40m AM DX

[k4kyv]

In the late evening when the skip lengthens out and the band appears to go silent with few or no readable signals, usually around 11 PM/midnight local time (0500-0600 GMT), try calling "CQ AM" somewhere in the vicinity of 7160.  You might be surprised.  I threw on my automated CQ while trying to clean off the workbench, figuring I would not receive any calls.  After about the 4th cycle, the station in El Salvador came back.  He was S-9 with a solid signal, using some kind of ricebox on AM. At first he was curious why I was running AM, and then we carried on a rag-chew on AM for about 30 minutes until the jamming came on at 0500 and wiped out that part of the band. If the jamming is on, I have noticed a small noise-free window at 7130-7150, between the jammers that target 7120 and 7165.

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

Good catch, Don!

Some of the guys had good luck a couple years back too, Don. Same area of the band but earlier in the evening when the DX starts pounding in. I recall Steve 'HX (I think) working a German station or two along with a couple other guys. Another time there was a group in there working Europe on AM when one of the guys buzzarded on for about 10 minutes, leaving a dead band when he finally unkeyed. But they were in there initially!

[WD8BIL]

when one of the guys buzzarded on for about 10 minutes, leaving a dead band when he finally unkeyed.

I'll bet it was the piss-weaker of them all!!

[Steve - K4HX]

No, actually it wasn't. It was someone who thought they were on 75 meters talking to the locals instead of 40 meters talking to DX. The latter is not the place for long transmissions.

when one of the guys buzzarded on for about 10 minutes, leaving a dead band when he finally unkeyed.

I'll bet it was the piss-weaker of them all!!

[Opcom]

"jammers that target 7120 and 7165." Where do i find out more about these? Do they just leave a carrier on or do they make noise?

[k4kyv]

"jammers that target 7120 and 7165." Where do i find out more about these? Do they just leave a carrier on or do they make noise?

Just listen in the evening between 0500 and 0600 GMT.  They were on again last night. It is a white noise rushing sound or hiss, sounding a little like a steam radiator or steam engine letting off steam, and each jamming signal is 15-20 kc/s wide.  Some may mistake it for digital hash, like DRM or digital SSTV, but it is most likely just random noise. The weak carrier in the background is the carrier of the broadcast station being jammed.