Topband: XU7DLH etc

[Merv Schweigert]

Xu7DLH was alive and well this morning on top band here in KH6
He was on from the time I got up at 1530Z until after my sunrise at
1705Z.  Early his signals were peaking 599 and at the end still 569.
So his antenna was working well. 
Band was somewhat strange, worked UA0ZC weaker than usual
and UA4RZ was very good signal for 20 mins or so,  no copy on
DJ, UU2 etc who were trying to copy me. 
Local storms here have QRN levels that go from 20 over in the
evening to almost nothing in the morning, and then may reverse.
But it sounds like conditions may be coming around for the
better.  
Just when you think the band is dead right at sunrise there will be a
peak to someplace, have worked I2PJA and I2 TAO right dead
on sunrise when no other signals were on the band. 
I posted a while back a query about soldering radials to large
copper strap, had some good replies,  what I ened up with is
plumbers no lead, silver bearing solder and paste, clean the joint
solder the radials and then I wash off the excess flux, after dry
coat the joints with plastic roof cement and bury it all again.
So far it is working great.  Solder flows very easy with a torch,
and I dont see any white powder as when using 60/40 solder.
73 Merv K9FD/KH6