Tony Dixon G4CJC

Tony's 10 Metre Band Report
29 October, 2009

What a weekend!! I cannot remember such a terrific amount of activity on Ten Metres since I’ve been compiling this list.

Yes, CQ WW always brings the DX out of the woodwork but look at say Wednesday less than 60 reported contacts and Thursday 120 contacts. Friday, testing day before the contest, 1359 contacts, Saturday, first day of the contest, 4083 contacts and Sunday a huge 5724 contacts.
Low sunspots always means poor communications?? So much for that theory!

Most popular DX (three or more contacts, any mode)

Monday: ZY0T, ZK2DL, K4M, Z21BC, PU2LEP, C56YK, ZR1ADI, PU2WDX, IW9HIK, LU4DJB, I2RR, 5B4CY/B, SV3AQR/B, PY1SWL, NO0DLE, N4HLF/B, IZ5IOY, F2IL, CT1IZW, CE2WZ, 9Z4GB, Z21ANB/B, V51PA, PD5SS, DL1RPG, UT7IL, PY2XC, LW3EX, F6EWB, SV8FMY, IZ5MOP, EC1AJL, PY2XM, K3ZXL, EA8CK, DM5JL, YV5JF, WP4SK, WB7BBI, PY5EW, PY1NB, PY1KN, PU2KNM, PT7ZZ, JR2KDN, IW5AB, IK1MNJ, F8IXZ, F6IRG, EB2FJN, EA5FX, DL2FAG, DJ7KG, ZS1IL.

Tuesday: TO7RJ, ZK2DL, 9J2FM, CE2WZ, LU3EAS, TL0A, PY2HT, DR775TMG, IZ5MMB, CX7CO, ZP6DEM, LW2DY, 5B8AD, ZS1ZY, PY2XC, LU7FSM, F8BNU, F/DK1AF, RZ0SZZ, IW0HBY, HE8LEU, DL4RAN, DK1AX, CE4SES, YC6NE, WP3UX, RA0SCA, LU7DLY, LU1MPK, IW9HIK, HB9OAB, EA4Q/B, EA2LMI, DM0SAX/R, W5JDG, UA0YDB, SV3AQR/B, RN3KK, PY2DN, M3CPY, KP4YI, K6FRC/B, IZ8DXB/B, IQ8CZ/B, EA3NT, DK0TEN/B, CN8KD, CE5CJB, ZS6DN, Z21ANB, KI4TZU, LW3EX, F5IEP, EA2DNY, YY5CHJ, WP4NRX, YY5TAV, VR2XLN, KC4TVZ, EC1AJL, EA1XT, F5OUX, F4GBW, EA8AJY, EA5GLN, RA6LUX, RA3OW, M0BSV, KD4ESV, IZ8EPY, F6GOX, F6EWB, F6EGV, EB2FJN, EA2CTQ, ZP6CW, ZL4DH, WP3PZ, UA6GX, RL6YXX, PU9OSB, PU2WCE, F4DJG, EB3GIE, DL5MG, ZB2EO.

Wednesday: ZR1ADI, TS9A, EN500I, TL0A, PY2DN, NQ4I, K6FRC/B, 7Q7BP, F5ZWE/B, EB5KB, CN2R, 5B4CY/B, ZP6DEM, VK8VF/B, SV5TEN/B, RZ0SZZ, IZ8DXB/B, IT9AUG, DO3KTM, ZS10WCS, SV3AQR/B, RZ9YF, RA6FG, PY2XM, PU5OGE, IQ8CZ/B, CE4SES, 9H1KZ, 4X6TU/B, ZS6RWD, Z21BC, YV5JIP, VK8VF, VK3RSG/B, VK2RSY/B, V53ARC, UT7IL, DL1RPG, LW3EX, CP6UA, LU2VC, PD5SS, PY2XC, DK2EA, WA6NIF, F6EGV, EA1SB, RK6HWW, PY2SEI, KH6/N6GQ, KH6/N6G, F8BNU.

