Re: [IRCA] TP seasonality
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Re: [IRCA] TP seasonality

To add to Walt's comments....Asiatic TP DX is possible here on the shortest night of the year, if only for about 1/2 hour, and most likely in years of low solar activity; this was verified here in mid-80s using Beverage antennas near the coast, but in more recent years, have been heard occasionally in town with corner fed loops; weak signals though, and rapidly fading to somewhat later "down under" signals, also weak.
Otherwise, Asiatic TP DX generally starts in earnest here near the end of August, and continues at a good clip until maybe mid-October, when things start to fall apart. They recover somewhat in late January and February through mid-March, but not to the level and consistency of the early fall. These are observations concerning dawn at the receiver reception. During mid-winter, there can be fair openings during sunset at the transmitter throughout the band, and later, and occasional sunrise openings at the top end of the band to East Asia.
These are of course high latitude paths, but except for the geomagnetically quietest seasons, I suspect they translate to high latitude paths from Australians to those listening in the north center and east of the continent. So, I'd guess that Saul should listen for Aussies or Pacific Islands from late August onwards, maybe being most successful in early October? (but don't quit then; our mid-winter absorption on the coast may not affect all paths?) And not to say Asians are impossible, because last season in particular, they were occasionally heard in the east even without water paths to the north and west (Bruce Conti for example)
That leads to trans-polar paths vs. trans-Atlantic for Europe. Again, our best conditions down here tend to peak by mid-October; last seasons' Iran-1503 on the coast was in early November, but last season was exceptional. There can be a reprise in February and March, again, lower level. However, we can have good trans-polar conditions in mid-winter if conditions are quiet; not this season though, where carriers are mostly all there is. And of course, moving north to Haida Gwaii shows a whole different set of trans-polar conditions. Walt heard lots of middle east there in late December, when there wasn't a peep from them further south.
Back east, you hear TA's when we're lucky to have carriers out here, presumably because those are more trans-Atlantic signals you're hearing there? I'd say though that if we're having good trans-polar conditions here in the evening, it might make sense for easterners to look for Asians at their sunset.
Further south in central and east North America, Asiatics seem a bit more likely (cf Richard Allen in OK), but his conditions seem similar to ours (i.e. not good right now) , presumably because the path from Japan to OK is similar to the path from Japan to the northwest. 

best wishes,

Nick

At 20:41 25-12-10, you wrote:

Hi, Saul!  I guess it depends on where you are.  Out here on the Pacific
coast, TP reception begins nicely in mid-August.  However, good TP
(especially DU) reception is available throughout the summer.  A number of
years ago, there was a record setting DXpedition to Grayland, WA with
attendance from all over North America during the last weekend in June/early
July.  Australian and NZ reception during that time was very good.  I
remember some of the organizers (including John Bryant) wondering whether TP
DX was even possible during the shortest days of the year in the northern
hemisphere.  Very good DU DX was attained in Oregon this summer by Gary
DeBoeck, et al using simple ULR and loop antennae.  Best of the season to
you!  .....Walt

On Sat, Dec 25, 2010 at 7:46 PM, Saul DX <sauldx@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Thanks. My point was intended at something I raised earlier ... is there a
> general, relatively defined season for TPacific reception to, say, more
> northerly latitudes? Or, for that matter, for trans-polar DX? I don't have
> any experience with TPacific, and my only experience with trans-polar is
> from being in Newfoundland for only a week at a time in Nov-early Dec.
>
> I would say that I see little point in paying attention to AM from about
> April through August, but that's primarily because I can't stand the static
> of thunderstorm crashes, and I am busy then with FM. I also generally find
> AM unproductive during these months. With a few notable exceptions, like one 
> time when I had some very strong summertime Mexicans, perhaps among my top
> few sessions that way.
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Nick Hall-Patch" <nhp@xxxxxxxx>
> To: "Mailing list for the International Radio Club of America" <
> irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Saturday, December 25, 2010 12:48 PM
> Subject: Re: [IRCA] All the best of the Season and great DX to all!
>
>
>  Saul's point is well taken...there's DX coming from somewhere, even if it
>> isn't from the usual catches; I suspect though that for here it would be
>> coming from a patch of the Pacific Ocean if only there was someone
>> transmitting from there, hi.
>>
>> Merry Christmas to all.
>>
>> Nick
>>
>>
>> At 22:42 24-12-10, you wrote:
>>
>>> Fer cryin out loud, winter just started a few days ago. DX is simply
>>> DIFFERENT. I even notice the pattern of TAs has changed - lot of days when >>> not even a het at sunset, followed by a slow rise and enough IDable audio on >>> some channels that were not so good when the "DX Season" was in full swing. 
>>>
>>> I agree that cx to the west at sunset and sunrise are nowhere what they
>>> were in October. But I am - up until a few days ago when I returned to
>>> Toronto - getting stuff I wasn't getting in October.
>>>
>>> My best opening domestically was last March, when I had Alberta at five
>>> or six places on the dial...plus more form out west.
>>>
>>> Saul
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Patrick Martin" <mwdxer@xxxxxxxxx>
>>> To: "Mailing list for the International Radio Club ofAmerica" <
>>> irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>>> Cc: "Mailing list for the International Radio Club ofAmerica" <
>>> irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>>> Sent: Friday, December 24, 2010 2:43 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [IRCA] All the best of the Season and great DX to all!
>>>
>>>
>>>  Colin,
>>>>
>>>> DX last night was nothing exciting even though the A&K is low. Hopefully
>>>> things will improve, but we are in the mid Winter period when often DX
>>>> conditions are poor.
>>>> Merry Christmas and the best to you in the New Year.
>>>>
>>>> 73,
>>>>
>>>> Patrick
>>>>
>>>> Patrick Martin
>>>> Seaside OR
>>>> KGED QSL Manager
>>>>
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