Topband: KH8SI - Strange Condx

[Bill Tippett]

         I thought I was going to miss KH8SI today.  I
wasn't copying him well until about 15 minutes before
my 1030 sunrise and he couldn't hear me TX using my
vertical array.  I didn't feel too bad as W8JI was also
having problems being heard and Tom sent him
339 once.  As my sunrise approached, I was about
to think I would miss this one.  10 minutes before SR
I began calling and alternating TX using the vertical (low
angle) and my inverted-V (high angle), which seemed
to be about the same on RX.  Then at sunrise, the
inv-V seemed clearly better so I started using only
it for TX.  Finally I got him at 1035 when he was a very
solid 569 on the inv-V and stayed in well after my
sunrise.

         Afterwards I checked Aurora sites and saw
we had POES Au=8 and Kp=4, which apparently was
causing high angle condx here.  Sure am glad I put
up that inv-V a few years ago!

                                 73,  Bill  W4ZV