TopBand: Golden Ears

[sears@rell.com]

     My only comment concerning the DX stations heard/worked from various 
     locations is that you include time and FREQUENCY. Many times the rare 
     DX stations will appear on the same frequencies over and over again. 
     This helps when trying to snag the hard/weak ones. 
     
     Peter
     W5PS


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: TopBand: Golden Ears
Author:  LarryX Tyree contractor for brentc <larrytx@co.intel.com> at internet
Date:    2/4/97 9:45 AM


     
After thinking about Bill's comments about reception reports and thinking 
about it over night, I have a few observations:
     
1. The value of comments like mine seem to be making people aware of what 
the possibilities are, so others can take advantage of them.  
     
2. If we pick people who are at the top of the "topband" heap, we might 
have a problem.  Sure, it is exciting to know that N7UA worked 9K2, but 
most of the time, this information is pretty useless as the "average" 
topband station won't be able to take advantage of the information.
     
3. Most of the information on band openings can be deduced from the 
packet spots.  The OH2BUA web page does a good job of collecting data 
from all of the packet nodes, and provides a summary of what was heard.
     
So, I am not sure that the listings of times/stations is that interesting
as it is pretty much a copy of the packet summary.  What is more interesting 
is something like this (I hope):
     
BV7FC showed up this morning with a very nice signal (around 1823 kHz). 
He was on from 1500 until at least 1520.
     
However, he seemed to be struggling with noise on receive.  A number of 
west coast stations were calling and some worked him (including N5KO 
with his new moutain top tree supported vertical).  I had a hard time 
getting through - eventually using the new dipole since he seemed
to be slightly stronger on it than the vertical.  For sure the dipole 
was the better receive antenna (better signal to noise ratio).  This
is typical when receiving to the west, but the vertical is almost always 
better to Europe.
     
There were many times that he would CQ back to the pileup, or get part 
of a call, but never complete the QSO.  He gave me a 339!
     
Last night, Trey and I heard DF2PY for about 1 minute while K7CA worked 
him, then he faded into nothingness.  That was the only peep heard from
Europe.  It is interesting that Trey (located near Santa Cruz/San Francisco) 
and I heard him at the same time, and didn't hear him at the same time.
We are about 600 miles apart.  Hopefully we can make some more observations 
like this while we are talking on the phone.  
     
Before going to bed D44BC showed up on SSB with a great signal and 
was easy to work.  This was around 0700.  It proves that after you 
have gotten dressed for bed, you should make a quick check of the band 
just before hitting the sack!  It also proves you need to listen on SSB, 
even from the west coast (boy - that hurt).
     
Still dreaming of TN and 9X QSOs perhaps this weekend.  The aurora has 
been a killer to Europe.  Hopefully things will settle down for the 
ARRL DX test (gee - no problem with DX windows in that contest at least).
     
73 Tree N6TR
tree@contesting.com
     
     
     
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