[UK-CONTEST] 28Mhz propagation

[Dave Sergeant]

Well I have not quite finished in the 10m contest yet, there is still 
a chance the band will open in the remaining hours (but I suspect 
not, judging by the deathly hush down there at the moment!).

I had not considered the positioning of the greyline as relevant to 
the propagation effects we have been seeing during this contest, but 
who knows. In my case I am used to one way propagation, but that is 
rather more because I run QRP!

I suspect most of the propagation effects are due to small packets of 
ionised layers similar to sporadic E. The opening to YU yesterday 
evening was very characteristic of this, there were quite a few YU 
stations, one 9A, but no sign of S5, Z3 or even OK (not heard here 
all weekend). Myself and Steve GW4ALG tend to compete against each 
other in this event. It seems Steve could work some of the YU's in 
Wales which I couldn't from Bracknell, a hundred miles or so to the 
east. On the DX side, I noticed yesterday that CX7BW seemed to have a 
pipeline into G land at one time, perhaps these ionisation packets 
with longer paths as well.

With only 35 QSOs this weekend I guess it doesn't warrent much of a 
posting here (but it may still qualify for the G QRP certificate!). I 
think here in G land we have been unlucky, stations further south 
(ZC4LI, P3F etc) could clearly generate a big pileup, and there were 
some very big serials coming from the Caribbean and south America. I 
guess we count as the frozen north as far as the propagation 
predictions go. But with a K index of up to 5 and an A index of today 
forecast to be over 30 I guess it could have been much worse.

73 Dave G3YMC

http://www.davesergeant.com