Topband: Stew/Low Band Jack observations from down under

[Phil Hartwell]

Hi Topbanders, I hope you enjoyed the Stew/LBJ contest as much as I did, 
despite less than stellar conditions and thanks to Tree and the Boring 
guys for organising the splendid event.

Some observations on propagation during the Stew/LBJ from down under....

At the start of the contest I worked LY7M and LY2XW, both very weak with 
bad auroral flutter and QRN, making copy very difficult, nothing else 
doing, so a bit discouraged I took a 2 hours sleep break. On resumption 
at 0300 local, the auroral effects had dissipated and signals had 
improved, so I managed to log a few EU's, which were limited to eastern 
and northern countries, none further west or south than DL, except for 
MM0ZBH, 10 minutes after my SR, which was at 2127z.
During the afternoon thunderstorms developed southeast of Perth, the 
first for several months, which didn't bode well for the evening 
session. After SS the local QRN combined with the continuing storms that 
continue to flood eastern VK, to make copy difficult, but I managed to 
work 8 east coast W's from MA down to FL plus MI, all were around S3/4. 
As the SR progressed across the states I heard almost nothing until W5 
appeared around their SR, with half a dozen good signals around S5/6, 
but try as I may, none answered my calls. Then nothing until I heard 
AA6AA, who was peaking S7 at his SR and made it into my log. The only 
other west coast station I heard was a very steady S6, but could not 
hear my dozens of calls.
I heard no VE's, only 2 JA's and worked one. There seemed to be very 
little activity from eastern VK, probably due to the severe QRN or being 
submerged in flood water. The only other VK's I know were active were 
Ron, VK3IO and Steve, VK6VZ. No ZL's heard either.
Now can anyone answer me this? Why was it possible for me to work east 
coast W's who were all weaker than the W5's who couldn't hear me? Was it 
due to local QRN/QRM? Stronger stateside callers drowning me out? Or 
could it be that the east coast stations I worked may have had 
directional RX antennas looking west as their SR approached, looking to 
maximise their stateside contacts, but also favouring my general 
direction and were the W5's looking to the north and east for the same 
purpose, but in the process looking away from me? Was the strong west 
coast station, who did not hear my many calls, looking east? I'm not 
complaining, there would be little profit in listening for VK/ZL given 
the very few stations on air, despite the opportunity to gain many 
points per QSO. I'm just trying to understand why I had almost no luck 
trying to work the stronger stations west of the Mississippi. Any 
explanations welcome.

Anyway, I hope to participate in the Big Stew, southern summertime QRN 
and propagation permitting!

73, Phil VK6GX.


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