[Elecraft] Ever had a WOW moment?

[Poul Erik Karlshøj (PKA)]

Despite whatever DX I have ever heard or worked, my WOW moment was when I for the first time heard clear, distinct echoes with a delay of 240 milliseconds (corresponding to almost two times round the world) on 80 meter with just 100W and a wire loop antenna. It turned out that the 80m signal escaped through a hole in the ionosphere, followed a duct along the magnetic field lines out into space and back to the southern hemisphere where it bounced back through the same duct and finally reached my loop antenna.

I have observed these ducts several times since - latest on Dec 20 this year. Chances are fair to hear echoes on 80m some time in the coming month around 4-6 hours after sunset. K3 with semi QSK at 40 msec delay is perfect for this.
If you want a copy of a sound recording of these echoes drop me an e-mail off-line.

73 de OZ4UN
Poul-Erik

-----Oprindelig meddelelse-----
Fra: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] På vegne af Mel Farrer
Sendt: 27. december 2013 00:24
Til: Joe W2KJ; elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Emne: Re: [Elecraft] Ever had a WOW moment?

Yes, I remember WOW back in the 1958 season. I was running a Heathkit Lunchbox on 6 meters and worked everything I could hear.   NOW in this century I am doing the same with my KX3.  What a kick in the A##.  Happy New Year everyone.  

Mel, K6KBE





On Thursday, December 26, 2013 2:32 PM, Joe W2KJ <w2kj at bellsouth.net> wrote:
 
Howdy Gang:

As the subject says, have you ever had a WOW moment using QRP on the bands??

I just did as I answered a very weak response to my CQ on 21.060 at 1613Z.

G3YPZ called and I couldn't really couldn't copy much until I got him zero beat and turned on the APF in my KX3.

Finally got his call and then copied just about 100% of his transmissions from then on.

Turns out that John was running a K3  at 100mw!!  Of course the fact that he had a 2 element quad certainly helped but I can't recall ever working a DX station when he was running so little power.

Solar Flux today is only at 123 so condx not great but 15m can be magical at times.

This QRP stuff is amazing...we can be thankful to Wayne and Eric for such superb equipment that allow us to work farther with less these days.

I harken back to my beginning days as a Novice with a homebrew 6V6 and S77 Hallicrafters receiver...amazing that I made any QSOs back then in 1962!!

            73, Joe W2KJ
            I QRP, therefore I am
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