[600MRG] Fantastic conditions NA --> VK, VK --> KH6 : Explanations? Part 2

[James Hollander]

    Second question:  Can great circle multihop explain the remarkable 


630m propagation between the USA and Australia the last two nights?  I don't think so.  Please add your words of wisdom and experience.       
   
    73,  Jim H   W5EST  
   
   
   
WHY GREAT CIRCLE MULTIHOP DOESN'T EXPLAIN US-VK 630m LAST 2 NIGHTS 
  630m yielded 25 decodes in VK from XGP and XND in the USA. 
  XND's all-night high SNR 8/15 was -9dB at XCR. XGP had -10dB. 
  XND's all-night high SNR was -20dB at VK2XGJ. XGP had -21dB at VK3ELV.

     How can multihop explain the small net difference of 11dB between the XND/XGP signals into Hawaii compared to Australia.  If 2-hop takes them to Hawaii, don't they need 3 or 4 more hops than that to get to Australia.  (Along their somewhat more southwest paths, but that's beside the point.)  Multihop even over salt water doesn't deliver as low as 4dB path loss per hop, does it?
   Last two nights of 630m success into Australia compel some other explanation. Part 3 takes a hard look at several other explanations. See what you think.

(Continued in Part 3)