Topband: JT1CO Paths

[Bill Tippett]

        My guess is that the next few weeks will offer the best
chance for sunrise long path to Chak JT1CO.  I looked back over my
previous long path QSO's and found the following data.  Common
darkness refers to the difference between the DX sunrise/sunset
and local sunrise/sunset.  "QSO @ %" refers to the % time of the
common darkness minutes after the beginning of the common darkness 
period (example for today...JT sunset 1024, W4 sunrise 1159, common
darkness 95 minutes, and 1120 would be the 59% point between JT
sunset and my sunrise).

QSO                     Date    UTC     Com Dark        QSO @ %

Sunrise paths: 
UA9UCO - W0ZV           29SEP87 1232    59 mins         61
JJ1VKL/4S7 - W0ZV       28DEC91 1335   109              56                      
3W5FM - W4ZV            06JAN00 1143   107              55             
XZ0A - W4ZV             21JAN00 1156    62              50            
XU7ACB - W4ZV           05DEC01 1119    93              40

Sunset paths:          
9V1XQ - W4ZV            13JAN96 2309    42              50            
S21XX - W4ZV            04FEB97 2320   106              26

Average:                                83              48

        The sunset path to JT is probably gone for my location at 
this time, however the sunrise path appears to be approaching optimum
based on past experience.  I also calculated a few dates into the 
future for comparison:

Sunrise path:            
JT1CO - W4ZV            22FEB02 1112    95              50
JT1CO - W4ZV            01MAR02 1113    76              50
JT1CO - W4ZV            16MAR02 1119    42              50

Sunset path:
JT1CO - W4ZV            22FEB02 2327    35              50
JT1CO - W4ZV            01MAR02 2326     0             nil

        Chak seems to be best on 80 via the usual SSW long path 
direction, but the one time I'm heard him on 160, he was NNW short 
path so perhaps that will work better than long path.  Just hope he
continues to keep trying the next few weeks so we can find which 
one works!

                                        73,  Bill  W4ZV