Thursday: HC8A, FH/DJ7RJ, VK4MA, 6V7Q, VK6KRC, EN500I, PP5WG, FM/KL7WA, VK6TQ, ZK2DL, RZ9UI, RK9JWV, RA3CQ, RD3MA, HZ1PS, VK4CQ, VK3XQ, RW0SC, RU9LA, PU5OGE, OH6CT, 9J2FM, 4L/UU0JM, VK4KY, VK3RMH, VK3AMA, UR3IFD, UA9SC, UA9FV, TL0A, RZ0SZZ, LW5EAE, LU5FC, CE4SES, YB9BWN/B, XE1SGW, WP4OBT, UA9JLY, P43A, LU3EAS, KH6/N6GQ, IK6DTB, F8BNU, EB5KB, EA8JA, CU2KI, ZP8VAO, VR2RSY/B, VK8VF/B, VK6IR, VK5WI/B, VK4JGH, VK3RMH/B, RU4NA, PY2XC, PJ2/WA4PGM, LU5YR, K6FRC/B, HC8N, EW2MA, EA8VN, CN8QY, 5R8FU, 5B8AD, ZS6RWD, ZR1ADI, ZP6DEM, ZL1BYZ, Z21ANB, UT7IL, G0FWX, VK3FZ, 7Z1SJ, S57S, K7XC, VK2DAG, PU1KTZ, DK1IZ, CP6UA, WB7BBI, VE3FGU, PU2KNM, LU2VC, IK8NII, EI9FBB, EA3TI, EA2CTQ, YY5CHJ, RZ1OM, RX9FM, RN3DY, RD3FX, EA1GA, DJ5AV, XE1UYS, W5MZM, W3BGN, UY5QO, TU5KG, RX4CF, RA9UAG, PU2LEP, PU2KLM, ON6LY, NP4JA, NP3HM, KJ4UY, K7ULS, JE1LET, IZ2KPE, IT9AUG, I5ZSS, HA8LLK, F6EGV, F4EMG, EA8VD, EA7IRT, DO7DU, DL5MDM, 9W2RZL.

