[AMRadio] Fw: Re: Proof of demise

[manualman at juno.com]

There must be a secret key on my keyboard that, if I accidently press it,
it will send my e-mail before  finish it.
Here's the finished e-mail.
--------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <manualman at juno.com>
To: mjcal77 at yahoo.com
Cc: amradio at mailman.qth.net
Date: Sun, 12 May 2024 20:53:41 -0400
Subject: Re: [AMRadio] Proof of demise

Actually at a location, you don't have to see the aurora to "work the
aurora". Almost any time there is "geo-magnetic" activity of any
intensity, there is the possibly of using the aurora as a reflector. Here
in NJ, Late winter to early spring days can bring on some aurora activity
but, in reality, it can happen almost any time of year depending on what
the sun burps up.
I daily check NOAA's map for Auroral activity since it's in real time and
gets updated roughly every 10 to 15 minutes:

Besides just pointing your beam North, you can work additional stations
by pointing your beam roughly 10 to 15 degrees East of North and likewise
10 to 15 degrees west of North. This can provide some angle reflection
and expand you station contact capacity. 
Note that RF power and antenna gain are important. A 12 watt AM rig, even
on CW, generally won't provide much action for aurora. Wire antennas
generally have limited capacity on the VHF bands.

I worked 15 stations on 2 meter CW but nothing spectacular or new states.
All the stations worked were actually betwen me and the aurora. No one to
the  South of me.
Since I've done 6 meter aurura many times over the years, I did not fire
up on the band. Plus, the 6 meter Gonset linear is on the work bench for
some caps replacement.

Pete, wa2cwa