12/09/2019 | N0NB

Band conditions both nights were about the most quiet I have ever observed at this location.  Even though I only have a relatively low doublet for 80/160m,

working a bit of DX is always nice.  Operating time was cut short as a bum hip made sitting for long periods next to impossible and Saturday evening was even worse so no operating during Prime Time.  Fortunately, a few hours of sleep enabled me to put in some good time early Sunday morning.  I heard JA and UA9 for the first time ever on 160m this year during Sunday morning's gray line.   Participation seemed high again this year.  Great to see such popularity for Top Band.   As it turns out, this should be my best personal result in this event and yet is still far short of what I think I could acheive.  My antenna is the same low (40 feet above ground at the apex to 20-25 feet at the ends) 205 foot center fed doublet I use for routine local work.  Overall I worked about eight and a half hours this year.   This is one of the events I look forward to each year and this year it did not disappoint!     -- N0NB