N ews B ulletin # 23

	Low-bands - Here's some feedback from our low-bands guru Eric, K3NA: "We listen for USA every night from 08:30 and SA at 07:30. Worked 1 HC8 but keep listening. QRN was a problem first night, but reasonable since. Only have a few E coast in log, many W-coast, but no one has been really LOUD yet. We're on continuously from 08:00 to 13:00. We work a few JA's if there are no US to work, but call again after a few mins. Big EU openings on 18th and 20th.  105 EU's in log.  Openings as far as F and ON, no G's yet. Openings seem to start with ON's and spread.  Today's EU opening (Apr 20) was from 18:10 to 19:40. So tell those top-band dogs to get their butts down there, line up, and work us :-) "
	Your Comments - A big thanks to those who take the trouble to contact us with constructive comments via direct e-mail, the Guestbook or by starting up some discussion in the Forum. Rest assured the reef crew are seeing the comments generally within 12 hours of you sending it.  Our PACTOR II "e-mail over HF" system works extremely well and is also the reason our logs are available on-line real quick.  This great system comes with help from Marc Robinson from PCA.CC who supplied the SCS PTC-IIe modem and "Airmail" software package used at the Brisbane end.  Being able to do binary transfers means we can send pictures, spreadsheets and other docs backwards and forwards via this medium with on-the-fly data compression.  If you have an enquiry regarding any SCS products then contact Marc for some advice.  Tell him the Mellish Reef team sent you!
	QRT - This has been revised and a progressive shut down will now commence local Wednesday morning with the intention to sail out on high tide Thursday.  This is one day earlier than previously advised... but hey, it's still a two extension on the original QRT date!  One HF station will be kept running as long as possible whilst other equipment is being de-rigged and packed around it.