[CQ-Contest] Gray Line DXing

[Joe]

I went there and looked around, but couldn't find any logs I could look 
at.  he he he

Joe WB9SBD

The Original Rolling Ball Clock
Idle Tyme
Idle-Tyme.com
http://www.idle-tyme.com

On 9/30/2011 12:45 PM, Tim Duffy K3LR wrote:
> Hi Joe!
>
> You have asked a great question!
>
> It would be very interesting to look at some old Cabrillo logs during DX
> contests from the http://cqww.com website. I think there is enough data
> there to draw some pretty good operating strategies during the grey line
> openings from many QTHs close to you.
>
> > From my years of operating on the low bands - and during a DX contest
> sitting with guys that are all on 160, 80 and 40 all at the same time,
> watching the log scroll by, openings in general (not only grey line) are
> shorter (time) with a more distinctive peak - the lower in frequency you
> are.
>
> So the grey line opening on 160 might be 5 minutes long where on 40 meters
> the same grey line area could be open for 30 minutes. Depending on the
> lowest usable frequency (LUF), the grey line opening may not happen on 160
> that day - but could still be very good on 40.
>
> My grey line advice is to focus your operating on the lowest frequency first
> (160) - then move up to 80 and 40. Ride the LUF wave!
>
> 73,
> Tim K3LR
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com
> [mailto:cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Joe
> Sent: Friday, September 30, 2011 8:16 AM
> To: CQ-Contest at contesting.com
> Subject: [CQ-Contest] Gray Line DXing
>
> I've done a LOT of DXing using Gray line Propagation.  Ya know the
> period around sunset and sunrise. I have always found it amazing to see
> the VK and ZL stations just pop onto the band during this short window.
>
> BUT,,
>
> I have a question, on 160, 80,&  40, meters,  I never kept track of how
> does the propagation,,, "Propagate" frequency wise?
>
> Does it open on the lower frequency first and close first or higher or
> what? Or all at once?
>
> In other words this weekend is the Oceania DX contest and I planned on
> getting on for fun to give away some points as well as look for some new
> countries on the lower bands,
>
> So was of course planning on doing some gray line work,  but I never
> thought, about what order of the bands should I attack this.
>
> Should I start on 160 and when it closes  go to 80 and when it closes
> got to 40 etc.
>
> or  what order if any does grey line propagation peak as the sun up is
> progressing?
>
> Joe WB9SBD