PSK to North America

I was feeling well enough this afternoon to make a few mindless macro exchanges, otherwise known as PSK31 contacts, on 20 metres. Three of those contacts were with stations from across the pond: Brian VE1MC, Peter VE6EPK and Rich K2ZB. As English is their native language, they were prepared to chat, so most of those contacts were actually typed at the keyboard.


The PSK Reporter map shows what I was hearing, and who was hearing me, or rather when they heard me. Peter VE6EPK was in Calgary, Alberta, which is shown by the "41 mins" marker on the screengrab. That was rather a nice bit of DX for 40W to an attic dipole on a day with no sunspots.

I think I may have remarked on it before, but it has always puzzled me why I hear more Europeans, but am heard by more Americans. Perhaps the QRM levels are higher over here, as it is later in the day, rather than anything to do with propagation. On the other hand, I only made those transatlantic contacts because I called them. If I had called CQ I would probably have logged only Europeans.