Knocking Them Dead on 10 Meters

[Pete, WA2CWA]

  ...There are many readers that don't bother with the band-watch.  I noticed that a lot when the band-watch section was new.

The workbench dwellers probably fall into that category.

Ya think we have workbench dwellers who never get on the air here Pete? 

I won't touch that. 
Workbench dwellers do have a place in life.

[Tim WA1HnyLR]

Been spending much time on ten myetros. But as of late it seems that the band is in the doldrums. I am planning to spend some time on 15-21.429 crapstal controlled . Also 12 meters. 24.975 crapstal controlled. Hint : a 8325 crapstal will allow you to be on 24.975. There is no reason why there is no AM activity on 12 M  I will be out there in radio land-Tim WA1HnyLR

[KX5JT]

Been spending much time on ten myetros. But as of late it seems that the band is in the doldrums. I am planning to spend some time on 15-21.429 crapstal controlled . Also 12 meters. 24.975 crapstal controlled. Hint : a 8325 crapstal will allow you to be on 24.975. There is no reason why there is no AM activity on 12 M  I will be out there in radio land-Tim WA1HnyLR

I noticed the band isn't what it was in Oct/Nov as well.... even on the ARRL 10 meter contest, I thought I would hear a lot more stations out there... (no I didn't participate, just twirled the knob a bit).

Well, I can put my Viking on 15 meters.... in fact I've been doing various other modes on 15 meters and it's been fun.  Now, the question remains, how much daylight will I be awake for this weekend....

[Steve - K4HX]

This is normal. Ten meters is a daytime band. The days are getting shorter.

[Burt]

Here's one of George - AB2KC strapping into Italy on his 4-1000 rig and 4-element quad!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=72djq2kPbFw

nice to see a video with more than just a shot of a rig

[KX5JT]

This is normal. Ten meters is a daytime band. The days are getting shorter.

True at least for another week then they will be growing again.

[Steve - K4HX]

Yup. It can only get better!

[flintstone mop]

Yup. It can only get better!

Even if it's only a few seconds per day.........seems to take longer to go back to longer days.

[Pete, WA2CWA]

I seriously doubt "the days are getting shorter" or "the days will be getting longer" has a lot to do with the openings we've seen on 10 M AM during Sep/Nov.  There seems to be a correlation between rising sunspots and time (days) before and after (days/weeks) the autumnal equinox where the rising MUF permits these many kinds of AM contacts (especially DX contacts). Couple that with the many DX contacts I made that were on 10 M AM for the first time. i.e. they were probably there for the novelty (the WOW, I just worked guys on AM) and many probably have moved back down to the lower end of the band. I would still expect typical (not bad) activity down in the SSB portion but I've bet you won't see the Sep/Nov level of AM activity until Sporadic E propagation starts to develop in late April and through the summer months.

[Steve - K4HX]

You are correct Pete. But all other things being equal, wouldn't the openings on 10 get shorter as the days get shorter?

[Pete, WA2CWA]

You are correct Pete. But all other things being equal, wouldn't the openings on 10 get shorter as the days get shorter?

LOL  wel its alwayss somton tooo think aboot LOL:: 

Generally, in the real world, the F2 layer normally disappears during hours of darkness. However, as the F2 becomes more ionized (more active sun), sometimes even during early hours of darkness (beyond grey line propagation), openings on 10 meters can still prevail. Further, Sporadic E propagation, which generally tends to be most active late April to Aug/Sep can happen, and does happen at times, year round during both day and night skies. On 6 meters, which has similar propagation as 10 meters, can stay open 24 hours a day and for several days at a time. The "E clouds" may tend to "move around" during those periods allowing single or multiple hop openings in various directions. The one thing I've learned operating 10 meters and above, is that the "one size fits all" band opening scenario doesn't always work.

[Steve - K4HX]

TNX for the dope OM.

I think this is true of any band once you look into it more or have antennas that can take advantage of the 'alternate' openings/paths.

The one thing I've learned operating 10 meters and above, is that the "one size fits all" band opening scenario doesn't always work.

[flintstone mop]

In the South Pacific the Grey Line seems to go for at least an hour.

And Tom, JJ can select which of his 10M monobanders mounted at various heights to take advantage of the changing take-off angle.
Radio is still a lot of fun!!!

[Pete, WA2CWA]

In the South Pacific the Grey Line seems to go for at least an hour.

Can't remember. My mind is a blank. Does the grey line propagation delta vary, dependent on the earth's tilt position relative to the sun?

[Steve - K4HX]

Looks like the spots have dropped off recently, but we have a good forecast for the holidays.

= = = =

Latest ARRL Propagation Report

Solar activity dropped this week, with average daily sunspot numbers
declining over 39 points to 94.7.  It's been 13 weeks since the
average daily sunspot number for the week was that low or lower,
when Propagation Forecast Bulletin ARLP037 reported an average of
91.7.  The daily sunspot number has been lower than this week's
average starting December 12, when it was 70, and has since been 77,
65 and 44 through December 15.

No new sunspots emerged on December 9-12, then sunspot group 1376
appeared on December 13, and 1377 on December 14.

The latest USAF/NOAA forecast has solar flux for December 16-19 at
124, then 122 on December 20 and 120 on December 21-23. Then it
jumps to 150 on December 24-26, 140 on December 27-28, and 145 on
December 29 through January 4. It then rises to a maximum of 160 on
January 8-14, 2012.