There's another interesting 10M propagation mode which happens most
summers, and doesn't seem to depend much on the state of the sunspot
cycle. That's "side-scatter" between N America and Europe.
I'm not a physicist or propagation guru, but I'm told it occurs
because the sun moves through a vertical position over the mid-
Atlantic Ocean, and causes extreme ionization there. Signals between
Europe and N America can be bounced off that intense ionization at
more or less a right angle. Not strong, but good readable R5 S3
signals, typically around 2030-2230Z. Both sides of the QSO should be
beaming to eastern South America - any Europeans on the band probably
will be, and North Americans with Yagis can usually get their attention.
I know I've worked several Italians who understand that mode (for
example Lauro IK4GRO), and I seem to recall working other Europeans
too. Just make sure they don't turn their beams to North America -
they'll vanish, hi!
Anyone have more experience with this?
73, John, NT5C.
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