Friday: FY5KE, LU1FAM, HS0ZIN, JY4CI, VK4MA, VK6IR, A71FJ, VP2MKA, PU5OGE, 6V7Q, VU2BJK, VK4BAA, CN8SG, CE4SES, A71CT, 9J2FM, ZD7FT, JD1BMM, E21EIC, 9K2HN, ZS1ZY, ZR1ADI, TI8II, PP5WG, HS0ZCX, HC8A, CU2KI, BD4QH, ZS3Y, ZS1OIN, EA8TT, CU2AF, 4X/K2LS, XV9DX, VR2UW, V51AS, TI5/N6JRL, SV8FMY, PU2SDX, EN500I, A65BM, A41MX, 4Z4DX, YV5MM, YN2NW, SV9IOI, RZ0SZZ, PY2XC, PU2UEO, PU2LEP, HS0ZEE, FR1AN, 9M2IDJ, 5B4AHY, RU0SU, PY5QW, PY2VA, PY2QA, PP5BZ, MU0FAL, LU5DX, IK4GRO, HS0ZHC, G0SXC, E71A, E51USA, E21EJC, CN2R, C91VM, 4X4DZ, YV2BYT, VK2BJ, UA6GX, SV5TEN/B, PY2EJ, PY2BN, LW5EAE, KH6/N6GQ, ER4KAA, CT9/DL6LB, CE2WZ, 9M8Z, 4X6TF, Z21BC, VK8NSB, VK7XX, VK6KRC, VK4KY, UR4MKY, UK8UWG, UA6YD, TI5XP, TG9AWM, RD3BS, PU2MTS, NR5M, NH6YK, MU0GSY, KH6/NGQ, K1LI, JY4NE, IS0GQX, EX8BJ, EA2VE, CE5CJB, A45WG, 5B4CY/B, 4Z5LA, 4X1SK, 4U1UN, 3D2MJ, ZS6FH, ZS1IL, VK8VF, VK7ZE, VK3AMA, UR6QX, TI8M, RZ9UI, PY2YU, OH1LWZ, NT1A, NQ4I, M0URX, LU8EOT, KH6QR, K4AAK, JA8DCR, IZ6CLZ, IZ5ASZ, HZ1SK, HZ1GW, ET3AA, EK6TA, EH1PAZ, CT1JOP, CT1FMX, 8P6JQ, 5B/AJ2O, ZS1BC, ZK2DL, UA6LPY, EA2DNY, UT7IL, KI4TZU, PD5SS, K5AR, DL1REM, WI4USA, UZ7HO, RX9FM, RX3DTN, IT9AUG, UA3QIX, M0CCQ, YC6NE, VE1SK, UX7UX, PY2RDZ, PT7TT, IW0HBY, IK5YJY, G0FWX, XE1SGW, SP8UFR, SP7NHS, RU3BU, PD9FJ, PD7BZ, KC2SKF, I5ZSS, F8BNU, W4ID, UA4PCM, RW3DD, RU4FA, RA9MC, PD1DL, KC2PCR, IW0SAF, EA1YY, AA5EY, WQ3X, VK2DAG, VA2RF, US4EX, RD3MA, PY5HOT, PY3KN, OS8A, OH8KVY, KP4WW, KC4TVZ, G0WCK, F6EGV, F4EJW, EA7HIQ, DM5JL, YV6BFE, WK4Q, W0TDH, UR4CWQ, UA9MAX, UA3AQB, SP1MWK, RZ6BU, RW0AA, RV6LO, RK4FAD, RA3CQ, PU2KNM, PT9IR, PA5M, N6WM, LW7EMM, LU9HQS, IZ7NLJ, IS0AOC, IK7BPV, F5RDK, F5OUX, EA7YY, EA7IRT, EA5CT, EA2DNA, EA1HLW, YV4AKK, YB3JBJ, WP3ME, VY2SS, VK6ANC, VK4FNQ, VE3FGU, UT9NA, UA9NS, UA4FAY, SV1RK, SP9RQJ, RU3UN, RN3QRY, RN3OK, RA9UIV/9, RA9UIV/, PY2OMS, OZ1MAX, ON5UK, OH1TM, N5ZBI, N2IC, LW4HBR, LU5WSO, KJ4JSQ, K5VRX, K3RV, JP1DJV, JA4GXX, IZ8ESX, GM4ZMK, F8AKC, F4FSB, F4FRQ, EB5GG, EB2FJN, EA7JB, EA5GSW, EA2OK, EA2DOT, DO2JSA, 9W2ZAK, 4Z5PT.

All the above were 3 or more reported contacts.

For the CQ WW SSB Contest the limit had to be raised to 10 or more contacts because activity was absolutely phenomenal.
So here they are and apologies to anyone who didn’t get into the list who thought they should.

