As others have noted recently, conditions seem to have been finally improving this winter Topband season. I have had a lot of success into Europe over the last month, but this morning was extra special and hopefully a sign of good things to come.
I knew the morning would be good when PE5T called in nice and loud for my first QSO. Zone 14 is never easy from here! Over the next hour, until my sunrise at 2030z, I logged more than 70 Europeans including CT1EEB, 9H1SP (running 100w), and three stations from the United Kingdom, the hardest part of Europe to work from zone 27. Conditions this morning equaled anything I experienced last winter without sunspots. I recorded most of the opening, and you can download and listen to the MP3, broken into four pieces. I have them uploaded here: http://www.n2nl.net/?p=615 I am listening on an Elecraft K3 connected to a 330m Beverage pointed at 330 degrees. I am fortunate to live in a low noise area and my European Beverage is especially quiet, with no noise sources whatsoever toward my NW (only one km of jungle then ocean). I have worked EU stations running QRP on 160m with this antenna for RX. For TX, I use a 20m tall top loaded (TEE) vertical with 90 radials. From my experience this season, conditions have been best when the SFI has dropped back into the 140s or low 150s. Any higher and absorption makes things difficult or impossible. Interestingly, these conditions to Europe have not reciprocated to North America and Africa. I have tried skeds with African stations unsuccessfully; there simply is no propagation even if the band is open to Europe for both of us. I listen most nights for North America, and although I have had some propagation to the far northeast (Maine, VY2ZM, and even zone 2), propagation to the rest of North America has been very poor. I suspect (without proof) that the MUF remains elevated over the central Pacific and equatorial regions and that is causing absorption along these paths. Hawaii and the central/eastern Pacific DXpeditions have seemingly been weak here this year. I am curious if this is actually the case or if there is something else affecting propagation to these areas. I will continue to be active on 160m throughout the season, as I know there still remains a demand for KH2 and to try to complete my 9BWAZ (I still need 10, 34, 37, and 38 on 160 to have them all). I have been active most mornings at my SR for EU, and will try to be active during NA SR if propagation cooperates to make it worthwhile to stay up later on my end. 73, Dave KH2/N2NL _______________________________________________ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
