[RTTY] TJ9PF now QRT

[Gary AL9A]

Bill,

Yes, operating from AK has its challenges.  I dread the space weather 
bulletins about an approaching CME.  When it arrives its like someone threw 
a switch adding about 100 db attenuation in the line.  It starts suddenly, 
but then dissipates slowly - sometimes it takes days to get the A index down 
to something in the normal range.  Speaking of the A index that is one of 
the key propagation indicators for AK.  While you guys are humming along 
with a mid-latitude A index of 3 or 4 we may be stuck with a high latitude A 
index of 30 or more!  When that happens you can say goodnight ladies and 
gents.  One weird phenomenon, that unfortunately happens quite often, is 
referred to up here as "one-way communication".  We can hear stations quite 
well from S5 - S9 or more, but can't be heard on the other end.  If the 
aurora is active overhead our signals get sucked up into the void and are 
not allowed to cross the AK state line.  That's why some guys say "I never 
hear AK on the bands."  Really ticks me off!  Oh well, when its good, it's 
fun!

73,
Gary AL9A


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bill, W6WRT" <dezrat1242 at yahoo.com>
To: <rtty at contesting.com>
Sent: February 20, 2011 12:02 PM
Subject: Re: [RTTY] TJ9PF now QRT


> ORIGINAL MESSAGE:
>
> On Sun, 20 Feb 2011 11:47:53 -0900, "Gary AL9A" <al9a at mtaonline.net>
> wrote:
>
>>
>>No tears from me.  I never heard them at all on any band or mode!  Rats!
>>
>>73,
>>Gary AL9A
>
> REPLY:
>
> Wow - talk about a black hole!
>
> Just curious Gary, in general what is it like to operate HF from Alaska?
> Do you have a lot of problems from aurora? Or anything else in
> particular?
>
> 73, Bill W6WRT
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