Saturday: HC8A, LU1HF, PW5G, 5B8AD, XR6T, ZS9X, 6W1RY, 9K2HN, PJ2T, YC9MDX, 3DA0WW, CE4CT, 8P5A, LT1F, E71A, 6V7Q, OH0Z, OT5A, VK4MA, FY5KE, P33W, 9A2U, S56M, VR2ZQZ/P, RU6CQ, CX7TT, VK4YN, LU2UE, CN3A, B7P, VU2PAI, SX5P, HT2N, ZX2B, W5PR, TS9A, LU6FOV, 4L0A, ZS4U, YT9X, SU1KM, PW2D, HS0ZHC, 5R8FU, RG9A, PU5OGE, DR1A, 9M8Z, PZ5M, LU2UF, LS2D, CA6BMF, AM1Q, ZP8VAO, XV1X, UU1DX, PY1NX, PU2MTS, OE5T, LY2BAW, K3LR, HS0ZEE, EX8MAT, EE2W, CN2R, C4I, VK4FSSB, PU2LEP, NP4A, KC1XX, DF0HQ, 4U1UN, 3W1M, VK8NSB, V51AS, UA3BS, TI8II, TC7KA, PX2T, HG1S, A73A, 5B4AHJ, ZS9T, TO7A, PY3UEB, LU9MDH, JR5VHU, IW0HBY, CE1W, 4X0A, PY2ZY, LW1DTZ, LU7MSE, HS0ZIN, G0AEV, FR1AN, E21EJC, AH0BT, ZS6RJ, UW1M, US5D, UA0YAY, SK6D, S58N, PY5KD, PD5CW, LY7A, LU1MSD, IR9Y, IG9/I2ADN, HS0AC, 5B/G3RXQ, RX3APM, UT7NW, IW2MYH, F1NGP, UA6LV, UA6AA, RC3W, K5TR, DL1XX, PY2HT, F5LEN, XE1SGW, RA3CO, K8AZ, G0LGS, RZ6HF, ON6ZM, OH1LWZ, AA3B, SV1EML, OZ3BJ, IK7BPV, NQ4I, L73D, RW3DD, M0AWS, LW5EAE, 9W2ZAK, W3LPL, RA9AC, K1TTT, DQ4W, W2YR, PD4DX, OH6CT, 9A6KTB, M0CCQ, PA0GJV, PA0DX, LZ1NET, KA9FOX, K3OO, DO4DXA, DL1RPG, DG3FK, SV8FMY, S54A, PY2XC, KD5PBR, EI/W5GN, M0PNN, JA1QGT, DK8NC, WA6APQ, W4XDX, US2YW, PE2MC, ND8L, N6QQ, LW3EX, G0PPM, DK9DA, WX3B, RX3VA, K3NA, I5ZSS, EA5GX, EA4BHK, 9A3B, W8MJ, VE1SK, UR4CWQ, UA4HBW, SV1JSQ, PY2MR, N2IC, KE9I, IW3RUA, I1RQJ, HG4I, G7RAU, DL9OC, YY5PCA, W9RN, W4PK, UN2E, RX3DTN, RO9O, RN9SXX, PW2B, PU9OSB, K2DER, IV3JCC, HA2EQD, F6HRP, 4Z5LA.

