Topband: Wednesday night activity report

[Mark Lunday]

I decided to start this season off early, with a promise to be more active on Wednesdays.  0100 UTC I flipped on the rig.

I was unable to get a spot in EU on reverse beacon network even with the amp on.  I listened for my signals on some of the KiwiSDR's and could only hear myself on one, just barely.  160 had this pulsing repeat like a CW note, every 1 kHz on every EU KiwiSDR I listened to.

Went to 80 and tried again.  Still lots of noise.  Finally spotted by G4IRN with the amp on.

I know it's early in the season, but I have had many 80 meter transatlantic QSO's in past years as early as 1 October.  The CME isn't expected to arrive until 1800 UTC on the 19th.

I was disappointed.

Mark Lunday, WD4ELG
Greensboro, NC  FM06be
wd4elg at arrl.net<mailto:wd4elg at arrl.net>
http://wd4elg.blogspot.com
SKCC #16439  FISTS #17972  QRP ARCI #16497