Topband: Receive Problem

[Jim Murray]

Hello All,
This Fall I put up my first Beverage and rx loop.  Up until about two weeks ago EU signals were coming in gangbusters using the Beverage.  Lately, it has been a struggle hearing EU.  Presently making more contacts towards the Caribbean, Central America and So. America,  possibly due to more active contest stations there now?  Just visually checking the beverage all seems normal.  Beverage runs SSW to NNE terminated at the SSW end.
What appears to have been great conditions for most a few days ago has not been for me when it comes to EU reception.  Is it possible the propagation could cause this conditon, or should I start checking everything?  Do antenna problems only occur when the temps are in the teens-hi?
Regard,
Jim/k2hn