Topband: 160m activity and propagation

[David Olean]

Hello Bob,

I have no experience from the last solar minimum, but I heard plenty of 
stories! I was really looking forward to this minimum to see the 
improvements in 160 propagation. I was hoping to knock off some 
countries in deep Asia. (Yeah, right!) So far I am not impressed. That 
being said, there are openings, but they are few and far between and 
easily missed unless you are nailed to the floor in front of the radio.

The best JA opening I ever heard was a few years ago before the minimum. 
In the past season, I have worked a few JAs and UA0, but with weak signals.

The path to Europe, for me, seems about the same as it always is. Some 
nights are awful, while others are pretty good. The same stations for 
the most part, are in evidence.  I did manage to hear HL5IVL once while 
aimed at Europe. I have not heard any JAs at my sunset. Last fall, I had 
a few LP VK6 QSOS. There was V84SAA too which was great.

European Russia is well represented here. I am also hearing some new 
calls, which is good. I think the new calls are ops trying 160 at solar 
minimum in hopes of working some unusual DX.

I look at FT-8 occasionally and did see a Chinese station recently at my 
sunset. That mode can be a killer, but, oftentimes on 160,many stations 
are "hard of hearing" and results are not too spectacular.

I wish there was more regular CW activity. With the contests, it is 
either feast or famine. (Too many signals vs. too few signals or none at 
all)

73

Dave K1WHS


On 2/20/2020 3:01 PM, W7RH wrote:
> Greeting all,
>
> This season has been interesting not because of highlights but because 
> of a noticeable change in propagation at least from my Arizona QTH. I 
> will note from my perspective highlights have been few.
>
> Yesterday Dave W0FLS was holding court calling CQ. I could just barely 
> hear the DX in EU he was working.
>
> To Roger G3YRO congrats but no QSO. You had a good 579 signal calling 
> CQ at 0100 hours UTC. You had a break through the aurora wall and I 
> did not!
>
> In other news HL5IVL Kim, had a true 599 plus 20 signal calling CQ in 
> the early morning here. Not another signal on the band.
>
> In solar cycle 23 even though I was working full time on weird shifts 
> I managed EU contacts almost daily with only a few periods of black 
> outs. My operating habits have changed a bit to early morning through 
> sunrise and sunset through sunrise in European Russia and Eastern EU. 
> I stay up for Western EU if conditions appear to be good which for the 
> most part they have not.
>
> Missing this season has been European Russians. Where did they all go? 
> Perhaps to another band? On the other hand there were many stations 
> worked in Zone 15 primarily in southern end. With the exception of EA 
> and CT zone 14 was a flop except for a couple big openings. SM5EDX was 
> an exception.
>
> Has anyone else noticed a change in propagation patterns? I'd like 
> some input here with a focus and western US but midwest and eastern US 
> welcome as well.
>
> 73
>
> Bob, W7RH
>
>
>