[ADXA] The 30 Second Band Opening

[w5zn at w5zn.org]

As you are preparing for V84SAA and studying your propagation options 
please remember, as we have discussed here many times, some of these 
band openings only last a few seconds so be ready. I've mentioned my 10 
second 10 meter opening to Heard Island before and last night I had 
another that lasted 30 seconds. For two years I have been chasing C31CT 
on 160 meters. Salvador is on a night or two each week and the east 
coast boys can usually here him....but NOT way out here in fly over 
country. He is only running a dipole and 100 watts up in the mountains 
of Andorra. I have only heard him once about three months ago but so 
weak he could not hear me. Every time he's spotted I listen on his freq.

Last night he was spotted about 30 mins before our sunset (SS) here. As 
you know on the low bands we sometimes will get a peak around SS or SR 
(sunrise). I started hearing him very faintly about 10 mins before our 
SS and over the next three minutes his signal started to build. At 
2334z, a few mins before our SS, he peaked up and I copied his CQ, gave 
a call and he came back to me and we worked. 15 seconds later his signal 
was gone...POOF!, vanished into the approaching darkness even though he 
was still there CQ'ing.

So, the point I want to make is you need to study and understand the 
propagation characteristics for your band of choice. Don't give up if 
you see a spot for a country you need and you can't hear them at the 
moment if the propagation suggests you should. SIT IN THE CHAIR, put 
K5UR's dad's B52 headphones on and LISTEN, LISTEN and LISTEN. Your 15 
seconds of fame for that country may be about the happen. BE READY to 
pounce on them if they pop up out of the noise. Don't be sitting there 
filing your nails or picking your nose!

God I love the magic of radio!!!!

73 Joel W5ZN