[Lowfer] Noisy July so far

[Garry Hess]

It's been heavy sledding to copy anything below the AM broadcast band so 
far this July in NE IL. Right now (1500Z) 
http://thunderstorm.vaisala.com/explorer.html shows a substantial band 
of lightning activity from Kansas to Alabama. Lowfer EAR, which is 
normally strong in the daytime, is barely evident on 188.43 kHz. Beacon 
MP would no doubt be the same but it is undergoing maintenance for a 
bit; great timing. Nice to hear beacon RM is QRV on 189.8 kHz, QRSS3/CW. 
It's only slightly farther than MP so perhaps daytime copy will be 
possible if the QRN ever abates.

Nothing was heard from the west coast stations participating in the 
"night of nights" on 500 kHz over night. WD2XSH/6 in MS on 505.266 kHz 
QRSS3 is usually easy copy but last night took until nearly midnight to 
see it well. Beacon WD2XSH/17 in CO on 505.4 kHz was just barely noticeable.

73, Garry, K3SIW, EN52ta, Elgin, IL