That was really something!
Since 1986 I have caught four or five tropo openings that extended
beyond 500 miles, all straight down the coast to extreme eastern
Virginia and possibly extreme eastern North Carolina. I would have to go
back and check paper logs from decades ago to see about the latter. I am
sure I never worked anything much beyond 800 miles on tropo. Never
anything to the midwest.
I have written up a summary in a blog post so I won't repeat all here.
Those who are interested can look it up.
http://blog.n1bug.com/2023/09/03/big-tropo-opening/
Thee were several really nice contacts but I would have to say the high
points were working W9FF on 144 CW and N0PB on 432 FT8.
Roger, W9FF, very kindly switched to CW when I asked... after we had
already worked on FT8. I greatly appreciate that. I wanted at least one
midwest tropo QSO on CW so I can say I have done it. That means a lot to me.
I could not believe how easily I worked Phil, N0PB on 432 FT8 with my
puny 25 watts! That is 1239 miles or so, depending on which distance
calculator you use. I had his signal clear as a bell in the speaker the
whole time but my low power was not that good on his end, judging by the
report I got.
I have no malice toward digital modes or those who enjoy them. Obviously
I use them too. But, this is more than a hobby to me, always has been.
Digital modes have reduced the thrill and health benefits I can get from
the hobby. I have been constantly trying to adjust the ham radio
benefit formula for the past 20 years since JT65 changed EME forever. I
find that I have been moving more to the building and exploring side of
things.
I wish there was more CW and SSB activity during big openings but the
situation is what it is. I will keep trying to adapt and find the best
path for me. I did get some QSOs on FT8 that would not have been
possible on CW. I also got two on Q65 that were not possible on FT8.
As always, I wish I had more power on 432. Someday.
I heard a couple of fairly impressive meteor pings on 432. I am
interested in trying meteor scatter on that band when I get enough
power. There doesn't seem to have been much of that in North America but
I recall some interesting discussions with European EME friends about
432 meteor scatter many years ago.
73,
Paul N1BUG FN55mf
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