Sunday: ZS9X, PW5G, HC8A, FY5KE, LU1HF, 5B8AD, TS9A, VR2ZQZ/P, VR2C, ZS4U, VR2009EAG, Z37M, PZ5M, PU5OGE, 4U1ITU, 9K2HN, EE9Z, CN2R, 3W1M, C4I, B7M, XR6T, UA6LV, RU6CQ, VR2YYW, CX7TT, CE1W, AH2R, SV9GPV, SU1KM, PU2MTS, PJ2T, E71A, 6V7Q, A47RS, SX5P, PY1NX, KH2L, CR3L, 6W1RY, PU2LEP, PS2T, HS0ZEE, EK8WA, ZX2B, VU2PAI, PY2ZY, LS2D, IT9AUG, CA6BMF, 3DA0WW, YC9MDX, PY3UEB, OH0Z, CE4CT, AH0BT, A65BM, S56M, RW2F, PW2D, PQ5B, LZ9W, IW0HBY, IG9/I2ADN, FS/K1XM, 5R8FU, PY5ZD, 9A2U, 8P5A, LU2UE, AO8A, 4L0A, CE3G, B7P, 4X/EA5RM, ZM2M, RM3Q, PU2KLM, P33W, LZ1NG, LU8EOT, LU2UF, LP1H, IT9IZY, EA6AZ, ZP8VAO, VK4MA, V26B, SX1L, LU6FOV, LT1F, IR9Y, EY7AD, BD7NWF, AA4V/VP9, 4U1UN, UU1DX, PX2T, LW1DTZ, JR5VHU, JD1BMM, HS0ZHC, EB1WW, E73M, 4X0A, W3LPL, EE9K, DV1VSR, DR1A, 9A1P, YO3CZW, WH2DX, W5PR, TO7A, GJ2A, EE2K, 9A3VM, VP5T, TK9R, S57DX, S52ZW, LZ3FN, G0AEV, EE2W, EA9IE, EA6/AA5UK, AO2W, AM3SSB, ZY7C, VK8NSB, UN6G, PY0FF, PA6V, OA4SS, N4BP, LZ7J, LU1MSD, EX8MAT, EC1KV, E7DX, A73A, YT9X, PR5D, LU1VM, KC1XX, CR2X, AY0DX, 7Z1SJ, YT2B, YR9P, WP4SK, VK4KW, UA3BS, ST2M, PY5KD, PU1KGG, OT5A, LW7DX, JT1ZO, IT9HBT, IR8A, IF9A, HB0/HB9AON, EK3SA, ED5T, DX1DBT, CX2ABP, CR5T, CE3PG, C4W, A35A, UT7NW, DK8NC, PU9OSB, RZ6HF, K3DI, NQ4I, K1TTT, K3NA, DL2DCX, RN9SXX, RW9SZ, OH1LWZ, RA9UAG, DL1XX, IR4X, IW3RUA, IO5O, 9A6KTB, DL1REM, UT4UWV, RG9A, KI9A, BA7IO, PY2OMS, K2PLF, M0CCQ, IK8NII, MM0BSM, KE4WBO, IW0SAF, DL1NUX, DO1FT, RX9TX, RX3AGD, RK3DZB, IZ0FKE, F8KCF, EA4BHK, RK4WWF, DL3VZL, RL3A, N2QT, IW2MYH, AA3B, PY2BK, N4NN, IZ7QLY, EI/W5GN, UR6IM, S54A, KC2PCR, K8ND, F5MZN, DL1RPG, 9W2ZAK, UA3QDX, OM8A, OH6CT, LW5EAE, W4MYA, OK2PAY, NE3F, K5TR, IZ6CLZ, DL9OC, DL5AI, YO4ATW, W2NY, UA2FT, SV8KOM, OE3GCU, IW1DFU, PA2MRT, NK7U, N6QQ, K2DER, IK3HHX, F8BNU, F5PPO, BA6QD, PU2UAT, LY2BAW, K3RV, DQ4W, DG3FK, DD8SM, 7L4IOU, W0AIH, UR4CWQ, SQ5HG, RN3QY, PY2FDX, NF4A, JH6WHN, JG6BKB, IT9RZU, F5NBU, W5ERX, W2IRT, UT0FF, RZ3TX, PY1NB, PA2IP, LU7DAF, K0TV, IZ8FDH, I5ZSS, G0LGS, ZL1BYZ, UY6IM, SV3IBF, SP5ES, S51AY, RL3DX, RA9AC, N2TU, MW0HMV, KK1L, K5EK, K3LR, F6HRP, F4ENK, DJ0DX, VU2PTT, VK4CQ, RA9UN, RA3XDX, PI4AMF, OZ3BJ, OH6MW, N4TX, KC5TJT, K3PP, JG2TKH, IK7XLU, HG6N, G4OJB, G4ELJ, G0KOM, EA5KD, EA1PP, DL4CQ, DK2YL.

There was not one single station that was really the most dominant DX station of the week. The contact map for Sunday was as this

Sunday's map

Interestingly the individual most popular contest stations as shown above (first for each day) actually achieved lower scores than for most DXpeditions in poor conditions. But the number of people actually active was unbelievable. Bonus points shared all round I guess.

Welcome back to Carl, VR2CB. You certainly pick a beaut of a weekend to get into things. He says, “CQWW at the weekend was quite amazing for me! By far the best 10m conditions I have experienced since I have been at this QTH (5 years). Saturday 10m opened up to East Europe and Sunday Southern Europe and North Africa were also rolling in. Managed a few South American contacts but no USA or British contacts/stations heard. And all with 100w to a monoband vertical at 6m... worked: PU2MTS 5/9, PW5G 5/9, WH2DX 5/9, TC7KA 5/9, UP9L 5/9, TK9R 5/9, IQ4RN 5/9, E7DX 5/9, EE9Z 5/9, EA3RR 5/9, F8ATM 5/9, CR3L 5/9, CN2R 5/9, CN3A 5/9. Heard, TS9A 4/9 .”
Good stuff, Hope to look Carl up when I’m over in VR2 land next month.

