Like my neighbour Dave/WHS here a few grid squares away to my SW, I found condx "good" but certainly not great up here in Central New Brunswick, Canada where I am nowhere at all near salt water, being in FN66na.
I (currently) run a small stn on 160m. Inverted L(more like a J these days) and legal limit. No RX antennas. I only operated Sat night in 2 small spurts for a total of 2hrs+53mins, but managed 46 S/P and 31 countries in my very limited time on the band. This was about 75% running and 25% S&P. I was really only on to work Da-boyZ @ VO2AC to show my support for their expedition, but when I didn't hear any other NB stns on or see any spotted, I felt compelled to at least give the deserving the chance to work the VE9 mult. When the dust settled, Monday I found out that there were at least 4 other VE9's QRV throughout the w/e so I felt pretty good about that. I don't think any VY2's were really on.but I digress. I worked from N6TR(K7RAT) out to RL3A and a few of the PJ's to the south. Nobody was what I would call "loud" by any stretch of the imagination. Most EU's CQ'd in my face (or called me when they saw me spotted,but then couldn't hear me reply) Sometimes I think folks are confusing amazing condx with just a lot of activity during a very popular contest weekend. (at least in my opinion)...Many times I have worked much stronger DX, regardless of beam headings. I'd characterize condx as "good" to perhaps almost "very good" but certainly NOT "fantastic/amazing/unforgettable" or other descriptors I've read here and 3830scores.com. But again.who am I to say.?....< 3 hrs on the band late Sat evening (NA time) is a pretty myopic view I guess. Mike VE9AA "NB" In my listening, I heard many stations farther south (W4 & W5) calling stations and I was surprised that they could hear them at all, seeing how weak they were here. I began to think that something broke here! K1DG was on in Maine from his island in the middle of salt water, and he seemed to do very well. I don't know what to say as I do not have the experience to adequately explain what happened. Maybe if I called CQ for more than 45 minutes total I would have a different feel for how condx were. My take is that absorption can be quite variable over a fairly narrow geographical area, say a few hundred miles. Dave K1WHS Mike, Coreen & Corey Keswick Ridge, NB _________________ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
