[600MRG] Poor session in North Texas that ultimately yielded some results, even if below average

[John Langridge]

I can't speak to how things went on digital modes but on CW it was
very poor last night and this morning here in North Texas.

Evening band conditions were very quiet which may say something about
how poor propagation really was.  I may have detected  a few dits from
N9RU but that was it.

This morning was more of the same.  Around 1015z I detected dits from
N9RU in the noise around 474.35 but Tom was way below normal.  It went
from bad to worse until the band shifted a bit at 1048z and we found a
45 second peak to exchange quick reports before he faded back into the
noise.

W3TS joined the fray but absolutely nothing was heard from Mike until
1105z when I heard repeated 339 reports coming to me.  Mike had
mentioned in SLACK that he was calling me so I assumed then 339 was
for me and sent the same report to him.  After a repeat and
confirmation he disappeared and we were done... no rag chewing
whatsoever here today unfortunately...

At 1137z I heard W8JI either in a QSO with someone that I was not
hearing or he was CQing.. He was mostly detection-only today but I did
heard his callsign cleanly once.  Yesterday we completed a CW QSO at
1217z which is really late for eastern stations... Weird.

Today seemed to be almost all North and South openings for paths over
400 miles.  Very little East and West.

Curiously W3TS and N9RU reported far better band conditions to the
North and East, even completing a phone QSO.  NV4X reported that an
FST4-60 digital QSO with W3TS was way down, however.

So it was a mixed bag depending on where you were located and when you
were on today.

Will be back in the morning to cast my net again.  Perhaps there will
be a few minutes to spar this evening....Never say never...

73!

John..