FB Merv!! Indeed it was "one of those times"! Charlie, K4OTV
-----Original Message----- From: Topband [mailto:topband-boun...@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Björn SM0MDG Sent: Sunday, January 26, 2014 10:47 PM To: topband@contesting.com List Cc: Merv Schweigert Subject: Re: Topband: One of those times On 25 Jan 2014, at 00:14, Merv Schweigert <k...@flex.com> wrote: > Today was no different, path over the pole at sunrise was not open, > I was sitting on 1823 working on email, sunrise is 1708Z and > suddenly I could hear a signal starting to come out of the noise. > ???BM 8???BM then clear as a bell 8Q7BM calling cq. One > call and I had a new one in the log at 1710Z, he then faded > back down into the noise, I could hear traces of him for another > 20 mins after sunrise, not enough to copy but knew he was > there. > > Just one of those top band times when being at the right place at > the right time when the band sounds dead. > Makes up for all the ones I have missed this season. Hi Merv, Happy to enlighten your day! I had just got my short top and bottom loaded vertical up and was testing a few calls before dinner. Was quite surprised to get a call from you. Guess I had no idea what to expect as it was my first very first listen to the band in 8Q. Since our contact I have replaced the eight radials on ground with a single elevated radial as it improved RX a lot with less QRN from the resort. The CQ160 contest has been very challenging from here. Using a simple antenna and 100 watt wont get you far when it comes to cut through the contest QRM in EU. I was hoping the 8Q prefix would compensate a little, but it was impossible to get a run going. I had hard to cut through to any station below S9. Unless they was expecting me to be in the contest most ops where confused by the complicated call I guess, because many that heard me reasked several time before getting it right, Anyway I was happy to log you as my first contact from here. I have attached an image of the antenna that probably will be stripped from the by the reflector, but should reach you in private. QSL via Tim M0URX and LoTW after I arrive home. 73 de Björn, SM0MDG 8Q7BM SE0X _________________ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _________________ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband