All,

I was wondering what the FM DX is like for the above area. I'm guessing that tropo would be rare due to predominantly overcast skies and windy weather (though not all the time in summer). Also, what are the usual E paths in summer? I'm guessing that Baja is a good distance as well as AZ and NM...

Regards,
Will (Sydney,Australia)

Aussiedx:
Quite often there is tropo enhancement along the coast. I live just west of Portland and the tropo has at times allowed reception from Vancouver BC to Ashland Oregon. (see current map):

http://www.dxinfocentre.com/tropo_wam.html

I have not had much luck with E skip, but I have logged KBIG in LA on a meteor skip.

Tropo is rather interesting especially if you are the one doing the transmitting. I personally have worked into Eugene Oregon and Salem Oregon on the 2 meter amateur radio band using FM through tropo. E skip is rather interesting as well have not had much luck either with FM broadcast but VHF channels 2-6 and the 6 meter amateur radio band open up quite often and in the process it is even possible to get communications from the California Highway Patrol as they still use 42 MHz. Yes Arizona and New Mexico are regular states to get E skip from also California Kansas and Nebraska are far enough for openings as well. Those are a bit more rare but none the less, paths do form between Washington, Oregon and those states.

Eugene experienced some amazing E skip on the evening of July 10, 2003. Stations from Albuquerque, Gallup and Farmington, NM were booming in, over a couple of hours! 97.3 KKSS was sounding like a local station!

I'm guessing that the Willamette Valley (Eugene,Salem,Corvallis) is better for tropo ducting than the coast, due to frequent temperature inversions (the fog is a good indicator). I've heard that fog is more common than sunshine in Coos Bay but perhaps it is a sea mist, therefore not indicative of good ducting conditions.

Has anyone experienced first hand any good FM catches on the Oregon Coast (as opposed to the Valley?). I reckon from Coos County you'd get enhanced reception of Brookings,OR with possible Crescent City/Eureka,CA workings in strong tropo. I'm assuming ducting is stronger to the south...