[OKDXA] Propagation to Amsterdam Island DXpedition

[Roger Simpson]

John AF5CC [and other OKDXA members]:

You asked about whether it is worth putting up a 15m beam to work the Amsterdam operation. 

My answer is YES, especially if you don’t have a beam for either 20, or 17m.

FROM LAWTON OK: 

Latitude North 34.6375
Longitude West 98.4375  

Short Path:  Azimuth = 135 deg;  Distance = 12130 miles    best openings on 20m, 17m, 15m

Long Path:  Azimuth =  315 deg;  Distance = 12753 miles    best openings on 20m, and 15m (17m is “marginal”)

The above calculations are from www.voacap.com 

Note: Normally propagation to any DX location in AS, EU, AF, SA, or OC is the “same” from anywhere in Oklahoma.
However, this is NOT the case for Amsterdam Island because here in Oklahoma we are VERY CLOSE to being at the opposite side 
of the earth from Amsterdam. So the headings to Amsterdam vary a lot depending upon where you
are in Oklahoma.  And since the headings vary – the path to Amsterdam is different – and thus the propagation is different.  

There is the only one DXCC location that is on the opposite side of the earth from somewhere in the lower 48 states of the USA. 
That DX location is Amsterdam Island. The place in the 48 states where the antipode to Amsterdam Island is located is in SE Colorado. 

This gives you an idea of how much difference there is in the headings for the short path to FT5ZM:

  From Tulsa OK          110 degrees   short path
  From Boise City OK   182 degrees   short path
 
I am going to publish beam headings from various places in Oklahoma to Amsterdam on this reflector in a few days. I will also give the exact coordinates
of the antipode point which is in Southeast Colorado. And I’ll give you driving directions so you can visit the antipode location in Colorado up close and 
personal if you don’t mind a few dirt roads. 


73  Roger   K5RKS