The AM Forum

There was an odd thing today.  First of all a rookie mistake on my part.  My NC-300 is so hot that there's a noise floor even when the coax switch is not selecting it.  So I didn't realize this and thought 29.050 was clear when I started calling CQ.  After a couple calls I realized my mistake and selected the proper receiver and there was Steve QIX in a QSO.   He mentioned me so I know I was stepping on the QSO.  But Steve knows I wouldn't do anything like that intentionally.  When he wrapped up the QSO I got to work him briefly.  Burt, K1OIK was working him groundwave and I could hear him too!

Suddenly Steve dissappeared completely but I could still hear Burt.  Burt, I tried to make a brief contact with you after you signed but apparently Steve was still talking to you.  Funny thing propagation can be when you two were close enough for ground wave but Suddenly one dissappears!

Burt, I would love to work you on 10 and I'm sure the opportunity will arise again as I hear New England morning and afternoon on 10 meters.

73 fellas! John KX5JT

Hi John,

Same thing at this end - you just faded out as if someone threw a switch!  Well, in effect I suppose that's what happened.  After all, it was probably close to an hour after sunset.  When things were working, you were strapping up here.  No problem on the accidental CQ - it happens to everyone!!

Burt was in there - not strong at all (he's just about 100 miles away from me), but we could definitely talk, no problem.  There are a lot of locals on 10 meters around here (within 50 to 75 miles), which gives rise to some round tables that include stations thousands of miles away.  Fun stuff!!!

Regards,

Steve

Yes! Around 4 or 5 pm here I often can hear New England AND West coast and a roundtable would be possible!  Going to try to see if I can make that happen sometime.