[Lowfer] Wet ground - low radiated output

[Garry Hess]

Andy,

I've only been listening to lowfers a bit over a year, but last year XR, 
CV, and WMS were copied regularly by December. So far this winter season 
the best I've been able to do is occasional traces. Only WEB has been 
copied regularly, but it seems relatively down in strength and sometimes 
fades into the noise. MP and EAR are good daytime copy, but I used to 
see MP well at night listening to the watering hole and so far this 
season it hasn't been in there, or has been weak. As at your QTH, 
October has been a very rainy month here, but the lightning activity has 
subsided nicely compared to the middle of summer.

In contrast to lowfers, NDB reception has been fine. I picked up new 
stations this month at a rate of about 1 per night. Since about 1350 
have already been logged, those new ones aren't in the back yard. 
Stations in South America are coming in as well as last year.

Hopefully by the end of December lowfers will be coming in like last 
year too. Time will tell.

73, Garry, K3SIW, EN52ta, Elgin, IL