Topband: VP6D

[David Olean]

I am not an expert on DX peditions, coming late to HF and 160 meters in 
my life, but I could not get over the operator at VP6D this morning on 
1.826.  Whoever it was, he was flying and getting the call correct the 
first time every time.  I was amazed at how well they were doing racking 
up the Qs.  There was plenty of QSB here in Maine with the signal going 
from S 0.2 to about S6  on the S meter. At minimum, they were barely 
copyable.  At best, they were loud. I used my Europe beverage and found 
that it was a tad better than my SW beverage. I am not sure what was 
going on there. The Europe wires is a pair of 1150 ft bevs, and the SW 
wire is shorter at about 800 ft. After making a contact, I experimented 
with diversity on the K3 and had the SW wire in my right ear and the 45 
degree wire in my left ear.  Copy was better with diversity, but I think 
I need to check my beverage terminations!! Maybe it was an arrival angle 
situation that favored the longer wire's pattern.  I learn something 
every day.

Dave K1WHS