Topband: 160 ain't dead yet.
Well to me conditions are good if the DX stations that will peak over S9 are that strong . . . if they are S5-6 then conditions are poor, and if they are very weak or not there at all, then conditions are bad. The same goes when looking at my own RBN reports . . . if I am 30dB above the noise then conditions are good . . . just 10dB they are poor . . . less than that or nothing, then they're bad. As a general rule, I find that if NA East Coast signals are very strong, then you will also hear Mid West or even West Coast stations. Although sometimes propagation can be very selective . . . certain areas (on both sides of the pond) will occasionally have very good propagation between them, but very little elsewhere. And every now and then 160m conditions will be so good that propagation is good EVERYWHERE . . . I remember a couple of years ago where I worked Japan, Korea, South Africa, but also South American Stations and right across to the West Coast, all on the same night ! Roger G3YRO _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: 160 ain't dead yet.
Did work an F5 last night, 0445z on 160m FT8. Have not heard EU on CW lately, but only briefly tune 160m. Ray, N6VR, W7YA on FT8 Arizona On Fri, Feb 24, 2023, 3:39 AM Henk PA5KT via Topband wrote: > Roger, > > It is a matter of definition of what you call Good conditions. > > To me the average conditions are if I hear eastern states in the VE1, > VE2, W1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9 call areas.. > > Conditions are good when I also hear VE3, W0, W4, W5. > > Conditions are very good if I can hear all of North America. > > During the CQ160 contest conditions were above average as I heard all > east coast states and some Midwest. > > This weekend I only heard VE1, VE2, eastern VE3, W1, W2, W3 and NC and > FL. To me that qualifies as bad. > > It looks like the polar activity absorbed everything west of W3. > Additional to that signals were below average. > > 73 Henk PA5KT > > Op 23-2-2023 om 10:21 schreef Roger Kennedy: > > > > It's always fascinating how very localised DX Propagation can be on Top > > Band, I noted how several Europeans said that propagation to NA was very > > poor over the weekend, whereas I found it pretty good. > > > > 73 Roger G3YRO > > > > > > _ > > 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: 160 ain't dead yet.
Roger, It is a matter of definition of what you call Good conditions. To me the average conditions are if I hear eastern states in the VE1, VE2, W1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9 call areas.. Conditions are good when I also hear VE3, W0, W4, W5. Conditions are very good if I can hear all of North America. During the CQ160 contest conditions were above average as I heard all east coast states and some Midwest. This weekend I only heard VE1, VE2, eastern VE3, W1, W2, W3 and NC and FL. To me that qualifies as bad. It looks like the polar activity absorbed everything west of W3. Additional to that signals were below average. 73 Henk PA5KT Op 23-2-2023 om 10:21 schreef Roger Kennedy: It's always fascinating how very localised DX Propagation can be on Top Band, I noted how several Europeans said that propagation to NA was very poor over the weekend, whereas I found it pretty good. 73 Roger G3YRO _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: 160 ain't dead yet.
I heard OK1CF calling CQ. Karel was a real 599. He came back and gave me 599+. Later, OM2WX called with a very solid signal. A couple of other weak EU stations later, but I had to go on watch and could not continue. QTH: Abut 30 miles from Cocos Island (TI9), in EJ65. 1 kW and a 50 foot vertical. Ain't Dead for sure, 73, George AA7JV On Thu, 23 Feb 2023 09:21:48 - "Roger Kennedy" wrote: Sorry I couldn't copy you calling me last night Guy . . . I've still got this local noise problem (OFCOM back again next week, so keep hoping they will shut the source down) I popped on a couple of times last night . . . but didn't stay on long. as reports from RBN stations were very poor ! It's always fascinating how very localised DX Propagation can be on Top Band, I noted how several Europeans said that propagation to NA was very poor over the weekend, whereas I found it pretty good. 73 Roger G3YRO _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Topband: 160 ain't dead yet.
Sorry I couldn't copy you calling me last night Guy . . . I've still got this local noise problem (OFCOM back again next week, so keep hoping they will shut the source down) I popped on a couple of times last night . . . but didn't stay on long. as reports from RBN stations were very poor ! It's always fascinating how very localised DX Propagation can be on Top Band, I noted how several Europeans said that propagation to NA was very poor over the weekend, whereas I found it pretty good. 73 Roger G3YRO _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Topband: 160 ain't dead yet.
Amazing 10 and 15 meters in ARRL DX. Also... 2340Z 22 Feb 2023. G3YRO heard at 1.827.0 and copied call 339. Called but no joy. He might have heard me, but no two-way. No QRN, blizzard in most of US. We just assume that 160 is *dead* when 10 is wide open. 160 ain't dead, but not sure what it is. This will be the first sunspot max, when we have worldwide RBN, the internet, and lots of rigs with K3 level RX performance. We shall see. Now's when a few dB makes a big difference. In the meantime I have to get my 20-6m stuff working. Is this one going to be like 1958? Back then we LITERALLY worked Los Angeles CA from Columbus, OH on 10m with a 75A3, & Johnson Ranger loaded into a 2 foot salty wet noodle. That was after using radiator, bed springs, sink trap, a metal door and a copper window screen as an antenna. School buddy's dad had a ham station, my first exposure to ham radio. I was hooked. Probably was the power cord radiating, but we didn't know that and it was great fun. (It did dry up the noodle.) Anyhow, we need to see what MF propagation *really* is at solar max. 73, Guy K2AV _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
