Trans-equatorial
scatter (TE)
TE seldom reaches very far north of the
Tropic of Cancer, but it may link up with Es or tropo as previously explained.
DX'ers in the southern tier of states from Texas to Florida should be on the
lookout for TE in the spring and fall; September 1 is the traditional start of
the fall TE season.
Video is more disturbed and useless in
TE than in any other propagation mode, since the MUF flutters with extreme
rapidity. Audio channels may be readable, however, TE usually builds up after
sunset, peaking around 2000 local time; it may bring in the same station for
hours at a time, night after night. Distances of several thousand miles are
not unusual, and even stations not strictly on the other side of the equator
may come in by this method, if they're beyond 1800 miles or so. TE can reach
as high as about 65 mHz, i.e., channels 2 and 3 in the American system.
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