09/16/2004 | W8PAT Very interesting contest here in EN81. Tropo to the East was very good Saturday afternoon. I worked W2SZ/1 (MA FN32) on 50, 144, 222, 432 and 1296. But within an hour K1WHS (ME FN43) and WB1GQR (VT FN33) were in the log on 50, 144, 222, 432. All three stations were 20 DB over S9 well into the evening on all bands.

Conditions to the West were good to about 400 miles thru 432 but only a few stations. W9ICE EN60, KC9BQA EN63 were the furthest heard and worked. Nothing heard from EN50s area, which was strange.

Only 6 meter Es was K5QE (EM31) who I heard several different times during the contest.

I padded my score with some FM Qsos with my local chat buddies on Sunday evening.

I had new antennas to put up on 432 but never got it done. But worked state #31 (ME) with the old antenna minus the elements that have fallen off during the last 25 years.

I had fun and found that everything still works, HI HI!

Tnx for the QSOs,

John W8PAT EN81 OHIO -- W8PAT