[CW] Absorption?

[Ken, KA0W]

Ron,

Oh yes, never though it would be a complete breakdown. Better explains why W9ZN in Chicago has been on the weak side (well under S9) running his KW during "normal" high angle skip time periods. 

Better start working on the line of sight frequencies. Anyone for some laser on CW? 

Have a great weekend!

Ken, KA0W




    


--- On Fri, 4/25/08, Ron Zond <k3miy at csonline.net> wrote:

> From: Ron Zond <k3miy at csonline.net>
> Subject: RE: [CW] Absorption?
> To: cw at ka0w.com, "CW Reflector" <cw at mailman.qth.net>
> Date: Friday, April 25, 2008, 8:11 PM
> Ken
> 
> I think it is the opposite. Solar flux is low, so
> absorption is low. In
> fact, the flux is so low that the E layer
> is almost non existent. I call it "holes in the
> blanket".  You can observe
> this if
> you listen to the EAN traffic net on 7243. Stations will
> have a pipeline for
> passing
> traffic one minute, and nothing the next. Based on
> observation, if the flux
> goes above
> 80, the band will OK (E layer propagates to normal
> distances).  When the A
> index goes above
> 7, absorption becomes a factor. I do a flux dance when the
> flux hangs around
> 70.
> It doesn't do much good, but I lose a few pounds.
> 
> Ron
> K3MIY
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: cw-bounces at mailman.qth.net
> [mailto:cw-bounces at mailman.qth.net]On
> Behalf Of Ken, KA0W
> Sent: Friday, April 25, 2008 7:20 PM
> To: CW at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: [CW] Absorption?
> 
> 
> Anyone else experiencing the overall lousy 40m conditions
> the past few days
> (weeks)?
> 
> There are very few signals moving the s-meter over S9
> during the day and
> afternoons. A few weeks aqo 40m was filled with S9 and plus
> signals at my
> QTH, not just from QRO monster stations.
> 
> I know I need to place my order for a couple of new Super
> Berthas and get at
> least a 3x 40m Yagi stack on each, but I never struggled
> with conditions
> like this in the past couple of weeks.
> 
> Maybe ops are saving energy and running more QRP to keep
> gas prices from
> going higher? Perhaps Al Gore suggested that at the last
> ARRL conference?
> 
> Hope to hear signals on the bands!
> 
> Ken, KA0W
>