Topband: VP8STI 160 Meter Path

[Gary Smith]

Last night was frustrating trying to work VP8STI; The Hi-Z was indeed 
a help as was the diversity & filtering to 50Hz but what I had at 
that time and conditions didn't give me all I wanted. The QSB was 
significant as I'd hear his call and then I'd call but would hear 
nothing for 45 seconds and then he'd pop in again. I heard them best 
going south from Connecticut and oddly, from the NE was almost as 
good, sometimes NE was clearer for me. N or NW would be more the long 
path direction. That will remain a mystery.

Cutting out the AGC and adjusting the Rf to knock the tops off the 
crashes I think made the final difference though the cops and those 
Tx on the Dx frequency only made my tinnitus worse. I finally heard 
him reply to a KA1 single character that I think was a J but it was 
tough and the cops were doing their variety of stupid at that exact 
moment, which helped nobody. 

I've been hoping to see an update on their on-line log but nothing to 
date. Considering we used to have to wait for the return of a 
DXpedetion to get our cards (or not) to know if we made it, waiting a 
day for their digi-log is a good deal. To me, the best part of an 
up-to-date on line log is you never have to make an insurance contact 
if you're doubtful. 

I'll try again for them on 160 tonight to be sure and hope the solar 
storm is over for them and they come in sufficiently to hear 100%. At 
least K5P is in my Topband log.

Good luck to all of us,

Gary
KA1J