[Lowfer] 29.499 QRSS 60

[JD]

I used the time Bob was off to look for HiFERs and start the battery 
recharging process.  (Hauling the generator down there in a second vehicle 
is logistically very awkward with the truck temporarily out of commission, 
but I deemed it worthwhile to get a sample of both day and night 
propagation, which Bob was discussing with Alan Melia on the RSGB list 
earlier.)

Didn't see anything definite back on 29.499 until after 2400, when it looked 
like an X came through, and then a very definite B.  It would appear that 
the signal is improving after dark.  Static is still not bad yet tonight, 
even though it's up one to two S-units from this afternoon...but the signal 
strength got even better just before I packed up the generator and started 
back toward town, so I'm hopeful for improving S/N.

I'll be returning to the field to keep an eye on things for a couple more 
hours.  The temperature is plummeting and the wind is increasing, so there 
won't be any late-night captures this time, but I'll keep it going as long 
as possible to see how things sort out propagationally.

At the first sign of freezing precip, though, I'm outta there.  That was 
forecast to be our big headache by morning, but maybe the timing of this 
cold air is a good omen.  I can tolerate a couple extra inches of snow or 
sleet a lot better than a quarter inch of ice on powerlines and crops.

John