[Elecraft] Band Conditions

[Stephen W. Kercel]

>
>How about it folks.
>Lets hear about your fun filled experiences!
>
>Ron, wb1hga
>"CW, an esoteric experience"
>
>




>Ron:

I had 21 QSOs (19 QRP) on 15 meters between 1900Z and 2000Z 
yesterday. I admit that when the flux is 70, it is rare to have 15 
meter openings like the one that happened yesterday.

On the other hand, except for 0500-1100Z, 20 meters is practically 
always open from here in Maine to somewhere interesting.

There was 5W0 was on 40 m at about 0620Z on Sunday morning. He was 
calling CQ, and had few takers although he was a solid S8 in Maine. 
He gave my 5 watt signal a 599, but I suspect that is what he had 
programmed into his keyer.

Last night, 80 meters was extremely noisy, but I did work several 
stations west of the Mississippi on QRP.

Many hams besides me have observed what might be called the "contest 
effect."  A band normally seems dead, but somehow bristles with 
signals during a contest. One problem is that everybody assumes a 
band is dead and nobody calls. I suspect that another part of the 
problem during low flux is strong and fast QSB; the band has many 
brief openings on specific paths. For example, I might hear several 
California stations on 15 or 20 meters, but not be able to hear the 
W6WX beacon at all.

Yesterday, on 15 meters I could sometimes hear west coast stations as 
if they were across the street. A few minutes later they would fade 
into the noise, and a few minutes after that, they'd be back as 
strong as ever. This might account for the "contest effect."  When 
there are lots of contesters on, one hears somebody on those paths 
that are temporarily open. Since those spot openings come and go 
quickly, one hears a pretty broad sampling over time.


73,

Steve
AA4AK