eHam

eHam Forums => Propagation => Topic started by: AE4AN on June 17, 2022, 07:54:00 AM

Title: 6m Long Path!?
Post by: AE4AN on June 17, 2022, 07:54:00 AM

Something just happened that I would have thought impossible.

Home qth is coastal VA. I just caught IW9HII transmitting out of Sicily on 6m. He had a strong signal, but I was only running barefoot on a Hexbeam. I tried to grab his attention for a couple of minutes, but he couldn't hear me, so I gave up and turned the antenna south to try for the Caribbean. And IW9HII's signal improved. I sat in my chair for a couple of minutes, thinking variations of "Naw, no way." Then I shrugged, spun the rotator to 220, and called him. He got right back to me with a fairly strong signal report.

What the heck? Flux is 147 right now, and while that's good I wouldn't think it nearly enough for long path propagation on 6. Anyone else having such weird luck right now?

Maybe it's just magic. Or a wormhole in the atmosphere. I'm still pretty shocked.

Title: Re: 6m Long Path!?
Post by: AK5B on June 17, 2022, 08:09:42 AM

That's great!  Reminds me of Cycle 23's double peak March and April of 2002.  I worked 85 DXCCs mostly between that period and November of 2003 on 6 meters when I lived in KH6.

Almost all were via the long path over Antarctica.  I got a 20 over 9 signal report from Costas, SV1DH as well as attaining 6m WAC while I was there.  The Magic Band IS!

73,  Jeff, AK5B (ex-NH7RO)

Title: Re: 6m Long Path!?
Post by: KC6RWI on June 17, 2022, 10:00:29 AM

Just asking, what freq and what mode? Fm?

Title: Re: 6m Long Path!?
Post by: AE4AN on June 17, 2022, 10:12:39 AM

FT8 (of course; sigh).

Title: Re: 6m Long Path!?
Post by: KC6RWI on June 17, 2022, 11:05:27 AM

So many talking about fm openings on 6, I should have
guessed thats to far for fm.

Title: Re: 6m Long Path!?
Post by: WA3SKN on June 17, 2022, 12:59:45 PM

Quite possible!  Its a magic band!  Break out the mic and try some SSB!

-Mike.

Title: Re: 6m Long Path!?
Post by: AK5B on June 17, 2022, 01:06:57 PM

Quote from: KC6RWI on June 17, 2022, 10:00:29 AM

Just asking, what freq and what mode? Fm?

   

Not sure who you're asking but all of my QSOs were and still are ssb---I will never consider any of that digital crap, period.

Title: Re: 6m Long Path!?
Post by: N4PY on June 17, 2022, 03:26:50 PM

I think he was running remote with a transmitter somewhere in the Caribean or southern US.

Carl N4PY

Title: Re: 6m Long Path!?
Post by: AE4AN on June 17, 2022, 04:27:34 PM

Quote from: N4PY on June 17, 2022, 03:26:50 PM

I think he was running remote with a transmitter somewhere in the Caribean or southern US.

I'd like to think he wasn't, but it's such an oddity that I suspect you're right.

Title: Re: 6m Long Path!?
Post by: KD7RDZI2 on June 18, 2022, 03:12:20 AM

There are great openings between Europe and the US on 6 this month. I mean for SSB and CW even with marginal setup on one of the two sides (I mean less than 100w and less than a dipole)