I made sure to get on early this morning, about 50 minutes before my sunrise. Dave, A92IO had a good signal but unfortunately I was not able to raise him. Dave has high QRN levels in Bahrain.
After CQing, a weak OG2M calls in. I am not thinking the band is in good shape until I am told on KST chat that he was running 10w. Next, OH3XR calls in. Not to be out done, XR is running 5W, which is as low as his radio will go.
I turn on my recording software to record the opening. The recording is more than 40 minutes in length, so here are some clips I edited:
LA3ANA calls in so he can hear himself recorded (no problem!):
UA4CR calls in:
S52AAM calls in, running only 10 watts:
Near my sunrise, I had the QSO of the morning – Ron, GW3YDX calls in, a new one for me. Ron lives in the most difficult part of Europe to work from here, aside from OY and perhaps TF (TF4M makes Iceland easy however).
GW3YDX on 160m:
After our QSO, Vlad UA4WHX spotted himself (as SU9VB from Egypt). I believe Vlad runs only 30w into a dipole, but I was able to copy him somewhat. Unfortunately, I could not work him, for this would have been a new zone for me. Vlad worked a few stations then QSYed to 40m with some Eastern EU still calling, so I doubt he could have heard me even without a pileup.
SU9VB working HA8BT:
By now, it was after my sunrise. Ron, GW3YDX QSYed to 80m for me, where he was also a new one for me.
GW3YDX on 80m, QRMed by an IV3:
Finally, Jo DKJ2PH asked for a 40m QSO. You can hear the Chinese OTH radar very well.
DK2PH on 40m, with BY OTH radar:
In all cases, I am listening on my European Beverage RX antenna. The antenna is just over 900ft long, and located in the jungle behind my home. I am fortunate to have no QRN sources near me in this direction – nothing but jungle and then the ocean – which allows me to hear *very* well in this direction.