Topband: Contest comments from here

[Ron vk3io]

Hello all. I had a qrn free weekend for a change this year. A few days before the contest it was very bad, so just a bit of luck my way, this year.

On both night signals from USA started to roll in about 20 minutes before sun set, but I was not able to be heard until the received sig stength got to about S7, they peaked at about S9+5dB.

Wall to wall signals made it very difficult to be heard, so the dx windows was a blessing. But it always amazes me how some stations here you on the first call in amongst what must be bedlam in NA.

Conditions to europe and japan were also good (not great, but good), but unfortunately there was no "dx window" in action here. Once again wall to wall signals and many stations called who were S9 and did not hear me, no doubt due to there local qrm.

I did not hear or work any new dx and nothing from Africa or South America. Only VP2E heard but he was only 559.

Like Mike VK6HD I am be getting early aging, as I could not stay awake from sun down to sun rise, so I missed some action, maybe  (had to have one or two or three hours sleep).

Still it was great to hear the band so alive. Before the contest only slight activity, after the contest only slight activity. No doubt most go back to watching the dx clusters and not calling cq, so we never know how good the band can be!!

Over here the only other VK's heard were VK6HD, VK6VZ, VK2GR and VK2AWD, so very low activity. From New Zealand even less, only ZL6QH and a few other occasional calls. From the Pacific also very low, only KH6 and KH0. 

Till next time, thanks. 

Ron vk3io at iinet.net.au