Oh know, it's definitely not my first cycle. I've been licensed since 1969, and was an SWL and CB operator for 4 years before that. I've made cross-country contacts on 10 meters at 2:00 AM, when the band would be open, and only a few of us didn't have enough sense to be in bed.
K5XU
----- Original Message -----
From: Martin McCormick
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Sunday, March 13, 2011 8:09 AM
Subject: Re: 10 Meters Has Been Good Lately
This must be your first Sun Spot cycle. Welcome to the
wonder of ten meters. It's been about 5 years since we had enough
Solar activity to push the maximum usable frequency high enough
for these wonderful things to happen.
Since we are almost in Spring, the propagation will
change quite a bit from one day to the next, but ten will
probably be open to somewhere almost every day as long as the
Solar flux number is above 130.
Since we are still early in this late-starting cycle, we
will most likely still have periods of nothing much happening
for a few days at a time, but there will be Sporadic E starting
around May and by next Fall, the flux may be well above 135 most
days and ten will be just like you just described it every day
for the most part. You will be able to hear Australia and New
Zealand coming out your ears well after local Sunset and Europe
and Africa coming in from before dawn.
If the Solar Flux gets high enough, we may start hearing
the same good signals all be it for shorter periods on six
meters.
"Mike Duke, K5XU" writes:
> With the exception of one or two days, 10 meters has been open for the =
> past week or so.
> I heard several stations from Europe in the DX contest last weekend with =
> respectable signals.
> Being one who enjoys operating AM, I often check 29.000 for signals =
> whenever the SSB signals are strong in the lower part of the band.
> Thus it was that yesterday afternoon at 22:25, and 23:35, I worked =
> VK4VN, and VK2BA on AM using my TS570. Signals from both stations peaked =
> at S9.
> The Novice/Technician portion of the band between 28.300 and 28.500 was =
> full of west coast signals, along with a mix of VK, ZL, and KH6.
> I don't know how long these conditions will hold, but we need to enjoy =
> them while we can.
> If the conditions are good today, I may break out my Radio Shack HTX10, =
> or my old Lafayette HA410, a classic AM box from the 1960's.
>
>
>
> Mike Duke, K5XU
> American Council of Blind Radio Amateurs
>
>
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