Questions for 6m veterans

[Crawdad]

6m veterans

is the Sp-E info shown above:
A) Accurate
B) Somewhat accurate
C) Useless

If accurate should these Sp-E levels be supporting stateside SSB propagation? Is the band open but few stations are taking advantage? Is the band not open at these Sp-E levels? Or is my Moxon @30 ft just too lame to hear the traffic? Or is the majority of the traffic using the FT-Cheat modes?

Enquiring minds want to know..................

7 3

 

[w9cll]

Most are using FT cheatting.

 

[BC Coyote]

The maps are fairly accurate. I've been using them for years.
Not sure about 6 meters, but 11 is wide open right now across the whole of North America & beyond.
I have everything from the East Coast to California coming in right now as well as most of the Pacific Rim countries and much of South America. It's literally S9+20 on every channel.

I would imagine 6 meters should be hopping as well (I don't have a rig that goes up there), but there are only a tiny number of operators up there compared to 11 so it can seem very empty (just like 10 meters) even when there are amazing conditions.

 

[Crawdad]

Most are using FT cheatting.

Kinda sad but whatever blows your skirt up I reckon.

7 3

 

[Crawdad]

The maps are fairly accurate. I've been using them for years.
Not sure about 6 meters, but 11 is wide open right now across the whole of North America & beyond.
I have everything from the East Coast to California coming in right now as well as most of the Pacific Rim countries and much of South America. It's literally S9+20 on every channel.

I would imagine 6 meters should be hopping as well (I don't have a rig that goes up there), but there are only a tiny number of operators up there compared to 11 so it can seem very empty (just like 10 meters) even when there are amazing conditions.

Openings on 10 & 11 meters are apples/oranges to 6m. Most HF openings over the past few months have been F2 layer. In my short experience the F2 MUF rarely gets high enough to allow 6m openings, most are Sporadic E layer or Tropospheric ducting openings. Sporadic being the key word.

Regarding the map above, I'm just trying to learn what to look for to try to catch the rare openings a bit more often. Hoping to pick the brain of someone who's experienced a bunch of Solar Cycle maximums

7 3

 

[w9cll]

Openings on 10 & 11 meters are apples/oranges to 6m. Most HF openings over the past few months have been F2 layer. In my short experience the F2 MUF rarely gets high enough to allow 6m openings, most are Sporadic E layer or Tropospheric ducting openings. Sporadic being the key word.

Regarding the map above, I'm just trying to learn what to look for to try to catch the rare openings a bit more often.

7 3

Yes 6 does not play be the rules