Topband: Propagation from central WA

[Larry Molitor]

Last night the local QRN was very high and I couldn't even hear the east 
coast guys working EU. From all the cluster spots I knew that condx to EU 
were good and if the pattern held, expected to have pretty poor condx for 
my morning shot to the Pacific regions.

Well the pattern didn't hold. The planetary K index was low, auroral 
activity was minimal and for once, at least, condx were good. At least to 
parts of the Pacific.

I could not hear the ZL digi's at all this morning, nor did I ever hear any 
VK's. However I did hear FK/KM9D fairly well (which I needed and worked) 
and bits of 9V1GO ( which I still need, drat!). A lot of JA's were heard 
calling the FK, some of which were easily 599 here.

There was little sunrise peak, if any, noted. FK may have peaked somewhat 
before 9V, and JA somewhat before that, but QSB pretty well masked what 
ever peak there might have been.

Interestingly, W7LR, east of me, seemed to copy 9V1GO very well and have 
trouble with FK, opposite of what I experienced. I didn't hear many wet 
side guys (Seattle, Portland area) calling the FK, but they were sure 
hearing the 9V a lot better than me, 180 miles further east.

The JA's all went to bed when FK/KM9D QSY'd!

73,

Larry - W7IUV