I've been interested in how early 160m opens for DX. Here are some results for
the last few
afternoons in which I've been able to get on the air early:
Oct 20:
first QSO: SM6CMU
time: 2055z
distance to sunset termination: 1190 km
time before local sunset: 1h 0m
(The band was already open.)
Oct 21:
first QSO: S58A
time: 2045z
distance to sunset terminator: 1350 km
time before local sunset: 1h 9m
Nov 1: I was late and the band was already wide open at 2111z.
Nov 3:
first QSO: G4OBK
time: 2013z
distance to sunset terminator: 1540 km
time before local sunset: 1h 23m
(Phil reports that my signal was audible around 2005z but not copiable.
The terminator was 1680
km away at that point.)
I think distance to the terminator is a more appropriate metric than the
oft-quoted "I worked him an
hour before sunset". Depending on time of year and latitude, a terminator that
is 1500 km away
could reach the station at widely different times:
Sep 22 on the equator: 52 minutes.
Dec 22 in London: 2 hours 28 minutes. (The terminator is never more than
1770 km away, even at
noon.)
I'd like to encourage others to listen/call early -- perhaps beginning when the
terminator is 2000
km away. (So far I haven't heard of any DX contacts more than 2000 km into
daylight.)
Perhaps, for the purpose of this exploration, we can define a "DX contact" as
one with a station
more than 2500 km away; i.e., clearly more than a single E-hop.
Good luck!
73,
-- Eric K3NA
_______________________________________________
Topband mailing list
Topband@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/topband
|