Topband: VK/ZLs in the CQWW CW 160?

[Tom VK2CCC]

"Didn't hear any VKs or ZLs during the contest; were any of you on??"

Well, I worked from a small city lot in Sydney, running QRP.

Inverted L for TX with a vertical section being approx. 70 ft, terminated
vertical Flag 5m x 8m and a passive Moebius loop for RX. TX antenna radials
temporary laid down and crossing neighbouring driveways at several places.

Great propagation to US during the first VK night. There were many great NA
signals on the band - ND7K, W8KA, K2KW, K3ZM, K8LX, K1LT, K3LR, K7NJ,
NA7TB, just to mention a few. Working QRP from VK on 160m is not trivial.
My only NA QSO was K1LT. Great ears!

The propagation to NA lasted surprisingly long, however not for me as the
whole band was completely wiped out by a broadband interference. Having
dedicated RX antennas
did not help. Taken a walk round the block with a portable AM radio,
however no obvious clues.

The first VK morning to EU had a phenomenal propagation that only lasted
for some 20 minutes at my QTH. I do not remember hearing such impressive
signals on 160m. Ever. Even when working as VK9LL from Lord Howe years ago.
Very happy having worked LY4A for my best DX in this contest. All in all 10
QRP QSOs this time from VK.

Thank you all for making this such a great contest!

Tomas VK2CCC

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Message: 5
Date: Mon, 29 Jan 2024 07:19:47 -0800
From: Tree <tree at kkn.net>
To: Steve Harrison <k0xp at k0xp.com>
Cc: topband at contesting.com
Subject: Re: Topband: VK/ZLs in the CQWW CW 160?
Message-ID:
        <CAKF9HhakXr2RTgqNZr5JZ4zkcf78JGzS-oQgGBfG7pFLOrDJng at mail.gmail.com>
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"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