s we enter late fall, it is time to look back on the summer Sporadic-E (E) season and begin making plans for next year. I’ve had a good VHF season dating back to April, and have begun getting my QSLs in order, following up on some older ones, generally making sure I have confirmations for all my activity. On 6 meters, I’ve added a couple of dozen new grids this year, and I’ve also added new grids on 2 meters and 432 MHz. In most years, November presents a low point in VHF activity, especially 6-meter E. Never stop listening or calling occasionally, especially as the next couple of years offer the potential for F on 6 meters, as sunspots increase. My suggestion is to set up alerts from one of the propagation sites, such as <>, so that you are made aware of any activity if you are away from the radio. Remember, too, that mid-December to early January can bring a brief, but enjoyable E season, including the opportunity to work into the South Pacific. In general, however, you can expect less activity than season, as well as the excellent tropo some parts of the country have seen recently.
