[RTTY] 10 & 15 meter scatter paths

[Don Hill AA5AU]

I'm not going to get to the 162 unread E-mail in the Inbox tonight.  After the
contest ended yesterday, I ate and went straight to bed.  Got up and went to
work today, got home late and tomorrow have to fly to Houston for a business
meeting.  So if you sent me a personal E-mail, please be patient.  I promise to
answer them all when I can.

There is something I wanted to comment on that was quite prevalent in this
weekend's contest.  Although I made only a handful of USA contacts on 10 meters,
each and every one of them was on a scatter path.  In other words, I had the
beam pointing southeast.  Once I realized I would not get any direct path to the
east coast or Midwest, I ended up leaving the beam down there while on 10
meters.  Apparently, not too many people know about this scatter path.  I'm
guessing if others knew, then more ten meter contacts could happen under
conditions like we had this past weekend on 10 meters.

I'm curious to know from those on the east coast that worked me, where they had
their antennas pointed.  I'm guessing southeast as well.

The same holds true on 15 meters.  Most of the Midwest USA was not heard on the
direct path this past weekend.  I've seen this many times.  I can work the
Midwest, northeast and even places like AL and GA on a western scatter path on
15 meters.  This happens late in the afternoon local time just before the JA
opening.  I always leave the beam pointing northwest.  When stations from the
Midwest, northeast or southeastern USA call me, I can only copy them with the
beam to the northwest, away from them.  I'm curious if others see this, I'm sure
they must.  I'm just wondering if others also have the beam to the northwest
when they work me on this scatter path.

I also wonder if others in Europe and the rest of the world experience these
scatter paths.  It's interesting to me.

Quite a contest, eh?  Sure surprised the heck out me.

73, Don AA5AU