April TEP and an Early Start for Sporadic-E
Last month we discussed getting the most from your Technician license, and talked a lot about two popular bands, 6 meters and 2 meters. Almost as if in response, 6 meters has come to life early and as I write this in mid-April, we are seeing interesting activity via multiple propagation modes. As you’ll hear me say over and over, “they don’t call it the Magic Band for nothin’.”
On Monday, April 19 (see ), stations along the eastern seaboard worked into the Caribbean and South America, the latter via TEP (transequatorial propagation) a mode that supports communication across the magnetic equator (similar to, but not the same as, the geographic equator) for distances of 2,500-5,000 miles. This mode was apparently first observed in the 1940s and has been responsible for some exciting DX for hams in both hemispheres. While not completely understood, clearly the) openings, lengthening the distance over which contacts can be made. As you will see from the following reports, being there when the action happens is critical. Listening, calling CQ, and watching the propagation maps are critical to taking advantage of these openings.
