[SADXA] UPDATE: 40m Solar Noon DX Challange

[W7EXG (Bill)]

To: SADXA Members
RE: 40m Solar Noon DX Challenge
DEC 1st, 2019

Some have been listening for 40m DX on or about SN in Tucson, and working
40m DX during the day. 

KO7SS (CW Skimmer Mt. Lemon with a OCF Dipole or Vertical Dipole for 40m)
has recently logged many 40m DAY DX paths, and most notable are:

7I1I at 9:13am
RN0D at 9:09am
KL7SB at 10:03am @ 2664 mi
C6AGU at SN+3min @ 2157 mi
OT4A at SN+1:45 Hrs 
LZ5R at SN+2:12 Hrs 

BELOW KO7SS LOG - NOTABLES for 40m DAY DX
C6AGU 7015.0	CW CQ 	11 dB	31 wpm	1913z 26 Nov
YC6RMT 7051.3	RTTY CQ 	21 dB	45 bps	1518z 30 Nov
9M2TDX 7048.0	RTTY CQ 	13 dB	45 bps	1518z 30 Nov
RN0D 7048.9		RTTY CQ 	12 dB	45 bps	1512z 30 Nov
JL1UCH 7008.0	CW CQ 	8 dB	19 wpm	1512z 30 Nov
BG7NRG 7007.5	CW CQ 	15 dB	23 wpm	1510z 30 Nov
7I1I 7045.3		RTTY CQ 	11 dB	45 bps	1613z 30 Nov
RN0D 7055.7		RTTY CQ 	10 dB	45 bps	1609z 30 Nov
LZ5R 7024.1		CW CQ 	7 dB	33 wpm	2122z 30 Nov
KL7SB 7034.0	CW CQ 	17 dB	23 wpm	1705z 01 Dec
C6AGU 7015.0	CW CQ 	11 dB	31 wpm	1913z 26 Nov
OT4A 	7003.0	CW CQ 	10 dB	33 wpm	2055z 29 Nov

UPDATE: 40m SOLAR NOON DX - GUIDELINES

Based on KO7SS SDR with Dipoles, the challenge currently appears to be about
+/- 2 hour within Solar Noon (SN).

Also recall 40m DAY DX Peaks on Dec. 21st. 

Those with 40m gain antennas are likely to crack the one hour barrier within
SN by Dec. 21st. 

WHERE TO POINT THE GAIN (If you have some)

Currently, during the SN +/- hour,  the North 7 MHz Solar Noon Paths are
being blocked from over the pole propagation due to very low fof2 (MUF < 3
MHz). Auroral Zones do not help either. Thus richer pastures are more likely
with gain antenna bearings at 25 deg or more, or 335 deg or less. 

One SN Path that stands out using the foF2 maps is for bearings from about
35 to 65 degrees-- or more.  This path is in the 40m DAY Corridor and the
PATH MUF is from about 10 MHz to 15MHz. It covers starting about Italy and
NE Africa, down into western EU and into central Africa. 

In my opinion, this is likely the path that will crack the 40m SN nut. 

But as KO7SS data shows, you are still likely to work 40m DX long after SR
and long Before SS, and this effect will get better in the next 20 days. 

I am anxious for SOMEONE in the SADXA group, to crack the 40m SOLAR NOON DX
Challenge nut! We have a total of about 6 weeks left. 

Remember, a 40m DX QSO within an hour of SN is the quest. 

This is certainly something I have never done!! (Licensed 63 years)

I was thinking I will leave the "What is DX?" question up to the group,
after we get some 40m +/- SN DX results to consider. The question may be a
mute point -- I hope! 

Good Luck to all!! 

73's
Bill W7EXG