Topband: K7RAT/B signals at W2RU - May 10

[W2RU - Bud Hippisley]

W2RU (FN23nr) listened from 0915 to 1000 Z on May 10, splitting time  
between the TX vertical and the shorty NW Beverage.

I would say 2.000 MHz held a 1 to 1+ dB advantage on a *statistical*  
basis this morning; that is, I couldn't prove anything with S-meter  
readings, thanks in large measure to the QRN levels, but over the  
course of 45 minutes the beacon on 2.000 MHz seemed readable "more  
often" than the one on 1.800 was.   I felt this was true whether or  
not I attempted to equalize the background QRN and band noise levels  
with the input attenuator.

Therefore, this is the first morning that I could say propagation to  
my QTH favored one frequency or the other.

Beacon signal levels started out much higher this morning (I could  
copy them clearly all the way out to the kitchen when I went to pour  
my tea water) but dropped throughout the listening period.  Thanks to  
the QRN, I didn't record much in the way of useful S-meter readings.

The new dashes are much appreciated, and will be very helpful as soon  
as the QRN goes away.  (Storm cells in the midwest and on my backside,  
departing the W1/W2 coast.)

It took me about 10 minutes to work out a system for punching buttons  
and writing down frequencies, times, attenuator settings, and S-meter  
readings while also sipping my tea.  This beacon monitoring stuff is  
hard work!

Bud, W2RU