Ron, I'm surprised you didn't have a better USA opening. From here in New Mexico, we had an outstanding Pacific opening on Saturday from 1215Z-1415Z. Many JA, but also:
QSO: 1813 CW 2022-01-29 1315 N2IC 599 NM ZM4T 599 32 QSO: 1813 CW 2022-01-29 1345 N2IC 599 NM VK6T 599 29 QSO: 1813 CW 2022-01-29 1348 N2IC 599 NM ZL3CW 599 32 QSO: 1813 CW 2022-01-29 1352 N2IC 599 NM VK3TZ 599 30 Sunrise was 1410Z. All had good signals once I switched to the SW beverage. 73, Steve, N2IC On Mon, Jan 31, 2022 at 5:57 AM vk3io <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi all Topband contesters. > > Using my 160m dipole, 100fth, which is not a great DX antenna for > Topband, here in VK3, as far as I am concerned, this years contest was > surprisingly good, but not great, summarized by the following: > > 1. No North, Central or South America heard or worked, except for three > west coast USA and one VE7. > > 2. No Africa or India heard or worked (not unusual). > > 3. Only one KH6 heard, but not worked and no other pacific, except for > two ZL stations. > > 4. Surprisingly low QRN, considering all the lightning throughout > Australia. We have had mega lightning throughout VK in recent weeks and > continue to do so. so I was very lucky. Not so lucky for most of VK or > Pacific. > > 5. Great signals from Asia (JA & HS) on my first evening, not so good on > my second evening. Did hear BH7 strong, but he did not hear me, which > understandable, as not all DX stations have a low noise QTH or low noise > RX antenna pointing to VK3 land (and even if they do, they may not use > it, as the activity from VK is so low). > > 6. Great signals into Europe on my first morning (not very strong, but > amazingly very clear copy, both ways), not so good on my second morning. > > As I did not have a VFO tuning knob on my Anan7000DLE (had to use my PC > mouse), I could not easily do search and pounce. I am waiting long time > for Controller V2 delivery. So I had to try and find a clear frequency > to call CQ on and for Europe this was almost impossible. Thank you for > all those who tried to keep my frequency clear and for those who called > me and could not make qso, due to European QRM. No doubt very difficult. > > So on average, compared to the previous 30 years or so, it was good, not > great, as for some years, the QRN is so high, I cannot hear anyone, or > the prop is so bad, no qso's, except local are made. > > Some years the DX signals were much stronger, but the DX could not hear > me, because their QRM or QRN was so high. > > Seldom are conditions good on both my evenings and both my mornings, if > I am lucky it is one or the other, but not both. > > Lastly, we in Australia, can now apply for a contest call sign, like > prefix VL3, VJ3 or VK3A (single suffix letter), so in future watch out > for this. Maybe I will get one, but maybe not, as I am now getting too > old to be a big time contester. > > I hope to meet you in CQ WW 160 SSB contest. Much more difficult and a > challenge. > > Cheers, from Ron. vk3io. > > > > > _________________ > Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband > Reflector > _________________ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
