[Lowfer] 185.3 WA,VD,TAG copy in Maryland

[Mitch Powell]

> Any luck over the weekend? I was writing up a summary of your successes this
> Spring for the new loop article and realized that I don't know what your
> percentage of success is with your captures of us.

HI Bill:
Just a general comment - in answer to your question - I can pretty well
guarantee reception any night that I check for your signal. The limiting
factor is the "band" noise, whether it be lightning - or just high
atmospheric noise level. It will be very interesting to continue to check
your signal through June - but, weather permitting, I am sure we will be
copying through the month. Reception of Jay is about 50%, as is evident when
looking at the series of captures over the past month, and reception of John
is closer to 10% at this point - his signal only appearing when condition
have been very quiet.
The best antenna for reception so far has been the 12 foot octo-loop, which
of course is bi-directional..... and when I am "pointing" at you, the back
end is seeing ILL, WIS and MIN ( or IL, WI and MN) which is where most of
our weather comes from - in the form of weather fronts/storms and lightning
- this time of year. So, unfortunately I am "sharing" you guys with a
MN weather front which might have some nice noisy storms aloft.


> I can't assume that the
> days you guys do not report back that you have been looking.

That is very true - as I usually monitor every night, but don't always make
a report. The exception is when there is someone on doing short tests,
looking for reports ( like Lyle a few weeks ago) and AMRAD today (Monday).

> Also, do you  think that a good night (day) is mostly dependent on the
background noise level?

Yes - see above.

Hope that helps.

73
Mitch VE3OT