[CQ-Contest] 10 meters Propagation in June

[John Warren]

There's another interesting 10M propagation mode which happens most  
summers, and doesn't seem to depend much on the state of the sunspot  
cycle. That's "side-scatter" between N America and Europe.

I'm not a physicist or propagation guru, but I'm told it occurs  
because the sun moves through a vertical position over the mid- 
Atlantic Ocean, and causes extreme ionization there. Signals between  
Europe and N America can be bounced off that intense ionization at  
more or less  a right angle. Not strong, but good readable R5 S3  
signals, typically around 2030-2230Z. Both sides of the QSO should be  
beaming to eastern South America - any Europeans on the band probably  
will be, and North Americans with Yagis can usually get their attention.

I know I've worked several Italians who understand that mode (for  
example Lauro IK4GRO), and I seem to recall working other Europeans  
too.  Just make sure they don't turn their beams to North America -  
they'll vanish, hi!

Anyone have more experience with this?

73,  John,  NT5C.