12/07/2009 | AA0CX Band conditions were absolutely excellent this year! And the neighbors were either gone or quiet: no computer hash, no touch lamps, no tv buzz, and no ignition noise! I live on the garden level of a three-story apartment building, and used my everyday antenna: the three-story, downspout/gutter special. Hey, it loads up! And, tightening up the connections from the coax to the downspout and ground this fall, and laying out some chicken wire for radials didn't hurt, either. It was great to be able to hear and work stations on either coast and a few in the middle of the country, too, with 100 watts and the "antenna". I did find I just can't stay up all night, though.....so...

I would have liked to have run a little power, but I've tried to keep a low profile, since spooking a neighbor a few years ago by turning her touch lamp on and off while doing CW. Plus, the building owner has been nice enough to let me use his gutter and downspout as my antenna. It's an inverted L, about 30 feet high and 20 feet long at the top.

There were a number of good, loud, stations putting out the ND section this year. This was my second ARRL 160. I absolutely love this contest! A blessed holiday season to all, and 73. - Mark -- AA0CX