Nice coast-to-coast opening this morning on 21.430

[W1AEX]

Dan - W7NGA was quite loud into CT this morning with his 32V3. Conditions were stable enough for a good video/audio screen capture which can be viewed here:   

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knU_SDIbZcw

When Dan and I finished up, Rick VE6CQ showed up with a very big signal. Unfortunately, some sideband chatter started up in our passband but the "window-shade" filter feature in PowerSDR allowed me to set up an asymmetrical filter that was 6 + 4 on either side of the carrier and that cleaned it up. A brief "air check" of Rick's signal is attached. All-in-all the band was fairly stable for about an hour between 11 AM and Noon here on the east coast.

Rob W1AEX

[wb1ead]

Hi Rob..thought I'd let ya know that Scott N1UVI and myself were "eavesdroppers" this morning while you were in "Q" with Dan..couldn't copy you too much..too close I guess..Dan was approaching 20 over all in the space of a couple minutes..which led him to tell you there might be company on that freq(us actually)..we scooted off to 21.440 to resume our chat which we've grown accustomed to doing lately..yah his 32V3 does sound primo..also FYI the slopbucket is on 21.435..couple dudes from DL land who have been there for many moons every morning..they're really not a bother but we know they are there..wish we cud hear both sides..sounds like you've got pretty decent audio the few words here and there we can pull out..c ya 73 de DAVE

[W1AEX]

Hi Dave,

Thanks for the background on the guys up on 21.435 MHz. Now and then I have seen sideband activity there but I was unaware they had marked that spot out for themselves. As you said, they are usually not a serious problem, so no big deal. There's usually a lot of wiggle room up there.

Quite often when I have a receiver parked up in the 15 meter AM window I hear stations you are talking to, but rarely can hear your end of the contact. Once in awhile though, perhaps as a result of back scatter or some other propagation phenomenon, you come through loud enough to be very readable. Just one of the things that makes 15 meters an interesting band to play on. I'm hoping conditions continue to allow solid contacts through the winter months. Rick - VE6CQ and Mike WZ5Q are usually able to burn the ionosphere enough to allow some easy listening up here in Connecticut.

Hopefully, lot's more stations will join us up there!

73,

Rob W1AEX