[DX] Ref: 40M DX Windows of Opportunity

[K4WLS]

Hi Tom, N4KG, et al,

Good point on 40M being open as long as 1 to 2 Hrs to DX after
local sunrise during periods of low sunspot and quiet geomagnetic
activity. This window is applicable to DX to your East (after their
local sunrise), and DX to your West (after your sunrise). In other
words, you or the DX have to be on the Eastern-most end of the
terminator line. I have the program GeoClock installed, and my
screen-saver is a gray-line map of the world which shows the local
time in any major world city selected. At the bottom of this map,
my exact local sunrise and sunset times are contunually displayed
along with the azmithal position of the Sun.

I wish I could hear a lot of this DX as 40M is my favorite band, but I
can't. I live in a small city lot here in town with a small back yard,
no trees, and the loise level on the lower bands is quite high. At present,
my 40M antenna is an Inv Vee up 25 feet at center using a PVC mast
clamped to the center clothesline pole. I am lucky, however, that my 
height above the surrounding terrain is good, as I live on a fairly high 
ridge just South of the main city. My greatest ambition would be to
put up a homebrew monoband vertical for 40M in the back yard, but
I am disabled and physically unable to do any antenna work.

During the ARRL CW DX Test, I found RA0CG on 40M with a 569 signal
around 0500 E.S.T here in NC. All the East Coast and Mid-West were
evidently hearing him good as well, but everyone (including me) was 
having trouble getting him to hear us. After about 6 calls, I gave up
worked other stations, but kept an eye on him. About 20 mins after local
sunrise, his signal climbed to S9 + 5 db. At this time I gave him one call,
and he came right back and gave me a 599 (well, contest report you know).

Working DX on 40M around the gray-line is the thrill of a life-time for
a DX'er (I think), even for a Little Pistol like me. With 100W and my
little Inv Vee, I have 240 cards in the file on 40M. Personally, I can't
wait for this sunspot mess to be over with.

Hope you all can read this - my eyes are not good at all, even with glasses.

73 es Gud DX All,  Larry