Rudy PD5SS worked ZS6RWD 5/9 on Wednesday and on Thursday UA4NC 5/9+20, UA9SQZ 5/9, UA9WV 5/9, UA4OI 5/7, RA4PFQ 5/9+20, RA9FEL 5/9+10, UA9FV 5/9, RU9LA 5/9, 4L/UU4JMG 5/9+30. Friday it was C91VM 5/9, JY4CI 5/9+10, CU2AF 5/9+20, ZR1ADI 5/9, HS0ZIN 5/9, E21EIC 5/9, LU1FAM 5/9+10, 6V7Q 5/9, FY5KE 5/9, PY5QW 5/9.

Tim, M0URX was also almost over whelmed,
“What a morning Tony! I was just taking my first cup of tea to the shack and I noticed an email from Gary G0FWX an avid 10m DXer, telling me that 10m was open to VK. I thought ok probabaly will not hear it here. However on 28490 KHz there was VK6TQ Kim and VK6KRC Bob. Quite a number of Gs did make the contact between 0730z and 1000z. I guess that the solar flare gave us great conditions prior to the effects hitting earth, we now have a K index of 5. Gary also reported hearing VK4 area at 07:00z” Saturday was even better. “Enhanced conditions on 10m continue here at Chateau Beaumont in the city of Coventry. Enjoying a 2 week holiday from work. Last night i noticed UK ops also working HC8A Galapagos Islands on 28490 about 2000z but NIL here. ENJOY!!! Time for another cuppa!”
Worked TC7KA, E21YDP, 4L0A, 4Z4DX, EK8WA, ZS9X, VU2PAI, 9J2BO,

Sunday, UR0QX UT7LW RU6MD LP1H TS9A CE4CT XR6T CA6BMF LU1VM CR3L

Monday 26, VK6TQ SV8FMY. Quite a haul there, echos what everyone has been saying.

And more from Mitchel who was ZU6M and is now ZS6YH.
On Saturday he worked A41MX, EV2A, PA5A, RM3F, IK0FUX, 5B8AD, HZ1PS, AO3K, RN3TT, IQ5DY, HB9H, SV4IMJ, IR6T, I0JX, OV1A, W5A, IT9LKX, RK3VWA, PI4AMF, IZ1MHS, RW3DD, RX3MM, 5A2JG, GI4SNA, IT9AUG, IK6OIN, UA9CSA, SM6CMU, HA7VK, IZ8DVD, I6NO, S56M, RL3DR, IK4JQO, UA3BS, U4MIR, SE0X, HB9BIN, YO7LCB, RK3DH, HA1YI, IT9PQJ, RU3EQ, IZ0OVW, UA3FDX, EI9JU, RX3VA, YO7WB, IK4OMU, EA7LY, EA7HLO, RA4UVK, EA7HLU, EA7SM, "IT9WTY, IZ0BVU, UA3AQB, UT0AZA, UA4HRZ, 4Z4UT, CN2R, RW3VA, SG5A, IW9HII, SV9GPV, RN3QN, RU3HD, IG9ADN, E71A, DF3QG, UA4PAN, DL1NKS, LA7SI, UA3VFS, TK9R, RU9WZ, RN3RQ, UA1AFT, RX3AGD, IW0HBY, OZ3BJ, OZ6AGX, LA9DAA, UX5MZ, IW8QIE, RX3AU, SV1EML, RX6LD, UA3RW, UA6LV, SV1JSQ, UA9TF, OH2JK, UT7IL, SV1JSN, UY7MM, IW9FRB, RA3RK, YL2GD 5.7/9.
That is quite shed load of contacts.

