40 meters in the morning

[wb1aij]

This morning about 06:35 I was listening to 40 meters in my car on the way to work. I heard a W4 station talking to a VK3 station on SSB. The W4 station was stronger but the VK3 was strong enough for me to copy above the road noise of my Jeep Wrangler which is not a quiet vehicle. At first I thought maybe the VK3 station was operating portable somewhere in the states but when they were signing the W4 said "I'll talk to you tomorrow morning... nighttime for you" so he must have been in Australia. I have never heard such DX on 40 meters. Anybody?

[Pete, WA2CWA]

Lots of Asia/Pacific DX rolls in during the early morning hours just before sunrise. ZL's are also common during those early hours. Just need to flip the mode switch over to SSB or CW.

[WA3VJB]

Pete I don't think this sort of propagation is mode-specific.
Why do I need to switch over?  Not that I have such a switch, just asking.

[The Slab Bacon]

Pete I don't think this sort of propagation is mode-specific.
Why do I need to switch over?  Not that I have such a switch, just asking.

Paul on slopbucket!! E-Gads!! the world would come to an end. i'm sure he'd
"rather fight than switch"
                                                   the Slab Bacon

[Pete, WA2CWA]

Pete I don't think this sort of propagation is mode-specific.
Why do I need to switch over?  Not that I have such a switch, just asking.

Of course it's not mode specific. Propagation and MUF are never mode specific. However, you get a much better signal to noise ratio with SSB or CW when trying to work the "greyline" DX. With your AM rig, narrow the bandwidth, add a speech clipper, and you're good to go working long-haul. The DX station on the other end probably has no interest in trying to hear "great" sounding audio when working the "greyline".

[John Holotko]

Pete I don't think this sort of propagation is mode-specific.
Why do I need to switch over?  Not that I have such a switch, just asking.

No reason to have to switch over. Put out a few CQ's on 40 meter am in the wee hours of the morning and it may be surprising who returns. Some of the best 10 meter dx I have worked was on AM. No reason why AM can't do great DX on 40.  Most of my equipment has no ssb switch and the ones that do stay on am.

[ve6pg]

...MODE SWITCH?...YA I HAVE ONE HERE...AM/CW...BTW HERD SOME GREAT AM THIS AFTERNOON...GREAT SIGS INTO TORONTO,29MC,..'HOPE THINGS ARE LOOKING UP FER 10..TIM...SK...

[WA3VJB]

Over on the AM Refractor there's an Aussie inquiring about AM Activity.
Look for Gary or others with this heads up just sent.


--- VJB <wa3vjb@ahoo.com> wrote:

> Date: Fri, 26 May 2006 16:50:49 -0700 (PDT)
> From: VJB <wa3vjb@ahoo.com>
> Subject: 40 meters AM  1100 GMT Saturday
> To: --vk5dxham@bigpond.net.au
>
> Do you have any 40m AM capability?
> We are noticing some openings to Aus and NZ at
> sunrise
> Eastern US time, and I'd certainly like to try.
>
> Please spread the word among your chums too, and
> let's
> get up some action?
>
> Paul
> WA3VJB
> Annapolis