TopBand: JA opening of the year

[John Kaufmann]

This morning produced the best conditions to JA so far this 
season from here in eastern MA.  Between 11:58Z and 12:08Z
I put JA1JRK, JA1HQT, JH0INP, JH5FXP, and JA4LXY in the
log.  My sunrise is now 12:07Z.  'JRK and 'HQT peaked at 579,
which is about as good as it ever gets here in W1 land to JA.
Also, Steve VK6VZ was worked with decent signals a few minutes
after sunrise.

What is interesting (and this happens frequently) is that the band
suddenly exploded with JA's just before 12:00Z this morning 
after being totally silent before that.  (Does the propagation
build up that quickly or do the JA's just maintain radio silence 
until east coast sunrise?)  The period of good propagation lasts 
only about 10-15 minutes and then it's over, although JA3ONB 
was still coming through pretty well at 12:30Z.

Last night we did indeed have good propagation to 8Q7AA, who
peaked at 579 around 00:45Z.  A lot of East Coasters made it.

73, John W1FV

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