As DX Hunters we all know mother nature at times can be truly painful and lots of time in front of the radio can be a waste of time these days with the heavy amounts of zzzz's that come from our radio's speakers.

There is one thing I would like to raise and that is why is it these days, that the band becomes more lively when the Solar Flux Index is lower?

I seem to hear and work more when the flux is lower than at increased levels as it has been over the past couple of months due to increased solar activity and sunspots?

I don't know if its just me, but are others experiencing this elsewhere.

I know mother nature can be unpredictable and this may not be something you can get an answer to but I think its worth some discussion.

Kind Regards,
43 SD 280 Jordan

Hi Jordan and all, here at my location there was no increase in DX (International) I did have a couple of days the begining of this week some stateside stations were heard and worked with the SFI around 74 but since then all is quiet again, When your hearing and working these stations at low SFI are they long distance??
Larry 2AT509

That is remarkable, even more as past few weeks 11m opened up form NW Europe to the US East Coast. No multihop Es, but real F2. This should not be possible with the low SFN, but obviously there are more factor playing. There is much more to discover!

73

Jean-Paul.

Hello all

I have to agree with Jordan and Jean-Paul.

I love 11m and when ever I get the chance I'm riding the 11 meter wave. Although I don't have any problems receiving signals from EU I have to admit that there have been some changes going on with the bands in the last few weeks. Most of the time, my reports into the EU were 5/7, 5/9. And that is with only 100W. (equipment can be seen on http://www.qrz11.com)
In the past 3 weeks I was having a few very nice QSO’s with a friend of mine on Sicily Island. My signal was 40 over 9……!!!!! Normally when we talk, my signal is 10 or 15 over 9 but 40....WOW. He told me that I was stronger then a few local stations .

Then all of a sudden I had the US coming in. That happened last in august almost 3 years ago.
Thailand came in with 5/6 but just for 10 – 15 minutes.
Yes. Something is happening and I am really happy about it.

Wish you all lots of QSO’s

73’s
Mike de 74LD101

Could be TEP. TEP can produce extraordinary strong signals on transequatorial paths:

http://psc.suijs.info/proptutorial1.htm

See Chapter 7.

73

Jean-Paul