Topband: K4M from Scotland

[Clive GM3POI]

Hi All,
    This is my take on a welcome expedition to what 
is a very difficult path from the UK. For those 
situated further west K4M is at about 355 degrees 
azimuth, right through the Auroral zone.
So it does not come any more difficult for us.
    I was one of the THREE UK QSOs made with the UK 
on 160, and my Q was made the hard way at Sunset 
competing with Stations to the East of here. In fact 
the next Morning I got up early to check the K4M 
signal at what would be the lead up to SR.
    At 0645z they were a good signal (S4), in the 
next 20minutes they worked USA and never called for 
Europe. At 0607z they worked GM0GAV and immediately 
went back to USA until working G4PWA  then again back 
to USA.

    By now they had peaked about S7 here with many of 
the Bigger G stations all trying to break a NA pile 
up. At NO time did the operator call for Europe and 
carried on working East and West coast Stations that 
could have been worked AFTER Eu SR.

    As an aside being so far North I found I could 
hear K4M  all day, right through Noon here. Not a new 
experience but interesting just the same. I made a 
recording of them at about 14z, and have passed it 
on.

    My point is that expeditions should follow the 
hour before SR across the target area by selective 
calling. In the case of Eu that would mean from SS in 
Midway taking in Eastern Europe right through to SR 
in CT1. This still leaves buckets of time after EU SR 
for Eastern US and further West.

    It is entirely wrong to think of Zone 14 as 
Western Europe as it includes SM and they are an hour 
further East from here and have a better shot to the 
pacific. If you want to judge the effectiveness into 
Western Europe, count the number of stations WEST of 
0 degrees. Our only real chance is to work the 
Pacific is in the period leading up to SR here but 
that requires cooperation from the DX end as well. 
73 Clive GM3POI