Low Band Blues

I have not been on 75 / 160m every morning.  However I have been on enough to know that conditions are still bad in Panama. Yesterday I heard a VK on 3793 but could not raise him.  He gave one of the regular VE stations a 10/9.  I did work Stu, ZL2XC yesterday just before 1100Z on 3797.  He has been on a job, working all over the world the past several months.

I do hope that Linda, W5TRV can prod her OM Barry, W9UCW to get his repaired receive array relocated and rewired.  I miss them on 75m in the mornings.

Two different 5K0 stations in San Andres & Providencia were active on FT8 this morning.  I worked them on 160m and 30m for new "countries" on both bands.

I anyone is still reading this, drop me an email:  hp3ak@jaymills.org

73, Jay, HP3AK

A Welcome Surprise

 I got up a little late today and turned on the radio at 1105Z.  I was very pleasantly surprised to hear Barry, W9UCW and Linda, W5TRV on 3796.  It was great to catch up with Mr. "What broke today?" and his better half.  No DX other than myself.

Mike, W9MK was on also but it was too late for us to hear each other.

The 75m band was slightly less noisy than usual.  The noise has been brutal since spring time and I have worked very few DX stations for several months.  Even the regular JA stations seem to have given up.

73 and good DX,

Jay, HP3AK

Snooze = Lose

 75m was open this morning!  Worked LU5FC on 3799, VK2ON on 3796, and ZL2XC on 3793, all S9 /S9.  I didn't hear any JAs but the band was open to the south.  

Barry & Linda have had some antenna challenges as well as other issues.  I hope that everything gets back to normal for them so that they can join me in the mornings.  It's getting pretty lonely ...

I worked VK3XXY on 7143 a couple of days ago.  40m is filled with local, Central American, stations most days.

I hope that everyone is having a great summer.

73, Jay, HP3AK

75m Open to JA Today

 You snooze, you lose.  75m was open to JA this morning.  I worked JQ2SIX (R57,S48), JK1CBO (R58,S59), & JH4CES (R47,S47) all between 1100 & 1115Z.  

The band was noisy as usual with my static crashes up to S8, but with spaces between. 

Barry & Linda, W9UCW & W5TRV worked Chris, VK2SR & Nick, VK9DX on 40m yesterday - April 28.  Chris & I were hearing each other at 20/9 with 2 el. beams at both ends.

I sent email to Bobby, K7FX, yesterday.  I have not heard him in several weeks.

73 from Panama, HP3AK (Real DX)

DX News from Panama

 Spring DX season has started slowly with heavy thunderstorms in the U.S. showing up almost all winter.  I finally reached 100 "countries" worked on 160m FT8.  I work FT8 to make 160m contacts because I do not get on CW.

LY2BAW bugged me via email until I finally stayed up late and worked him at 0342Z on 4/7.  I also picked up HA8BT in Hungary as country 100 at the same time.

On the morning grey line I picked up FO/SP5EAW, Jacek in the Austral Islands on 3/21 at 1139Z on 3799.  On 3/25 I worked a rare TX station, W9UCW at 1138Z.  On 3/31 I snagged VK9DX on Norfolk Island on 80m FT8 at 1104Z.

The usual JA stations have been hit and miss on 3796 in the mornings. Everywhere from S9 down to below my S5 noise level.  Conditions have varied a lot day by day. I worked Taka, JQ2SIX at my sunrise today and he was a solid S8...gave me an S9.

I have not been on every day for several months, but I am now making an effort to be up and at 'em in the mornings.  

73 from HP3AK

Rare DX This Morning

 Rare DX on 3796 this morning!  Talked with W9UCW (with Linda, W5TRV listening).  It is great to hear Barry getting back on the air.  He has problems with his big vertical and with his 4 square receive array ... normal for not using things for awhile.  I also worked JQ2SIX and JK1CBO today, but they are not rare DX like Barry.  HC5DX was in far after his sunrise.

Maybe we can stir up some activity on the band ??

73,

Jay, HP3AK

Those Present, & Those Missing

 I worked Taka, JQ2SIX at 1115Z this morning on 3799.  I was calling on 3796 but there is a ? N. Korean ? numbers station near 3795.  So I moved up to 3799 (right after the loud, rude, long KP4 qso on 3800).  After a couple of calls Taka answered at 5x7, so the band was open.

