[OKDXA] Path from Atlas Cove / Spit Bay to Oklahoma

[W5LE]

I don't know if this will help or only muddy the waters but I use a 
little program called HamCap and there's a strange
anomaly...If I input VK0EK it shows a lat/lon of 55S 159E.  When I input 
VK0IR (the previous DXpedition to Heard), I get 53S and 74E. Also, prior 
to my updating the ClubLog Entity database in Logger32, which is an 
optional function of that logging program, it was going to have me 
beaming 185 SP, thinking VK0EK was in Anarctica.  Once I did the update, 
then it saw VK0EK as being the VK0/H entity and the SP beam heading was 
160.  That made a lot more sense to me.
For what it's worth, I got them on 30M CW about half past midnight, 100W 
to inverted vee, 40 ft at the apex.
On 20M CW I got them at about 0330 local.  I first worked them with W5LE 
beaming SP and they were practically ESP reception.  Then, since I saw 
they were working a number of VK's, I swung my antenna around to beam VK 
and they were a good solid 539 copy that direction and I worked them 
with the OKDXA club call NE5OK that direction.
They've had a few bumps in the road in the early stages but I feel sure 
that everyone can make it as time goes on
and they get more stations up and running, especially on 30M since the 
power limitation levels the playing field a bit for most.
I think, unless you're willing to stay up very late or get up very 
early, you may be out of luck on the lower bands.
Hopefully they'll bang away on 17 and above as time goes by.
73 and good luck.
Gene


On 3/26/2016 2:59 PM, Roger Simpson wrote:
> I was wrong about Big Ben being "in the way" of the short path from 
> Atlas Cove to Oklahoma.
>
> Headings from ATLAS COVE to places in USA short path [in degrees]:
>
> Oklahoma City   203
> Los Angeles       152
> Phoenix             166
> Santa Fe            181
> Atlanta              228
> Olympia WA      113
> Sacramento CA  138
> Little Rock         215
>
>
> Heading of the peak of Big Ben from Atlas Bay   140
>
> The bottom line is: From Atlas Bay there is a clear shot short path 
> [and also long path] to anywhere in the USA east of Santa Fe NM.
>
> So a signal going from Atlas Cove [via the short path] to California 
> has to contend with Big Ben. My guess is that most of the Calif 
> stations that have worked VK0EK -- especially on 30m -- have worked 
> him long path.
>
> I still think things will be better for many of us little pistols when 
> they setup on Spit Bay. Then there will be a clear shot to Oklahoma 
> [just as there is now] from Atlas Cove. The only difference will be 
> that EU and Eastern USA will be behind Big Ben. So this should reduce 
> the competition.
>
> VOACAP says a decent shot at Heard from Oklahoma should be on 20m from 
> about 0300 to 0700UTC. A shot on 30m should be between 1300 and 
> 1400UTC. However, for me at least, there have not been any decent 
> openings so far on either 20m or 30m given my modest antenna farm.
>
> Whatever my problem is I can't blame Big Ben.  Maybe I need more -- 
> and higher -- aluminum!!
>
> 73  Roger   K5RKS
>
>
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