12/11/2007 | N0JK The sporadic E (or E-skip) propagation was amazing year in this year's contest. I had moved to Lawrence, KS and have no outside
antennas up. So I loaded up a M2 6 Meter HO loop in the attic QRP on 10 Friday evening. Not expecting much besides noise, I was surprised to hear Texas stations booming in when I turned the radio. Even with just a few watts W5PR and K5TR came right back on SSB when I called. E-skip can reflect signals with little loss. In betweeen helping the XYL with chores, I worked another dozen stations. Even logged WQ5L in "rare" Mississippi. Had to work Saturday day, that evening I found the sporadic E back, and made a couple more contacts. Reviewing the 3830 Internet Reflector scores, the E-skip seemed to favored Texas, New Mexico and other southern states. From their end, the Es went to the high population areas in the 3, 4, 8, 9 call areas. From Kansas, it was a big opening to the Lone Star State. E-skip is not uncommon in the 10M contest as the "minor Winter Es season" usually peaks around mid to late December. But the Es this year was more intense and widespread. Kind of made up for the lack of sunspots and F2 propagation. -- N0JK