Topband: VP8STI 160 Meter Path

[Art Snapper]

My observations were similar to W0FLS's, although I only live about 50
miles NW of WD8RQE.  I use rx Bogs covering 4 directions, and the
DX-pediton was always strongest on the SE one.
I am curious about the phasing on VP8STI's verticals. Perhaps they were
experimenting with the pattern, when the north-bearing reception occured.

73
Art NK8X
ᐧ

On Thu, Jan 21, 2016 at 5:39 PM, Tim Shoppa <tshoppa at gmail.com> wrote:

> Adding to the mix... 80M this morning from my QTH in MD to JA and RA0 was
> the best I'd ever heard it. I called CQ DX and when I first heard the
> response I was sure it was a local. But no it was a JA1!
>
> Tim N3QE
>
> On Thursday, January 21, 2016, David Raymond <daraymond at iowatelecom.net>
> wrote:
>
> > The whole band opening last night from NA to VP8STI on TB was rather
> > bizarre.  The opening started in earnest with big signals coming first in
> > Maine.  The guys in 1 land reported signals rivaling "locals."  The
> opening
> > then started moving slowly and selectively southward.  Guys in 2 land and
> > then 3 land started working them next and then into 5 land.  As the was
> > opening into 5 land it also began opening westward, but again,
> selectively.
> > Stations in 8 and 9 land were hearing and working them but not
> everywhere.
> > I sat here in Iowa for over three hours with virtually nothing from them
> at
> > all.  Finally about 0400 I began hearing them.  They slowly improved and,
> > at 0424z I put my call in and was answered immediately.  They continued
> to
> > build here peaking to S5-S6 around 0445z.  After that they slowly faded
> and
> > were gone here before their SS.  The opening appeared to be very limited
> > and, in some places, non-existent in 4 land.  A handful in 4 land made
> it,
> > several using HWF for RX.  Several big stations reported hearing little
> or
> > no signal.  It seemed odd to be listening to them here with S5 signals
> and
> > the guys in the far SE and FL had none (and they are 1200 or 1500 miles
> > closer).  But perhaps the most bizarre thing of all was K4SV and W4ZV
> > having to listen to the NORTH to hear them with apparently no signal from
> > the direct path.  It would be interesting to know what mode of
> propagation
> > that was.  All in all it was an odd night.  Nevertheless, a LOT of NA
> > stations made it into the log.  Joy for many but frustration remained for
> > quite a few.  Antennas here a full size ground mounted four square for TX
> > and Hi-Z 8 circle optimized for 160.
> > 73. . . Dave, W0FLS, in Iowa
> > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joel Harrison" <w5zn at w5zn.org>
> > To: "topband" <topband at contesting.com>
> > Sent: Wednesday, January 20, 2016 11:15 PM
> > Subject: Topband: VP8STI 160 Meter Path
> >
> >
> > Tonight on 160 VP8STI had a good signal. Here in Arkansas their signal
> >> arrived from the NE from around 0115z until around 0200z peaking around
> 5
> >> dB above my noise floor. Around 0200z they went "QRX" for a few minutes.
> >> When they returned their sig was much weaker and finally faded.
> >>
> >> As the evening went on their sig returned around 0330z here and was in
> and
> >> out of the noise, still peaking to the NE and somethings shifting E to
> SE.
> >> Right About a half hour before their SR the signal peaked to the SE and
> >> remained their until they faded into the sunrise.
> >>
> >> Best signal level here was 10 dB above my noise floor.
> >>
> >> Just wanted to pass that on for the folks (K9LA, W4ZV, etc) that keep
> >> track of these paths for us.
> >>
> >> 73 Joel W5ZN
> >>
> >>
> >> www.w5zn.org
> >>
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