Monday, 22 June, EU > PNW 6M
Dave Bernhardt
What a morning! For those who may have missed out on the excitement that happened, here is a report of what came in.
The opening had similarity to that which happened in late June 2012. Dave, K7RWT, and I co-authored an article that appeared in QST of that event. That was back when analog was king, so all was SSB & CW. As such, signals were stronger and it lasted for about 6 hours.
I was noticing some EU lines on DX Maps to stations in ID & MT this morning. Got more interested when I saw W7EW had a line, then K7RWT picked one up. That was enough to change my morning routine and get the 6M rig fired up. Spoiler alert: EU was copied here beginning @ 1451Z with the last copied station @ 1923Z. My station is very basic with 40W out to a CC 5el yagi up 16'. The quiet nature of the area here allows me to hear quite well into the noise. The following listing will show the call/prefix, time and signal level(s) received here.
PC5C, 1451Z, R-3; SV9CVY, 1455Z, R-13; PA3, 1501Z,R-5; ON6, 1501Z R-20; IT9, 1503Z, R-2, -9; PA0, 1506Z, R-13; PC5C, 1529Z, R+4; I4, 1643Z, R-20; S57, 1646Z, R-16; OZ6, 1650Z, R-10, -7; I4, 1652Z, R-3, +1; LA7, 1658Z, R-13, -8; SV9, 1659Z, R-15, -10; IK7, 1700Z, R+8 (one of the stronger ones this AM); SM5, 1702Z, R-2; F5, 1703Z, R0, +5; 4X4, 1703Z, R0, +1 (I think W7EW got an R-16 from him, amazing. Also, I did not hear 4X in 2012.); I0, 1709Z, R+11, +9 (another strong one.); SV2, 1718Z, R-3; IZ5, 1722Z, R-3; F5, 1724Z, R-20; SP3, 1729Z, R-6; SV8, 1733Z, R-13, -8; F1, 1735Z, R-7; DK2, 1750Z, R-12, -7; OH1, 1750Z, R-18; SM7, 1750Z, R+3; DJ6, 1751Z, R-1; OK1, 1752Z, R-8, -2; SM3, 1752Z, R+3, +9; SM0, 1752Z, R-24; OH1, 1757Z, R0 (There were 8 EU stations copied in this sequence, BTW.); DL8, 1757Z, R+2; SM7, 1803Z, R+6; OG3, 1807Z, R-24; OV1, 1813Z, R-13; G4, 1823Z, R-7; another G4 @ this time was R+3; G4, 1824Z, R+9; G4, 1825Z, R+12; I0, 1833Z, R-1; G4, 1837Z, R+5; LA9, 1837Z, R-9; 2E0 (IO91), 1839Z, R-18; OZ8, 1851Z, R-19; LA1, 1853Z, R0; G0, 1901Z, R+2; G0, 1904Z, R-1 (report sent to N7NWP was R-16. Wow.); M5, 1914Z, R-12; Finally: G3NSM, 1922/23Z, R-5 (who sent W7EW an R-14 report.) This listing should give the reader an idea of where, what time and signal levels as the morning went along.
Location, location, location mattered in this opening. Oh, there was a strong opening in Western NA also. Unfortunately, a few did not seem to realize EU was coming into the PNW and the significance it has for us out here. Sigh.
There is a DK8 I see on DX Maps frequently, no sign of him this morning. Also, 50323 did not appear to be used today. Checked the EU list and did not find that FT-8 frequency posted.
As mentioned, during the 2012 EU opening 4X was not heard by me (I believe W7EW did get a Q) nor was SV heard either. What was frustrating was that for all the stations in there, not one Q was made. I can normally make a contact when a station is in the single digit minus R or stronger. Nothing.
I know a number of PNW stations did work a few EU. Good deal.
I was checking out the generator for FD this afternoon. Looks like it will be a little wet this weekend. Kinda different for FD weekend out here.
de Dave, N7DB CN85uj
-- Dave Bernhardt Boring, OR
