Propagation question

[Fried Chickin']

Since joining this forum a few weeks ago, I have begun chasing pirate broadcasts like a crazy person will many hours being spent in front of my receiver.  I have caught a couple, but for the most part I don't hear that much. This brings up a question in my mind about propagation.  If it's daylight on the east coast in the morning, will a signal reach the west coast if it's dark there? 

[ChrisSmolinski]

My gut feeling is it is not likely, based on my attempts to hear west coast stations under the reverse conditions - local evening here on the east coast, while it is still daytime on the west coast.

Of course, with shortwave, anything is possible :-)

[BoomboxDX]

From my own viewpoint that would depend on how much daylight, and which SW band you're talking about.

I've heard 40 meter band hams and 41 meter band SW broadcast stations from SE Asia here in the NW US when it's daylight here, and obviously dark in Asia.  Usually they fade out about two hours or so into daylight here, depending on overall SW conditions. A lot of what I just described could be what they call "grey line propagation".

With pirates that could be more of a problem, because they are much lower power than the stations I'm referring to. But I'm just saying it's still a possibility. Most of the SW pirates I am aware of seem to use the band just below 7000 khz., and propagation would be similar.

As far as hearing pirate SW stations, I've heard maybe 2 or 3 broadcasts just below the 40 meter ham band, and when I've heard them it was early evening, Pacific time.  I think at least once I heard them during the weeknights.  FYI I just use a 25 ft wire and a portable digital SW radio for SW.

[Nella F.]

Living on the n. w. corner of Washington state since 1985 & a dxer even before that, my (west coast) Pirate catches have steadily decreased over the years. (I'm not going to speculate why   ). I have began returning to legal s.w. dxing out of frustration & boredom. Of course there also is the local police activity, via my Pro-43,  which is definitely Not boring.   Also if I understand your ? I can't recall Ever hearing a pirate in the early morning, local time. Except for Alan Maxwell, of course!