Topband: Northern Summer Stew

[Phil Hartwell]

Hi All,

Like Luke VK3HJ, I only managed to work one stateside station, K7RAT and 
that was a battle due to the northern hemisphere QRN that Don, WD8DSB 
mentioned is a great impediment and deterrent to many. I noted 
particularly intense thunderstorm activity north of Fort Worth, TX and I 
congratulate anyone who managed to hear anything through that. It must 
have been a terrific sky show! Incidentally, I always monitor lightning 
trackers to see if stations in my target area have a realistic chance of 
hearing me through their QRN, (not to mention man-made QRM), and locally 
to know when to go QRT as storms approach. Propagation seemed very poor 
in all directions, No EU's heard, only a couple of weak Asiatic Russians 
in the All Asia contest and even normally very strong JA's were very 
weak. As far as Stateside is concerned, I only heard six stations on my 
phased Beverages, K0RF, W4GE, N4BP, K5KG, N3BB and K7RAT, plus K3EST and 
KL7SB in the AA Contest. K5KG was strongest, peaking at 559 at his SR, 
all others were S3 or less.

In recent months, there has been very little propagation from VK6 to 
east coast USA, even Jon, AA1K is rarely heard and the most regular 
contact has been Steve, VE6WZ.

If anyone in W1 and VE1 is interested at attempting long path QSO's in 
Sept/Oct. let me know. It is not uncommon at that time of year and 
typically happens 20 to 30 minutes after my SR. It was easy with Jack, 
VE1ZZ.

Thanks to Tree and the Boring ARC for running the event, hopefully the 
Low Band Jack will provide better propagation and less QRN for both 
hemispheres.

73, Phil VK6GX.


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