Perseids this weekend

[k9rzz]

A bit off topic, but I figured anyone that might be interested would be floating around here rather than on a scanner forum.

Perseid meteor shower peaks this weekend so listen to a quiet channel on your FM radio dial or point your SSB VHF antennas to the east and monitor the calling frequencies. You never know what you might hear.

 

[ka3jjz]

Actually we have a forum for VHF skip topics - which is where this will be moved to. Thanks for the reminder, though...73 Mike

 

[RadioDaze]

Probably better listening than watching, considering the full moon...

 

[k9rzz]

Ahhh, so that's where it went. Sorry, I forgot about this little corner of RR.

and by the way, it's not "skip", it's meteor scatter.

 

[ka3jjz]

While it's true this is meteor scatter, it results in 'skip' - even if it doesn't last very long...73 Mike

 

[k9rzz]

While it's true this is meteor scatter, it results in 'skip' - even if it doesn't last very long...73 Mike

Well, you're in the record books for being the first ever to call MS = "skip".

As far as I know, "skip" was coined on 11 meters and there's no connection between MS and 11 meters.

 

[ka3jjz]

You'd be surprised - talk to a few hams that chase VHF DX and invariably the word 'skip' gets into the conversation. I'd agree that it's likely an assimilation from 11 meters, but that's the intent of the term in this forum, I'm certain. And yes, Ms (notice I didn't write MS - that's something a whole lot less pleasant) does indeed cause 'skip' - or the reception of long-distance signals - DX as we know it.

You want some examples? Fair enough. Es is pretty well understood to mean sporadic E, but is just as often used as a shorthand for 'E Skip'. And what about the folks that chase 2/432 mhz DX? I guarantee if you listen to these folks talk, the word creeps into the conversation at some point. I talk to some folks who are heavy into it from time to time...

So no, it most certainly doesn't just apply to 11 meters. You can go stand too close to your linear now :.>>

73 Mike

 

[k9rzz]

Guaranteed that no ham here in the midwest calls working meteor scatter - "skip". I bet the ARRL doesn't either.

 

[KC4RAF]

Let's forget about the "semantics".

I've heard it both ways. Let's just enjoy the scattering of the radio signals and the occasional view of the meteors. (and notice I didn't write 'meteorite').
Thanks to the OP, K9RZZ, for giving us a headsup about this scattering...

 

[k9rzz]

Check this out - a 32 second burn as posted over on WTFDA:

8/12 -32 sec Meteor burn