Topband: Glorioso & Midway

[John Harden, D.M.D.]

It's been very interesting to hear all of the comments relative to the 
two recent DXpeditions.

I was fortunate to be able to work K4M on 160 from a 1 acre city lot in 
Atlanta. I did use a 100 foot 45G tower shunt fed with 32 radials. On 
receive I used the NW beverage which is only 300 - 400 feet long. I got 
him last Saturday morning and there was a lot of QRN es QSB.

I did not hear the FT5 on 160 though I did work him on a number of other 
bands.

It can be frustrating when one does not get through. At one time I had 
worked them all (by mid-1990's). I missed the BS7 while in Russia in 
1997. I had 4 contacts in the log for the BS7 in 2007 BUT I WAS NOT IN 
THE LOG. That's just the way it goes.

I have been DXing since 1959 at age 15. Many times I did not get 
through. I must admit that the QRM & competition is more fierce now than 
it was 50 years ago! Good technique is obviously important but big 
antennas and power is what gets one through early on if at all.

I think that overall both groups did an admirable job given the poor HF 
propagation that exists.

73,

John, W4NU
Atlanta
K4JAG (1959 to 1998)