[Elecraft] Long Path Echoes

[Wes (N7WS)]

For a real long path, long delayed echo consider this story I've told before:

Back in the early eighties I was still active on real (non-digital) 2-meter EME. 
One morning before heading to work I was pointed toward the setting moon looking 
for JA or UA0.  As I tuned around I heard a CQ.  As I listened for the call, I 
heard another CQ on a slightly different frequency.  "Wow" I said to myself, 
"this is amazing."  As I continued to listen, I identified W5UN on one 
frequency.  I had worked Dave several times, even on SSB, so I passed on him and 
tuned to the other guy.  He was also W5UN!  I was hearing Dave off the back of 
the antenna on tropo (950 miles) on one frequency and off the moon with some 
Doppler and a 2.5 second time delay on another frequency.

Wes  N7WS

On 11/27/2015 1:38 PM, Jim Brown wrote:
> On Thu,11/26/2015 7:54 PM, Jack Brindle wrote:
>> That would be from me… Amazingly, this was on 80 meters, and was heard all 
>> over the bay area up into central CA. At times the “echo” was louder than the 
>> direct signal!
>> There are at least two recordings from that event. Very strange, and 
>> extremely interesting. While it was ongoing, both 40 and 80 were open across NA.
>
> Those of us with very good antennas for 80 and 40M, and especially those with 
> directional RX (either a beam or Beverage) are well aware of long path 
> openings at certain times of the day. Last winter, while CQing on 80M, I made 
> a half dozen Qs to Ukraine split between two mornings. Post contest analysis 
> showed them to all to be within about 200 miles of each other, and along the 
> grey line. At other times, I've made long path openings to EU in the morning.
>
> While operating from Chicago with dipoles for 20-10, there were periods of an 
> hour or two during DX contests when I was hearing EU stations equally strong 
> via short and long paths, to the extent that they were completely uncopyable.
>
> 73, Jim K9YC