Propagation to Japan, Australia, Greenland, Chile... ain't skip.
It's F2 -- or Es-connected F2. Gets Real Crazy every 11 years or so.
Worked GB from MA only 2 years ago well off the solar peak. During the
summer (2005) I got a few Carib stations and Brermuda.
Does ducting also occur on 50 ?
There's little that doesn't occur on 50 MHz. I have completed QSO's by
Es, F2, Au, meteor, tropo ducting, and weird flavors and combinations
of more than one of'em. Fellers also do EME on 6M - tho' not I.
A local does the EME thing. I do low power (20W PEP max) off solar
power. But I like the band as it's easy for antennas and fun to
design radios for.
When the band is wide open on an Es opening -- maybe a 2X Es event --
you'll find the FB-OP-to-Jerk ratio Real High. It's one of the reasons
I've all but given up on the 'popular' HF bands.
There have been times when it's like a 20m pileup.
And, to steer it back On Topic:
Fiddl'in with antennas on 6M is SO EASY.
Allison
KB!GMX FN42HH