Topband: There is hope...

Jon Zaimes AA1K jon.zaimes@dol.net
Mon, 07 Jan 2002 16:30:35 +0000


Woke up at 1130z to find the band super quiet, VK3ZL easy copy while Bob
was working W8JI. Could just barely copy A35VK a few minutes later, then
VK6HD was 579 at 1150z. Suddenly at 1210z the "quiet" noise floor started
to come up. Sounded almost like we had a new line noise but it was equal on
all the Beverages. Was about to quit early but decided to hang in for
sunrise (1221z) and then at 1215z JA1CGM is 549 on 1821 khz, easy copy!
Couldn't raise Ogi but continued to copy his CQs till almost 10 minutes
past sunrise. First sustained JA opening this season. 

Back to bed and awake a few hours later to check 6 meters, and one of the
few days in many weeks that 6 wasn't open to Europe. 

So there is hope...maybe 160 is getting back to "normal" for January!

73/Jon AA1K
Delaware