Topband: Poor conditions in 2018 so far for working VK6 to NA long path

[Steve Ireland]

G'day

With the exception of last Sunday I've been on 160m for east coast NA sunset from 7/11/18 until 12/11/18 to try to give out some ‘long path’ contacts with USA/VE.

Although there has been some spotlight propagation into Europe (today was Southern Europe/North Africa and S01WS for a new country) the LP into North America has seemed to be non-existent 
so far.

2017 and 2016 were definitely better, with my recollection of LP openings present on several mornings during this period.

My reference point is if I can hear or work Jeff VY2ZM, then I know there is a chance of working into NA further south.  Every morning I regularly check Jeff's transmitting frequency - and during the aforementioned period I 
haven't heard Jeff once!

Since Jeff started his station on PEI, we have worked on 160m many times - and on SSB at least once - and usually I can hear him virtually daily at this time of the year.  This year is definitely the worse I can recall since 
I first came on 160m from VK6 back in 1995.

I guess the take-away message is 2018 is a very bad year but east coastal NA stations don't give up hope that a LP QSO is possible (but perhaps not this season).

Vy 73

Steve, VK6VZ

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