Topband: 5K0T Update -- Final

[GEORGE WALLNER]

5K0T QRT at 1200 Z on Dec 07.

5K0T made a total of 3000 QSO-s on TB: 2250 from Serrana 
Bank and 750 form Bajo Nuevo. On Serrana Bank we had an 18 
meter tall inverted L fed via an automatic antenna coupler 
with 700 watts. For receiving we had a pennant, whose 
direction could be switched between NE and NW (EU and 
Japan). From Bajo Nuevo, we were on TB only during the 
night of Dec 6 for the ARRL contest. The antenna was a 12 
m (40 foot) tall inverted L. Power was 100 watts form a 
K3. At both locations antennas were located over salt 
water, grounded, with no radials.

 From both locations we had a good mix of European, North 
American, and Japanese QSO-s. There were very few SA 
QSO-s.

Observations: Although on most nights we were hampered by 
strong QRN from nearby thunder-storms, we could hear a lot 
of DX every night between Nov 22 and Dec 06. Many European 
stations were very strong and a good number had reasonable 
signals. At the same time, we could hear, but not copy, an 
even larger number of European stations calling who were 
just at the noise level and not strong enough to make a 
QSO.

On some mornings, especially the morning of Dec 1, 
conditions to Japan were excellent. On Dec 1 we put a 
string 100 JA QSO-s into the log in less than two hours.

Conclusions: Operating from a low noise location (other 
than T-storm noise), one realizes, that when in “season”, 
DX signals on TB are almost always present. It is the 
level of noise that makes the difference between being 
able to hear them or not.

On behalf of the 5K0T Team thanks to all for the QSO-s,

73,

George
AA7JV