We have F2 openings.
The past week I have received Australia 3 times, Vietnam once and Kazakhstan several times. The 6m F2 season has started.
This morning 4 stations from Kazakhstan are reported with my monitor station using the 6m part of my HF (half wave) vertical, which is a very poor antenna.
I suspect that the many European spots are F2-back scatter, with distances above 2500km are probably F2.
I have heard (seen) many local stations working the DX
So yes, the F2 season has started. I will not be surprised if we start hearing North American stations within a week or two, if the solar flux stays high.
Today the solar flux is 256, and from what I learne decades ago, at this time of the year (late October, early November) this could easily result in Trans-Atlantic F2 propagation.
My best 6m antenna at the moment is my V-2000 tri-bander, and I am a bit worried about running continuous modes like FT8 with 100W, so I will probably stick to using 50-80W.
If the openings get like back in 1979, that should not be a problem.
Exciting times.
2 comments:
Hello Jan, USA/Canada was already heard today. Both east en west coast. Made one QSO to the US. I also saw several VK6 stations this morning, strongest signal I saw was +3dB, Made one QSO to UN3G this morning and was spotted at VK6. I hope this is only the start of great propagation. November is known as the DX month for F2 on 6m. 73, Bas
Hello Bas,
I hope this is just the beginning.
Yes, I learned that November was *the* DX month, all the way back in 1979 when I had built my first 6m converter and heard tons of US stations , also all the way to W6, with just an indoor dipole in the attic.
That was quite an entry.
The day after I got my receiver, (a local had it as a loan) and I could start making 10m/6m crossband.
It was fantastic.
73, Jan
Post a Comment