ARRL 10m contest is this weekend. I have created some short and long path propagation predictions from Northern California for the weekend. I used HamCap & SSN 30 for these simulations (that’s what IonoProbe just gave me as effective SSN).

Briefly, the operating plan could be this:

• 00-02Z: VK/ZL/Pacific, maybe JA until 01Z
• 0200Z: NCCC rally on CW (28040)?
• 0230Z: NCCC rally on SSB (28400)?
• 0300Z-15Z: go to bed, or do something else
• 15Z: start working South Americans
• 16Z: check for VU/9Y/HS/9M for long path opening, if not… work South Americans. Skew path to Europe by pointing antennas to Africa/South Atlantic?
• 17Z: check for VU & Middle East long path, if not… work South Americans & ZS. Skew path to Europe by pointing antennas to Africa/South Atlantic?
• 18-19Z: check for long path for Northern Africa, Southern Europe (EA/I), and keep working for South Americans (by now they must all be QSO B4?) & ZS. Skew path to Europe by pointing antennas to Africa/South Atlantic?
• 20-21Z: check for long path for Northern Africa & Southern Europe, short path to South America, ZL/VK & ZS. Skew path to Europe by pointing antennas to Africa/South Atlantic?
• 21-00Z: short path to South America, ZL & VK, maybe JA after 23Z. Skew path to JA through South Pacific?

Also, look for daytime (or 24h/day?) Sporadic-E openings to midwest and south-east USA — and probably elsewhere in USA/Canada, too. Also, meteor scatter is possible 24/7… just remember to talk/send code really fast.

Complete maps can be found here. My personal plan is to operate from W6YX (at least few hours on Friday night).