Re: Topband: VK/ZLs in the CQWW CW 160?
On 1/29/2024 7:08 AM, Saulius Zalnerauskas wrote: VK2GR, VK3IO and VK2PW in my LOG. 73, Sam LY5W You guys in Europe have a whole different perspective on VKs/ZLs from we on the western North American continent 8-) Steve, K0XP _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: 160 Contest - EU Opening
On 1/29/2024 2:22 PM, ars.k...@gmail.com wrote: The second night had the surprise strong EU opening from 0520 - 0610Z. (Saturday night only): My first was CT9ABO at 0430, then nothing until 0559 with OK1DOL and then DK6WL at 0603. Then after a bit, I worked S57Q at 0620, then my last Euro was CR6K at 0730. Assuming NA7TB is in Scottsdale, AZ, and I'm in 29 Palms, CA, then I'm about 200 miles just about due west of you. Hard to believe propagation would be so spotlighted on such a low frequency as 1800 - 1850 kHz; but there you are. I don't exactly recall when I heard HA8RE as strong as he was. I can't help but wonder what W8KA managed to snag and when, as he also has a potent 8-circle array. K6NR, in Parks, AZ, would be just about halfway and slightly north between Scottsdale and myself, while W8KA would be around halfway between Scottsdale and Parks, I think. Isn't ND7K well to your southeast by some 150+ miles? I drove through Safford awhile back watching for humungous towers but I guess they're well off the beaten track in the desert or on one of the mountains nearby? I wonder when/if the LA, Orange county, and SD guys heard/worked Europe?? Last year, I worked HG8DX, MW5B, and DR4A between 0430 and 0452Z; I don't recall whether I heard but unsuccessfully called other Euros last year. Next year, I'll have to try to make a "Heard Log" of this schtuff 8-) Steve, K0XP _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Topband: 160 Contest - EU Opening
I was operating on the M/S team at NA7TB where we have the Milt Jensen designed 8-Circle and Beverage farm. The first night was very disappointing with only one EA and Bob at MU5E in the log. The second night had the surprise strong EU opening from 0520 - 0610Z. I logged 20 EU stations (including DR5X). The loudest was OM7M sounding like a local. It was sad to have the EU propagation shut down again to Arizona for the remainder of the night. I counted 13 new mults from the opening so it certainly helped our final score. Conditions to EU were better last year on both nights. Lee, KY7M _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: VK/ZLs in the CQWW CW 160?
On 1/29/2024 9:28 AM, Steve Harrison wrote: It just occurred to me: one reason many of us didn't find the VKs/ZLs would be because we were running unassisted The second night past midnight, I saw spots for me from ZL, so then did a lot of listening in that direction. But nothing heard. Noise levels have built here in several directions, including EU and JA. 73, Jim K9YC _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: VK/ZLs in the CQWW CW 160?
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 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 _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector -- See my QRZ.com page at *https://www.qrz.com/db/K0XP* _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: VK/ZLs in the CQWW CW 160?
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 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 _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: CONDX CQWW DR5X
Hi On Saturday the main events took place in the morning. As a result, 35 QSOs were made with the USA and 5 with Canada. USA - Zone 5 only. On the second morning I was able to make excellent contact with NA8V. But there was almost no continuation. This resulted in 43 QSOs with North American stations. Mult W/VE = 17 --- Nick, UY0ZG http://www.topband.in.ua Andree DL8LAS via Topband писал(а) 2024-01-27 20:25: Hey topbanders,during first night CQWW 160m I worked 110 stations NA , also west coast .Condx were not bad here in DL.Hope to work more DX tonight. 73 Andy DL8LAS / DR5X www.dl8las.com _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: VK/ZLs in the CQWW CW 160?
"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 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 > > > > _ > Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband > Reflector > _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: VK/ZLs in the CQWW CW 160?
VK2GR, VK3IO and VK2PW in my LOG. 73, Sam LY5W On Mon, Jan 29, 2024 at 4:15 PM Steve Harrison 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 > > > > _ > Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband > Reflector > _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Topband: VK/ZLs in the CQWW CW 160?
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 _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector