Topband: VK/ZLs in the CQWW CW 160?

[Michael Tope]

ZL3IO spotted me Saturday night (Sunday UTC) at 0728 UTC, but I never 
heard him call me. If he did call me, it could be that I had my SAL-30 
pointed NE at the time. It doesn't have the greatest RDF, but it does 
have a really high F/B. After I saw the spot, I listened to the SW, but 
I didn't hear anything.

73, Mike W4EF.............

On 1/29/2024 7:19 AM, Tree wrote:
> "Didn't hear any VKs or ZLs during the contest; were any of you on??"
>
> There were - but sometimes, they go to bed after listening to summer time
> QRN and aren't on the band during the best time for the West Coast.
>
> Sometimes, you are more likely to work a VK6 than a ZL or VK3 since the
> times line up better.
>
> VK2GR made 57 QSOs, mostly Europe.  He worked a handful of stateside
> stations, but pulled the plug at 1028, which is way too early for optimum
> propagation to the West Coast.
>
> VK2PW made about 21 QSOs, mostly Europeans, a few Asians and no stateside
> QSOs (was active around noon your local time).
>
> VK3IO was also active, only working ZL3IO during the time it was dark on
> the West Coast - and working about 20 Europeans.
>
> You might remember VK6GX was only able to work one station in the recent
> Stew Perry.  This was right at my sunrise.
>
> ZL3IO made 38 QSOs and reports in his soapbox that this must have been one
> of the worst CQ 160 contests ever.  He did manage to work 13 stateside
> stations, but only ND7K and NA7TB on the west coast.  He was QRT by 1148
> UTC.
>
> It's a tough band down under in the middle of summer.  I have spent many an
> hour trying to hear a VK who is working the East coast.  After sunrise in
> the midwest, there is a whole swath of the country without much activity
> and it gets - dare I say - boring waiting for the sunrise on the west
> coast.  It's late - they are tired and time to go to bed so they can get up
> for the morning sunrise opening to Europe, which is often more reliable.
>
> Tree N6TR
>
>
>
>
>
> On Mon, Jan 29, 2024 at 6:15 AM Steve Harrison <k0xp at k0xp.com> wrote:
>
>> Didn't hear any VKs or ZLs during the contest; were any of you on??
>> There was a decent opening toward SE Asia Sunday (Monday, your time, I
>> suppose) morning with lots of JAs, a very strong HL5IVL plus a few DSes,
>> a few middling-strength BYs (none workable), half a dozen YB/YCs plus
>> 7D1C on Sunday morn your time, XVs both mornings; but no VK/ZLs  8-(
>>
>> Steve, K0XP
>>
>>
>>
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