From David CE2WZ we have,
“Just back from helping the Atacama Desert Group to operate CE1W at Bahia Inglesa in northern Chile. For much of the weekend I was sharing the operation of the 10 metre rig. We made about 700 QSOs on 10 to 56 different countries and 21 zones. Highlight for me was SU1KW which I also worked personally. On Saturday the only EU call coming through was from Lampedusa Island. On Saturday evening just after midnight UTC we got a good opening to Japan and worked about 200 JAs. On Sunday band conditions opened to Africa – we worked Central African Republic and Egypt. We also had pretty good openings to EU and NA. However nothing was worked from the UK or Ireland at least while I was operating. We were pleased with the result and overall CE1W worked over 6000 contacts over the weekend.”
Saturday he worked PJ2/W9JUV, PU5OGE, EA7HIQ, WP4NIX, PT7ET, PY2BK, PU2UTC, EA7IQZ, KP4US, PY2AN, VP2MKA, FY5KE, VA1SEA, OA6/OE3NHW, KP4FIE, NR4M, WB6CMX, KH7HI, YV5MM, K4BNF, NQ4I and on Sunday 42 QSOs – 40 with the USA, EA3TI and PY5QW. “I now have a 10-10 number which is #75623 so I look forward to exchanging numbers with EU amateurs.”

Last but never least is Dave VK5MRD. Friday 23/10/2009.

Stations heard were:- JA2IGY/b, KH6WO/b, RR90/b, VK2RSY/b, VK4RTL/b, VK6RWA/b, VK6RBP/b, VK8VF/b, VK4BU, VK4KY, VK4FNQ and VK6JJ.
Stations worked were:- N7UQ, KH6QR, RZ0SZZ, JD1BMM, VK4SX and VK4MKE.
“Great to see 10m open to the US from my QTH and I was there to grab a slice of the cake. I had 5 mins free just at the right time Hi Hi!”. “Just a quick update. I just worked Ross VK4CQ at +20, big signal as always. Also just heard VK2NSS on scatter. Looking at EU at the moment but I think the conditions have fallen out. Better luck over the weekend!”

Saturday 24/10/2009. Stations heard were:- JA2IGY/b, KH6WO/b, RR90/b, VK2RSY/b, VK4RTL/b, VK6RWA/b, VK6RBP/b, VK8VF/b, JR3STX, JA7OWD, JQ2GY, JL3MCM, JH6CDI, JA0JCS, JA3YBK, JH4VDP, JA6DS, JH2CML, KG6DX, YC9MDX, 9M8Z, RA9MX, RW4WN, US5D, UW1M, UU1DX, UA9FAR, 4L0A, LY1R, LZ2JR, YT9X, S56M, S57S, OK7M, B7P, DF0XQ???,VK4YN, VK4JU, VK4EJ, VK4ZD and VK6HQ. I did hear a G0 but could not get his call!

Stations worked were:- DS5TOS, B1Z, RG9A, LY7A, S57DX, YT7R, 9A4WY, 9A2U, HB9EE, HE8FR, PI4DX and VK4CQ. “It was good to have a few spare minutes to get on 10m today”.

Contests: Nothing can compare with last week I’m sure, but here they are.

Upcoming activity (though not guaranteed to be on 10m). Information from DXwatch.com and 425DXnews

Sun: Sunspot 1029 is a creditable member of new Solar Cycle 24.

A 10m wide asteroid struck the earth’s atmosphere over a coastal town in Indonesia on October 8 th. The Earth-shaking blast received remarkably little coverage in Western press, but meteor scientists have given it their full attention.

"The explosion triggered infrasound sensors of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) more than 10,000 km away," report researchers Elizabeth Silber and Peter Brown of the Univ. of Western Ontario in an Oct. 19th press release. Their analysis of the infrasound data revealed an explosion at coordinates 4.5S, 120E (close to Bone) with a yield of about 50 kton of TNT. That's two to three times more powerful than World War II-era atomic bombs.

The asteroid that caused the blast was not known before it hit and took astronomers completely by surprise. According to statistical studies of the near-Earth asteroid population, such objects are expected to collide with Earth on average every 2 to 12 years. "Follow-on observations from other instruments or ground recovery efforts would be very valuable” (Spaceweather.com)

Yes! I got tickets to the Spurs v Stoke match and we won 0 – 1. Excellent. Our first away win of the season and against a team 3rd (then) in the Premier League.

Next Wolves at Stoke, bring them on.

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