Topband: S9SS

[W2pm at aol.com]

In a message dated 3/14/2004 5:32:38 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
BobK8IA at aol.com writes:

> Thats interesting as he was quite copyable here in Arizona on both bands, 
> 0230Z or so. Nothing fancy here for antennas (rx or tx) on either band, just 
> low 
> noise level most of the time. Thats certainly what makes 160 a challenge. 
> Searchlight propagation??

I dont know -- Im starting to think it's one of two things here at my QTH in 
suburban NNJ --  1. local terrain with high density development attenuates low 
angle signals - I know the noise level is sharply increased in these QTH's 
but Ive been able to abate the noise by a number of different measures and sig 
strength on some 160 signals is just way, way down from reports of others 
within 200 mi of here.   
2. My antennas are too low angle -- I have only Flags, Pennants and the 1/4 
wave Inv L. I also have a mag loop which is a diff category and quite def 
normally anyway.  

I use the same antennas for rx on 80 with excellent results often hearing 
stations many other seem to have problems with ...  

Like I said before - its 160 ..!