Topband: 4W8X

[Steve Harrison]

When AA6AA worked 4W8X on 11/11 at 1420Z, 4W8X peaked here a few mins 
before sunrise. AA6AA caught him exactly when the sun peeped over my 
horizon, flooding the desert floor, and 4W8X hit 579. A minute after the 
sun peeped over, 4W8X took a 3 or 4 S-unit dip and was back into and out 
of the noise. Two QSOs AFTER AA6AA, he was nearly inaudible and 15 
minutes after my sunrise, he was into the noise and effectively a no-go. 
I was hearing the JAs working him beginning nearly an hour before my SR 
but stopped hearing them around 15 mins before my SR.

The last two mornings, I never heard any JAs, and 4W8X never was audible 
for me although lots of westerners were calling right on key, including 
VE6WZ, W7RH, K7ZV, etc.. K8PT (supposedly near Philly), of all people, 
was still calling up to a few mins before my sunrise today.

This has mirrored my experience with HS5ABD back in the '70s on 80 
during the CQWW CW: Fred peaked way loud right at sunrise then a few 
minutes later, was effectively into the noise and it was clear that 
there was no chance remaining. From here in DM24ad, the W7s on the 
Wash/Ore coast, and VE7s, all get as much as an hour more than I do to 
work schtuff. Once the sun is up, it's all over but the clapping after 
the show.

Steve, K0XP

DM24ad

On 11/12/2023 10:38 AM, Jim Brown wrote:
> On 11/12/2023 9:31 AM, daleaa1qd at gmail.com wrote:
>> It would be great to see 4W8X on 160/80 closer to their SS for east 
>> coast
>> NA.  The window into W1 is only about an hour.
>
> Yes. FAR too many expeditioners don't understand that 160, 80, and 40 
> peak on the DAYLIGHT side of the terminator, abandoning the band at 
> the first sign of daylight, or failing to hit the band sooner before 
> sunset. For 160, it's at least a half hour, an hour on 80, two hours 
> on 40.
>
> 73, Jim K9YC
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