May 12.2018
Last few days band has been rather quiet. Though there were a few stations worked from Indiana and Midwest states working to SW...ie...TX/LA/OK and even as far away as AZ/CA/NM.
There has been some "Enhancement" on signals from about Sunrise +/- hour...and same around Sunset in the evening. So keep listening and call CQ...don't just check the radio on occasion, one must leave the rig on and playing to catch the openings.
Lots of time band open and nobody knows it.
Case in point ZF1EJ/Eden was worked by me when there was no indicators or beacons present when he called CQ. Then there he was S9 to Indiana.
The DX clusters help, however many ops never post their contacts.
Good Luck and hope to hear some activity during the Sprint.
Note: If you have an old analog police scanner, many cover 6m FM...plug 52.525 in memory(National US / FM calling frequency)...this can be a good indicator of activity.
You may also try looking for 6m FM repeaters in and around your area 100-300 miles away and load the input and output frequencies into memories also for more indicators of openings.
50.400 is the National US AM calling frequency.
50.100 - 50.125 is the Worldwide DX SSB Window (w / 50.125 being the call frequency)
50.127 - 50. 200 is the Normal SSB contacts band section
(50.110 being the INTERNATIONAL CW/SSB call frequency)
With 50.110 - 50.125 excluded section from : "Chit-Chat" operation...though 50.125 has of late, can be a zoo when the band opens, best to make a contact on 50.125 and then announce your moving UP the band and listening for more.
50.080 - 50.110 is the most used CW DX Window
Other indicators are Worldwide CW beacons: 50:000 - 50.080...Great indicators of openings!
Most CW/SSB activity will best be worked with a Horizontal Antenna.
FM activity is primarily Vertical antennas
All the Best
Gary/W9FNB
