[AK-VHF] Net/VHF Contest - Saturday!

[Paul Kiesel via ak-vhf]

________________________________
 From: Edward R Cole <kl7uw at acsalaska.net>
To: ak-vhf at mailman.qth.net 
Sent: Friday, September 12, 2014 1:35 PM
Subject: [AK-VHF] Net/VHF Contest - Saturday!
 

Ed,

I need to say that if auroral propagation is suspected, one needs to move his antenna around to find weak signals. Pointing the antenna north is a good place to start, but having the antenna fixed on any direction can result in missed callers. Once a weak signal is found, it is still necessary to move the antenna to bring the signal up to the best strength. Down here in Washington, we commonly pick up signals to the northeast. KL7 signals often come in from the north (zero degrees, not 325 as usual for sporadic E), but the conditions dictate the best directions to point. During intense auroras, it is sometimes possible to work stations far to the south by pointing the antenna straight east.  Having said that, it is likely that the situation for KL7 stations is different, but you will want to move your antenna around when searching for signals.

During auroras, it is common practice to call above 50.125 on both CW and SSB. CW is better most of the time because it's useful in copying weak signals and sometimes because the flutter on auroral SSB signals is exceedingly rough, making it difficult understand, but not always. The 50 MHz CW only portion of the band used most often is 50.080 to 50.100. Sometimes there are callers between 50.090 and 50.100, but generally speaking there are no callers using 50.100 to 50.125 because this range of frequencies is the DX window. It's okay for KL7 stations to work lower-48 stations in this range, but not many QSOs are done there, with the exception that we know that KL7NO often hangs out on 50.105 and sometimes will respond if called on that frequency. Other KL7 stations have been known to use frequencies in that range, as well. But if you are looking to work distant stations in Canada and the lower-48, it would be better to listen outside the DX window. Best
 opportunity would be between 50.125 and 50.140.

We are hoping for some auroral fireworks brought on by the recent Coronal Mass Ejection from the sun. Many of us will be watching during the contest. Hope we hear some of you.

73, Paul K7CW



NOTE:
Aurora is predicted for the weekend due to recent solar flare and 
that could produce some 6m-Au conditions.  To operate on 6m-AU one 
commonly points their antenna north to reflect off the auroral 
curtains.  CW is commonly used for Au contacts due to "raspy" sound 
of signals from Au.

This is a prediction of very strong Au visible to SE AK, so it may 
provide propagation into the lower-48.  Also combined Au-Es is know 
to occur which would extend range of any DX prop.  6m CW is usually 
50.9-50.110.

73, Ed - KL7UW
http://www.kl7uw.com
     "Kits made by KL7UW"
Dubus Mag business:
    dubususa at gmail.com

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