Topband: 160m VP8PJ

[Wes]

I listened at my sunset (and theirs) but heard nil even though Bob, W7RH, with 
his big antenna had spotted them. I listened periodically over the next couple 
of hours and finally decided it wasn't going to happen.  After a night of TV 
watching I went to bed about 0600Z without bothering to listen again.  Imagine 
my chagrin to see the spots from last night when I looked this morning.  I hope 
they're on again tonight.  I'll be ready.

Wes  N7WS


On 2/24/2020 10:30 AM, David Olean wrote:
> Hi Gary,
>
> I was out of the house early in the evening on Sunday, but started listening a 
> little before 10 PM local time.  VP8 was very weak and mostly in the noise. 
> They would peak up and be readable for short periods of 15 seconds or so. Over 
> the next half hour the signal started building here. and by 10:30 they were 
> good copy most of the time for me. I am 30 miles inland, so no salt water 
> effect. W7RH said they had good ears and to call them even if they were weak. 
> I took his advice and they came back right away as soon as I called! I was so 
> surprised I sent my call again to make sure I was not imagining things! It 
> really took me by surprise.  They peaked up 5 hours after sunset here. By 0500 
> UT they were getting sorta loud at times!
>
> I am not sure, but I think many areas had no propagation as there were few 
> callers most of the time. I listened up until about 0600 UT (1 AM here) It was 
> getting close to EU sunrise but very few European callers, and they would call 
> sporadically.  There were not so many NA callers either, although VP8PJ was 
> making a steady run of contacts.  Back at 0300 UT I did hear a good pile of EU 
> callers calling VP8 when he was impossible copy here.  Later on, there were 
> fewer EU callers.  If it is a new country, I doubt people would quit for a 
> nap! I heard a few comment that VP8 was impossible copy later on.
>
> Then again, maybe everyone was exhausted from the CQ 160 SSB weekend.  It was 
> fun to listen as the night progressed, and I was amazed at how well VP8PJ was 
> hearing; better than the callers almost all the time!
>
> 73
>
> Dave K1WHS
>
> On 2/24/2020 6:04 AM, Gary Smith wrote:
>> VP8PJ, in South Orkney is a 559 here
>> tonight. A new one on 160 & my only other
>> S. Orkney Q was on 15M in 1990.
>>
>> Amazingly it took two calls and he came
>> back so N/S propagation is excellent right
>> now.
>>
>> 73,
>>
>> Gary
>> KA1J
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