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[KD0VE]

My QTH is central MN.  I like to work SSB DX.  10M antenna is a hexbeam at 40'.  When I get on during the day I usually take a look at DXmaps.  It often shows SSB activity from Europe and mid USA to South America.  When I go to that band the bandscope on an IC7300 is just dead. 

I have worked AU and ZL on 10M in the past few months so I conclude my antenna is doing a good job propagation permitting.

Just wondering what is happening with prop that makes 10M dead for my QTH when it is otherwise open.

thx to anyone taking the time to educate a relative rookie.

[K6SDW]

My suggestion watch KE0OG's YouTube videos on propagation....he's the new ARRL/QST technical editor and also writes a monthly column for QST on technical issues.

GL/73

[KC6RWI]

I have a 7300 I can tune in at work, lately the 11 meter band  is crowded with ssb stations, all shouting cq dx, its not my cup of tea you could say. I would never mod my radio transmit there.
But then I tune up to 28.4 or even check 6 meters and rarely I find a station there.
I don't know enough about dx maps to comment, but I bet there are some that say its great and some that will disagree.

[KA2FIR]

Try turning that big black knob and listen with your ears instead.

[AF5CC]

There is  much more activity on FT8.  Also, Where are the stations in the US located who are spotting this activity.  Transequatorial propagation will be better for stations in the southern US.

73 John AF5CC

[K6AER]

The higher bands tend to have the best DX during the day time. This will change in the coming years as the Sun Spot Cycle improves.

Ten meters is a classic example of 1000 receivers make no noise. Many times I will encounter what is a dead band and will call CQ only to have several hams come back to me with the statement, " I did not know the band was open".

Remember people/location rhythms. Calling CQ Europe when it is 3 in the morning there is a waist of time.

A lot of new hams call CQ like they are on a repeater. A single CQ with their call and then they listen for 40 seconds. You got to make noise if someone is to find you. Band scopes with a good waterfall helps to spot activity.

A two element wire beam is generally a pore antenna for ten meters. Most hams that are serious about ten meters have at least 4 elements on a rotatable beam.

Amplifiers help a lot. I know there is the saying if you can't hear them you you can 't work them but if they cannot hear you they won't call you. Most ten meter stations are on urban lots with very high noise floor. This helps these hams hear your signal.activity on ten with a 40 meter vertical

Monitor the calling frequency 28.410 MHz.  I'm out here in New Mexico desert and hear East Coast . I called sever stations with 100 watts with no reply. activity on ten with a 40 meter vertical

[KA2DDX]

Here in wny 10m has been open, sometimes until after 8pm. If you hear ft8 sigs on 28.074 you will know the band is open. The others comments here are good. Don't give up, keep trying.

[VE3TMT]

I have a 7300 I can tune in at work, lately the 11 meter band  is crowded with ssb stations, all shouting cq dx, its not my cup of tea you could say.

It's amazing what 10,000 watts will do!

[K0UA]

The Ratio of FT8 station to SSB stations on 10 meter, maybe 100:1?  FT8 is a "watering hole". A watering hole is where the animals go to get a drink, hence there are a lot of animals at the watering hole at any given time. The frequency of the watering hole is 28.074 USB.  If you hear signals at the watering hole then 10 meters is open and you can work DX there.

Just where do you listen on SSB? Kinda hard to say actually. Everyone has their own idea as to what a calling frequency is. But there is NO doubt about the FT8 "watering hole". None at all. Can you work DX lately on 10 SSB and CW? Yep, I do all the time. But you can work a LOT more of it on 28.074 with the FT8 mode.

 Why not join in for a while? See if you like it. No real cost with your 7300, just need a USB cable. The software is free. You too can work some DX even way up there in MN.  Now don't get me wrong, the further north you go from the equator the worse the DX conditions are. That is just the way it is, but you can still work plenty of DX even up there.

 As for working 10 meter DX on SSB and CW, you are of course watching a DX spotting network like DXsummit like a hawk are you not? Because if you are not, you are missing the DX by not being on the right frequency at the right time. You can focus the spots to just 10 meters if you like and to just USA and Canada spotters also.  That's what I do.

So set up your rig for FT8 and get a feel for all that sweet DX that will be on 10 meters EACH AND EVERY DAY. And also "tune" your computer to DX Summit 
http://dxsummit.fi/#/

So you can look for phone and CW contacts being spotted and things will start to looking up for you and your DX'ing endeavors.   If you need any assistance with any of this, then don't hesitate to PM me here or send me an email and we can talk on the phone and work out any of the kinks.   Have a great day and good DX.   73  James K0UA

[WA4GQG]

Man; your setup sounds fine...I'd check your coax and antenna for starters. When 10 is open (for long haul DX or simply Sporadic E out a few states) Ten Meters *WILL* likely astound you... Then, borrow a rig for further testing... Any old rig would do; I suggest an older TenTec 

[AC3Y]

When the sunspot number peaks, 10m will blow your mind. Back around the turn of the century, I worked about 200 entities on 10m barefoot with a small hamstick ground plane vertical contraption on my third floor apartment fire escape in Alexandria, VA. Around 5 PM, JA stations running 10 watts filled the band like full quieting FM broadcast stations.

Later I moved to Texas and got a four element monobander up and worked dozens more entities. During a DX context I might work Africa, Europe, South America. and the Pacific within 5 minutes.

I'm sure the band will populate on SSB when it is open because it is so exciting. Most radio fun I have ever had. I can't wait to do it again!!