Missing were: W9UCW, W6UC, and K7FX.  *I know, nothing to see (work) here!  However to maintain my insanity I must "keep trying the same thing and expecting a different result".

Happy New Year to all, and I certainly hope for a better, safer, saner year.  🌄

73 from Panama

Jay, HP3AK

You Snooze, You Lose

 Well, you never know about 75m.  Bobby, K7FX worked 3 JA stations and ZL2OK from 1050-1105Z on Firday, 8/20.  I worked 4 JA stations and 2 VK stations from 1040 - 1122Z (sunrise) on Saturday, 8/21.  Too much QRN today (Sunday), so worked a couple of W7 area stations on 160m FT8 (the no joy mode).

I'm "keeping the light on" for Barry & Linda to show up some morning.  I really doubt that Linda will be thrilled by all of the noise and few signals in the 75m DX window at sunrise.

I am looking forward to seeing the "really, really big" 6m moon-bounce station at W6UC in October. I need to check the position of the moon on the days that I will be visiting.

73, Jay, HP3AK (K1YJ/mobile 9/27 thru 10/11)

Welcome Back ... Almost

 I talked with Barry, W9UCW and met Linda, W5TRV on 20 meters a couple of days ago.  Linda is coming up to speed on HF operating.  Linda has changed her QRZ page to reflect her new last name and new location. (Map coordinates are old).

They intend to get up early to be on 3.796 MHz to sometimes enjoy the steady diet of heavy static with me and Bobby and occasionally, "the terror of 6m moon bounce", Phil.

I have been sleeping in and not on 75m much.  On the mornings that I have been on before sunrise, I have only managed ZL or VK or JA a few times.  There was a HL on 2 or 3 weeks ago, but he could only hear K7FX.

With the increase of thunderstorms in the U.S. and Central America I am wondering if we will ever hear 75m become quiet and propagation well above the noise level again.

I plan to be mobile between 28 September  and  12 October as K1YJ, my U.S. call sign. Mostly on 20 m with 20 watts.  If you are still reading this, please comment or post a new message. Thanks, Jay, HP3AK

My Turn in the Hole

Well, my turn in the black hole of propagation.  I heard K7FX work HL5FUA on 3796 this morning at 1105Z.  However, I called Choi many times and he simply could not hear me. 😒  This doesn't happen often often with a kw and 3 element phased array!

Some good news from Barry, W9UCW.  He is now married again after the loss of his wonderful wife Joyce.  His new bride Linda is also a ham, W5TRV.  Congratulations to both of them.  Now, we just need him to put some SWR grease on his antennas and get back on the air.

I am (still) in the process of rebuilding my operating console after a complete tear down and cleaning.  I am maybe 85% finished.  I am able to operate the new (for me) Anan 100D and the ALS-1306 amp with all antennas again. The Icom 756 P3 is also operational.  I still need to untangle all of the complicated wiring for the old Angelia board, outboard 50 watt amp and the many sma relays required to make it work. The 3 Drake l-4B amps are still not connected. I also need to rebuild my ground bus for all of the equipment.

73 for now, Jay, HP3AK 

Barry, W9UCW, Rare Texas DX

 A rare sighting of TX DX -- I talked briefly with Barry on 3.796 yesterday.  He is doing well but very busy still.  When you are old like us it is more difficult to get your day started before sunrise.

I hope that Barry, and the rest of the crew will be more regular on 75m in the mornings.  I talked briefly with Taka, JQ2SIX this morning at 1053Z.  Not strong but signals were 47 both ways. 

73 from Panama.  HP3AK

Different every Day

 75m DX is different every day.  The path to VK / ZL has been getting better lately.  Stu, ZL2XC was 5x9 this morning. ZL2OK was 10/9 on September 5.

We were joined by Barry, W9UCW yesterday.  He managed to workd JH4CES who is on 3796 almost every morning.  I could not copy Taki well enough to work him.  We also contacted VK6IR and VK3IO who were both S7 in Panama.

I retuned my 3 delta loops recently.  No change in operation, just lower SWR and lower return power from the 90 degree hybrid. My repair of the Ameritron ALS-1306 is holding up even though there is a small imbalance between the two amplifier boards.

73 for now, Jay, HP3AK