Some people believe that due to extra radio activity for example during a contest the radiowave reflecting layer around the world is more ionized. You can compare it with what the HAARP does in Alaska creating a artificial refelecting layer. Well is it science fiction or is part of it true? Sure it was a reasonable 10m band today if you compare it to the last few days. Index was not good at all, but do we care about that? So, what is the dodo bird doing on this page? Well, I worked a surprise ATNO which is 3B9HA from Rodrigues Island. The dodo lived on both Rodrigues and Mauritius. And this picture is on the QRZ page of 3B9HA. Propagation was on quite early and I worked a station from Ukraine first, his signal was real 57. Most interesting besides Rodrigues Isl. was a QSO with FR4QT from Reunion Isl. and 5R8IC from Madagascar. I had to leave the band and contest for some other things to do. In late afternoon there was a opening with South America in which I worked several Brazilian stations on both CW & SSB. In total 14 QSO, not as many but for a small station like me a whole lot I think. Not bad for the first day in the ARRL 10m contest.I observed some spots from others in the Netherlands and saw they worked Namibia V55 and TZ Mali. PG0DX worked VK2GGC in Australia, Henry informed me he was 59 for a short moment. Unfortenately I didn't hear him.
We will have fun on day 2.....see you tomorrow!
