Topband: Topband Phenomenon

[Arthur Delibert]

Back in the early 60s, NASA launched a couple of satellites named Echo I and Echo II that were essentially huge reflecting balloons.  You could tune to WWV on 20 MHz at a time of day when that was above the MUF.  When the Echo satellite came by, WWV would pop up out of nowhere for a few seconds and then disappear again.  To the best of my knowledge, the Echo satellites are long gone; but this sounds like a similar phenomenon.

Art Delibert, KB3FJO

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From: Topband <topband-bounces at contesting.com> on behalf of Paul Kiesel via Topband <topband at contesting.com>
Sent: Sunday, February 3, 2019 2:10 PM
To: topband at contesting.com
Subject: Re: Topband: Topband Phenomenon

I don't have an explanation for this, but I had a similar experience during the contest. My receiveantenna is an unterminated BOG running alongside the road in front. I struggled to get F4HEC's call because he was so weak. He persisted and I finally got it. He was the first European that I heard in the contest. When we finished the QSO, EI0R dumped his call and he was 579. Unbelievable because I almost never hear Europe on 160 CW. I gave him a report and turned it back. By then he was barely copyable as his signal had dropped back down to the noise floor and I never heard him again. I managed to work several other Europeans whose calls I had to work at digging out. I would say conditions were generally good for me to hear those European stations, but the momentary signal from EI0R was very strong and unexpected.
73, Paul K7CW

    On Sunday, February 3, 2019, 9:38:50 AM PST, Dan Atchison via Topband <topband at contesting.com> wrote:

 During the CQ WW 160 CW contest a week ago while operating at the N1LN
M/S station, I happened to be in a fantastic run of EU.

On one and only one QSO, I worked a "G" station whose callsign's last
suffix letter was at least 20dB stronger than the rest of his call.  I
mentioned this to NR4M while discussing the contest with Steve at the
Richmond Frostfest and he said he experienced the same on one occasion;
he thought meteor and I was thinking airplane.

Anyone else experience this on topband and if so, have a "scientific"
explanation?

73,
Dan -- N3ND
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