Topband: The Stew from the Black Hole

[Robert Marshall-Read]

Hello Top Banders,

Better than last year but not as good as from 9V1GO the year before.  That
about sums up the 2006 Stew Perry from the Black Hole of Asia.  Strongest
and most consistent signal form NA was N7UA and the biggest surprise was
working N6TR in the last hours of the test and copying his CN85 579 after
hearing his CQ's for ten minutes (loudest on the SE beverage which is not
the NA beverage).

It was also a pleasure to work Merv K9FB/KH6 and Greg ZL3IX, normally not
easy from YB5, other outstanding signals were GM3POI and GI3OQR, much better
than normal into Indonesia.

I was getting a little nostalgic during the test, wishing for the days of a
target rich environment with stations wall to wall in G4 and the plaque two
years in a row for low power in Europe.  But then the near zero temperatures
in the garage ham shack there, the high prices, and the unfriendly
neighbours along with the antenna restrictions vs. the sunny tropics and
rice farms in every direction for beverages bring me back to reality.

46 Q's, longest worth 28 points....total including the low power mult =
1,280 more or less after the busted ones are deducted.

Great way to spend a weekend!

73

Bob

YB5AQB (From OI33 portable this time, not OJ21)