Topband: Aurora and its effect on the low bands.

[Kathy and Gary Pearse]

on 11/10/04 1:50 PM, JAMESAMS88 at aol.com at JAMESAMS88 at aol.com wrote:

Most of this week the aurora has made some beautiful night time viewing for
us in the Northern and midwest states but its has caused strange conditions
on 
the short wave bands.
Barry W9UCW reports a great opening from South Texas into Europe on top band
during the aurora. I was also told during a Nebraska weather net on topband,
all signals were lite but the local north south signals were much stronger
than the East west signals.
Also I have noticed that verticals seem to receive and transmit better than
the horz antennas during an aurora. I am not sure if I imagine this or its
true.  They say during an aurora turn your beam north for best results. Not
many 
of us can do that of course but the ones that have 4 squares, beverages etc.
might try this. Is it possible to work over the north pole into Europe on
topband during an aurora?
Anyway it looks like we may have aurora continuing through November 12 so
maybe we can learn something about topband and the aurora.  If nothing works
just 
go outside and look on a clear night, its really neat!   Jim W0NFL Iowa.


>>>It is neat. Especially when, like observing a neighbor's mad dog eating their
lawn furniture, you realize how lucky you are not living there (HI). Here in
Fairbanks, AK., at 64 deg north, there's been no radio to speak of for a
couple of days on all bands due to polar cap absorption something like this
- http://www.windows.ucar.edu/spaceweather/polar_com.html. Ok, ok, I know
I'm grumbling here, and seeing the Aurora overhead is cool, especially at
-50 in winter. But it does play havoc with our propagation. When it starts,
I've found signals (both NVIS and distant) to both flutter or show slow QSB,
followed by things going real quiet and far, far away. Occasionally, there
will be lots of 'Auroral' static that follows on NVIS antennas, but the
verticals seem quieter, and can be often be used for both local ground-wave
and distant communications out of the Auroral Oval to the south. They rarely
can burn through it to the North to EU, for example.

I recall during operations at KL7RA's local contest station with excellent
antennas (big vertical real-estate), that whenever the Auroral signal-sucker
started, little propagation remained for us until it was over. While at
KL7Y's station only ~200 mile to the south, they could be heard working all
bands, but not much we couldn't over the Pole through the Aurora. I'm no
expert on this so maybe others can respond as to what effect the Aurora has
on their ability to work DX through it.

Enjoy the view (grumble, grumble, buzz). 73 Gary NL7Y.