[50Mhz] Re: 6 open

[Bill VanAlstyne]

[Meant to send this to the list last night, instead of just to Chris... Oh
well...]
====================================
Just worked 48 stations in the 4-hour 50 MHz Sprint (which I wasn't even
planning to operate!), including thirteen new grids (plus three others
previously worked but no QSL), and three new states (PA, NY, NH), during the
4-hour Sprint. Lots of double-hop Es to the northeast -- worked NY, PA, CT, MA,
NH, and ME! Best opening in a long time. Hell, the ONLY opening in a long time.
But it was a good one!

Got some really nice reports from the north-east stations: "Farthest west
station I've heard in this opening." "Loudest signal on the band I've heard."
"20 dB over S9 on double-hop Es." This with just 100W to my newly-lengthened
(18') 5-el Cushcraft yagi at 32'.

Anybody who does NOT think this had something to do with the unusually active
solar-terrestrial conditions that occurred yesterday and today???

BTW, as promised, I'll shortly have available a write-up of my simple,
inexpensive enhancement of the A50-5S antenna from 12 ft to 17.5 ft long.
Anybody who wants it (it will be a PDF file including text, diagrams, and
photos), just let me know.

Bill / W5WVO


Christopher Boone wrote:
> Well, 6 DID open here!!!.....hearing beacons all over the CW part of
> the band...someone calling CQ at 50.09999 (a little too fast...he
> needs to slow down!)...and hearing signals all up and down the SSB
> portion...
> up to .175!! Just worked K0GU on 50.129 for the contest...he was
> working some other Texas guys as well....tried calling CQ on 50.400
> with no answers...also 52.525...
>
> Chris
> WB5ITT