Topband: 160 in daylight

[Mike Smith VE9AA]

Hi Bob, 

 

Welcome to 160m !

 

Milt Jensen N5IA (sk) used his huge array in the 160m contests to work
thousands of miles east and west while he was in full sunlight. (In fact I
believe he was the one who sponsored a plaque for daylight operation only in
the Stew Perry Contests)

For some of these exciting reports (too lengthy to reproduce here) go to
3830scores.com and type in N5IA.

Look for the Stew Perry Contests (SPTDC) and his call N5IA(N7GP) then read
his DAYLIGHT reports.

 

Incidentally the first real exposure to daylight DX I personally experienced
was from CY9AA in 1997 when myself, Doug, VE1PZ and Dennis, K7BV setup on
that tiny rock in the Gulf of St. Lawrence (N. Atlantic area).  We had a
wonderful balloon supported 1/4wl wire vertical tied into a massive copper
groundscreen (leftover from a VLF beacon) and a salt water Fresnel zone.
With that setup and legal limit we were able to work EU a cpl hours before
sunset on that desolate rock.  An unforgettable experience.

 

Big stations like VY2ZM, VE1ZZ, etc. do the same all the time.

 

It still is exciting !

 

>From my home with a small-moderate sized 'array' of 2-inverted L's phased I
can SOMETIMES work EU just a little before sunset (pre-grayline) here and
have worked out as far as KH6/VK/ZL to a little after sunset here(post
grayline).  Hardly full sun, but it does show what can be done when you
think it not possible.

 

Have fun !

 

Mike VE9AA

 

Mike, Coreen & Corey

Keswick Ridge, NB