uring August, an impressive high-pressure system was in place over the middle of the country, bringing sweltering heat and weeks without rain. A silver lining to the weather, however, was the tropospheric ducting that resulted across the region. Photo A from August 22 is a great example of the size and intensity of this opening! (On a personal note, it is clear that my home grid of EM55 was outside the favored area and I had no contacts as a result of this opening. Not that I’m bitter or anything.) From Ohio to Kansas, and Minnesota to Texas, contacts were made on bands and modes ranging from 2-meter SSB to 10-GHz CW. Long-distance contacts were made on rarely used bands like 902 and 1296, for example. One of the most faithful microwave hams is Greg Cerny, WQ0P, in eastern Kansas, EM19. Greg was active on many bands and made an impressive number of contacts by making himself available and trying skeds with anyone who wanted.
