[IRCA] Puyallup, WA Ultralight TP's for 10-31.. Asian Sunset

[d1028gary@xxxxxxxxxxx]

Halloween delivered somewhat of a treat this very early morning as several Asian signalsÂreached vibrant levels during their local sunset period from 0910-1005 UTC. TheÂKorean big gunsÂon 972, 1053 and 1566 wereÂmanaging S9 peaks,Âalong with the NHK powerhouses on 747 and 774. Several second-tier Asians were also in audio, including 603-HLSA and 738-BEL2. 
 
Weather was pretty frightful during the session, with theÂback yardÂfull of rain and windÂas the more sensibleÂDXers were sleeping (at 0210 local time). The session was conductedÂin part to test out some new waterproofing modifications toÂmake FSL antennas more survivable during ocean cliff DXpeditions. AtÂ0910 UTC the Asian sunset propagation must have been near its peak, with both 972-HLCA and 1566-HLAZÂat S9 levels, along with 747-JOIB and 774-JOUB. The 1053-Jammer, 1134-KBS and 1287-JOHRÂwere also atÂdecent levels, whileÂa whole collection of second tier Asians wereÂin and out withÂweak audio, including 603-HLSA, 657-Pyongyang, 738-BEL2, a presumed 936-Anhui, 1017-CRI and 1035-CNR1. Propagation during the session was pretty wild (like the weather) as stations faded in and out with no real pattern,Âexcept that by 1005 UTC most of the signals had tapered off somewhat. After a couple of hours of sleep I checked the band again at 1355-- and found that almost all of these Asian signals were a poor shadow of what they had been three hours earlier. I did notice promising audio on both 603-HLSA (like Colin reported) and 738-BEL2, but after DXing the Asian sunset session motivation was lacking to track these throughout the sunrise period. AlthoughÂAsian signals were far strongerÂduring the 0910-1005 UTC period the obvious drawback to such a strategyÂis the socially unacceptable practice of DXing around 0230 local time-- a situation which would not apply to DXers muchÂfarther east. I recall that during a Prince Edward Island DXpedition a few years back NickÂwas able to time the local sunrise with the Asian sunset period, andÂcome away with several NHK big guns riding the grey line propagation. Maybe such a strategy could work in the Midwest, or other locations? 
 
73 and Good DX, 
Gary DeBock (in Puyallup, WA, USA) 
7.5" loopstick C.Crane Skywave Ultralight + 
15" FSL antenna 
 
 
 
 
 
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