TopBand: Topband Condx 1 Sept 1997

[K1ZM@aol.com]

Hello Guys

It looks like the season has commenced in earnest.

1 Sept condx were okay out here, not great, but did manage to complete WAC by
0500z.

Stations worked were K1MEM, SP5INQ, PY1BVY, 4X4NJ, ZS4TX and KH6CC.

A number of other S. Americans were worked including PY2BW, LU6KBX and EM1HO.

Europe seemed down but did manage to work OZ8RO, IV3PRK, HB9AMO, HB9BLQ and
EA1OD.

I passed JY9QJ from 40CW to 1824 at George's sunrise but he couldn't copy me
and I couldn't copy him either.

Then 5 mins later 4X4NJ was 449 - weak but copiable on a sked.

ZS4TX was a solid 559 at about 0423Z - also on sked.

Thanks to Jim K1MEM for helping me out with e-mail which I do not have in
Mass.

At sunrise there was a terrific VK/ZL opening starting at about 0950Z.

I worked ZL2SQ, ZL2JR, VK2OI and VK5RU(visiting VK3ZL QTH).

We switched over to SSB and worked there and were subsequently joined by
VK3DQW.

At the peak (about 15 mins after my sunrise) VK3ZL and VK3DQW were about 5 -
9+15DB.

Following the SSB QSO's,  I went back over to CW and VK3AJJ was a solid 599
and he came back to me about 1025Z with a 589 report.

I listened in to Peter's pile for awhile and he was running the band at a
good clip well into my daylight.

Looks like the band is in pretty good shape already.

This summer yielded "regulars" during July/August including:

DF2PY, G3SED, G4VFU/MM, CX4SS, PY2BW, LU6KBX, EM1HO, VP8CTR, DK5PR, OZ7C (the
1830.4 BEACON!), IV3PRK, SV1AOZ, RA6AX, HA8BE, RK3PA, SP2FAX and a few others
- when QRN levels were favorable.

Mornings have typically offered VK3ZL, ZL2JR, ZL2SQ, ZL4WA and VK2OI out
here.

Guess that's it.  I did not work FH/DF2SS when he was on - I was watching
Bjorn Borg play tennis the night VE1ZZ worked him - guess I had better get my
priorities fixed!  Hi. (Sure will try harder for DJ2BW in October, though!)

73 for now

Jeff K1ZM@aol.com 

--
FAQ on WWW:               http://www.contesting.com/topband.html
Submissions:              topband@contesting.com
Administrative requests:  topband-REQUEST@contesting.com
Problems:                 owner-topband@contesting.com