Topband: Being there; was Re: Need help to improve DX on 1/2 acre lot from CA

[Richard (Rick) Karlquist]

On 1/13/2013 8:52 AM, Jim Brown wrote:
> On 1/12/2013 12:49 PM, k7xq at elite.net wrote:
>> 1. I still have not copied or worked into Europe. I have been on this
>> band
>> somewhat seriously for at least 5 years
>
> EU is VERY tough from California, especially northern California. We
> have to go over the pole.  My neighbor, K6XX has more than 60 acres on
> top of a 2,700 ft ridge up the road from me, and when I moved here he
> told me he can count the nights he can hear EU on the fingers of one
> hand. Six seasons have convinced me he's right. We're in the Santa Cruz
> Mountains.  All the stars must be aligned -- propagation that gives us a

Europe on 160 meters from W6 is about "being there" the few nights
it happens.  In the recent SP contest, I easily worked VK6, CE1, JA,
etc running 100W to a 60 foot vertical and using a loop receiving
antenna.  I never heard or planned to hear EU.  I also recently worked 
the PT0S dxpedition on 160 meters.  So I know there is nothing
wrong with my station.  It is entirely possible to have fun working DX 
from the central valley.  Just not Europe.  For WAC, try working
the Azores, which technically count as EU.  That's probably realistic.
On the few nights when EU is in here, everyone works
them, not just the big guns.  There were a few crazy nights during
the recent sunspot minimum when some Russians were working W6's on 160m
phone.  Unbelievable, you had to be there.  It sounded like 20 meters.

My favorite "being there" story is calling CQ all night in a 160 meter
contest on the longest night of the year at the bottom of the sunspot
cycle that was the lowest in a lifetime and, barely aware, just before
sunrise, getting a called by a UA3.  You just can't plan these things.
Did I mention I was only running 100 watts?

Rick N6RK