Topband: HS72B & band conditions

[Larry Molitor]

This morning was not good for us NW guys. The searchlite seemed to be focused on the SW. HS72B was heard about 449 at 1330Z here, about as early as I've ever heard him but not nearly as strong. Except for a few short peaks, that was about as good as it got. No sunrise peak to speak of and gone entirely about 15 mins before my sunup.
 
I noticed that the Kiruna Magnetogram (http://spider.irf.se/mag/) started jumping around about 1345Z, so I guess that accounts for my weak signals after that time.
 
This morning I spent some time listening to the calling frequency. Didn't hear any northern guys in there, but the SW was well represented. Sounded like quite a few got through!
 
The other day, I posed a retorical question: How much power would it take me to get through their noise? I thought about that for a while and came up with this comparision: 
 
I was there when N7UA worked the HS. I was copying HS72B 559 at the time and heard Bob get a 449. Given the antenna difference (4-square vs. single vertical) and the QTH difference (Puget Sound vs. dry, rocky, central WA desert) and N7UA running 1500 watts, I estimated that I would have needed about 60 KW to get through at that point in time! Obviously this is a worst case comparison, but still.....
 
Time's getting short on this one, I'd better get real lucky real soon.
 
73,
 
Larry - W7IUV

		
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