07/10/2005 | K8FK Hurricane Propagation! Hurricane Dennis loomed large on the horizon here in West Central FL all week. I generally take down my antennas for hurricanes that may visit the neighborhood, but if I did, I would not be able to run in the IARU contest. I took a look and decided that my 11 year old R5 was not worth much, anyway: It would be more important not to miss the contest, despite it being summer here and with declining sunspots. I started at 1200Z on Saturday and worked a few stations, despite the S5 noise level and weak signals, including mine. Suddenly, I called ZL1V and he came right back to me! Lucky shot, I thought. Later, after battling the afternoon noise, CN2R came back to me, instantly. W1BYH said I had a "big signal" as did (I believe) N7WA.

Using the serendipity method, I believe that I have discovered a way to propagate electromagnetic radiation off the eye wall of a hurricane! How else can this be explained? All day, Dennis was passing by the Tampa Bay area and I must have hit him just right. I will continue to test this important theory this summer and try to prepare an article for the April, 2006 issue of "QST." Thanks to everyone for a fun contest, as usual. See you next year. 73. -- K8FK