Topband: RE: skewed paths

[Ford Peterson]

Milt wrote:

"The first couple of days of full operation on 160 Meters we knew the
signals
were coming from the SSE but we were having problems copying them on a two
wavelength long Beverage oriented specifically in that direction.  Reports
via the pilot stations indicated our transmit signal was being heard quite
well."

It seems to me that this is a perfect example of back scatter, where the
geometry of the skip along one path is impossible in reverse.

Milt continues regarding a low dipole:

"The proof is in the results because the high angle arrival signals from the
SSE skew path received by the low dipole accounted for approximately 80% of
the 400+ NA stations that were worked on 160 Meters from XZ0A."

Again, I submit that this is consistant with what would be expected from
backscatter.  The point of the incoming skip being close to the target
(Milt) and signals arriving at high angles.  I wonder if Milt tried
reversing the path using the low dipole?  Dumb question. The reverse path
would be impossible because the first skip from Milt would have to leave at
a low angle after arriving at a high angle.

I'm no expert by a long shot but Milt's empirical evidence seems consistant
with the back scatter explanation.

Ford-N0FP
ford@cmgate.com