on 24940 by a KB6
and a K9.  All I heard was the PY pirates again.   VQ9GB was still S9 and
the only valid signal on the band.

Hope the VK9LT can find time to operate between 2300 and 0400Z on 17 and 12
before he leaves Lord Howe and maybe one day I will hear a XW on 12.

73 Dave K4JRB