[50mhz] Diurnal 6M Opening Predictions

[Bill VanAlstyne]

Steve,

During the summer sporadic-E season (roughly late May through the end of August,
plus or minus), there is a diurnal bias to the openings, statistically speaking.
Most sporadic-E openings occur during the mid-morning and evening hours. 8AM to
noon, and 6PM to 10PM, are generally good times to monitor the calling frequency
(50.125 MHz) if you don't want to be monitoring all the time. Since sporadic-E
isn't directly related to solar phenomena, however, openings can occur at any
time of the day or night. Mornings and evenings, statistically, are just more
likely times for openings. This is known as a result of decades of observation,
not because there is a sound theory that "predicts" it, as there is for F2
propagation on HF. Why the diurnal bias when sporadic-E isn't directly related
to solar phenomena? Good question. While theories abound (even one or two decent
ones), no one really knows for sure.

Since getting on 6M for the first time last June 7th, I've worked 259 grids in a
little over a year. It's very possible during strong openings to make a lot of
contacts with a horizontal loop and low power. But 6M's "magic" doesn't repeal
the laws of physics. The better an antenna system you put up, the more stations
you'll work.

Good luck, and enjoy 6M!

Bill / W5WVO
DM65

n5wbi at clearsail.net wrote:
> In almost every ham-related e-zine and e-mail
> reflector, I read of 6M openings and how folks
> are able to work numerous grids.
>
> I've had a 6M radio for a couple of years, but
> have always (it seems) become highly frustrated
> after 1 or 2 days of hearing nothing but "buzz"
> and put it back in the closet.
>
> So, this time, I'm planning differently, hoping
> to catch some of that elusive DX that makes 6M
> the "magic band."  I have made a commitment to
> myself to stay with 6M as much as possible for
> the next few weeks (at least until the end of
> summer).  I've read the books, I have dozens of
> 6M web sites bookmarked, so I think I'm ready.
>
> I'm using a Ranger RCI-5054DX and a 5/8-wave
> 144 MHz whip as my mobile setup.  When the
> "big" opening comes, I can take the radio out
> of the car and go portable with a push-up mast
> and a Par OA-50.
>
> My question, after all this setup, is this:
>
> Does the 6M band have diurnal variations
> (i.e., good from 0800 to 1000 local, nil
> from 1000 to 1500 local, etc.)?  If so,
> has anybody come across a way to predict
> these, other than sit by the radio 24x7?
>
> Please forgive the wasted bandwidth if this
> question seems vague or if it's been answered
> in another forum (maybe I haven't read up
> on 6M enough ...)
>
> Hope all of this makes sense ...
>
> 73,
>
> Steve N5WBI
> Houston TX
> (A perennial 6M "newbie" ...)
>
>
> Moderator: Ray Brown, KB0STN
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