Topband: 160m VP8PJ

[Michael Tope]

I was hearing them 339 to 559 this evening around 0730 UTC. I may have 
actually worked them. I could tell they came back right away when I 
called them, but the QSB buried their reply. After a couple of tries, I 
heard their reply at ESP level. Then immediately after I stopped 
transmitting my reply, the LID that's been QRMing them threw a carrier 
on top their QRG (c'est la vie). I recorded the QSO, but the audio 
connection between my K3 and the computer I use for remoting the station 
is fouled up, so the recording will probably be no better than fuzzy 
audio I am getting down here in Los Angeles. I need to drive out there 
sometime soon and fix it. It was working pretty good until I pulled the 
computer out to do an "upgrade".

73, Mike W4EF/6.....



On 2/24/2020 12:16 PM, Wes wrote:
> 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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