Topband: 160 Meter Propagation

[Tree]

On Mon, Jan 12, 2009 at 09:30:46AM -0500, GEORGE WALLNER wrote:

> While conditions are guaranteed to vary from one cycle to 
> another, perhaps there also has been a gradual increase in 
> man-made noise around the world, which on TB could create 
> the impression of poorer conditions. If we just had a 
> long-term calibrated means of measuring ambient noise...

It's possible this is a factor - but actually in my case, I think with
the addition of beverages and my K3 - my ability to hear has improved
significantly since the last sunspot minimum.  

Also - with the topband chatrooms - I think we are discovering lots of
things about propagation that we didn't know 11 years ago - so if anything,
there should be more opportunities to find openings.  I have spent many 
hours listening on a frequency where I know VQ9LA is CQing for example
without results.

11 years ago - I wasn't able to do this.

I am not yet convinced there is any magic out there to explain this - and
I appreciate that people are looking for answers.  I still keep showing up
most nights wondering what is going to happen next.

We did have some excellent over the pole openings a few nights ago on 160.

73 Tree N6TR
Boring, Or