Topband: 160m activity and propagation

[Larry]

Hey Bob,
I found the season typical though signals in general were down from this part of the cycle. I did work 128 European stations in the CQ 160 which is a personal best for me.
There were many nights when I had the EU RBN lit up with huge reports but no answers to many CQ's. I blame that on the FT8 Phenomenal.
Larry

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 On Thursday, February 20, 2020, W7RH <midnight18 at cox.net> 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



-- 
W7RH DM35os

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity." - Albert Einstein

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