Topband: VK/ZLs in the CQWW CW 160?

[Steve Harrison]

It just occurred to me: one reason many of us didn't find the VKs/ZLs 
would be because we were running unassisted, and so weren't aware of 
where they were nor whether they or we were being spotted. While tuning 
around sporadically, I kept running across LOUD HL5IVL and I never heard 
him being called by anybody else; made me wonder whether he ever was 
spotted, or nobody else was tuning around. I ran across him, XV9DL, and 
XV9T while tuning around looking for a DU or XU, or even North or South 
Dakota (my last-needed state-multipliers) 8-)

Steve, K0XP


On 1/29/2024 8:48 AM, Michael Tope wrote:
> 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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