NVIS equipment

[Paul]

Propogation is not always what it seems and the books don't account for "magic". You know the effect LS, it shouldn't work but it does.
i.e. The DV27 on the biscuit tin set up talking to Italy, etc.

For instance. Dorset CB'ers were moaning about Scottish signals swamping them at S5 this week. They in turn are chatting back at 4 watts FM.

Yesterday, our group was working a day net with the hub based in Hitchin, Herts. Huge amounts of atmospheric noise.
All 12 watt stuff, FM, most of us with 1/2 or 5/8 vertical dipoles, all mobile.

Mileage and signal strength [S1-5]
Hitchin
To Poole, Dorset. 134 miles [Variable S2-4]
To Norwich 90 miles [S3]
To Manchester 168 miles [Variable S2-4]
To Worcester 116 miles [S4]
To Woodhall Spa (Lincs) 111 miles [S2]
To Bedford 17 miles [S1]

As I said above, magic. Now I'll admit we've all got damn good rigs, receivers tuned WAY above factory spec but for 7 out of 9 of us holding decent conversations on such a bad noise day, it must have been magic.
The other two? Couldn't hear each other some 23 miles apart let alone us.