Topband: VK9XG report 1 Nov 2003

[Steve Ireland]

G'day

As most will have guessed, the solar flares have made life impossible for
VK9XG on topband.  Charlie sent me this report.  He has excellent antennas
for 160/80m, with a Force 12 vertical, dipoles suspended from the top of a
50m crane, plus phased pennants on receive.  


>"Well conditions are terrible!!!!  Much worse than four years ago.  I have 
>only worked 9V1GO on top band.  I am on 80M every evening and every
morning... 
> Yesterday only worked two EU stns, ON4UN and ON4WW.  ON4UN 
>told me I had a stong signal, yet no other Europeans could be heard calling 
>me.  The States is another matter.  I have not been able to hear a signal on 
>80 or 160.  Last night about 8 PM local time, the 20M band did open for RTTY 
>so I went there and worked until 11:30.  Christmas is very much needed on 
>that mode and the pileups were huge.  I am on 80M every dark hour I can 
>spare and when it opens, I will QSY to 160 but nothing so far.  This flare 
>business has really hammered communications on the low bands."
>
>"Just reassure the guys that I am trying, I recognize the need, and when
it [the propagation] 
>appears, I will take advantage of it.  Only three hours sleep last night so 
>it is getting a bit tough to continue in that mode but still having fun."


Vy 73

Steve, VK6VZ