so i was just messing around on 10 meters last tuesday afternoon, not really expecting much, and all of a sudden i started hearing stations from south america and then europe just pouring in. like i havent heard 10m this good since maybe 2012 or so. ran maybe 30 contacts in about 45 minutes running only 100 watts to a dipole in the attic. the solar flux index has been sitting pretty high this cycle and i think were really starting to see the payoff now.

also saw that Icom apparently teased something at a recent trade show - looked like a new mobile rig maybe? didnt catch all the details but there was some chatter about it on a couple of the facebook groups. anyone know more about that or was it just rumors. anyway curious if others are seeing the same thing on 10 or if my area is just getting lucky

yeah 10m has been great, im in the midwest and ive been working Japan in the mornings before work which i honestly did not expect at all with just a vertical in the backyard. solar cycle 25 is really delivering, way better than the predictions said it would be honestly. as for the Icom thing i think you might be thinking of the IC-905 followup rumors but i dont know if thats confirmed or just wishful thinking on the forums. wouldnt surprise me if they drop something before the end of the year though.

oh man i just got my technician like two months ago and i had no idea 10m could do that. i thought shorter antennas meant shorter range or something. my elmer mentioned something about skip but i didnt really get it until reading this thread. gonna have to ask him to help me listen around up there, i only have a baofeng right now but hes letting me use his rig next weekend at his place so maybe ill get to hear some of it.