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What do you do when the e-skip hits?

N

nd2023

Banned
You're driving along listening to the radio and suddenly, another station takes over. You hit another preset button, and hear interference on that one too. It's an e-skip opening. What would you do? Pull over and DX, try to DX and drive at the same time, or go home as fast as possible. If you're with someone else, would you ignore them and focus on the radio?

I remember last summer, I was driving with a friend, listening to the CHR station, when a country station suddenly interfered with it. All the other presets had e-skip interference. I turned the volume up and scanned the dial, trying to remember IDs. I was having a conversation with my friend before the e-skip, and during the opening, I completely ignored her, and concentrated on the commercial on the distant station. I guess she understood when she heard how far away the stations were. I stayed in the car when we got to our destination because the opening was still going on, but (luckily) it faded away after 10 minutes. I got a new state (SD) and over 20 new stations, so I guess it was worth it.
 
Luckily my wife & I both enjoy DXing. When an opening came in last week, we pulled over to DX.

I'll do just about anything to catch that DX. About 15 years ago, I was living in an apartment & was taking my laundry to the conplex's laundry house. I was wearing my Walkman to pass the time while the machines did their thing. As I was walking down the sidwalk with a basket full of laundry & a full detergent bottle, I heard country over the AC station I was listening to. I walked a bit further & the AC station came back, so I backed up until the country station came back in & stood there till I heard an ID about 4 songs & a commercial break later. I didn't want to put the basket down for fear of disturbing the Walkman's headphone cord antenna. My arms ached, but I got that 1017-mile away ID.
 
If i'm on my way home when Es hit, I try to drive a little faster (but not over the speed limit) to get home on time. I like to take back roads, but I would gladly take the freeway and throw the entire gas conserving thing out the window in the name of Es.

If Es hit and i'm heading out or out with friends, whatever, I just chalk it up as wrong timing on my part and tell myself that those stations will always come around during another Es opening. Only if it ends up being an opening for the ages (double-hop to California) would I be disappointed.

I try to keep a positive outlook on a lot of things. If I miss out on an E opening, there's sure to be other people who did not. One thing I love to do is help others ID stations. I did some detective work and was able to ID a translator Es catch for one DX'er in New York last summer. I like helping people ID my area stations via Es (and even tropo sometimes).

So short answer. It's no really big loss for me if I miss out on Es. It will always be there.
 
I usually am at home, and usually checking the boards for Es. When I see "E-Skip Alert", I get ready, get my Sangean ATS-909 and DX!! If it's even an opening in the summer when the MUF only gets to 94 MHz, I check 87.7 to 93.9. If it's a TV opening, I don't usually check unless it's a good single hop or if it's a "Double-Hop to Quebec" opening, for example.

-crainbebo
 
Just about everything else gets put on hold. The mp3 recorder is turned on, and I scan the dial, ready to record. I may adjust my antenna to null out the locals more. I let the phone go the answering machine unless it's critical. It's like I'm in a dream for however long the DX is happening. I'm glad e-skip or Tropo doesn't happen too often around here (No. Illinois) If it did, like near the Gulf, I wouldn't ever get much done. Perfect for people who do have lots of time on their hands!
 
I still rely on good old-fashioned cassette tapes. I use a portable Panasonic RQ-A200. I have recordings of e-skips and tropo from various places all over the country. Among my favorites that I have recorded:
1. From Clearwater, FL - I recorded 93.7 The Arrow/Houston, and Q93/New Orleans. Q93 overtook WFLZ depending on the direction I was facing.
2. From Narragansett, RI - I recorded WRMF/Palm Beach
3. From Rexburg, ID - I recorded B 95.1/Ventura, CA
4. From Santa Barbara, CA - I recorded stations from San Francisco to San Diego
 
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