Also read my article on grayline
15m has been my favorite band for a long time. Even in the down years of the cycle, knowing how to handle 15 can greatly increase your contest score, or even your DXCC tally. Tradition tells us that 10 and 15 usually open together, and while this is usually the case, there will be deviations. There is also a nasty rumor going around that you need 100 feet of aluminum in the air to run Europe, or even work JA on the grayline. Nothing is more incorrect! I used to run EU during CQWW with a three-element tribander at barely 30 feet! It sure is easier with 100, but don't count yourself out.
The key to playing a good hand on 15 is to watch the clock. You will find that openings on 15 are usually longer than those on 10, but much shorter than you may be used to. Still, do not use 10m as an indicator. Take the second radio and check out 15, even if you suspect it isn't quite "rocking". It's worth a listen anyway.
The opening will begin as predicted. The multi/multi guys will be blasting through (they are usually the ones with 100+ feet of tower). This is due to a very low vertical angle. This angle will usually increase as the day goes on, allowing the little guys to work the same paths into EU. Usually, you can start running around 1200Z; before that, you will be on 20, and it isn't worth switching over too early and surrendering a frequency on 20 - a much more populated band at that point.
Work rate as soon as you can! 10m will be open soon, and you want to grab as many mults on a fresh 15 as possible. I begin to point the antenna towards JA and the rest of Asia around 2000z; if worst comes to worst and you can't hear anything up there, you will still be able to work Russians and some of the Pacific Island - many of which might be mult's anyway. Around 0200Z, your rate will crash, JA will fade, and the band will fill with static crashes where the multi/multi guys used to be. It's time to move back down to 20.
If you find at any time that you cannot run, hunt around for a little while. Moving up the band is perfectly fine; priv's aren't much of an issue for a lot of countries on 15. If you can hear other stations up there, feel free to run. In terms of hunting, the clearest guys you can hear on 15 will probably be stations you've already worked at the beginning of the opening (their stations are big enough; remember the 100 foot rule) or stations worth no points, like assorted domestics. This is also an indication that it is time to return to 20.
Remember, angles are critical on 15! Whereas 20 might be a "call 'em, work 'em" band, 15 takes slightly more finesse. You need to develop an awareness of your own station, and operating capabilities. It might also be a good idea to listen in on 15 prior to the contest (as with all the bands) for a few weeks to get a sense of the trends, regardless of the propagation reports. Miracles have happened!
Optimum 15m Elevation Angles to Europe1:
| NE | SE | Upper MW | Lower MW | W Coast |
| 5 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 6 |
Optimum 15m Elevation Angles to the Far East1:
| NE | SE | Upper MW | Lower MW | W Coast |
| 7 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 |
Optimum 15m Elevation Angles to South America1:
| NE | SE | Upper MW | Lower MW | W Coast |
| 5 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 8 |
1Some data from The ARRL Handbook 2003