Wow! That is quite an impressive contact and you managed to copy it all
in some audio files. How often does that happen? Those audio files are
great!
Congratulations, Steve. I am always amazed at how well you do in the
over-the -pole mode. I just do not seem to be able to do that from my
spot here in Maine. Maybe 8Q7 wasn't over the pole, but it is a huge
event in any case.
I have become enamored with 160 meters and had all sorts of plans to
keep improving my station, but many things beyond my control have
recently surfaced. I have laid out the area for an 8 circle array to go
along with my array of beverages, and I have re furbished 120 ft of Rohn
25 tower sections for a second phased TX antenna. Those plans have now
been put on hold as the area around my house has become an RF
battleground and I am being overcome by marijuana grow lights. Maine is
a rural state that is largely conservative with the exception of the
City of Portland and Bangor. In 2018, the legislature legalized personal
use of marijuana. That change has turned things upside down here. I live
in a border town, and now many people are coming here to buy drugs from
retail pot stores. The state highway that runs thru Lebanon, now is
bristling with marijuana stores. There are many grow houses now being
used to supply these stores. In addition, individuals are allowed to
grow the plants, and many of them are growing huge illegal amounts of
the drug with no prospect of any repercussions. I have been fighting to
get one "home" grower to cease using his grow lights that wipe out my
160 meter reception. He lives 3/4 mile away but has 6000 watts worth of
the lights and the RFI is tremendous. I have had some success with an
NCC-1 phasing unit to cancel much of the noise, but this past weekend,
two new sources came on line in different directions, and there is
nothing that I can do to cancel the noise. I did locate the new
sources, but my past history with asking for FCC help tells me that I am
in for a long duration event and much of my time will be spent playing
Whack-a Mole as new sources come on line. In the meantime, my 160 meter
activity has been ruined. If the grow lights are running, I am off the
air! I have decided to stop using 160 meters in any serious fashion as
I just turned 77 yrs old and my life is too short to be fighting with
pot growers for many years. I wish it were not so. I am initiating a
complaint, but am not expecting any neat solution.
73
Dave K1WHS
On 2/28/2022 3:14 PM, VE6WZ_Steve wrote:
Well, today a miracle happened.
I worked 8Q7WM on 160m CW for a new DXCC and Z-22.
His signal peaked at about 1415 z or so. My SR at 1430z.
First of all, I owe thanks to Bob W7RH for spotting 8Q7WM this morning on 160m.
For the last few months, I have been lazy and sleeping in. This morning I got
up about 25 min before my sunrise and checked the band.
I saw Bob's spot for the 8Q7 on 1821, and thought, “well, I will never hear him, but I
my as well check”
I was so shocked when I heard his CQ that I almost fell out of my chair.
His signal was arriving at the usual skew path that most of SE Asia arrives,
somewhere between Japan path at 320 deg. and direct west at 270 deg.
The direct path to 8Q7 from VE6 is virtually straight north polar at 352 deg.
Here are a few recordings I made of his signal.
If you decide to listen to these, don't even bother without headphones, he is
weak. Really weak.
These recordings are in stereo diversity, in the Left ear is the phased
Beverage pair, in the Right ear is the 9 circle .
Both RX are set direct west, although he was also copyable on the JA rx too.
While the amp was warming up I recorded this CQ:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fHNBaTs-JDKPTLHDuhRtRAxWrEpMYvzj/view?usp=sharing
<https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fHNBaTs-JDKPTLHDuhRtRAxWrEpMYvzj/view?usp=sharing>
Next Kevin VK6LW called, and I recorded his 2-way QSO:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EaHEhGU3UQk9YwGpmawdFBjC1b23aPKn/view?usp=sharing
<https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EaHEhGU3UQk9YwGpmawdFBjC1b23aPKn/view?usp=sharing>
After Kevin finished, the amp was warm so I called.
I am actually embarrassed about my calling. I was so stunned that I could copy
him, I was messing up my reports, and sending my call way too many times.
I think it's clear that I was doubling with him, and I almost ruined my own QSO.
He went into a QSB fade right when I called, so I wasn't sure he had my call
correct, so I think he was unsure I had confirmed.
AT 2:05 he sends VE6WZ?
I resend my call and report,
At 2:40 he sends VE6WZ 5NN,
I CFM and at 3:05 8Q7 sends CFM.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eibREmwj9BzNH2I-gPa14rTdOqMLlorV/view?usp=sharing
<https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eibREmwj9BzNH2I-gPa14rTdOqMLlorV/view?usp=sharing>
Here he is QRZ? with Dennis, ZL1AZ and JI1DCW calling:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Nz6GX62Ba1gw22R__jpcjbHHnb8QGoNt/view?usp=sharing
<https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Nz6GX62Ba1gw22R__jpcjbHHnb8QGoNt/view?usp=sharing>
The band has remained very poor and the EU trans-polar path has not opened for
a few weeks.
Working Z 22, which is a direct polar path I never would have imagined, but of
course the opening was a skew path, completely avoiding the AU !
Thanks to Karel OK2WM for pulling me out, and for setting up an excellent TX on
the beautiful beach in the Maldives.
Good luck to the other WC guys. It seems Karel and Vlad will be there till
March 8.
73, de steve ve6wz
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