[600MRG] Last night's results - good/bad news

[Bayard Coolidge, N1HO]

Over the past few nights, I've been beeping away on FST4W with a 2/2 ratio, with rather mixed results.
As others have noted, conditions on the band have been gradually improving as we get further into the season, but I felt that I was having some sort of reception problems. Granted, FST4W still isn't as popular as WSPR, but that didn't explain why I was hearing so few stations or any further than about 1200km.
Well, last night, I took a quick trip back down to the shack at around 0145Z and noticed that there wasan incredible 'buzz' showing up on the band, at around -90 to -100dBm on my P3 (ca. S6-S7), and seemed to extend well beyond the amateur band, although I didn't quantify exactly how far. I also realized that my "2/2" setting was far too frequent, and that I'd been transmitting every other cycle - I apologize profusely; I'm still getting used to FST4W.
Anyway, I backed off to "6/6", and let it run overnight. When I checked the P3 display at 1145Z, I noticed that the buzz was gone. However, the damage was done - I only heard two stations all night, N9RU at 638km and K8HTL at 1025km, three times apiece. I was heard, however, by 14 uniques across 454 spots, with the best being W7IUV at 3347km, despite the heavy rainstorms up and down the Appalachians overnight.
So, the good news is, it ain't my equipment necessarily, although I will be working on my bandpass filter this week to try to address the -40-45dBm (S9+30dB) rock-crushing signal from the "BRA" NDB on 379kHz, which is obviously somewhat problematic. I still don't know what the 'buzz' is, although I think that N1DAY, KC4SIT (SK) and I encountered it a few years ago. I need to contrive a way to track when it starts and stops, which may give us a clue as to its origin.
Thank you, and 73,
Brandy, N1HO (EM85sg)



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