Craziness Between 30-40mhz

[Randmaster]

Okay, so this happened last Sunday.

As I was searching through the 30mhz band, I picked up numerous frequencies with a whole bunch of Spanish-speaking stuff. Every now and then, I would kick up an EMS dispatch or two.

These could possibly be coming from a McDonalds (except the EMS stuff), as the FCC licenses say, but who knows where. Anyone heard anything similar like this before?

What a day of scanning in that lower band!

[mtindor]

Originally Posted by Randmaster

Okay, so this happened last Sunday.

As I was searching through the 30mhz band, I picked up numerous frequencies with a whole bunch of Spanish-speaking stuff. Every now and then, I would kick up an EMS dispatch or two.

These could possibly be coming from a McDonalds (except the EMS stuff), as the FCC licenses say, but who knows where. Anyone heard anything similar like this before?

What a day of scanning in that lower band!

It's what is commonly referred as "skip", "E-skip", or sporadic E propogation.

Check out this article:

Sporadic E propagation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

What you were hearing is likely stations from Mexico. The other day I was copying similar events from Ohio, and others often report this in the Skip/Tropo forum as well.

Expect this during the day, more during the summer for now, and expect it to increase over the next few years coinciding with the current solar cycle.

Solar cycle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In those links, and elsewhere on this site, you can find links to various sites that provide predictions of activity (daily, weekly, etc.).

You can hear skip from just about anywhere with a very strong "opening."

I'm sure some guys who read your post will be able to post some additional interesting links for you.

Mike

[Randmaster]

Wow... see, I never thought of that. It just sounded like it was nearby, because I have some Mexicans that live around me.

I learn something new everyday. Thanks for the answer!

[mtindor]

Originally Posted by Randmaster

Wow... see, I never thought of that. It just sounded like it was nearby, because I have some Mexicans that live around me.

I learn something new everyday. Thanks for the answer!

You're welcome. People often post about these openings in the Skip / Tropospheric Ducting Forum - Skip / Tropospheric Ducting Forum - The RadioReference.com Forums

If you're ever fooling around listening during one of these openings and care to log what you hear, there are a few people who find it interesting [including me]. The difficulty is in identifying the stations (especially the Mexican stations).

Mike