On 10 Oct 2024, Sean Dennis said the following...
My dad, who is a General-class operator, says 10 meter has been really wide open for quite some time, which is unusual for 10 usually.
Can confirm. On 10 meters, I've made voice contacts with Hawaii and southern Argentina (roughly 5,000 mi each) over the past week, as well as a bunch to the West Coast (from Ohio) that sounded like they were next door. Tons of digital contacts to Japan and Oceania as well. The routine nature of that band opening is out of the ordinary in my limited experience, anyway.
It's a fun time to play radio (as long as the magnetic storms stay away)!
Before I got my amateur license, years ago, I remember having similar fun on sideband with my base CB setup -- that would have been in cycle 22 -- using a 10m vertical mounted on my chimney. I wish I knew what I was doing back then. :)
RS
... Famous last words: "I'll be there in just a minute, honey."
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