March 2011 offers DXers an opportunity to work VU4 which is #29 on the most wanted countries survey by the DX Magazine. Propagation predictions from VU4 to various areas of the world are given below.
With the path to North America being the toughest, detailed short path and long path predictions are given to seven geographical areas in North America. All other areas of the world should fare well using just short path.
Assumptions for the predictions are:
- Mode: CW
- Transmit power = 100W on all bands
- Antenna gain = 0dBi
- Noise environment = Residential
- Minimum angle = 1.5o
- Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) = 0dB in a 500Hz bandwidth
Your specific openings may be longer or shorter than the predictions depending on your transmit power, your antennas, your site, and your noise environment. Openings will be a bit shorter for SSB due to needing a higher SNR than what is assumed in these predictions for CW.
Detailed predictions for 160m and 80m are not given – the team has an indicative inputs on what to look for when. The times of possible propagation on these two bands are determined by the times when the desired path is in (or very near) darkness. These times can be calculated from your specific sunrise and sunset times and the sunrise and sunset times at VU4.
We will be also watching the high bands to NA given the reports of recent QSOs from there to HS and surrounding areas.
|
A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
F |
G |
H |
I |
J |
1 |
North America SHORT PATH |
160m |
80m |
40m |
30m |
20m |
17m |
15m |
12m |
10m |
2 |
W1, W2, W3, VE1, VE2 |
Use your sunrise and sunset times in conjunction with VU4 sunrise (2355z) and VU4 sunset (1201z) to determine when your path is in darkness. Especially monitor sunrise and sunset times. |
22-01 |
21-01 |
12-14, 18-22 |
19-20 |
—– |
—– |
—– |
3 |
W4 |
23-00 |
22-01 |
00-02, 13-15, 21-22 |
16-19 |
—– |
—– |
—– |
4 |
W8, W9, VE3, VE4 |
—– |
23-01, 12-14 |
00-01, 14-17, 19-21 |
—– |
—– |
—– |
—– |
5 |
W5 |
12-14 |
12-14 |
14-16, 00-02 |
00-02, 16-19 |
—– |
—– |
—– |
6 |
W0, VE5 |
12-14 |
23-01, 13-15 |
00-02, 14-17 |
17-19 |
—– |
—– |
—– |
7 |
W7, VE6, VE7 |
11-17 |
14-19 |
16-21, 23-01 |
00-03, 17-19 |
00-02 |
—– |
—– |
8 |
W6 |
11-17 |
15-18 |
16-21 |
00-03 |
—– |
—– |
—– |
9 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10 |
North America LONG PATH |
160m |
80m |
40m |
30m |
20m |
17m |
15m |
12m |
10m |
11 |
W1, W2, W3, VE1, VE2 |
Use your sunrise and sunset times in conjunction with VU4 sunrise (2355z) and VU4 sunset (1201z) to determine when your path is in darkness. Especially monitor sunrise and sunset times. |
—– |
11-12 |
11-13 |
—– |
—– |
—– |
—– |
12 |
W4 |
—– |
11-12 |
00-01, 12-13 |
01-02 |
—– |
—– |
—– |
13 |
W8, W9, VE3, VE4 |
—– |
—– |
00-01, 12-13 |
00-02 |
—– |
—– |
—– |
14 |
W5 |
—– |
00-01 |
00-02 |
00-02 |
—– |
—– |
—– |
15 |
W0, VE5 |
—– |
—– |
00-02 |
00-02 |
00-01 |
—– |
—– |
16 |
W7, VE6, VE7 |
—– |
—– |
00-03 |
01-02 |
01-02 |
—– |
—– |
17 |
W6 |
—– |
—– |
00-02 |
01-03 |
01-02 |
—– |
—– |
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
19 |
Other SHORT PATH |
160m |
80m |
40m |
30m |
20m |
17m |
15m |
12m |
10m |
20 |
Western Europe |
Use your sunrise and sunset times in conjunction with VU4 sunrise (2355z) and VU4 sunset (1201z) to determine when your path is in darkness. Especially monitor sunrise and sunset times. |
15-01 |
14-02 |
12-20 |
07-18 |
07-16 |
12-14 |
—– |
21 |
Southern Europe |
14-02 |
00-03, 13-22 |
12-19 |
05-17 |
06-15 |
09-13 |
—– |
22 |
Northern Europe |
13-01 |
02-03, 12-20 |
09-17 |
06-15 |
11-12 |
—– |
—– |
23 |
Eastern Europe |
14-02 |
12-04 |
03-22 |
04-18 |
05-15 |
06-14 |
06-13 |
24 |
Asiatic Russia |
11-23 |
00-02, 10-22 |
23-14 |
00-12 |
00-10 |
05-08 |
—– |
25 |
Japan |
09-01 |
all day |
23-18 |
00-13 |
00-12 |
01-10 |
02-09 |
26 |
Northern South America |
21-02 |
20-03 |
01-03, 19-21 |
11-18 |
12-17 |
12-15 |
13-15 |
27 |
Southern South America |
20-02 |
18-03 |
14-21 |
12-19 |
13-18 |
15-18 |
—– |
28 |
Western Australia |
10-02 |
all day |
00-17 |
00-13 |
01-11 |
03-10 |
04-09 |
29 |
Eastern Australia |
10-22 |
09-22 |
23-02, 08-12 |
00-10 |
00-08 |
02-06 |
—– |
30 |
New Zealand |
11-21 |
09-22 |
23-01, 09-11 |
23-09 |
00-08 |
01-05 |
—– |
31 |
Northern Africa |
14-02 |
12-03 |
03-22 |
04-21 |
05-18 |
06-17 |
04-16 |
32 |
Southern Africa |
14-03 |
12-01 |
04-19 |
04-17 |
06-15 |
06-15 |
08-14 |
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