[GCARC] DX on 10 Meters Now

[Tony Starr]

Greetings All,

For those of you with less than ideal HF antennas, the 10m band is back as
a viable DX band. Many European stations are workable right now, at 8:00 AM
our time, even on SSB. Check the spots.

So what, you may ask, is special about the 10m band for working DX?  Well,
several things. For one, when 10m is open, it is a highly effective band
for low power operation. Most of the time, an amplifier is simply not
needed. Your average 100 watt transceiver will get the job done, no problem.

The other thing is, antennas for 10m are relatively small in size. A full
size quarter wave vertical is only about 8 feet tall, which is tiny
compared to the other HF bands. I am currently working a slew of Europeans
from the mobile, every time I get into the truck. The antenna? An 8-foot
quarter wave whip. For fixed station use, a CB antenna like the iMax 2000
or A99 will do the job. You can also build some simple antennas that will
work well without a large investment in materials or tooling.

Do you want something with better performance? A 3-element Yagi at 25 or 30
feet is a killer DX antenna on 10m, and you don't need a tower or heavy
rotator to hold it up. A push-up mast is an adequate support for temporary
or semi-permanent use. You can even just aim it Europe without a rotator
and still work a bucketload of DX. On 10 meters, due to the small size of
the antennas, it is possible to get big antenna performance from a small,
low antenna compared to the other HF bands.

Why am I sending out these notifications?  Because for years prior to this,
propagation was relatively poor, and you needed big antennas and/or big
power to work DX. But now, with 10 meters back in play, the little guys now
have a chance. But don't delay, because these conditions will not last
forever. If you don't have a 10m antenna up, get started on this right
away. If you need any technical advice, just e-mail me and I will do my
best to set you on the right course. If you already have a 10m antenna, get
on the air and work some DX, because before you know it, this solar cycle
will be just a fond memory. 73 for now.

Tony K3TS
DX and Contest Committee Chairman